THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2008
Living With Sjogren's, Challenge Mom Faces Everyday
By DENISE FLEISCHER
Lifestyle Editor
In 1992, Vicki Sassan of Mt. Prospect began having problems with her knees. She thought it was related to her job as a freelance court reporter. Through various tests she learned she had Sjogren's (pronounced SHOW-grins) syndrome.
With this chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease, the moisture-producing glands are damaged, significantly decreasing the quantity and quality of saliva and tears. Sjogren's may also cause dysfunction of other organs.
Sassan's constant swelling of knees, tendinitis and bursitis led her to an orthopedic surgeon. The first course of treatment was physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs.
"It was slowly getting worse and worse," stated Sassan. "I was getting more chronic sinus infections and chronic bronchitis. It is very multi-system and is not curable. They think it has to do with an infection or injury turning your immune system on, but then it doesn't turn off. It attacks your body like it's a foreign substance," she related.
Sassan visited different doctors for her symptoms: an orthopedist for joint problems, internal medicine for sinus and bronchitis and a neurologist for numbness in her hands.
"The neurologist did a blood test and said it was abnormal," Sassan recalled. "I was then referred to a rhematologist. The rhematologist said 'good news it's not Rhematoid Arthritis, but it's Sjogren's.' I was told Sjogren's is second to Rhematoid Arthritis in terms of the most people diagnosed with it. Nine out of ten people are women and it can happen at any age. Literature states that it can take over seven years to be diagnosed."
"I'm 39. I have a medicine cabinet filled with medicines that I have to take every day. Everything is divided by day and night. My goal was to start my own agency. I don't even do court reporting that much anymore," Sasson said.
Most difficult for her is letting go of what she was able to do and dealing with what she's capable of doing now. Though, she's pushing herself to remain productive and active. She has heart and spirit.
"As a mother it's hard to keep up with the kids. I'm tired and in pain a lot. Though the kids help with the chores," she added, that her husband does what he can to help out also. An accountant and owner of B&E Accounting in Mt. Prospect, he works with the chamber of commerce as an independent.
Sassan continues to take her meds and is trying to get back into exercising.
"I have a daily routine of stretching, light aerobics, light weight lifting and I eat more organic foods," she stated. "I stay away from white foods: flour, sugar, processed foods and gluten. Changing my diet and exercising has helped. Also, having good weather now and then and my knee replacement in June."
Sassan keeps active by caring for her pets: two cats and a dog. She's an avid reader. Paranormal romances and mysteries are her favorite novels.
"I volunteer at my kids' schools whenever help is needed," she stated. "In the LMC, I help with computer classes when students have difficulty following their teacher's directions. I'm also a guest reader for my son's classroom once a month."
Now a new goal has formed for Sassan. She hopes to create an awareness about Sjogren's syndrome.
"No one seems to know about it. I want Sjogren's to be as well known as Rhematoid Arthritis so people will know what it is when they're diagnosed," Sassan said. "I'm going to first start by talking to reporters. My husband goes to the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation walkabout fundraisers and talks to others through casual conversations after meetings."
Asked what is the most difficult part of her physical condition she replied, "I went from a period of being healthy and active to telling people the 'after part.' I was a full time worker, mom, chauffeur. Whatever you needed, I could do it. I was a supermom. Now I'm the stay-at-home mom who needs to find periods to rest and deal with the guilt of not helping money wise anymore. I went from doing it all to doing the best I can," she said, adding that she hopes to find more work to do at home, perhaps proofreading.
Sassan believes that things are getting better. When she first started, after being diagnosed, she went to the doctors every six weeks and now every three months. They did one blood test after the other.
"I look at this disorder as not something that isn't going to kill me, but makes life more of a challenge," she stated.
Vicki and her husband, Richard, have lived in Mt. Prospect since 1994. They have two children, Brandon, 5 and Elissa, 9.
For more information, log onto the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, www.sjogrens.org. Sjogren's syndrome is treatable. Early diagnosis and proper treatment may prevent serious complications and greatly improve the quality of life for individuals living with the syndrome.