I have a request for those who care to participate in a good cause.

Two years ago I was diagnosed with a autoimmune disorder called Sjogren's Syndrome (pronounced shogrens).
I had no idea what my doctor was talking about when he suggestedthat blood work be done.
I only knew that I had been having alot of problems with an extremely dry mouth & dry eyes. The blood work was done & turned up positive for Sjogren's.
As I have (at times painfully) learned: Sjogren's is an autoimmune disease, your immune system begins to damage & destroy your moisture making glands,usually noticed first by dry mouth because the salivary glands are usually the first affected.

There are approx. 1-4 million people who are affected by this chronic disorder for which there is no cure. It is pretty much a hidden disease because most who have it do not look ill.
Sjogren's is also a chronic inflammatory disease. It affects not only your moisture producing glands but is systemic, and it can affect many other organs of the body.
Sjogren's can affect the heart,lungs,skin,kidneys,central nervous system,muscles & joints and causes extreme fatigue.
The average time for diagnosis is 2-8 yrs. from the first symptoms because they are so similar to other diseases and most doctors never make the connection that it is in fact Sjogren's.

I am a member of the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping educate & make the public more aware of a disease that is little known & yet can be devastating to live with. They are also involved with helping to back research for earlier diagnosis & hopefully one day a cure.

I was made aware of a site that can be accessed to search the web called "Good Search". Every time a search is made thru this site a donation is made to the Sjogren's Foundation.
It only takes a few seconds of time to go to the site. When you go to the site there is a screen with a spot to put in what organization you would like the contribution to go to.
After you enter the organization name there is the area to input whatever site you want to access on the web. ie: Thoughtvent .
The site and use of it cost you nothing but it can do so much good to help so many others, so I am asking for help if you are willing.
Once you put in the organization that you want, in this case "The Sjogren's Foundation" it will be there each time you go to Good Search automatically so it won't have to be input each time. Once in awhile it doesn't show and then you just put the organization name again. (computers, go figure!! lol)


This link will take you to the Good Search site.Good Search When you get there just put in: The Sjogren's Foundation and then input your web site. Something so simple can mean so much not only to myself but to many,many others.

I thank all who have taken the time to read my request & to those who choose to help out, thank you so very much.

My best to you all,
Iodine (vicki)

Done vicki
will do everyday if it will make a diffrence to yourself and other suffers

I just gave it a try, too.

Couldn't hurt.

I'm always searchin' for sumpthin'.

Iodine,
I made some minor edits to your post above. Just to make it easier to read for others.

I'm a hard core google man, but I will use your good search link when I can.

Iodine, I'm willing to do ask you ask. Not long ago, I was watching a show on Discovery Health called Mystery Diagnosis. It profiled a woman who had suffered from various ailments for years. She was diagnosed with the Sjogren's. There are so many disorders that take years to diagnose because they are not common, and I am happy to contribute toward research for what you have.

Dear Iodine - done. and will be done, many times!

It's the least we can do, to help you,and like sufferers of this cursed Disease, Vicki.
One can only hope, a cure is found,Quickly.
I have the Link in Bookmarks,so I don't lose the link.
Will use as often as I can.

I added the site to my fav's also Vic.
May God Help you, also.
Vicki II

Thanks so very much. It means alot that so many care. Every little bit helps and maybe it will have the desired result, a cure, soon.

Again, Thanks for your help, you're a great bunch and good friends.

Iodine,
Vicki I

I too have bookmarked this

I really hope that there is a cure that gets found real soon

David