New People issue about Venus williams

[valene2009]

anyone see the latest issue with venus ? the article talks about her going on an all vegan diet and how she will be ready to get back and play soon... i dont get it.. looking back i had symptoms way before it hit my eyes and mouth full fledge.  i remember hiking (which i used to do so easily) and getting very worn out quickly, feeling like i would  pass out, needing extra water... now i see those were all symptoms...

the article kind of makes light of sjogrens and says lupus and RA are more serious. isnt RA part of sjogrens? i have both..
just wondered what anyone else thought?  kind of makes me realize you cannot rely on most stuff you read. wow.. i do hope her the best but the article acts like it is total remission. anyone else get that sense?

[divingdancer]

Is the article available on line?

[SueAnn]

This article was written before she pulled out of the Austrialian Open on Dec 21.  Someone posted it on this site so you can do a search for the article where she pulle out.


I am sorry to say that just changing diets is not a cure all for Sjogrens, believe me I wish it were.   She will most likely have days when she can compete, but like the rest of us she won't know until the last minute what she can do or can't do. 


SueAnn

[mshistory]

I haven't seen the article but I am so tired of reading articles about Sjogren's and how it's "not that serious" or only "rarely" causing other problems than dry eyes or dry mouth. Like you, I've had severe fatigue for years, joint pain and swelling, a chronic cough, hair loss, and a whole list of symptoms thanks to this "not that serious" disease. 

[Sooki]

I don't think we can predict how Venus or anyone else with Sjogrens will progress.  I have learned that my body doesn't respond to intervention in the same way that anyone else with Sjs does.  We share symptoms, but in our own way and at our own pace.

I applaud her being proactive in doing everything she can in terms of diet, medication, and other choices to keep being able to do the things she loves to do.  I know that she will scale back as she needs to; dropping out of the Open shows that.

Venus is an elite athlete; she has been in intense training all her life.  Her body is in top form, as this scourge rips into her.  Her progress will be different from mine, for sure.  I wish her well, and am sorry that she became ill in a way that directly attacks her passion.

I think we're the ones that are hoping she'll be the poster child for Sjs, telling the world what a horrible disease it is.  But that may not be what she has in mind for her life just now.

You go, girl!



Hang in there, Venus. 

[Meld256]

Sooki, you bring up some excellent points! 

It certainly may be that we are the ones wanting her to tell all and the articles be written to show all of how Sjogren's can affect us.  (that's just natural for us to want)

We may never see an article about her specifically with details about how it's affected her badly.  We each have our own journey with this disease and I hope hers is relatively mild. 

If I were an elite athlete, I personally don't think I would want an article stating how it's POSSIBLE that I may never play again, or play at the height I once did.  There are sponsers to think of, worldwide federations to think of, the reputation of being the best to think about...her situation is MUCH different than most of ours.

So, just my humble opinion, but maybe we should just be thankful that Sjogren's is being mentioned, even if it's not exactly the full picture that we may want.  Just a thought...

[mshistory]

I don't follow tennis, and I don't mean to sound callous, but I don't really follow how it's affecting Venus or what her particular problems are or if she'll ever play again. I just want the reporters and the articles to start getting more information before they write articles and the medical community in general to start taking this disease more seriously.

Considering I don't really read the stories about Venus specifically, I guess I should just stop posting on these topics because I certainly don't want to offend her fans! 

[valene2009]

i just get tired of people acting as if sjogrens isnt that serious-even if you JUST have dry eyes and mouth--omg.. the eye thing is awful.. I have it so bad with MGD... its a constant pain battle daily...

thanks for letting me know the article was written before she pulled out-altough i do wish her the very best and yes everyone is different...

i wish diet cured it too

[eyeamdry]

One good way to explain dry eyes to another person is to tell them to get a hair dryer (blower) put it on hot and aim it at their eyes for awhile.  Not long enough to damage, but just a few minutes might give them a good idea of how it is.

[Jellyb]

Just putting in my 2 cents here.
When I think about Venus and her ability to continue playing and competing, I think about all the things I used to do and juggle in my busy life. And now, I am focusing only on the things I really want to do, and have tried to delete the things that are just not as important

So if Venus is so focused on her career and health, and getting rid of energy zapping obligations, she will have a better chance at continuing on her tennis and spending her energy there.