Spring is Here!

[Spring]

Title: Sjogren's World Executive Director, Webmaster, Forum Administrator

Hiya! My name is really Jo, but I go by Spring in chats and in the Forums. My husband and I were married for 49 years! (Update he passed in 2024). We have 2 grown sons and two lovely young adult granddaughters!

I started a new career 21 years ago at the age of 54, teaching! I was lead teacher for 7th and 8th grade science at my school and 8 years ago my co-teachers elected me Teacher of the Year! I was so surprised and felt like I was riding on Cloud 9. I completed a Master's in Teacher Leadership. It was a lot of work teaching full time and doing school full time, so glad I am finished and so glad for all I learned in the process to make me a more effective teacher and teacher leader. I felt so fortunate to have this new life of teaching and loved every minute of it!  I retired after 10 years of teaching, and am enjoying an active retirement.

My history. In 1994 I was given the diagnosis of probable MS. As of October `99, that is changed. A rheumatologist diagnosed probable Sjogren's Syndrome with demyelinating disease. The symptoms I had were very much like MS, and that is why it took long for a diagnosis I guess. Or maybe I have both, or neither. I am lucky in that my problems are mild and controlled with my meds. I've been on the Internet since 92, so have watched the number of MS related sites go from 3 to countless! Now I am cruising the internet for a new purpose, finding and sharing information on Sjogren's Syndrome (SjS). Those of you just now getting your diagnosis are really lucky at the resources that are at your fingertips. Care (may she rest in peace) and I created the site for Sjogren's sufferers and their loved ones back in 1999. I hope you get tremendous use and comfort using it.

Update 2025: In 2023 I got undiagnosed after a bad lip biopsy, even dismissed from rheumatology. I decided to just keep living. This year I heard of a really good new rheumatologist in our area and made an appointment with her, requesting help and hopefully final answers (requested a long appt). She gave me a great lookover and questioning and declared she believes I do have secondary Sjogren's Syndrome and she would help me find my primary issue. After 19 tubes of blood and several xrays (my symptoms have progressed some and involve my lower back now and then)...we have an answer. Peripheral Spondyloarthritis. I had my first biologic infusion and it really helped my symptoms! NEver give up geting help for yourself!