Venus Williams Tells 'CBS Sunday Morning' How Sjogrens Syndrome Has Impacted Her

[slccom]

I do like her tennis fashions. I wish they had been available when I was playing (badly, but I had fun.)
Sharon

[quiger]

I was disappointed with the interview too. They did headline the anouncement of the interview exactly the way I posted it but it turnd out to be a show about design, very disappointing. However, because of the interview, at least Sjogrens Syndrome is a condition that more people have heard of now, even though they still don't know what it is. Ten years ago we couldn't get even one celebrity to utter those words. I guess this is what we call "baby steps".

Hopefully her symptoms never get any worse.  I hope the same for all of us.

quiger

[stillinshockwithsjogrens]

I was not impressed with the interview today....still sounds like she barely wants to admit her disorder...of course the piece was about design and fashion but she has hardly talked about what she has gone through ;-(

I agree.

While it is possible she is still in the denial phase of grief, still Marketing 101. She has a "product" to promote.

What bothers me overall about her, is that as she doesn't discuss her SJS journey (which is of course her choice), she does MANY of us sjoggies a disservice from the perspective of "but you don't look sick therefore you aren't sick". She can make time to be interviewed on her sport career and make time to be interviewed on her design and fashion line, but it would take minimal effort to even do her own video discussing Sjogrens from her experience independent of media who actually controls the interview process.

Media in these settings is certainly not going to elaborate much on what Sjogrens is.

I think on another thread a while back about a previous interview of hers, someone made the point that she is entitled to her privacy. Well, unfortunately part of the cost of being a high profile athlete in effect costs a portion of that privacy by default.

That is the problem I have with her. It would be far less damaging to public perspective of Sjogrens  if she simply didn't have it mentioned at all, rather than as a public figure basically have it mentioned in passing much as one would a small finger sprain.

I don't consider her a "poster woman" for SJS.  Just my 2 cents worth.

I agree.  And we've had this discussion before and concurred.  It's not possible for her to be a poster woman or speaker for SJS.  I understand she has a brand to protect, but diminishing, dismissing, denying the effects of the disease serves no purpose.  And it wouldn't bother me as much, if the interviews didn't highlight her battle with the disease.   "TENNIS GREAT AND DESIGNER VENUS WILLIAMS TELLS "CBS SUNDAY MORNING WITH CHARLES OSGOOD" SJOGREN'S SYNDROME HAS IMPACTED EVERYTHING IN HER LIFE". 

The interview I read, hardly describes how it's impacted her.    Thanks for listening, rant over.

[Velcro]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I think she hurts the cause more than she helps it.  Not her fault and not blaming her, she does have to promote herself as her own product but I think it leads people to think more along the lines of Sjogrens isn't that bad when they see what all she is doing.

It's like the tampon commercials (sorry men folk), "You can go hunting and fishing and biking and horse back riding...."  They're not going to say "You can do all that while doubled over in pain, head pounding, sweating, water weight, witching...." They are selling a product.  She's a product.

[soycoffee]

She won her first match at the French Open. Serena also won *her first match. They will play each other in the third round, if both win the second round, in a match today. As in the orgasm scene from "Sleepless in Seattle," my reaction is "I want what she's taking!"

But my fight right now is to stay out of a nursing home. I'll post on that in another thread.

Best,
Soy Coffee

[soycoffee]

Let's put the nursing home to one side, as long as I qualify for the PA waiver program I applied for today. It keeps me in my home with my books, computer, etc., with the additional help I would need.

But this post is mostly to say that Serena Williams's interview when she won in Dubai in April of this year, talking to CNN, leads with information about Sjogren's syndrome. Not lots of it, but a little more about her diet. I came to similar diet by other means, I'm sure. Mine is mostly vegetables, rice, chicken or fish about 6 times a month, NO SUGAR, no sugar substitute, occasionally a smidgen of Truvia. Dark Chocolate allowed, or I'd go crazy.

Here's the link to the CNN interview:
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/20/sport/tennis/venus-williams-sjogrens-syndrome/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

Best,
Soycoffee

[finallyadx]

Thanks for the link soycoffee - the interview is a little more enlightening about sjogrens but still leaves so much out - it somewhat candy coats sjogrens (in my humble opinion)and leaves out some of the more debilitating symptoms that some folks have...I understand where she is coming from - this interview specifically states she wants to be remembered for what she did and what she accomplished - therefore she does not want to be known by some illness that she has that may defeat her and her ability to win at some point in the future.

I do wish, however, that someone else famous (not wishing this on anyone - please know this) who has this would step forward and tell the whole truth about it and bring more light and education to others.

Hugs

[DryGuy]

I whole heatedly agree with finallyadx, I'm sure there are other famous ppl with this affliction.  But I'm also sure they don't want their career to be jeopardized by coming out with it.   When you think of how many ppl are in show business there must be at least one person.  It would give so much publicity.