Author: Kristina Kelly
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The One Thing Missing From Your Sjögren’s Care Plan (And It’s Not Another Supplement)
When it comes to managing Sjögren’s—or even suspecting you have it—you’ve likely heard the usual advice: tweak your diet, adjust your lifestyle, add supplements, and follow your medication plan. And yes, those things are important, but they’re not the whole picture. As someone who’s lived this life and spends her days immersed in Sjögren’s support…
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This One Mistake Could be Stalling Your Chronic Illness Journey
Quick storytime, friends. A real experience from one of my appointments. Neurology PA: I don’t understand why you are here. Me: I have been having progressing episodes of leg weakness for over a year. My neuromuscular neurologist did an EMG, but it was normal, so he no longer wanted to explore things with me. I…
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Are You Medically Gaslighting Yourself?
Ever felt uneasy or unsure about your health journey? Patient insecurity is a real challenge many of us with chronic illness face, but awareness is key to overcoming it. After years of fighting to be heard by medical professionals — to be seen as more than a normal lab sheet, I developed patient insecurity that…
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MSing the Mark: Sjögren’s Mimicking Multiple Sclerosis
Note: I am not a medical provider. Opinions in this article are based on my own research and personal experiences. Mission: Diagnosis (Again) In my original blog post, I wrote about the frustrating battle I had to a Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos diagnosis. Finally, providers moved away from MS and a generic label that never fit…
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MSing the Mark: Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Mimicking Multiple Sclerosis
Note: I am not a medical provider. Opinions in this article are based on my own research and personal experiences. Mission: Diagnosis After a particularly bad virus the month prior, I awoke to pins and needles in my hands and feet in April of 2019. The sensation was so intense that my feet felt numb…
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Navigating Chronic Illness with a Patient Advocate
So, you’re chronically ill. Your body’s throwing curveballs, the doctor’s office is practically a second home, and your insurance company treats you like that kid who keeps raising their hand, but never gets called on. Sound familiar? Yeah, I’ve been there. It’s exhausting. That’s where an independent patient advocate comes in, your trusty sidekick in…
Little Engine Patient Advocacy 