Sarah Schafer, MD
So what is Sjogren's, really?
Sjogren's is called autoimmune, but it is not that simple. It is a complex, systemic immune-mediated disease.
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Sarah Schafer, MD
Apr 23, 20213 min read
Lost or Confused? Tips for reading Sjogren’s Advocate
Sjogren's Advocate has many new terms and concepts for lay readers. This post explains how to read and understand the information.
5,844 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Feb 16, 20213 min read
Sjogren's is Sjogren's; it is not secondary to any other disease you may have.
The term "secondary Sjogren's" is inaccurate and misleading. Sjogren's is Sjogren's, alone or with another disease.
3,782 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Jan 24, 20214 min read
Exercise helps Sjogren's- here's how to do it safely
Developing an exercise program is one of the best ways to reduce Sjogren’s inflammation, improve overall health, and manage symptoms.
22,043 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Nov 30, 20203 min read
Working with rheumatologists
Printable handouts for rheumatologists.
1,459 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Oct 28, 20205 min read
What you should know about Sjogren's lung disease- (rev. 05-11-2023)
Research shows that lung (pulmonary) disease impacts more than half of people with Sjogren's (102). Because many doctors do not know that...
31,384 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Oct 6, 20204 min read
What is good Sjogren’s care?
Does your rheumatologist Listen to your lungs during routine clinic visits? Order tests for blood cell counts, liver function, and kidney...
5,615 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Sep 28, 20202 min read
Getting real about better care
Getting real about better care: Systemic features can be found in almost every patient, yet it is hard to get comprehensive care.
1,193 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Aug 31, 20203 min read
Four pillars that support clinical practice
How do clinicians learn to treat diseases? They rely on these four pillars: 1. Clinical research. This includes studies that look at...
970 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Jul 8, 20204 min read
HCQ III - practical considerations. Updated 11-18-2022
1. Discuss HCQ (hydroxychloroquine) use with your rheumatologist. Rheumatologists vary when it comes to using HCQ for Sjogren’s. It can...
4,599 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Jun 24, 20206 min read
HCQ II - why treat Sjogren's? (updated 09-11-2023)
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ, aka “Plaquenil”) is the primary systemic medication used to treat Sjogren’s. Rheumatologists vary greatly when...
25,978 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Jun 16, 20202 min read
HCQ I - how the shortage highlights Sjogren's neglect
HCQ = hydroxychloroquine, brand name "Plaquenil" During the peak of the recent HCQ shortage, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)...
1,367 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
May 31, 20204 min read
How to educate clinicians
Patients are often confused about how to advocate for better care. Because so many clinicians are not up to date with Sjogren’s,...
1,454 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Feb 14, 20202 min read
Books for self advocacy
Too many patients are told: "Sjogren's does not cause ___"... about a common Sjogren's feature or "Sjogren's- is not serious /is not...
1,612 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Dec 26, 20191 min read
How dry are your eyes?
It is actually more accurate to say “How dry and inflamed are your eyes?” Find out why this is. Watch this wonderful, practical,...
1,728 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Dec 5, 20192 min read
Gems from the Sjogren's Foundation
The Sjogren's Foundation website is filled with wonderful, practical resources for patients.
582 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Oct 22, 20192 min read
Working with PCPs
Updated 11-14-2023 Sjogren’s patients routinely encounter clinicians who know very little about their disease. When I teach PCPs, they...
588 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Sep 25, 20193 min read
Sjogren's neglect IV - CME
Did you ever wonder how doctors stay up-to-date? They participate in continuing medical education programs (CME) in order to learn about...
525 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Sep 16, 20194 min read
Sjogren's neglect III - medical education
Why doesn’t my doctor understand Sjogren’s? This has been a frequent complaint in online support groups over the years. Medical education...
636 views
Sarah Schafer, MD
Sep 7, 20194 min read
Sjogren's neglect II - rheumatologists
The biggest challenge that many Sjogren’s patients face is finding a rheumatologist who is engaged and up to date on their disease. Like...
1,548 views
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