Living with Sjorgen’s Syndrome

"I was very scared and I think that was good because it got me moving . . . learning how to heal."
– Paulette Millis

Ever since she was a little girl, Paulette Millis had struggled with health problems. At age eight, she was diagnosed with a thyroid deficiency, and she spent most of her childhood in and out of hospitals. A final blow came when she was diagnosed with Sjorgen’s Syndrome, an incurable syndrome affecting the bones, joints, and soft tissues. The cause of Sjorgen’s syndrome is unknown, and it occurs nine times more often in women than in men.

Paulette was shocked with her diagnosis. "I got a book from the library and it said that most Sjorgren’s patients die of pneumonia because you have so many infections within fifteen years so I was devastated." The syndrome produces a variety of symptoms, including a mump-like swelling of the glands, dry eyes and mouth, and tooth decay. Paulette was not satisfied with conventional treatments for Sjorgen’s, which focused on easing the symptoms without considering whole-body health. She wanted something more. She says, "I was very scared and I think that was good because it got me moving, learning how to heal." Paulette consulted Dr. Allana Danilkewitch, who helped her make healthy choices in dealing with her illness.

Paulette began her treatment with a change in diet. She explains, "I want to use whole healthy foods that are going to rebuild my cells, not processed refined foods that lack nutrients." Because of the difficulty in chewing and swallowing, Paulette’s diet consisted of mainly soups, sauces, and other easily digested foods. She also began to change her environment at home, installing a water purifier and using natural cleaning products. Having a cleaner home meant less irritation by dangerous chemicals.

The cause of Sjorgen’s syndrome is unknown, and it occurs nine times more often in women than in men.

The syndrome produces a variety of symptoms, including a mump-like swelling of the glands, dry eyes and mouth, and tooth decay

Paulette realized how far she’d come when she attended a conference on Sjorgen’s Syndrome. She says, "what I saw was a whole pile of people who were taking all kinds of drugs and continuing to go downhill, to just deal with their symptoms without doing anything to take control of their own body." Paulette sees her illness as a gift – it has forced her to make positive choices in her life. She has become a registered nutritional consultant, and she helps educate others about healthy lifestyle choices. Paulette has done several television spots called Cooking for Health.