Dancing with the Stars judge Carrie Ann Inaba is opening up about her journey living with Sj\u00f6gren disease.Sj\u00f6gren disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the glands responsible for producing saliva and tears.Inaba lived with symptoms for years before receiving a diagnosis.<\/p>\n
Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) judge Carrie Ann Inaba began experiencing a variety of symptoms she couldn\u2019t explain in her 20s. They included corneal damage to her eyes, dry mouth, fatigue, brain fog, and pain throughout her body.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like my body was just not working,\u201d Inaba told Healthline, \u201cAll the things I could do, I couldn\u2019t do anymore. And I couldn\u2019t understand what it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
She began researching her symptoms and found they were commonly associated with the autoimmune condition Sj\u00f6gren disease<\/a>. <\/p>\n However, when she brought up the condition to her ophthalmologist, they shrugged her off, something she said is common for people living with Sj\u00f6gren disease.<\/p>\n \u201cSj\u00f6gren disease\u2026is something that people do not talk about\u2026a lot of people don\u2019t know how to pronounce it, don\u2019t know much about it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Eventually, after years of living with symptoms, Inaba received a referral to a rheumatologist who diagnosed her with Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s disease in 2013.<\/p>\n \u201cI was grateful\u2026so weird to say, but at least now I knew what I was dealing with. I knew the direction that I needed to search for more answers,\u201d Inaba said.<\/p>\n Sj\u00f6gren\u2019s disease can be challenging to diagnose and may take several years from the onset of symptoms to receive a definitive diagnosis, said Nina Couette<\/a>, DO, rheumatologist and assistant professor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine.<\/p>\n The main reason for this is that the hallmark symptoms, including persistent dry eyes and dry mouth, are common and can result from many different causes, including menopause<\/a>, medication side effects, fibromyalgia<\/a>, and other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis<\/a> or lupus<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause these symptoms overlap with so many other conditions, identifying Sjogren disease often requires careful evaluation and specialized testing,\u201d Couette told Healthline.<\/p>\n One of the most difficult realities of living with Sj\u00f6gren disease for Inaba is how it impacts her ability to dance\u2014her \u201cfirst love.\u201d<\/p>\n In 2013, her symptoms became debilitating, and she also experienced a physical injury. Both caused her to stop dancing.<\/p>\n \u201cIt broke my heart, honestly,\u201d she said. \u201cI was having widespread pain throughout my body, and the fatigue was so immense. I was having so many flare-ups because I wasn\u2019t managing my health, because I didn\u2019t understand the condition.\u201d<\/p>\n Living with these symptoms soon began taking a mental toll, too.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething that people don\u2019t often talk about with Sj\u00f6gren disease is the depression that comes along with it, and anxiety,\u201d Inaba said. \u201cThe uncertainty of \u2018When is a flare-up going to happen?\u2019 The uncertainty of, \u2018Do I have energy to get through the day today?\u2019 You go on a high alert when you live with this condition, and it\u2019s so challenging.\u201d<\/p>\n The impact of the disease often extends far beyond what people can see, said Couette.<\/p>\n \u201cSjogren\u2019s is a complex systemic autoimmune disease<\/a> that can affect multiple organs and body systems,\u201d she said. \u201cIn addition to dryness, patients may experience profound fatigue, brain fog<\/a>, joint and muscle pain, nerve-related symptoms, and involvement of organs such as the lungs, kidneys, or nervous system.\u201d<\/p>\n Over time, Inaba learned how to best care for her body and mind.<\/p>\n \u201cEnergy management is my number one focus at all times,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m constantly monitoring for how my body is reacting to things, and I really listen to my body.\u201d<\/p>\n She believes learning to \u201clisten\u201d to her body is one of the unexpected gifts of living with the disease.<\/p>\n \u201cI have really learned to pay attention to my body,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen it tingles about something, that\u2019s a message, and I listen to it. If I\u2019m starting to feel uncomfortable, that means this situation is not right for me, and I need to step away from it.\u201d<\/p>\n Her daily wellness routine includes yoga<\/a> and mindful movement, such as rotating her joints to keep synovial fluid moving through her body. She also leans on acupuncture<\/a>, Reiki<\/a>, bodywork, and red-light therapy<\/a>, and she sleeps on a heating pad.<\/p>\n \u201cSelf-care and lifestyle measures play an important role in managing Sj\u00f6gren disease,\u201d said Couette. \u201c[Adopting] a healthy lifestyle can help patients feel their best.\u201d<\/p>\n She said staying well hydrated, prioritizing adequate sleep, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, and following a balanced, nutritious diet<\/a> can all contribute to improved overall well-being and quality of life.<\/p>\n While there is currently no FDA-approved treatment specifically for Sj\u00f6gren disease, Couette said many current therapies focus on symptom management, particularly for dry eyes and dry mouth. <\/p>\n Over-the-counter medications, such as cevimeline and pilocarpine, help stimulate saliva production, and immunosuppressive medications are available for those with systemic or organ involvement.<\/p>\n \u201cI do a lot,\u201d Inaba said, \u201cbecause it takes a lot to manage Sj\u00f6gren disease. [But] it is possible to live a good life.\u201d<\/p>\n Couette agrees. She said it\u2019s an especially exciting time in Sjogren disease research because several investigational therapies, including ianalumab and nipocalimab<\/a>, are being studied in clinical trials and have shown promising results.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile these treatments are still under review, they offer hope for future disease-modifying therapies that may address the underlying autoimmune process rather than just symptoms,\u201d Couette said.<\/p>\n Inaba is turning her journey with Sj\u00f6gren disease into advocacy. <\/p>\n