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I usually set goals for the year when January arrives. Not this time. I’ve decided to take life as it comes. Instead of saddling myself with resolutions, I’m embarking on something new. January derives from the two-faced Roman god Janus, who viewed both the future and the past. Drawing…

If your holiday shopping is done, indulge in some goodies and rejoice. Hopefully, I’ll be joining you soon. After that, a year-end health checklist awaits. Many with sarcoidosis require ongoing treatment. When multiple physicians are involved, remembering everything that was prescribed is difficult. One last review before 2021 arrives could…

Have you ever experienced a moment in which you just knew you were right about something, but you let the voice inside you convince you otherwise? That has happened to me several times in the past, but not this time. A few years ago, I was…

It usually takes me six months or longer to land an appointment with my neurologist. In October, I met virtually with him just a week after calling to schedule one. It was the same with other specialists: little to no wait time. But while this change benefits me, it may…

I lost my mother two weeks after I had surgery to remove nasal polyps. She had been my point of contact with the doctors during the surgery. I was still dealing with her loss when I was diagnosed with pulmonary…

We’re 13 days from the start of winter. Try telling that to my body, which already has fallen into a seasonal slump.  My knees quit first. After seeing them get away with it, my other joints and muscles followed with a “why bother” attitude. So, my mental warfare to…

I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted!  This has been a year for the books. We have all been through a lot, and now the year is coming to an end. I’m welcoming the new year with open arms. To use a golf analogy, we’re…

I used to stubbornly hang on to old ways of doing things. Sarcoidosis cured me of that. It’s why I wasn’t among the millions of Americans traveling for Thanksgiving. I won’t be at Christmas, either.  With COVID-19 cases spiking, forgoing get-togethers continues to be my new way of…

If you have reviewed your Medicare coverage options for 2021, pat yourself on the back. Annually, 57% don’t bother, according to recent analysis by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). If you’re among those that skip Medicare’s annual open enrollment, there are some good reasons not to ignore this round.

Second opinions are a welcome hope! I received one for the first time this week, and the experience left me questioning my decision. Earlier this year, my primary pulmonologist and I agreed that I should seek a second opinion on my lung health.