Columns

Before sarcoidosis hit me, I was a Pilates enthusiast and practiced yoga, too. Between classes and my practice at home, I stayed rather active with these two forms of exercise. However, like so much in life, the ability to stay active drastically changed after my diagnosis. But then an…

Twice in the past month, a charley horse in my right calf has ripped me from blissful sleep. Even though prednisone wasn’t to blame for the agonizing 4 a.m. wake-up calls, it’s the first thing I thought about while lying in bed, writhing in pain. I’ve lost count of…

Recently, I received a phone call from my former brother-in-law. He suggested that I come out to his house for a few days of rest and relaxation. He checks on me daily since I had my first spontaneous pneumothorax in August 2017. I…

I have an extreme aversion to needles. When I was much younger and needed to have blood drawn, I would pass out during the process. This happened every time, without fail, regardless of how we tried to prevent it. When my primary care physician, who is also a pulmonologist in…

Finding an escape in football Prior to my sarcoidosis diagnosis, the National Football League (NFL) got my attention once a year when the Super Bowl aired. That only changed if my hometown team had a shot of making it to the big game; then, I would tune in for the…

Finally … some relief!  It’s been an exhausting few weeks along the East Coast. The weather has taken a toll, particularly on people like me who live with sarcoidosis and have breathing issues. Over the last…

After my diagnosis, I started looking for ways to help myself heal. Through research and conversations with healthcare providers, I learned that individuals with sarcoidosis have higher levels of inflammation than most of the population. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to infection or injury. It’s necessary for the…

If you have become disabled as a result of sarcoidosis or another health condition, searching for ways to save on medical and prescription costs is often at the top of your mind. But there are numerous other discounts, ranging from travel to lodging, that you may be overlooking. Travel…

Over the last two weeks, I’ve been doing a lot of introspection. I’ve been thinking about how I came to be in this situation — living with sarcoidosis — and how I’m not going to let this illness define the rest of my life.

Finding an exercise routine to stick with can be challenging under the best of circumstances. Since my sarcoidosis diagnosis, it has become even more of a dilemma. Research shows exercise can help with an overall sense of well-being and quality of life in those with sarcoidosis. But how…