Columns

I received a phone call about a week ago from one of my cousins, who is like a little brother to me. We’ve always been very close, and before my cousin’s father passed away from cancer, he asked me to “look after” my cousin, which I’ve been doing…

In the midst of a medical crisis, my long-time friend made a suggestion. She advised me to find a calming activity that would help pass the time on the road to recovery. Since she’s both a friend and a licensed clinical social worker, I trusted her input. Not surprisingly, my…

Summer is coming Summer and my sarcoidosis don’t mix well. So when Philadelphia’s temperature soared past 80 degrees May 2, I became an amateur meteorologist. If you wanted to know the weather forecast for the next hour, day, week, or 10 days out, I was your person. The House…

The immediacy of society seems to be a bit out of control. Everyone seems like they’re on the clock for one reason or another. I’ve noticed this for the past several years, and it still surprises me how much people are in such a hurry for everything. The…

I spent months trying to schedule an appointment with a pulmonologist. Finally, I found one in another state. Unfortunately, I had to pay out of pocket for the visit. At this point, however, a potential answer seemed well worth the expense. The pulmonologist listened to my breathing, took note…

Sarcoidosis: No rest for the weary Taking my nephew along on errands when he was a kid meant a race against time. I tried to finish before he uttered “home,” which was toddler speak for “leave now or be embarrassed by a temper tantrum.” That’s what daily life with chronic…

My mother always had major health issues throughout her life, including congenital heart disease and serious asthma.  A few years before she passed, she had a procedure done that required a heart valve…

My pulmonologist advised me to schedule appointments with several specialists after I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis. These specialists included an eye doctor and a cardiologist, but I hadn’t made the eye appointment yet. I’ll admit that I was overwhelmed by the steady stream of doctors and tests. Eager to restore…

Sarcoidosis and the revolving door of doctors Getting treatment for sarcoidosis can be challenging due to the diminishing ranks and hours of physicians. It’s not likely to get any easier in the future because the demand for physicians is expected to continue to outpace supply. Going in to see…

Last Sunday was the one-year anniversary of the spontaneous pneumothorax I suffered in my right lung. In the lead-up to that day, I had been experiencing more anxiety than usual. At times, I grew deeply afraid and didn’t understand why I was feeling…