Life Altered - a Column by Kate Spencer

I’m Trying Tai Chi to Help Manage My Health Challenges

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…

Changing My Diet Helped Me Better Manage My Inflammation

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…

The Exercise Challenge for Individuals with Sarcoidosis

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…

Surviving the Four Seasons with Sarcoidosis

Here in the northeastern part of the United States, we enjoy four distinct seasons. Before my sarcoidosis diagnosis, I appreciated each season for different reasons. However, since sarcoidosis, things have changed. Summer was my favorite season when I was younger. Like many kids, I spent days in the sun,…

Managing Sarcoidosis-induced Anxiety

I wasn’t always an anxious person. Since my sarcoidosis diagnosis, however, I feel I exist in a perpetual state of anxiety. In the beginning, I am certain the anxiety was a result of the pain and fatigue. I was struggling to get answers and a formal diagnosis.

My Bronchoscopy: Paying Out of Pocket for a Diagnosis

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…