Life Altered — Kate Spencer

My calves and ankles were thick and swollen from erythema nodosum. I was struggling with a cough and fatigue daily. We were still waiting for a formal diagnosis, and though it felt like we were getting closer, the delay was difficult to cope with. My primary care physician suggested…

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.

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…

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…

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…

Dr. Rossi raised my puffy leg, which was three times its normal size, and closely examined it. “I think the inflammation is a secondary condition called erythema nodosum,” she said confidently. “Based on the cough, I would say you have sarcoidosis,” she added. My brain was having difficulty processing…

It began as just a typical cough. At first, I thought it was related to a common cold or some type of seasonal allergy, and I expected it to last only a week to 10 days. Over time, it became a hacking cough, deep in my chest but unproductive. Until…

The unrelenting fatigue hit me like a bad case of the flu. I longed to stay in bed all day, but I had a full schedule that wouldn’t allow for that. I pushed myself and continued to do so each day, until one day, I found I simply couldn’t push…

A piercing scream woke me from a sound sleep that morning. It echoed from every corner of the house. My brain struggled to identify the source of the squealing before finally realizing it was coming from me. Intense pain was all over my body. Like a bad toothache, it came…

I was an average woman in my early 30s, married with two young stepsons, working a full-time job in healthcare sales and marketing. My husband and I had recently purchased our first home. We enjoyed spending time with family and friends and led a healthy lifestyle. Then one day, I…