An abundance of events are afoot around the world to mark Rare Disease Day 2020 on Feb. 29. The activities are focused on heightening awareness about rare diseases and the hundreds of millions of individuals they are thought to affect. Patients, caregivers, and advocates worldwide will sport denim ribbons…
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I often am my own worst enemy. Well, sarcoidosis is actually my worst enemy. But I’d say I’m a close second. I know I need to take good care of myself on a daily basis. I am aware I need to do whatever it takes to sleep well and stay…
Columns
Rainy Days Always Get Me Down
When it comes to managing sarcoidosis, rain feels like another obstacle in my day. And Mother Nature has been pouring down plenty of it in the Philadelphia area lately. Give me a day or two of wet weather and it’s unpleasant, but I manage. But being stuck in a seemingly…
My husband is heading out on an impromptu business trip. Coincidentally, his destination is just minutes from one of our favorite vacation spots. I could easily stay home, but I’ve decided to accompany him. He’ll be training a new hire. After that, we’ll leave one of his company vehicles behind…
I know that getting outdoors is good for my health and my sarcoidosis management. But the deeper we get into winter, the more I try to avoid it. Much like when I’m battling the hottest days of summer, a nature walk for me now is whatever I see…
I see my pulmonologist every two to three months to see how I’m doing with my pulmonary sarcoidosis management and to follow up after pulmonary function tests. Before I see him, I usually get a few…
I mentioned in a previous column my desire to embrace winter this year. As I’m writing this, it has been unseasonably warm here in the Northeast. Warmer temperatures help tremendously with my sarcoidosis symptoms, and for this, I am grateful. But I know the winter elements are still…
When I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, my physicians drilled into me the importance of annual lung and eye exams. And I have followed through every year without fail. But numerous readers have made me aware of another important area of concern: the heart. February is American Heart Month and…
Xeljanz (tofacitinib) is an oral treatment originally developed at the National Institutes of Health through collaboration with Pfizer. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Xeljanz as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis. It has also been used…
A couple of weeks ago, I endured a full week of medical testing to see if alternative therapies might help me to live better with sarcoidosis. Needless to say, I was thrilled when it was all over. Last weekend, I…