I started using oxygen for sleep and exertion in 2007 and at the time I was given those horrendous wine bottle size portable oxygen tanks that weighed a ton and only lasted an hour or two. Those didn’t work for me since my main form of exercise is hiking, so I researched and got my insurance…
The Weekend Revisit of: A Wasted Heart?
There is no greater gift than that of a second chance at life, and the ultimate gift is for a parent or spouse to decide to donate their loved one’s organs so that another person may have life. When an organ is donated, the recipient has a second chance, an opportunity given by the…
Could I Be Developing An Allergy To The Cold Or Is This Sarcoidosis Raising Its Ugly Head
For the past couple of weeks, when I come in from the cold, a few minutes after, I get this horrendous prickly feeling all over my torso, neck, jaw line and upper arms. It is the most irritating feeling, almost as if my skin is being attacked by a thousand little biting insects. I looked…
Happy Valentine’s Day And A Little Gift To You
It’s that time again for people in love to express their devotion to each other and for single people to be reminded that they are alone. The one thing that everyone has in common with this is day is chocolate or candy in general. I would love to give everyone of my readers a gift…
The Weekend Revisit of: Dangers of Statistics
DANGERS OF STATISTICS Originally posted April 24, 2012 I read a blog today by a heart failure patient who had just crossed their two-year mark of being diagnosed, and according to them, the statistics state that with their particular condition, they had a 50% chance of living for two years. This person apparently is convinced…
My Dreaded Registering With “The Man” Has Finally Come
Ever since developing cardiac sarcoidosis and getting my AICD implanted, I dreaded that one day it would affect my ability to get my driver’s permit. I love to drive, even in traffic. In summer my job requires that I drive an average of 4,000 miles in that time, and sometimes a 2 1/2 hour trip…
Prednisone Withdrawal Symptoms Worse Than The Actual Side Effects?
Here I go again. I have lost count of how many times I tried to wean myself from Prednisone. I am on this drug now for 10 years, 8 months and 23 days, and I tried to come off of it multiple times, all with disastrous results. I was being kept on a maintenance dose…
Maintaining A Blog: It Can Be Overwhelming And Sometimes Not At All Rewarding
I started this blog Seven years ago to chronicle my journey with sarcoidosis, and at the time I called it “Life with Sarcoidosis”. I did it mostly for myself as a journal of sorts. I never intended or expected anyone to follow it, but over the years I did gather a small following, and that…
New Rx Can Help With Stress And Other Ailments
I came across this infomercial for the best remedy for stress and a lot of other ailments. Please take a minute to look at it. I have used this Rx for many a year now, and I know it has helped me bounce back from being a few years away from being on a heart…
“Being Hip” Takes On A Whole Different Meaning Now
Sitting in my car in the parking lot of the mall, sipping on a Starbucks Frappucino, waiting for my wife and watching people go by, I try to keep moving around my leg to ease the discomfort of my hip. For the past couple of months my right hip has been aching off and on,…
When Something Isn’t The Right Time
I just finished writing a very detailed post about meditation and the process I use. I wrote it on my laptop in a program separate from WordPress so that my entry wouldn’t post incorrectly, which for some reason happens to me in WordPress. I wrote it, re-read it, tweaked it and was happy with it…
Here I Go, Again!
I haven’t written anything to this blog for a while and frankly it’s because I have no inspiration. The blog was originally meant to be my posts about living my life with Sarcoidosis, but really, I don’t have very much to say anymore on my condition that hasn’t already been said. Then I got an…
ICD Doesn’t Reduce Mortality in Non-Ischemic HF | Medpage Today
I Can’t believe that they actually did a study to figure this out! And ICD is just to stop firibiulation of the heart. Nothing else. by Crystal Phend Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today This article is a collaboration between MedPage Today® and: Medpage Today Implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) don’t reduce mortality risk in heart failure…
Why Do I Need To Justify My Apple Watch?
I stood at the counter of the Starbucks, waiting for my mobile order. The ordering line was long and as usual and I could feel the eyes of those in the line on me, watching that I just walked in the door, right past all of them and straight to the pick up counter to…
The Weekend Revisit Of “Crossing Bridges”
Originally posted on April 22, 2012 On a recent trip into NYC for my ICD interrogation, my wife and I took a train down town to see the 9/11 memorial. We have not been there since the buildings fell. Prior to the attacks we were often in the North Tower as my brother had his…
The Weekend Revisit Of “Superman Is Grounded”
Originally Posted April 17, 2012 I went into NYC for an ICD interrogation (Fancy term for reading my defibrillator), a simple procedure where the doctor downloads the information from the device and makes sure everything is okay. That little device – I call him “Buddy” – keeps track of my heart so completely that it…
Prednisone Withdrawal Is No Fun
Today marks exactly 10 years, non stop, that I am on Prednisone for sarcoidosis. The side effects of this medication can be horrendous, but thankfully my experience in those ten years were just mostly mood changes, thining skin and some weight gain. I am told that for being on it so long, my weight gain…
The Weekend Revisit of “Appreciating My Life”
Originally posted April 10, 2012It’s spring, and with it comes new beginnings, new life, new starts. I recently changed all of my bank accounts to another bank as my old bank was bought out. I had to change my work email address as there were technical difficulties with the old one. Little changes, big steps….
Happy Anniversary To Me!
It’s hard to believe that I started this blog six years ago today. How time and life flies by within a blink. Thanks to everyone that has followed me, commented on and liked my post over the years. Even those that challenged me. I learned a lot and hope to learn even more.
Sentimental Power Over Values
Recently, my mother could not walk anymore, and long story short, she now lives in an assisted living home. Since she decided that she will no longer be socializing outside of the home, she distributed her jewelry between her daughters-in-law and her one niece. I inherited my grand step mother’s wedding ring and a small…
And Now Comes The Book
I am writting this book not with the intention of making a profit and selling millions of copies …
Before You Can Really Get Help, Learn About Yourself
Exactly ten years ago today, I got a call from my doctor to confirm that my test results were positive for sarcoidosis. The day before, I came out of the hospital after a three day stay for an open lung biopsy, the test to determine if sarcoidosis was indeed active in my lungs. To date,…
The Sunday Revisit Of “Slipping Back Into Old Habits”
Originally Posted March 21, 2012 I am slowly slipping back in to my bad habits and I know I am going to pay the price down the road, so I have to stop. I am aware of my vice of staying up late and then getting up at my normal time only to go through…
The Saturday Revisit Of “A Little Off Subject”
Originally Posted March 19, 2012 Just A Little Off The Subject Imagine yourself in a room with some of your closest friends and acquaintances and it is your birthday. They each come up to you and wish you Happy Birthday one by one. Do you tell them each thank you as they greet you or…
Unchallenging Myself
I received an email letting me know that the April A to Z blogging challenge registration was coming up on January 25th. I participated that last couple of years and getting this email I not only decided not to participate on this blog ( I probably will on my photography blog), but I realized that…
The Sunday Revisit Of “A Frappe Latte Slappe In The Face”
Originally Posted March 15, 2012 Ever since I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in 2006, I have been constantly on prednisone at various doses, and in that time I have put on thirty pounds. I have not really tried to lose the weight until now. I joined Weight Watchers on line and I am counting points….
The Saturday Revisit Of “Letting Go Of My Old Self”
Originally Posted March 9, 2012 Letting Go Of My Old Self One thing about having a chronic condition, and in my case, more than one, is that you need to accept that your life, in one way or another, will change forever. I remember the day before I had my defibrillator implanted I knew that…
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