This is an “Ask Me Anything About My Life With Sarcoidosis Post”. For more information on these post, please click on the logo at the end of this post. The following question was emailed to me by a reader that wished to remain anonymous: Q: ”Basil, you claim that when you were first diagnosed with…
Tag: Heart Failure
I Am Still Alive!
On this day in 2006, fourteen whole years ago, a surgeon made three slices in my right torso and extracted three pieces of my lung for examination to confirm suspected sarcoidosis. If you haven’t guessed, I was positive. Stage four they said. Severe scaring they said. One year later that pesky old sarcoidosis made it’s…
Existing drug may extend life with congestive heart failure – Futurity
Preclinical studies show that a common blood pressure medication called Aliskiren can prevent fluid retention and muscle wasting in patients with congestive heart failure [which can be brought on by cardiac sarcoidosis] — Read on http://www.futurity.org/aliskiren-medication-heart-failure-2182152-2/
Exercise Is My Double Edged Sword
It sounds counterintuitive, but when you have heart failure you still need to exercise that muscle. No matter what, it is a muscle and not giving it a workout will only end up with it getting weaker. I have always been a very active person, hiking, bike riding etc. I still like to keep active…
Sometimes Frustration Cancels Out Positivity, But Just Briefly
No matter how positive you are about life, there are times when that positivity gets thrown out the window and replaced by unadulterated frustration, especially when living with a chronic illness like sarcoidosis. If you follow my blog you know that I am an anomaly, and doctors have no explanation as to how I am…
The Weekend Revisit Of: “Can You Awake Sleeping Beauty?”
I wrote about my experiences with memory loss and my meds. One of the problems I have is that if I don’t set an alarm, I will forget to take my medication. I worked it out now so that I take my medications three times a day, 9 AM, 3PM and 9PM. I take…
Sarcoidosis – Symptoms And Causes – Mayo Clinic
The cause of sarcoidosis is unknown, but experts think it results from the body’s immune system responding to an unknown substance. Some research suggests that infectious agents, chemicals, dust and a potential abnormal reaction to the body’s own proteins (self-proteins) could be responsible for the formation of granulomas in people who are genetically predisposed. There…
Inflammation of the Heart: Symptoms You Need to Know – Cleveland Clinic
If you have cardiac sarcoidosis it means that inflammation is affecting your heart. The cause of this rare disease is unknown. Find out what is known about it. — Read on health.clevelandclinic.org/inflammation-of-the-heart-symptoms-you-need-to-know/
The Weekend Revisit Of: “Happy Birthday Buddy”
Buddy is five today! Five years ago, buddy entered my world and changed it forever. Of course buddy was never planned for. How do you plan for someone like Buddy? I still remember the emotions I felt the day before I got buddy. I knew that the next day nothing I did would ever be…
Defying The Rules And Living
When I first discovered that I had a hole in my heart, I was told that for six months afterwards I would need to take it easy. I needed to give the heart time to grow tissue over the plug that was placed in the hole, otherwise, if I fell too hard or anything like…
The Truth About Dealing With Heart Failure – Consumer Reports
Heart failure affects 1 in 5 adults and can shorten life. Consumer Reports offers advice on how to live longer and better with heart failure. — Read on http://www.consumerreports.org/heart-failure/truth-about-heart-failure/
Let’s Change The Term “Heart Failure” To “Cardiac Impairment”
I have cardiac sarcoidosis and as a result, I have heart failure. I really hate that term. There is such a finality to it that it makes it sound as if all hope is lost, there is no coming back. I really wish that the medical establishment would start using a different term, such as…
Calgary Doctor Monitors Heart Failure Patients With Wireless Sensor | Calgary Herald
Ok. This is really scary to me! A Calgary doctor is using a tiny wireless sensor to monitor heart failure patients.As part of a clinical pilot program and research study with the University of Calgary, Foothills Medical Centre heart failure specialist. — Read on calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/wireless-sensor-allows-calgary-doctor-to-monitor-heart-failure-patients
The Association Between Heart Failure and Postoperative Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Ambulatory Noncardiac Surgery
What is the association between severity of heart failure and risk of postoperative mortality among patients undergoing non cardiac ambulatory surgery? Good question. Well there was a study to determine the association. — Read on jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2738041
Wonder Diabetes Drug Key To Treating Heart Failure
Scientists have noticed something about empagliflozin which could benefit both non-diabetic and diabetic heart failure patients. The drug was found to prolong the survival of people with Type 2 diabetes may also be able to treat heart failure. — Read on http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/dr-miriam-stoppard-wonder-diabetes-18209013
The Weekend Revisit Of “How Do You Fix A Fix?”
Five years ago I had a mini stroke which led to the discovery of my PFO (Patent Foramen Ovalae or hole in the heart), and eventually to the discovery of my heart failure. I had the PFO fixed and how that works is they place a plug much like a small double umbrella in the…
Cardiac Sarcoidosis: What You Should Know
In cardiac sarcoidosis, abnormal clumps of cells called granulomas form within the heart, potentially causing several cardiac problems. — Read on http://www.verywellhealth.com/cardiac-sarcoidosis-what-you-should-know-4157453
I Need Some Clarity
A couple of weeks ago I woke up with my vision really wonky. My left eye seemed out of focus and I had flashes of lights. When I looked at anything digital straight on like my clock or phone, there was a spot just to the left that was just blank. I called my eye…
The Weekend Revisit Of “Weight A Minute”
Last week I got my certificate from massage school, and although it is just a piece of paper, it was the mark of a major accomplishment for me. I did it. It took three attempts, but I never gave up on my dream to graduate from massage school. And to celebrate, my wife and did…
Can We Clear The Air About Sarcoidosis And Depression?
Sarcoidosis DOES NOT cause depression. Reading different posts at different sites, it is becoming a common misconception that sarcoidosis of itself causes depression and the two go hand in hand. This is entirely not true. On a blog post I read recently, a person was recently diagnosed with sarcoidosis and their main concern was that…
Another Of Life’s Little Battles
What a roller coaster ride the past couple of months have been with my journey with sarcoidosis. Last year, after twelve years of constantly being on prednisone, I was finally weaning off the drug slowly. In November I had my usual echocardiogram which came back having my heart function ejection fraction at 35%. To say…
Taking Care Of Me
It’s been a while since my last post, almost six weeks. A lot has happened health wise with me since then. Lots of testing and fighting with insurance to pay for the major part of the testing and just saying “F**k it!”, and paying for it myself. It has been a small journey, and one…
When A Discount Is Not A Good Thing
5% isn’t that much of a discount if you go to store, but it is a lot when you are talking about ejection fractions and heart functions. It’s something you don’t want a discount on. It’s something you hope for an increase. I had my annual echo cardiogram last week and met with my cardiologist…
And Then There Was One
1 mg of Prednisone. That is what I am down to. I haven’t been this low on a dose since starting the drug in 2006. The lowest I was ever able to get to was 3 mg and all hell would break loose, prompting me to go back up prednisone. Now I made it to…
The Weekend Revisit Of “Making It Through On Love”
I am a very, very blessed man, and I know it. I get a few emails in response to “My Story” where I give a brief synopsis of my journey with sarcoidosis and heart failure, and I get at least one email a week commenting on how “hard” my experience has been, or asking for…
Yes, I Am Alive!
Someone that follows my blog sent an email to me the other day, asking if I was alive as I have not been writing. Yes, I am alive! What can I say? I have been busy but honestly I just haven’t had the zeal to write on my blog, write my book or even journal….
Surviving Without Air!
I recently took a vacation and I decided at the last minute not to travel with my supplemental oxygen. What? Are you crazy man? Yep, you read that correctly. I decided to hop on a plane for a 7.5 hour trip with supplemental oxygen. If you are here for the first time, just a quick…
Breathing Easier
When jets are at altitude, the inside of the plane is pressurized to simulate earth at about 8,000 feet. For a person with breathing problems, any altitude above 9,000 feet can cause problems. In the last year I had my fair share of air travel. I have seen the inside of JFK a total of…
