Originally posted January 23, 2014 It is amazing how you need to plan your life when you have chronic conditions. Simple things like a road trip become an event. I need to figure out if I need to walk with my portable liquid oxygen or my concentrator. How many days of medication I need. If…
Tag: Heart Failure
Superman Is Grounded
When I was given the news in 2007 that sarcoidosis affected my heart and that I had 5 to 10 years before I would need a heart and lung transplant, I was determined to prove doctors wrong. There was no way I was having a transplant. I was going to live way beyond the ten…
What Is The One Main Thing That Made Me Thrive Despite My Prognosis With Cardiac Sarcoidosis?
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…
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
Life As An Anomaly 