Twelve years ago today I officially began this journey with Sarcoidosis when I had an open lung biopsy. Four years afterwards I wrote about it. Once more I give you my experience of the worst operation I ever had, but as bad as the experience was, I never regret doing it. I finally gave in…
Tag: Surgery
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 Sunday Revisit Of “AICD (Defibrillator) Implant – My Truth”
Originally Posted January 29, 2012 I got a request to explain the procedure for an AICD (defibrillator) implant as the person is scheduled to have one implanted in a couple of weeks. As is my norm, I like to share me replies with the world. So here is AICD Implant – My Truth. After receiving…
The Weekend Worthy Revisit: Forgetting Buddy’s Birthday
Originally Posted on September 17, 2011 I am great at remembering dates and numbers. I know obscure dates, phones numbers from my childhood, even most of my account numbers and credit card numbers. Today I realized I forgot Buddy’s Birthday. It was his birthday last August 28th, and I forgot. It’s pretty hard for…
When A Day At The Hospital Can Be A Pleasant Experience
All too often we are quick to list the bad days we have, the horrible people we meet and bad experiences we encounter. I know that I too am guilty of that in my blog. I have a pet peeve with rudeness, and I posted before about some of my negative experiences with nurses. Is…
V Is For Vacation
This is a Blogging From A To Z Challenge Post April 25th – V I will be taking a few days off from my blog, and I am resigning from the blogging A to Z challenge. I am having my heart catheterization on Monday morning, and I need to just concentrate on me and my…
Q Is For Quiet
This is a Blogging From A to Z Challenge post April 18th – Q This year is nine years since being diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, and in that time I found that it is best to be quiet about my conditions, the way I feel and all what’s going on with me. My wife gave me…
O Is For Operations
This is a Blogging From A to Z Challenge post. April 17th – O If you told me nine years ago today that by now I would have five different operations, four of them alone heart related, I would probably have laughed. And then if you would have told me that I would have a…
L Is For Lung Biopsy
This is a Blogging From A To Z Challenge Post April 14th – L Yesterday was the anniversary of what I can honestly say was the start of of the worst three weeks of my life. Nine years ago yesterday I had an open lung biopsy to definitely diagnose my pulmonary sarcoidosis. (To read about…
The Wisdom Of Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is a beautiful, talented actress and a phenomenal humanitarian. Recently, when she learned that she had the gene for breast cancer, she took preventative steps and had a double mastectomy. Recently again, she had a blood test that showed she had markers for possible early cancer, and she had her ovaries removed. The…
Motivational Monday: Everything Will Be Okay
Written by Basil Rene © 2014 All Rights Reserved
Quiet Like A Low Tide, But My Tide Is Coming Back In
Since my surgery in July to replace my implanted defibrillator, just like a beach at low tide, my blog has been pretty quiet, and many of you have written in to see how I am doing and I really do appreciate the thoughts. Yes, I have been quiet on here, and I hope that I…
Recovery Should Be Like A Slow Walk Down A Flowered Path
Today marks three weeks since I had my defibrillator replaced, and I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if recovery from surgery was as easy and delightful as walking down a flowered path? Who am I kidding? This surgery marks is my fifth one since being diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2007, and as far as…
Is It Really A Zombie Invasion, Or Just My Post ICD Implant Surgery Paranoia?
When I had my original ICD implanted in 2007 due to heart failure caused by sarcoidosis, I went through the paranoia that new implantees go through but you never really hear about, and that is the fear of the device going off and shocking you, which I read feels like being kicked in the chest…
Coming Soon, Excerpts From The Book “Prescription For Disaster: The Funny Side Of Falling Apart” By Candace Lafluer
I recently posted a review on the book “Prescription For Disaster: The Funny Side Of Falling Apart”, a really well written book by Candace Lafluer about her exploits in the British hospital system living with sarcoidosis. You can read the review here. Well, great news! Candace has agreed to provide excerpts of her book right…
Anatomy Of A Surgery – My ICD Replacement
On Tuesday I had my ICD (Implanted defibrillator) replaced as my original one that was implanted in 2007 because of heart failure due to sarcoidosis, battery reached its threshold. I looked on the internet to find any one else’s experience with having the surgery, but no such luck. All I could find was the device…
“Prescription For Disaster: The Funny Side Of Falling Apart” – A Review
Everyone that lives with a chronic illness has their own war stories. Stories of horrors in hospitals, rude nurses, egotistical doctors, and just plain inefficiencies in the medical system. It happens no matter where in the world you are, just in different ways according to your country's medical system. And there are two ways you…
What Do You Mean I Can’t Shower For Three Days?!
In a few days I will have my implanted defibrillator replaced as my current one has reached its battery threshold, and I received the post op restrictions from my doctor's office. Among the instructions is no showers for three days.
