Dianne F Ireland - My Battle & Beyond: Silent Journey-Living with Sarcoidosis

My Battle & Beyond

Silent Journey

Living with Sarcoidosis

D.F. Ireland

By the same Author

Cookbook

Grandmamas Treasured Favorites & Traditional Recipes

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means- electronic, mechanical, photocopying, and recording or otherwise. To perform any of the above is an infringement of copyright law.

Disclaimer:

Information gathered to prepare this book originated from the authors personal diary, medical records, public materials from Krames Patient Education, and Uptodate. The names of the professionals described in this book are not authentic.

ISBN-13: 978-1506119694

ISBN-10:1506119697

Copyright 2015- Dianne Ireland

Cover Design Dianne Ireland

Printed by - Create Space

I have

chosen to be

HAPPY

because it is

good for

my health

-Voltaire

There is only one way

to happiness

and

that is to cease worrying

about things

which are beyond

the power of our will

-Epictetus

DEDICATION

To all my Sarc sisters, and brothers wherever you are, to believe in yourselves, and those around you.

Some days you will be the light for others, and some days you will need some light from them. As long as there is light, there is hope, and there is a way.

Sarcoidosis sufferers are known as snowflakes. No two snowflakes are alike; no two people suffering with Sarcoidosis are alike.

Stay strong with hopes there will be a cure for Sarcoidosis.

Please dont let another snowflake melt away!

BELIEVE; HOPE; LOVE; FAITH

CONTENTS

Acknowledgement

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to acknowledge my precious family, who are continually there for me, especially my hubby Jim, who patiently waits in the many waiting rooms for me, while I have been in surgeries and numerous tests. Thank you, to my family, my rocks!

Huge thanks, to my wonderful medical team of professionals who saved my life; and to the western medical professionals, and holistic traditional professionals who work diligently to ensure my medical care and treatment plan is continually monitored, and effective.

And to my friends, and co-workers who offer continued encouragement with their kind words of caring.

I wish to acknowledge four women; who have been part of the finalization of my book.

Judy Coates; who has inspired me to write, her kind, and gentle way of reviewing my manuscript.

Tracy Zweifel; offering to review my manuscript, as she spoke of being honored. It is I, who is honored to have a wise women taking the time from her busy schedule to review my manuscript.

Dianne Tchir; thanks for editing my book, and encouraging me to continue to write, as she stated, There is so much more in you.

Bernadette Harris; who endured the freezing snowy winter day, spending time with me, taking photo shots for the cover of my book, a vision I had.

Although neither one of us are professional photographers, and with several attempts, successfully produced a picture for my book; even when the camera froze up.

Sincere thank you ladies, for making this book become a reality.

And to the reader, thank you for taking this journey with me.

PROLOGUE

My life, My story, My silent journey

As I turned the pages of my personal medical reports, I began to ponder over my circumstances, realizing the importance to share with others; my silent inner struggles, experiences, feelings about living, managing, and coping with a mysterious complicated disease, and the anguish it causes. As this may assist others who are suffering and letting them know they are not alone.

It was early spring in 2009, when my journey began to unravel with many ups, and downs battling the unknown; a roller coaster ride not knowing when the ride would stop. Experiencing various levels of emotions, and turmoils at the same time. I was determine never to lose this fight, and to overcome.

I am living with Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune system disease, which effects, and damages one or more organs of the body. This is a mysterious disease, treated with prednisone, and chemotherapies.

It tends to be more common in women than men, between the ages of twenty to forty years of age. However, it can affect all ages and races. Sarcoidosis is most commonly found in African-Americans and Northern Europeans. But in North America, African-Americans are attacked more frequently, and most severely than Caucasian, and are treated with prednisone, and

chemotherapies. Sarcoidosis is characterized by a persistent nodular inflammation of the tissues. Lungs, lymph nodes, eyes, skin, liver and spleen which are most often involved, but almost any tissue or organ of the body can be affected.

Each individual, who has been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, receives the same or similar treatments at various levels. This depends upon the severity of the disease, and organ location.

There are people who may unknowingly have had Sarcoidosis, and the disease stabilized on its own. There are others who have Sarcoidosis in only one area; particularly the lungs which is most common.

Then, there are individuals like myself, where the disease has affected a number of my organs, causing severe problems. I have Sarcoidosis in the trachea, heart, lymph nodes (throughout my body), eyes, outer skin of my left leg, outer upper left eyelid and bridge of my nose, and have been identified as, at a higher risk level.

In the preparation of this book, was not my aim to present happenings from a professional standpoint of views, as I am not a medical professional. Only to share my personal story of diagnosis, treatments, options, and prognosis which I have had, and continue to endure.

My search for resources, and potential alternative treatments kept me strong in hope, and faith as I continue to struggle with nagging pain.

I encourage those who are currently affected by, and those who have recently been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis to continue your personal research on ways to aid with your discomforts and pain. Stay strong, believe in yourself!

For me it is important to keep my spirit strong.

My hope is that the reader will have a better understanding of Sarcoidosis disease effects, and the many challenges individuals may encounter when diagnosed with Sarcoidosis.

I sincerely hope that those of you who are currently affected by, and those who have currently been diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, take the journey to arrive at some comforts.

And, with blessings from the Creator, I pray for a healing of this disease.

So, come walk with me, as I tell my story.

Hiy Hiy Blessings

ONE

Visit to the Doctor

My journey begins on a relatively warm, sunny, winter day of January 8, 2009 as I recall, no different than any other day.

At sixty years of age, my health was normal; no high blood pressure, no illness, and rarely sick with any type of flus or colds. I was medication free with few doctor appointments.

I had scheduled a doctors appointment, for that afternoon as I had concerns, and questions related to post-menopause. During the examination, Doctor Karen asked, Do you have any other questions, relating to health issues? Yes I do. When I use my exercise machine, and move my arms back, and forth there is a crunching feeling, and heaviness in the center of my breast bone. As I pointed to the area.