Yes... It Hurts To Breathe

Yes.. it really hurts to breathe...but ya gotta do what ya gotta do! Besides having a piece of my lung removed two weeks ago I guess part of the reason that my breathing is hurting is because of this Sarcoidosis in my lungs. I am learning a little bit more about this disease by researching online. I guess there are even stages. I have no idea what stage I am at .... I have been sick forever so  who knows? I know I do not have the mild form of sarc like some of the luckier people I have read about who seem to recover completely from a brief bout of illness with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. I have been dealing with an autoimmune disease for the last twenty years so I am sure this is the culprit! Anyway...maybe when I see the pulmonologist he will tell me what stage he thinks I am in. For me it doesn't really matter. I just would like to breathe without feeling like there is a knife stabbing through my ribs! I guess it is time for a pain pill! I can only stand it so long and then I succumb once again to the short lived relief that a pill will deliver.

My Newest Diagnosis

Well the latest diagnosis is Sarcoidosis! So now that means I have....Fibromyalgia, Sarcoidosis, and possibly Lymphoma? The Lymphoma is an educated guess....but as time goes on will be more clear if it is true. The Pet scan showed up fifteen lymph nodes and the dr told me that usually with this many involved ...even with a diagnosis of Sarcoidosis , there is a strong liklihood of a source of cancer somewhere possibly even the lymph nodes themselves. There have been studies done confirming the link between Sarcoidosis and Lymphoma. But for now... my next step is a visit with my pulmonologist on the 18th, when we will discuss treatment options and future scans,etc. Then my primary doc also will be involved and my neurologist since I have many nervous system problems as well. I am going to use this blog to keep everyone informed as to what is going on and to maybe raise awareness for this unheard of disease! I saw one statistic that said in the US...11 in 100,000 people have it....that is fairly rare and  I am one of the 11! I guess I am a special one!

Fibro Fourth

Sometimes you just have to grin and bear it! Yikes...Maybe a loud parade and the booming fireworks can blast out the pain or at least help you forget about it for just a little while. This is not my first fourth of July when I have been recovering from a surgery. It happened to me once before back about twenty years ago. Boy, just writing that seems so hard to believe it was even that long ago! I recall being in a lot of pain after abdominal surgery and everyone else was having a good 'ol time blasting off fireworks and eating all kinds of goodies.  Once again... I am at a point of not really giving a care about the fact that it is a hoop- ti- lah holiday for everyone..... I would just as soon kick back and take a few pain pills and forget about the world.....maybe just sip a cold drink on my porch out front with the sunglasses on,  and watch the clouds roll by! Of course wishing I was in my favorite place by the sea, but  overall, just happy to be able to relax and celebrate my "Fibro Fourth"!