Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: How are you dealing with it?

Hi @bboxer,
I'd like to introduce you to several members who are discussing sarcoidosis (pulmonary and neuro). Please meet @josephene @irene5 @chesneydell1965 @rayrachel @rickys. You can read their discussions here:

- Sarcoidosis in the Autoimmune Diseases group http://mayocl.in/2ixthUD
- Neurosarcoidosis in the Brain & Nervous System group http://mayocl.in/2hot44e

bboxer, You ask great questions. Would you get us started off by telling us what you know about your prognosis and how you manage the pain you experience?

I've been seeing my local pulmonologist since being diagnosed. ~ 10 yrs ago. All he's really been doing for me for the last few years is readministering some breathing tests to see if there's been any improvement or worsening (definitely the latter!) and renewing my script for prednisone which I'm doing fairly well with but experiencing some if not all the usual side effects. I had been going to U of F Shands Med Ctr semi-annually for a 2nd opinion for a couple of years per his recommendation. Shands switched me from prednisone to methotrexate and the only other thing they did was initiate some dialogue about possibly receiving a lung transplant. After doing some of my own research and talking to a few post transplant patients I decided it definitely wasn't an option my wife and I wanted to pursue if at all possible. As the saying goes "the treatment seemed worse than the ailment! I am now back on prednisone because, apparently erroneously according to the folks at Mayo, was informed that I had exceeded my lifetime allotment of methotrexate.

I've had a half a dozen or so appointments with all kinds of specialists @ Mayo during the last 2 months and a couple more in January when I expect to get a prognosis. As far as pain management is concerned, which is rather severe at times, I'm taking very small dose of hydrocodone on an as needed basis which has been very, very effective. I'm also pursuing some herbal, homeopathic remedies.
The long and short of it is, the sarcoid can be rather debilitating at times but I'm learning how to deal with it so it doesn't always control my life. It's had its affects on my marriage but my wife is usually pretty patient with me and very supportive even though we're now separated but reconciling.

btw, our experience at Mayo has been nothing short of FANTASTIC!!!

I'm happy to hear of you and your wife, and to know the marriage streighn is real.
As I want to beat the husband some days.
He also has neurosarcoidosis his mind isn't what it once was , this is very hard for him he is very old school so he can't always do the things he once did for me, and for him to except the face I have to be husband wife nurse and bad guy is hard on him, then rolls down hill to me uhg.
I'm scared of what each day brings if I could take it away I would , I wish something more could be done .
Very debilitating normal doctors treat him as tho he was a hot potatoes they know nothing there for pretend it isn't happening.
We are lucky to have a great neurologist who listens and is helping so far
Thanks you for writing something back I thought I was falling on deaf ears here too
Lost

Hello bboxer, I think you have a very good idea. I was dx w/ Sarcoidosis 8 years ago. I have stage 4 Sarcoid. I have it in my Lungs, Heart, Kidneys,
Liver, bone Marrow, Pancreas, Spinal Canal, actually it has spread to all of my major organs except my Brain. I also have alot of pain, sometimes its so
intense I can't function thru out the day, I need to lay down & rest multiply times. B/c of Sarcoid I had to have Heart Surgery, both of my Knees, my gall bladder needed to be removed. For me once dx. it rapidly spread thru out my body. I was recently informed that my only next option is Chemo Therapy.
But as of right now, my Heart is to weak, and I probably won't make it thru. I even had one Dr. tell my husband & I, that I was going to die from Sarcoid
related issues. That really made our day!! I have been thru so many medications, and had extremely severe reactions, which had put me in the Hospital for
days. B/c of Sarcoidosis I have had 4 Heart Attacks, 2 which I died and was revived. I now have a Pacemaker/ Defib. But these past few days, my Heart
beat was been extremely high, which means I have to go back in the hospital for surgery, once again. I unfortunately fall into the small percentage of
patients that will have this illness for the rest of my natural life. I just wish that it will just ease up a little. It has taken such a toll on my family, its sad. And I
also think that more needs to be done to bring this Illness to the forefront, so maybe more money will be allotted for research. This way the Drs. we have to
deal with are more knowledgeable about Sarcoidosis, instead of just putting us on all types of medication, most of which who knows what kind of reactions we will experience. Some reactions could be deadly.
I have accepted this prognosis, and I live with it, each and everyday brings something new. I refuse to take any pain medications b/c, of my Liver. I take enough meds, that r effecting my organs. Its nice to be reading that Im not alone in this, it would be great if more people would join this site b/c we could
learn and maybe discover different methods of therapy to help ease up some of the symptoms of this awful virus.
Hope everyone has a Happy & Healthy New Year. Keep writing,
Mo

Riverotter
I just read your post, I'm so sorry how this nasty disease has ravaged you.
My husband has both sarcoidosis once DX like you said it spread to his feet and neurosarcoidosis
You spoke of stages of sarcoidosis. Could you explain. Or send a link we have not heard of this yet.
The heart doctor has cleared him said no heart issues. Lung doctor says minor changes nothing to worry about. But he still has this chest pain the keeps him in pain in bed. Any ideas as to what this could be ?
Tammi

Hi, I am going to jump in here because I had nodules removed from my lungs which I was told was sarcoidosis. This was five or so years ago. None of doctors ever said much more about it. so I had no idea what stages and forms it could take. I have a lot of different health problems. Finally found a doctor that seems to be trying. I have dizziness, nausea, blurred vision and some other persistent symptoms. I was diagnosed with COPD (bronchitis) some time ago. Presently, we are looking into low oxygen level. I had a finger monitor test last night. I may push my doctor more on sarcoidosis, depending on what I learn here. Thank you all.

My husband was diagnosed with sarcoid in 2001 after previously being treated for what the doctor thought was asthma. It was diagnosed accidentally by an X-ray. He then was seen in Boston and had a lung biopsy to confirm it. Since then he has been on prednisone infrequently and continuously on inhalers. Sarcoid is either active or inactive. It can be either at any given time. A recent CT scan with dye confirmed that my husband's sarcoid was inactive. His is in his lungs and around his heart. He has low oxygen levels most of the time. This has to be closely monitored when having any procedure. Our neighbor also has sarcoid ( hmm), but his was very debilitating as it affected many organ systems. He was diagnosed around the same time. His is inactive now as well, but he really suffered. If you have sarcoid nodules without other debilitating symptoms I am guessing your sarcoid is inactive. There is no cure and no known cause ( only conjecture) as to how a person contracts sarcoid. Sometimes it is seen on X-ray as "old" sarcoid. Best of luck, and I hope this gives you a bit of information. Irene

Thank you. A few years after the nodules, I had some bad symptoms and was eventually diagnosed with Lyme. After three weeks of antibiotics, I was much better but in a few weeks the same symptoms came back. Things I have heard since make me wonder if it was Lyme but I had been bit by a number of ticks. I changed doctors and she is looking at my kidneys, liver and back to COPD, most specifically now at low oxygen level. I keep looking for anything that will get me back to being active again. I had no idea there was this much to sarcoidosis. I just keep looking. My best to you to you and your husband. Hope his stays inactive.

I am a 51 yo widow whose husband died of a rare muscle disease 3 years ago. After his death, I was dx with Sarcoidosis. I have so much pain and breathing problems. The ER said the CT Scan revealed that it is progressing. When I returned to my PCP, he asked me if all my symptoms were in my head because I am also Bipolar. It has been rough. It is hard supporting myself. I am on disability, but I work part-time to pay for medical bills and medicines. This is wearing me down. Nobody knows what it's like, not even my family.
All Alone,
Karen

Sarcoid is a tough one Karen. It's not in your head. It's in your lungs! 🙂 Sorry some doctors are insensitive. Prednisone is a help and of course inhalers, but your bipolar meds might interact with a steroid. I don't have that kind of info. What I will suggest is you see a lung specialist to determine how best to ease your symptoms. There is help! So sorry for your loss and sadness.