Ask Brenda Monday's About Living With Sarcoidosis

 

How to Eat, Drink and Live For Optimum Health

At a sarcoidosis support group meeting, I was able to obtain a wealth of  information on how to manage the disease. I was also given a website by one of the members called Team Aspire, where people with autoimmune diseases share information. On the website is where I found the recommended supplements, herbs, diets a person with sarcoidosis should adhere to. As I said in my bio, I did become extremely symptomatic immediately after my diagnoses. The supplements I took daily were:


· Fish Oil
.Turmeric and Bromelain
· Folic Acid
. CQ-10
· B-12


I believe taking these supplements, and the fact that I was extremely healthy and active before being diagnosed with Sarcoidosis helped me to heal. Below is a recommended diet taking from a University of Maryland Medical Center Website.

 

 Nutrition and Dietary Supplements

Although there is no evidence that any particular herb or supplement helps treat sarcoidosis, a comprehensive treatment plan may include complementary and alternative therapies. Ask your team of doctors about the best ways to bring these therapies into your overall treatment plan. Always tell your doctor about the herbs and supplements you are using or considering using, as some supplements may interfere with conventional treatments.

 These nutritional tips will help your overall health:

·    Eat antioxidant foods, including fruits (such as blueberries, cherries, and tomatoes), and vegetables (such as squash and bell peppers).

·    Include foods rich in magnesium and low in calcium, such as barley, bran, corn, rye, oats, soy, brown, rice, avocado, banana, and potato

·    Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.

·    Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, tofu (soy, if no allergy) or beans for protein.

·   Use healthy oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.

·    Reduce or eliminate trans-fatty acids, found in commercially baked goods such as cookies, crackers, cakes, French fries, onion rings, donuts, processed foods, and margarine.

·    Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco.

·    Drink 6 – 8 glasses of filtered water daily.

·    Exercise at least 30 minutes daily, five days a week. Ask your doctor before starting a new  exercise routine.

The following supplements may also help overall health:

·    A daily multivitamin, containing the antioxidant vitamins A,C,E, the B-complex vitamins,  and trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium, zinc, and selenium.

·    Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish oil, 1 – 2 capsules or 1- 3 tablespoonful’s, one to three times daily. Fish oil seems to help reduce inflammation throughout the body. Cold-water fish, such as salmon or halibut, are good sources to add to your diet.  If you take supplements, check with your doctor because they may increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you take blood thinners such as warfarin (Coumadin) or aspirin. Eating fish does not cause the same risk.

·    Bromelain, a mixture of enzymes derived from pineapple, 500 mg per day. Bromelain may also help reduce inflammation in the body. Ask your doctor before taking it, because it can increase the risk of bleeding and may interact with other medications.

·    Probiotic supplement (containing Lactobacillus acidophilus), 5 -10 billion CFUs (colony forming units) a day. These “friendly” bacteria help maintain gastrointestinal health. You should refrigerate your probiotic supplements for best results.

  Herbs

Herbs are generally a safe way to strengthen and tone the body’s systems. As with any therapy, you should work with your health care provider to get your problem diagnosed before starting and treatment. You may use herbs as dried extracts (capsules, powders, teas), glycerites (glycerine extracts), or tinctures (alcohol extracts). Unless otherwise indicated, you should make teas with 1 tsp. herb per cup of hot water. Steep covered 5-10 minutes for leaf or flowers, and 10-20 minutes for roots. Drink 2-4 cups per day. You may use tinctures alone or in combination as noted.

Studies have not found any herbs that specifically treat sarcoidosis. However, the following herbs may help overall health. Talk to your doctor before taking any herb or supplement if you have sarcoidosis.

·   Turmeric (Curcuma longa) standardized extract, 300 mg three times a day, may help reduce inflammation. Turmeric may increase the risk of bleeding and interact with other medications, so ask your doctor before taking it.

·    Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa)standardized extract, 20 mg three times a day, may help reduce inflammation.

 Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/sarcoidosis-000146.htm#ixzzlvdX2Zwlj

How Sarcoid Effects The Spleen, Heart, And Liver

The spleen is a large organ on the left side of the body under the ribs that produces and filters red blood cells and some types of white blood cells. Along with the lymph nodes, the spleen is part of the lymphatic system, which regulates blood cells and plays a role in immunity. Sarcoidosis of the spleen does not usually cause symptoms. If you do notice symptoms, they might include pain or pressure on your upper left side under your ribs or feeling tired.

Sarcoidosis granulomas can cause the liver to enlarge.  The disease rarely causes serious liver problems, however, and most people do not even realize it when their livers are affected.  If you have liver symptoms, they might include fever, feeling tired or fatigued, itchy skin, jaundice, which causes your skin and eyes to look somewhat yellow, pain on your upper right side under your ribs. Some people with heart involvement might notice symptoms, but many people will feel nothing, even in late-stage disease.  Because heart problems can be very serious, everyone who has sarcoidosis should be screened for cardiac involvement.  Sarcoidosis can cause the heart to pump weakly. This results in such symptoms as shortness of breath, swelling of the legs, wheezing and coughing - although these can be a sign of lung problems too. Sarcoidosis also can affect the heart’s electrical pacing and transmission system, which tells the heart when to beat. This can make the heart beat too fast or very slowly or skip beats. Symptoms of an electrical-system problem include palpitations (a fluttering sensation of rapid heartbeats), skipped beats and, rarely, fluid buildup in the lungs or sudden loss of consciousness.

I do not have sarcoidosis or what they call “granulomas” in my spleen, liver, or heart. I am very thankful, because in my sarcoidosis support group, there are people who have “granuloamas” in one or all three of  the major organs discussed.  This is very serious because it can and will kill you if it's not treated.  Please view the video of the news report given on KULR-8's own weatherman, Jeremy Rindahl. Jeremy was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 2009.

video content courtesy of KULR-8.com

Ask Brenda Monday's About Living With Sarcoidosis

Jumping Jacks, Push-Ups, Planks,....Scream

Jumping Jacks, Push-Ups, Planks,....Scream

Can you believe after all the things sarcoidosis suffers go through…..we do not get a past on exercising? In fact, according to the doctors, including the world renowned Cleveland Clinic for Sarcoidosis, people with this disease, will gain many benefits from exercising, such as improved energy levels, joint flexibility, and strong lung capacity, etc. Who would have thought exercising is a cure for all…scream!!!.  Listed below are suggested steps a person suffering from sarcoidosis should follow when endeavoring on  an exercising routine:

Step 1

For the most productive exercise program, consider doing the activities that you enjoy such as walking, swimming or dancing. Your exercise program should be modified around the part of your body most affected by sarcoidosis. If you have many granulomas on your skin, you might prefer walking instead of swimming. If your lungs are the main organ affected, you might choose to ride a stationary bike indoors instead of leaving your home. No matter which exercise you choose, start slowly and build up your endurance. The frequency of your workouts will vary depending on the course of your sarcoidosis. Plan to exercise three times a week for 20 minutes at a time. Gradually increase your physical activity to four to six times per week for 30 minutes at a time.

Step 2

Before you begin to exercise, you need to warm up for a few minutes. Get your heart rate up and stretch your muscles. After your exercise, you should gradually slow down your heart rate in order to cool off and stretch your muscles again.

Step 3

Exercises such as walking, swimming and dancing can be considered aerobic exercises and they are good for your heart and will increase your breathing capacity. They provide a cardiovascular workout that will help you to become healthier by preventing heart disease and promoting your rehabilitation from sarcoidosis. By getting stronger from regular exercise, your symptoms of sarcoidosis will be easier to manage.

Step 4

When your breathing improves from the aerobic exercise, you might want to pursue strength-training exercises as well. Building strength involves resistance training such as weightlifting or the use of exercise machines. Strength-training makes your muscle groups stronger. If you decide to do strength-training, you may wish to join a gym and consult a professional trainer on which exercises are best for you.

Tips and Warnings

• Stay hydrated before, during and after your workout. Avoid junk food, which can add extra calories and offers little nutrition. Try not to do too much too soon. If you are feeling tired or sore, you should take a day off from your exercise program. Always wear proper footwear for the activities you choose.
• Check with your doctor before you begin any exercise program. If you develop a headache, difficulty breathing, chest pain, nausea, weakness, dizziness or anxiety, stop your physical activity immediately and consult your doctor.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/545934-dmso-sarcoidosis/

 Fit Right In, Where Friends Meet to Workout 

Sarcoidosis and Mental Health

Research shows that more than half of people with sarcoidosis symptoms also show signs of clinical depression. Depression can affect your work, your studies, how well you sleep, and even your appetite. Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, and anxiety are all signs of depression.

When I was diagnosis with sarcoidosis, I was incensed, wanting to know why me, and thinking I am in the prime of my life. I am not sure if I was depressed specifically about the sarcoidosis diagnosis opposed to other stressful situations in my life. I will say I had to really work hard at staying positive. I did not have a support system when I was diagnosis, and literally experienced all these new normals by myself. Most people do not know of the disease anyway, and have a hard time being sympathetic, because the person usually does not look sick. This is why I give praises to my higher power for his grace, throughout my blog. Every morning, he woke me up, and gave me the strength to make it to work and function at a decent level mentally and physically. Even though that was all I could do for the day in the beginning of my diagnosis, I still give thanks.  I could testify on and on how graceful my higher power has been to me, but at the same time, I still remember that for everyone that wins the battle, there is another sarcoidosis suffer who will lose.  This is an uphill climb, and no one knows.

video courtesy of yellowroze2000’s

Lungs

Almost ninety percent of the cases of sarcoidosis are found in the lungs, but it can occur in almost any organ. It causes small lumps, or granulomas, which generally heal and disappear on their own. However, for those granulomas that do not heal, the tissue can remain inflamed and become scarred, or fibrotic. Pulmonary sarcoidosis can develop into pulmonary fibrosis, which distorts the structure of the lungs and can interfere with breathing. Bronchiectasis, a lung disease in which pockets form in the air tubes of the lung and become sites for infection, can also occur.

 Pulmonary sarcoidosis can cause loss of lung volume (the amount of air the lungs can hold) and abnormal lung stiffness. Common lung symptoms are dry coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, or pain with breathing, chest pain, tightness, or discomfort and coughing up blood, which is rare, especially in the early stages of sarcoidosis.

Personally, I did experience all the symptoms of pulmonary sarcoidosis, but today most of my symptoms have subsided, and my lung function is at 98%, which is considered normal. Unfortunately, some sarcoidosis victims lungs never heal, and they become ridden with all kinds of complications from the inflammation and medications used to treat the inflammation. One of the most well known comedians did succumb to pulmonary sarcoidosis. Please read a partial article written in People Magazine on August 9, 2008 about the contribution of sarcoidosis to our beloved Bernie Mac's death.

Bernie Mac’s Death: What Happened?

BY HILARY SHENFELD AND IVORY JEFF CLINTON

Saturday August 09, 2008 07:00 PM EDT

Lung Disease Contributed

The sister-in-law says Mac’s inflammatory lung disease contributed to his death. “He had sarcoidosis, but it was in remissions, “she says. “But because he had it, his immune system was compromised. He had an infection…. He was on a new medication that suppresses the immune system, and that’s where the pneumonia came from.”

She reveals that Mac – having trouble breathing and running a fever – was actually hospitalized on July 24, eight days before the date given for his admittance. The actor was diagnosed with pneumonia and immediately placed on a ventilator.

“He was critically ill when he was in the hospital,”says Gossett”. He was in intensive care the whole time.”

She adds that doctors kept the star sedated, although he was conscious at times and he contracted a second strain of pneumonia while in the hospital.

video courtesy of black Press

I AM NOT MY SKIN

SARCOIDOSIS OF THE SKIN

One in four (25%) of patients will have skin involvement.  These patients will develop painful or red, raised  bumps on the legs or arms (called erythema nodosum), discoloration of the nose, cheeks, lips and ears (called lupus pernio) or small brownish and painless skin patches are symptoms of the cutaneous form of the disease. 

When I developed skin sarcoidosis, I was scared and angry.  The one thing I had  was absolutely beautiful skin; all my life people have complimented me on my skin. I was thinking God of all things, why my face; I already have one negative which is my eye. My bother accidentally hit me in the eye with a rock when I was three; I lost vision and muscle strength in the eye, which make my eyes look real strange at times. I said to myself, now I am going to have  blotchy uneven skin tone to go along with my eye. Well, after months of steroid shots in the face, daily applying steroid cream, I was able to stop my skin form lighting, and resolve the lupus pernio, plaques, and most of the erythema nodosum. With that being said, I am very thankful that my break-out was not as severe as some sarcoidosis suffers.

video courtesy of overseashwy

The facts are taken from the Foudation of Sacoidosis Research (FSR)   http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/sarcoidosis/diseasefacts.htm

The Video “Heal Sarcoidosis Now Stop the Pain” is allowed under “Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."