I am a 51 yr old black woman and I have sarcoidosis. I was misdiagnosed initially for 3 yrs. (1981 - 1984) my case was severe. At 24 yrs old I had sarcoid in my bones (from head to toe), my skin, and nasal passages. I was treated with prednisone for 20 years. At 24 yrs old, my joints were brittle and had holes. Granulomas formed on my face and I have had 3 surgeries on my tear ducts (both eyes). I happy to say my bones have rejuvenated, (medically impossible), I have flawless skin, and I can breathe thru my nose. I have been off prednisone to for 3 yrs. I'm now a beauty consultant and I feel good!
I am a 29 year old female that was just recently diagnosed with Sarcoid. I have several enlarged lyophobes in my lungs and shortness of breath, hip pain and shoulder pains.
I went through all of the x-rays, CT scans, pet scans, and 2 biopsies.
The first doctor that I saw wrongly diagnosed me with Lymphoma, wich is cancer. When I visited a pulmonary Dr. I was told it was not a positive diagnoses, because the biopsies were not done yet. I went a month wondering what was wrong with me.
And scared my family and friends with the idea that I may have cancer.
I am a 52 year-old male. I have extreme shortness of breath on exertion, constant fatigue, night sweats, skin lesions, etc. I was diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 1998 after two years of tests, X-rays, CT scans, lymph node biopsies, you name it. I finally found a specialist who was able to figure out what was going on. He put me on Advair, prednisone, and an Albuterol inhaler. The prednisone went from declining dose regimens to a constant 25 mg per day to control my lung and skin lesions. After two years of this, I developed steroid diabetes and gained a lot of weight. He suggested the Cleveland Clinic Sarcoidosis Center. They now have me off the prednisone. I am now taking methotrexate, which seems to be controlling the disease.
I was diagnosed with Sarcoidosis in 1984, this after three years of trying to get someone to listen to me and stop referring me to a psychiatrist. For three years I walked around with an increasing inability to breath and fatigue on exertion. The puzzler was that whenever I went to the doctor those symptoms were not present or a particular episode had resolved itself. Therefore, no one believed me, and being a woman did not help. Generally, when a woman presents with symptoms that are vague and unknown it is assumed that she is either hypochondriacal, or psychiatric. Needless to say this delayed the diagnosis and eventual treatment, which came as a God send because by the time I was treated I had lost 32 pounds and was loosing weight at about eight pounds a week. The current problems with Sarcoidosis are the skin involvement which I have had for the past 10 years and no one seems to think needs to be addressed. I also experience terrible arthritic pain in my feet ankles and wrists, as well as, heart palpitations. When I was young any discomfort or symptoms was often attributed to the Sarcoidosis, but as an older woman with this disease I can no longer assume that symptoms are Sarcoidosis related. For the most part I have learned to accept the fact that I will always feel tired and will be depressed from time to time and that no one will really take any of these symptoms too seriously.
My major symptoms are night sweats, shortness of breath when I reach a certain weight and when I am sleep deprived. I was diagnosed in my twenties and I find the struggle or the symptoms more accented now that I'm fifty and the weight is more of a struggle along with the added heat to the night sweats.
I am have been suffering from sarcoidosis for the past 6 years that I know of. It was discovered from a skin lesion, which I originally thought was a severe case of acne. I visited a dermotologist and was diagnosed with this dreaded disease. Since then I have encountered arthritic pain in most all my joints. I have broken two fingers and an elbow bone ( how do you break an elbow bone? -I don't know but I did) while working as a utility worker: All of which are directly related to the sarcoid. Currently, I am taking 5 prescription medications for the disease. My Bones are deteriorating, rapidly it would seem, and I am only 42 years old. If there any remedies that anyone is aware of, I would be very interested in knowing about them.
Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on MedicineNet. The opinions expressed in the comments section are of the author and the author alone. MedicineNet does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Lymph nodes help the body's immune system fight infections. Causes of swollen lymph nodes (glands) may include infection (viral, bacterial, fungal, parasites). Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes vary greatly. They can sometimes be tender, painful or disfiguring. The treatment of swollen lymph nodes depends upon the cause.
Low testosterone can affect both men and women. Causes of low testosterone in males include undescended testicles and injury to the scrotum. Low testosterone in females includes ovary conditions. Treatment for low testosterone in men includes testosterone replacement therapy. Currently there is no FDA approved testosterone treatment for women.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which irritation of the wrist's median nerve causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers. This condition is known as tarsal tunnel syndrome in the ankles and feet. Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome depends on the severity of the symptoms and the nature of any disease that might be causing the symptoms.
Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring throughout the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by many conditions including chronic inflammatory processes, infections, environmental agents, exposure to ionizing radiation, chronic conditions, and certain medications. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and diminished exercise tolerance. Treatment options are dependent on the type of pulmonary fibrosis; lung transplant and/or medications are optons.
Eye floaters are deposits or condensation that forms in the eye's vitreous humor. These deposits cast shadows on the retina, and as the eye moves, the deposits shift position, making it appear as though the shadows are moving or floating.
Pulmonary hypertension is an abnormal elevation of the pressure in the pulmonary circulation caused by the constriction of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs. Shortness of breath and dizziness are symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. Treatment involves diuretics, blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, and using supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels.
Erythema nodosum is a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. Erythema nodosum can resolve on its own in 3 to 6 weeks, leaving a bruised area. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone by mouth or injection.
Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart. The causes of pericarditis include injury from heart attack, heart surgery, trauma; viral or fungal infection, HIV, tumors, mixed connective tissue disease, metabolic disease, medication reactions, or idiopathic. Treatment for pericarditis is generally medication, however, sometimes surgery is necessary.
Interstitial lung disease, is a term to describe a certain lung condition. Causes of interstitial lung disease include lung infection, exposure to toxins in the environment (asbestos for example), medications (chemotherapy), radiation therapy, and chronic autoimmune disorders. Common symptoms of interstitial lung disease include a dry cough and shortness of breath. Diagnosis and treatment depend upon the cause of the condition.
Optic neuritis is inflammation of the optic nerve, the structure that connects the eye to the brain. The precise cause of optic neuritis is unknown, but it is thought to be a type of autoimmune disorder. Optic neuritis most commonly develops due to an autoimmune disorder that may be triggered by a viral infection.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle and can be caused by a variety of infections, conditions, and viruses. Symptoms of myocarditis include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid accumulation in the lungs. Treatment mainly involves preventing heart failure with medication and diet, as well as monitoring for heart rhythm abnormalities.
Sudden cardiac arrest is an unexpected, sudden death caused by sudden cardiac arrest (loss of heart function). Causes and risk factors of sudden cardiac arrest include (not inclusive): abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), previous heart attack, coronary artery disease, smoking, high cholesterol, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation after a heart attack, congenital heart defects, history of fainting, and heart failure, obesity, diabetes, and drug abuse. Treatment of sudden cardiac arrest is an emergency, and action must be taken immediately.
Brain lesions (lesions on the brain) are caused by trauma, inflammation, autoimmune diseases, cancers, other diseases, stroke, bleeding, pituitary adenomas, and cerebral palsy. Symptoms of brain lesions include headache, nausea, fever, neck pain and stiffness, affected vision and speech, weakness or paralysis to one side of the body. Diagnosis of brain lesions is generally with imaging studies like CT or MRI scans. Treatment and prognosis of brain lesions depends on the cause of the lesion.
Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include a red, painful eye, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Treatment usually involves cortisone eyedrops.
Superior vena cava syndrome is compression of the superior vena cava vein located in the upper chest. Causes of superior vena cava include lung cancer, lymphoma, other cancers in the chest, blood clots in the superior vena cava, or infection. Symptoms of the syndrome include shortness of breath. Superior vena cava syndrome is diagnosed by ultrasound, chest x-ray, CT scan, and in some cases biopsy. Treatment depends upon the cause of the syndrome.
Erythema nodosum is a
type of skin inflammation that is located in a certain portion of the fatty layer of skin. Erythema nodosum (also called EN) results
in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the
legs below the knees. The tender lumps, or nodules, of erythema
nodosum range in size from 1 to 5 centimeters. The nodular swelling is caused
by a special pattern of inflammation in the fatty layer of skin.
Erythema nodosum can be self-limited and resolve on its own in three
to six
weeks. Upon resolution, it may leave only a temporary bruised appearance or leave a chronic indentation in the skin where the fatty layer has been injured.
There are several scenarios for the outcome of erythema nodosum. Typically, these areas of nodular tenderness range in size from about a dime to a quarter and they may be tender and inflamed off and on for a period of weeks. They usually then resolve spont...
I am a 51 yr old black woman and I have sarcoidosis. I was misdiagnosed initially for 3 yrs. (1981 - 1984) my case was severe. At 24 yrs old I had sarcoid in my bones (from head to toe), my skin, and nasal passages. I was treated with prednisone for 20 years. At 24 yrs old, my joints were brittle and had holes. Granulomas formed on my face and I have had 3 surgeries on my tear ducts (both eyes). I happy to say my bones have rejuvenated, (medically impossible), I have flawless skin, and I can breathe thru my nose. I have been off prednisone to for 3 yrs. I'm now a beauty consultant and I feel good!
Related Reading: sarcoidosis | prednisone