PART 2
Symptoms may include:
- Cough (The only symptom I have ever had -- usually first thing in the morning.)
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Rash (may or may not be raised)
- Fever
- Pain or irritation of eyes
- Fatigue, especially with exertion
- Muscle weakness
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Seizures
- Tremors
- Difficulty hearing
- Blurred vision or blindness
- Poor coordination
- Trouble walking
- Irregular heart rate
- Pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints
- Facial paralysis ( Bell’s palsy )
In some cases there may not be any symptoms. The disease may sometimes be suspected based on the appearance of a routine x-ray or CT scan. (This is how they discovered it during a routine exam in preparation for surgery.)
Treatment
Treatment aims to ease symptoms and minimize permanent problems. Treatment may include:
Monitoring
You need regular medical and eye exams to monitor for symptoms and complications of sarcoidosis.
Medication
Drugs that may be prescribed include the following:
- Prednisone (the main treatment) is an oral steroid used to decrease inflammation.
- Methotrexate or azathioprine may be used for patients who do not respond to steroids.
- Hydroxychloroquine may be used to treat skin problems.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents may be used to treat musculoskeletal symptoms.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation programs may help improve lung function.
- Topical steroids may be advised for rashes.
- Eye drops may be used for mild eye problems.
Self-care
To help minimize your symptoms, follow these guidelines:
- Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit.
- Avoid exposure to dust and chemicals.
- Notify your doctor at once if any symptoms develop or worsen.
Prevention
Although doctors do not know the exact cause of sarcoidosis, they believe infections or exposure to chemicals may bring on the disease. Steps for prevention may include:
- Don't smoke. If you smoke, quit.
- Avoid exposure to chemicals and toxins.
- To prevent infection, wash your hands before eating or preparing food and after using the bathroom.
==============================
Sent 6/23/2009
Dear Family and Friends:
Before I begin, may I say again that I appreciate your continued prayer support during this time. I feel the power of your prayers and am encouraged by your calls, cards, gifts, and visits. It means more than words can express. I have gone through the healing process without any pain medication. Anything I took made me sick. So I have just relied on prayer and divine healing. I am still a little sensitive in that area, and am still being careful with my body. But God has done the work.
I love you all.
I came out of recuperation on Wednesday, June 17, 2009 and returned to my home.
My cousin, Geneva Louise Smedley, and family were very gracious in opening their home and providing the necessary environment for rest and healing for those four weeks.
This was an unusual task because she works and is taking care of her husband (Fish) who has Sugar Diabetes, has had prostrate cancer, MS for 30 years and is a walking miracle to the doctors; recently had a heart attack and surgery to unblock his uninary tract. The day after I left she had to call 911 and take to the hospital because they thought he had another heart attack. He is back home again. He is a person of faith, and if you ask him how he is doing he will always say, EXCELLENT!
I went to the doctor on Friday, June 19, 2009 for a final check up. They said that I was healing really well and everything looked very good.
I don't know if I told you before or not, but the doctor called and said that all of the other organs that he took out were free of cancer. However, the cancer had moved from the lining of the uterus to the muscle. He said that if there was any movement they would have to do chemotherapy as a precautionary measure.
The chemotherapy that I will be taking involve Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. The treatments will be given once every three weeks for three to six cycles. This will involve two days each cycle. One day will be for doing blood work so that they can see if I am o.k. physically to receive treatment and one day of the treatment.
The doctor explained all of the many side affects that could possibly occur. One was definite hair loss.
They wanted the treatment to start this week, but there are some procedures to be followed to get the previous operation and upcoming treatments financed. Please keep praying that this will all be worked out as soon as possible.
I have an appointment with the doctor about the Sarcardosis on July 24, 2009. I will not know how they plan to treat that until then.
I am trying to get back to some regular activities. I have begun to take care of Miriam again -- this is my first full week. I thank my sister-in-law, Vonnie for covering for me all of this time. I will be working from Monday through Thursday (24 hours a day) and off on Friday - Sunday night.
This coming week I have the privilege of attending a Bishop's ordination for my former pastor, Rev. Peter M. Hallenbeck in Roselle/Linden and Irvington, NJ Friday-Sunday, June 26-28, 2009. We congratulate Bishop Elect Hallenbeck, his wife and congregation on this momentus occasion. The church will be taking a chartered bus to the event. My sister, Gloria, Cynthia and I will be going along with the congregation and other well-wishers.
I planned this trip before I even knew I was going to have surgery. I cancelled my seat because I did not think I would be well enough to travel. I thank God for giving me the strength to go because I would not have wanted to miss it.
=============================================================
The description of what I had is as follows. I am printing this for those who may have the same symptoms and have done nothing about it.
Uterine Cancer
What is uterine cancer?
In the United States, approximately 42,000 women each year are diagnosed with uterine cancer - the most common malignancy of the female genital tract and the fourth most common cancer in women.1
Uterine cancer forms in tissues of the uterus, which is a pear-shaped organ in the pelvis where a fetus grows (Figure 1). The cervix is at the lower, narrow end of the uterus, and leads to the vagina. Uterine cancer can appear in cells lining the uterus (endometrium) and in muscle or other tissues in the uterus (uterine sarcoma).2
Signs & Symptoms of Uterine Cancer
Possible signs of uterine cancer include unusual vaginal discharge or pain in the pelvis (uterus pain). Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. You should contact your health care provider if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Bleeding or discharge not related to menstruation (periods)
- Bleeding after menopause
- Irregular bleeding in between menstrual cycles or after sexual intercourse
- A mass in the vagina
- Frequent, difficult or painful urination
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Increasing or different pelvic pain or cramping
- A thin white (or pink) watery discharge from the vagina
- Increased pelvic pressure, particularly if associated with changes in bladder or bowel patterns
Tests that examine the uterus are used to detect and diagnose uterine cancer. Some of the tests that may be performed include a physical exam and history; a pelvic exam; a Pap test (or Pap smear); colposcopy (looking at the cervix with a microscope), cervical biopsy, endometrial biopsy, ultrasound, dilation & curettage (D&C) and hysteroscopy.
================================
Sent 7/13/2009
Dear Family and Friends:
Again, I solicit and thank you for your continued prayers on my behalf.
I took my first chemo treatment on Tuesday, July 7, 2009. My sister-in-law, Debra Glover came and took me to the treatment and stayed with me for the day and took me home. It was great to have her there with me for support. The day started at 8:00am and was not over until 1:30pm by the time they finished.
I had a very successful day without incident and thought that it was going to continue to be that way. It was for a couple of days, but by Thursday I started to experience the side of affects of excrutiating pain in all of my muscles and bones from my head to my foot, with numbness and tingling in all of my extremeties.
I called the on-call nurse and she talk to me about pain medications that would eliminate the pain. I finally settled on the over-counter pain reliever of Alieve. I had taken a couple of Excedrin that my cousin had in the house first and that helped. Then he went out and purchased some Alieve for me the next day. They both helped the pain to subside almost completely. In addition, however, I was very tired and stayed in bed for the entire weekend. I am feeling much better, but not real motivated to do anything.
By the grace of God I will continue to live and move and have my being in Him. He is more than able.
I will be taking approximately five more of these treatments as I stated previously on an every-three week cycle, seeing the doctor in between.
I know this sounds gruesome but I know there are many others who are going through worse things than I and that "this too shall pass".
I praise God for the strength to "go through" knowing that I am already victorious through Him.
Be blessed. Love to you all,
