The cure is worse than the disease
OK, no relapse of sarcoidosis so far — my operation was a biopsy, not a treatment, so I’ve either just gotten lucky or my body going into heavy repair mode after surgery helped drive the other into a sort of remission — but my medical adventure is not quite done yet.
Anne says that my blood is low in iron and she’s still concerned about my thyroid output, two issues that were raised in advance of the lymphoma scare earlier this year. Blood tests are monitoring how my thyroid is doing, and I’ve got two treatments that push the “cure is worse than the disease” boundary.
First, I’m taking they-might-as-well-be-black pills to raise the iron count in my blood. These are to be taken on a full stomach, as they can apparently cause a nasty stomach ache and (TMI WARNING! STOP READING NOW!) they’re also apparently destined to turn my poo black. Lovely.
Secondly, to curb the futile cough I do still get from having lymph nodes the size of sausage links pressing against my lungs — I cough and cough, but with nothing to expel, it does no good and can go on seemingly forever — I’ve been given a steroid inhaler. There’s nothing in the literature that says this might help with sarcoidosis (although heavier doses of steroids taken in pill form can combat other symptoms, but no one thinks taking steroids in big doses for up to 10 years is a smart long-term move), but it’s also in such a low dose that it can’t do any harm, even if it doesn’t ease the swelling in my trachea. But here’s the kicker: I have to take two hits of the inhaler twice a day, followed by a big glass of water, otherwise I might get a yeast infection in my mouth.
It’s a damn good thing I’m not single.
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“worse than the disease”? A mote in God’s eye, surely.
Comment by joelpy — June 26, 2005 @ 8:06
Hey Beau-
Sorry to hear that your health has not been very good. Hang in there and keep positive about yourself. I’ll be thinking of you and hope that you are feeling better.
Steve
Comment by Steve Stratton — August 13, 2005 @ 21:35