Is there any other forms of treatment for pulmonary sarcoidosis besides prednisone?

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This is a list of all the drugs that they use to treat sarcoidosis. Go over it and bring it up to your doctor, see if any have less side effects then prednisone. http://www.stopsarcoidosis.org/sarcoidosis/treatment.htm  (+ info)

What is 'Popcorn Lung' ? Any relation to Pulmonary Sarcoidosis ?

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One of America's favorite snack foods - popcorn - is at the center of a national health controversy. The chemical diacetyl, used to make artificial butter flavoring, has been linked to a respiratory disease called "popcorn lung" in hundreds of people. Labor unions and prominent occupational health scientists are calling on federal authorities to set an emergency standard for the chemical in the workplace.

Sarcoidosis, also called sarcoid (from the greek 'sark' and 'oid' meaning "flesh-like") or Besnier-Boeck disease, is an immune system disorder characterised by non-caseating granulomas (small inflammatory nodules) that most commonly arises in young adults. The cause of the disease is still unknown. Virtually any organ can be affected; however, granulomas most often appear in the lungs or the lymph nodes. Symptoms can occasionally appear suddenly but usually appear gradually. The clinical course varies and ranges from asymptomatic disease that resolves spontaneously to a debilitating chronic condition that may lead to death.  (+ info)

Can anyone with Sarcoidosis help me understand this disease?

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I was recently diagnosed at Mayo Clinic with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis. It initially caused many issues like HSP (vasculitis), weight loss and fatigue. Can anyone tell me what the long term outlook may be. I am currently on Prednisone for 6 months and will do scans every so often. Thanks
It is still unknown what causes this disease, there is much research being done, however, prednisone seems to be the treatment of choice to reduce the inflammatory condition of the lungs which causes scarring and fibrosis resulting in a restrictive lung disease condition. Check out wikipedia link to start. Understanding and dealing with this disease is tough, I suggest support groups , this from close personal experience, Blessings and courage to you.  (+ info)

severe pulmonary sarcoidosis ...can anyone explain it?

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Hey, So my 16 yr old brother died from this disease about a month and a half ago. His heart just failed..it was like he fainted and then he died. The doctors just told us the cause of death today and I can't really figure out what it means...I know hes in heaven and its all good..but i'ld really like to be able to understand how he died and if it can be hereditary
Im very sorry. Im 26 female. In regression from sarcoidosis. I was lucky. I did not know it was deadly. It was not heriditary in my case and the doctors said it was not common in white females. I had taken Prednizon for awhile. The side effects were awlful. Suprisingly I stop the prednizone and a x ray confirmed no signs of the sarcoidosis. If you need someone to talk to about this email me.  (+ info)

Sarcoidosis with Pulmonary Hypertension anyone??

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I am a 34 year old female with this condition & everything that my doctor has tried has failed in getting it under control. Currently I am on oxygen 24/7 and I have a CPAP machine with oxygen at night due to sleep apnea. Unfortunately, I also have seizures, fibromyalgia, rheumatiod arthritis, lupus, depression, panic/anxiety disorder, I also have 4 spots on the front of my brain which my doctor does not know what it is. I know that sarcoids can spread to other organs but doctor says that it generally stays in place?? However, I have been having vision loss in my right eye, my pcp checked my eyes and I could only read one letter on the 2nd line. Can sarcoids be affecting my eyes now. I am scared. My lung doctor has dismissed me as a patient due to the this statement: I don't know if I can help you, more than likely you have had this disease for over 10 years and the other doctors just let it go. So in other words he didn't want to be stuck in the middle. Waiting on disability court date
My apologies for not listing my meds.
Tylox for pain
Demerol for pain
Duragesic patch for pain
Keppra for seizures
Flexiril for Fibromyalgia
Zanaflex for Fibromyalgia
Prednisone for Sarcoidosis & Lupus
Phenegran for nausea
Celexa for Depression
xanax for panic/anxiety disorder
methotrexate for Sarcoidosis & Lupus
CPAP w/oxygen for sleep apnea
oxygen for Sarcoidosis & P. Hypertention
And I am currently on a heart & diabetes diet. And I don't have diabetes (unless they just have told me yet) "sigh"
Carla, thanks for all the websites, they will be helpful & I will email you because I have questions that you may be able to help me with.

Canajoh, my husband & I feel the same way. We are questioning the sarcoids. I have already had a 2nd opinion which came back inconclusive for sarcoids but they still said it was sarcoids. This is my health they are playing with. By the way, my doctor is making arrangements for me to go to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO. but they have been booked up. Sad to say.

Thanks to all for your support.
whoa! reading your question, i can almost feel the pain -- that's tough. all i know is the reason why you're having pulmonary hypertension is because you're having lung problems that's why you're on oxygen and cpap. but the rest? not really in my area of expertise but looks like your problems stems from neuromuscular disorders. and now they found spots in your brain to which your doctor would not do anything? try seeking second opinion -- to tell you the truth, if i were the doctor and you have all of these conditions -- it IS tough and i wouldn't know where to start.

i think they should have tests done to you to see where the root of all problems originates and try to fix that and slowly working outwards to other problem areas as well. the most important thing is to find out where it all originated and treat that. because im guessing the symptoms you're getting right now are side effects of that "root problem"  (+ info)

Can paitents of heart sarcoidosis go into cardiac arrest in the hospital?

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I was wondering if paitents of heart sarcoidosis can go into cardiac arrest in a hospital? Is it still possible to go into cardiac arrest while in the hospital with it? My friend is in the hospital at the moment, and I havn't heard anything about him yet.
you can go into cardiac arrest anywhere. patients with sarcoidosis can have a heart attack that is different from the "norm" if you will. most heart attacks are caused by blocked coronary arteries. sarcoidosis can cause the heart muscle to get very thick and sometimes it grows over the arteries that supply blood to the heart. if the heart beats too fast it can block off its own blood flow and cause a heart attack. that's what happened to my mother. her coronary arteries were fine but she had a heart attack that they say was caused by the sarcoidosis.  (+ info)

I received a cortizone shot in my hip to help with inflamation from Sarcoidosis. How long does the shot last?

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I received a cortizone shot in my hip to help with inflamation from Sarcoidosis. How long does this type of injection last? Thank you.
It will not last. You need to find a longer term answer.  (+ info)

What effects could pneumonia and pulmonary congestion have on gas exchange?

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Both pneumonia (infectious inflammation of the lungs) and pulmonary congestion (left heart failure) can lead to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Pneumonia and pulmonary congestion cause a fundamental change in the way gas is exchanged within the lungs. Gas is exchanged through structures called alveoli. They are microscopic sacs of epithelial tissue. When these sacs become filled with fluid (referred to as consildation) gas cannot pass from the alveoli into the blood. Thus, gas exchange is impeded and the patient typically must work harder to breathe.  (+ info)

What is involved in a typical pulmonary function test?

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I have to get a typical pulmonary function test tomorrow. What exactly does this entail? I looked online and didn't find anything that really explained it. I'm 15, if age makes any difference. Thanks!
In a spirometry test, you breathe into a mouthpiece that is connected to an instrument called a spirometer. The spirometer records the amount and the rate of air that you breathe in and out over a period of time.  (+ info)

How does pregnancy increase the risk of pulmonary and other emboli?

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How is pregnancy associated with an increased risk in pulmonary embolism? Does this explain the association between long term use of oral contraceptives and thrombosis, which could possibly lead to embolism?
Yes and no. The hormones that are increased in pregnancy and contained in the contraceptive Pill aren't the only risk factors for blot clots forming during pregnancy. What the Pill and pregnancy both have in common is that they both produce hormones that increase the bloods clotting ability. Oestrogen increases the risk of DVTs by increasing the production of certain chemicals necessary for the blood to clot. It also increases platelet numbers + stickiness of platelets, which increases clot formation (to prepare for blood loss during child birth). Progestogen in the Pill causes the blood vessels to relax and widen, allowing the blood to pool in the veins, increasing risk of clot formation.

Blood clots in pregnancy are generally the result of increased venous stasis- blood pooling in the lower deep veins. As I said above, balance of proteins of the coagulation + fibrinolytic systems also play a part. DVT can of course lead to a pulmonary embolism. Clots in pregnancy and from the Pill are generally always the results of clots that have formed in the deep veins of the legs, broken away and then embolised in the lungs.

Women who do have clots in pregnancy and whilst taking the contraceptive Pill, generally also have certain other risk factors such as protein C and S deficiency and most commonly Factor V Leiden mutation. Over all health of the woman also plays a part- obesity, poor diet/unhealthy lifestyle and a smoking history also increases the risk as does age.

During pregnancy the uterus also expands, putting pressure on the lower blood vessels which can restrict blood flow from the legs and pelvis back to the heart. Physiological structural changes during pregnancy are risk factors alone.  (+ info)

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