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Sarcoidosis Fatigue: It�s not a good fatigue when you have sarcoidosis, from working hard, but an anxious, uncomfortable fatigue related to lack of sleep. Or a disruption of the energy production mechanism in cells either from lack of oxygen, increased toxicity, infections or a malfunction of the mitochondria. Sleep Disturbance: About 80% of people with sarcoidosis may wake up three or four times a night. In some cases you don�t wake up, but in the morning you still feel like a truck ran over you. The reason being that when you have sarcoidosis, subliminal seizures kick you out of stage 4 sleep to stage 1 sleep so you can�t sleep deeply and aren�t rested. Short Term Memory Loss: Because of a low thyroid and heart complications typical in sarcoidosis, there is a decrease in blood flow to the left lobe of the brain resulting in an oxygen deficiency in the brain. Which causes the memory loss and forgetfulness so common in sarcoidosis. Emotional Liability: Someone may cry more easily, be more anxious and fearful. This is caused by the sarcoidosis, not a reaction to having sarcoidosis. Depression: As with the emotional symptoms, the hypothalamus is involved. This is not clinical depression, but is caused by sarcoidosis, and has an actual physical cause for it. Sarcoidosis is not a contagious desase. You cannot get it from anyone nor spread it around. In a few cases, granulomas do not disappear and the tissue becomes scarred. This is known as Fibrosis. If scarring persists, this is known as chronic. Chronic means on going, long lasting. Acute means, short and sudden. Granulomas Granulomas are lumps that form when cells of the immune system clump together. The immune system is made up of blood cells that destroy germs, viruses and bacteria. These are called white blood cells. There are two kinds of white blood cells T-CELL B-CELLS T-CELLS identify a foreign material and destroy it. B-CELLS identify a foreign material and secrete a special chemical called antibodies. These antibodies stick to the offending factor and destroy it. When the T and th B cells recognize an intruder, they will call for reinforcements from other blood cells and they all duke it out in the battle field.The site (battle field) then becomes inflamed and looks red and swollen. When they are all fighting at the infection site, they cause a small lump. This bump is know as a granuloma. Causes Sarcoidosis is caused by an abnormal reaction of our immune system. No one knows what causes this abnormal reaction. Symptoms It all depends on which organ is affected. There is a difference from patient to patient. If it's in the lungs, shortness of breath and dry cough. In the eyes, eye inflamation, glaucoma, catrarats and even blindness. Skin sarcoidosis is also common. These are seen by raised, purplish patches that appear in the skin. If it's in the joints, (ankles, knees ,wrists), this may be painful and cause stiffness and or arthritis, which is also an inflamation. Granulomas may be present in the brain, eyes, nervous system and the facial nerve. Sarcoidosis may have non organ specific symptoms, such as night sweats, weight loss, fatigue, fever or even depression. Diagnosis It is done through the process of elimination, first they find out what it is not and work from there, unfortunately for us, because Sarcoid mimics so many other deseases. X- rays and Blood tests are ussually the first tests done, then the MRI and CAT scans and even a Gallium scan. This is where they inject you with a radioactive liquid and take pictures of your body from the inside. Treatment It all depends on how much organ involvement and inflamation there is. It is meant to aid and releive symptoms. Prednisone is used a lot. It stops the formation of granulomas. You should not use prednisone without the permission of your doctor, as they have possible side effects. Most patients with Sarcoidosis live a normal life, have no symptoms and require no treatment. |
| updated July 5 2003 By Luiggie |