What are the chances?

First of all, I have been a slacker!  I have totally neglected this blog for months!  I  have been dealing with a nasty flare, but I digress...

I had the greatest experience the other day!  I was checking out at a local thrift store when I noticed two women talking.  I had noticed one woman earlier because she was using one of those "fancy" small-sized oxygen concentrators instead of a tank.  As the woman with the tank checked out, the cashier asked her about the tank she was using and stated that she needed to get one.  Being the ultimate snoop, I listened in and much to my surprise I overheard the word "sarcoidosis" mentioned!  I thought I was probably hearing things (as I have only met one other person with sarcoid)!  In response, I heard the other cashier say, "Your kidding, I have sarcoidosis too."  I could hardly believe my ears?!?  Being the organizer of the new Utah Sarcoid Support Group, I jumped into action (okay, I don't jump anymore, but I hobbled quickly)!!  I introduced myself and we exchanged e-mail addresses and phone numbers,  but since it was busy in the store, that was all we had time for!  

As most people with sarcoid, or with any other disease or illness, we were all excited to know that we were not alone.  There are others in our community, maybe even in our neighborhood,  that share some of the same challenges we face everyday!  

I have since communicated with these fine women and they are now members of the Utah Sarcoid Support Group.  We have a Google Group  (message board) where we are able to share, comfort, inform and just be a friend to others with this challenging illness.  I would be remis if I did not invite any Utah residents with sarcoid or their family members to join the group!  We are always glad to have new members!  

I look forward to getting to know all of the members of the Utah Sarcoid Support Group better!  We hope to have our first actual face-to-face meeting soon!  

I  would have told you  it would never happen -- there is no way I would run into one, let alone two, other people with sarcoidosis at the Deseret Industries Thrift Store in my hometown!!?  I prefer to think that there was more involved than chance in this meeting.  Whatever the case, I feel very grateful and blessed to have been there.

Just keep getting out of bed!

I find the best way to start my day is to get out of bed! Usually I feel like "death warmed over," but once I'm up, get dressed, and drive to the corner to get my Coke Zero, I feel partially human.  Then comes breakfast and my many, many medications.

Even though I hate the idea of taking medication (some that have serious side effects), they are keeping me relatively functional, keeping the pain to a minimum (sometimes), and making my life better.  I am so grateful for great health insurance that keeps me "drugged up" and pays my many doctor bills. I don't know what my life would be like without it.  I have been so blessed.

So, I guess this blog entry is what comes after a couple of bad weeks (because of flareups of sarcoidosis) of increased pain and with resultant lower level of function.

I am grateful to be through with the flareup for the most part and that I can "keep getting out of bed" each day!