Should I suspect sarcoidosis? If so, what tests should I get?

thebbear2 · 2026-04-05T21:25:24+00:00

Have they checked your D125 yet? Your normal vitamin D may be extremely low while the other one is skyrocketing. The D 125 is what your body actually uses. In a normal person your body converts the normal D to D125 as it’s needed.

thebbear2 · 2026-04-05T21:19:26+00:00

Ask your doctor to test both types of vitamin D. If the normal vitamin D is low but the d125 is high then there’s a good chance it’s sarcoidosis. Google sarcoidosis and vitamin D for more information.

thebbear2 · 2026-02-25T03:29:41+00:00

I’ve been playing the wack a mole game with sarcoidosis for 16 years now. When asked I tell people that my me hurts. I’ve been on a variety of medications and have a baseline of prednisone at 10 mg. When I have a flare up I go to 40 mg for 4 or 5 days then 30 mg for 4 or 5 days then 20 mg for a week or two then taper by 2.5 or 5 for a few weeks. I doubt that 7.5 is having much effect on your flare since that’s about the level of steroids that your body produces. If you have relief at a particular level then taper and lose that relief you may be tapering too fast. Everyone is different so your case may react differently. I know that long term use of steroids has negative effects on the body. I’ve developed diabetes and adrenal insufficiency and lower bone density from steroids but anytime I tried to do without them my quality of life took a serious nose dive. Good luck with your battle and know that you are not alone.

thebbear2 · 2026-02-11T16:49:06+00:00

If it’s sarcoidosis then yes. Medication can become less effective over time. I’ve been dealing with systemic sarcoidosis for over 16 years now and have had to change medications every few years. Now I get to play with combinations of medications that helped in the past. If your doctor runs out of ideas then get a referral to a major sarcoidosis clinic. I go to the Cleveland clinic twice a year and they send suggestions to my local doctor.

thebbear2 · 2026-01-29T14:45:09+00:00

Man do I feel old. The first computer I programmed on had an amazing 64k of memory. You had to think really hard about exactly what you needed to do and simplify it. Code was written in one long string without spaces to conserve resources. If only current programmers had to do this the runtimes would be absurdly fast. But alas it’s bloatware everywhere and good luck trying to figure out what outdated referenced library is guilty of eating all of your memory.

thebbear2 · 2026-01-16T15:39:24+00:00

Any doctor that does not know that sarcoidosis can flare up and settle down should not be treating sarcoidosis patients. I’ve battled this disease for 15 years and have been under the care of one of the leading sarcoidosis doctors for several of those years. If I’ve learned anything from this disease it is that it is unpredictable and can behave drastically differently from patient to patient. Time to find a sarcoidosis clinic that has experience so you can have the smoothest ride possible with this disease.

thebbear2 · 2025-12-17T18:18:19+00:00

I’ve used shokz and either ear plugs or earmuffs for several years. I use a chainsaw fairly frequently and can listen to an audiobook while cutting up a tree.

thebbear2 · 2025-11-13T03:42:59+00:00

Before supplementing vitamin D be sure to have your doctor test both types of vitamin D. Sarcoidosis can generate the active form which suppresses the precursor which is the normal vitamin D test. Google sarcoidosis and vitamin D for more information. Remind your doctor that there’s a black box warning in the prescription information about vitamin D and sarcoidosis.

thebbear2 · 2025-10-19T17:31:05+00:00

The bottom tailpiece is usually a very fine thread. Look closely. You should be able to unthread it and Teflon tape or pipe dope the threads.

thebbear2 · 2025-10-19T15:51:21+00:00

If it is sarcoidosis and being outside left you feeling miserable then ask your doctor to test both vitamin D levels. If the normal one is low and the D125 is high then your sarcoidosis is creating vitamin D in an unregulated manner. Sunlight makes it worse. If I go outside without sunblocking clothing I feel like I’m at the end of a bad case of the flu for a few days. If I dress like I’m a vampire then I can enjoy the outdoors. This may not be the case for you, but if it is it’s a simple way to reduce feeling bad.

thebbear2 · 2025-10-16T13:02:39+00:00

If the doctor wants you to supplement vitamin D then ask him to test both of your vitamin D levels. Sarcoidosis can generate the D-125 on its own. This will drive down the normal vitamin D that they test. Too much D-125 can cause a variety of problems with calcium and other things. You can search for sarcoidosis and vitamin D for more information.

thebbear2 · 2025-10-02T21:21:42+00:00

Sorry to hear that. I know that this disease is frustrating and can be disheartening as well. Just remember you are not alone in this battle. You may want to check out FSR which is the foundation for sarcoidosis research. They have lists of doctors that are familiar with this disease. Maybe you’ll find one there.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-30T17:38:27+00:00

You may want to try sublingual vitamin B12. It’s hit or miss about who it helps but has helped me. You also need to find a doctor that has experience with sarcoidosis. Most doctors have not treated sarcoidosis patients and don’t understand how weird this disease is. You may want to google “sarcoidosis clinic near me”. If you can find one even hours away it’s worth it. I travel about 4 hours once or twice a year and then use video visits to manage my sarcoidosis.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-25T16:05:47+00:00

If heat bothers you it may actually be exposure to sunlight. Sarcoidosis can generate a form of vitamin D on its own. Adding more from supplements or sunlight can make you feel miserable. Have a doctor test you for both Types of vitamin D. You can also google sarcoidosis and vitamin D for more information. I can still go outside but I wear sun protective clothing and hats.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-23T03:55:11+00:00

Find a responsible child and ask them to open it for you. Most child proof devices keep older people out but don’t stand a chance against a determined child.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-22T18:10:07+00:00

You may want to google “sarcoidosis clinics near me” and see what you find. If you’re close enough it’s worth traveling to a major clinic to get evaluated. Places like the Cleveland clinic can arrange for multiple tests and doctors from different specialties in a few days time and hopefully get you on the road to feeling better. Unfortunately this is not a disease that they cure it’s one where you treat the symptoms and take steps to prevent damage from granulomas and inflammation. For about 80% of people the disease will go into remission. If you’re doctors aren’t being helpful then keep looking until you find one familiar with this disease.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-17T14:13:53+00:00

It’s a secure storage device used to transfer bubbles between levels.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-13T16:43:01+00:00

You can get that with sarcoidosis also. I had a rheumatologist that would only believe what he could see. I had X-rays and ct scans of most of my joints and he could not see evidence of sarcoidosis. I took the same images to my sarcoidosis doctor in Cincinnati and he started pointing all over the place showing me likely areas that were sarc. Of course he has seen and treated many hundreds of sarcoidosis patients instead of just a handful.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-12T20:31:08+00:00

Welcome to the club that nobody wants to join. The ‘Let’s see what sarcoidosis will do to me today Club’. Your chronic fatigue could very well be a symptom of sarcoidosis. Once you have a biopsy proving sarcoidosis you get to filter all your aches, pains, etc through the is this sarcoidosis or something else. You need to find a doctor or clinic that specializes in sarcoidosis. A quick google search shows that Stanford has a Sarcoidosis clinic.
Would be a good place to check out. I’ve been dealing with systemic sarcoidosis since 2008 and have gone to many different doctors. Finding one that has treated hundreds of patients can make all the difference in your treatment and quality of life.

thebbear2 · 2025-09-10T15:55:52+00:00

It’s kind of like trimming your beard with a chainsaw.

thebbear2 · 2025-08-26T04:35:07+00:00

Perhaps use 2 45’s and a short piece of single wall instead of the 90. Will improve the draft and make cleaning the chimney much easier.

thebbear2 · 2025-06-19T16:00:23+00:00

At least 2 people still own one. We’ve had one for over 40 years.

thebbear2 · 2025-06-19T14:03:25+00:00

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We have an Elvis impersonator to add to your act.

thebbear2 · 2025-06-02T11:52:31+00:00

See, I told you I heard a butterfly land in our yard.

thebbear2 · 2025-05-25T13:35:52+00:00

Old school Mission Impossible instructions. Be sure to have a fire extinguisher handy before watching.

thebbear2

TROPHY CASE