Having a good day...and you?

April 9, 2007

After 6 months of not so good days, happier times are on the

horizon. I quit taking the cellcept after ~ 3 weeks as the side

effects were overwhelming….terrible tremors, nausea, insomnia,

intense low back pain (think lumbar puncture), & painful skin

eruptions. The tremors were especially concerning as they made even

the simplest task somewhat challenging. The insomnia was no picnic

either. Glad to say that the maladies have gone with the exception

of the skin lesions which are slowly resolving.

After the cellcept passed from my system, the headaches returned with

a vengeance. I began to question my decision…which was worse…the

cause or the cure? I decided to stay the course & tough it out…OK,

stubbornness & making good decisions are like oil & water which don't

make for the sharpest tool in the shed. Regardless, between the

headaches and the 30 extra pounds I've gained since this all began, I

was feeling very down.

Exercise has always helped me shake the blues so I sucked up the pain

& headed for the gym. If nothing else, I knew that I would be able

to clear my head for at least a little while and perhaps lose some of

the extra pounds. So far, so good. I've dropped a few pounds and

feel better on an emotional level. Now the really good news…a few

days ago I noticed that the intensity of the headaches was lessening…

this morning today I noticed that most of the granulomas on my

fingers have disappeared. The disappearance of the skin lesions is a

positive sign that the sarc is heading into remission! (Please know

that I'm not implying that the exercise caused the remission…I

believe that it was just a matter of timing. )

I'm not out of the water yet. Experience has taught me that my days

will oscillate between good and not so good over the next few weeks

or possibly months. Be that as it may, I can see the proverbial

light at the end of the tunnel and it's not a train...just wish that

I could take the rest of you with me...

Peace to all...Tony

April 9, 2007

Tony,

This is great! I do know that any small amount of movement is good for the soul. Now that spring is here-- I've been able to get into a Heritage apple orchard-- some of the trees are 100 yrs old. This property belongs to a good friend, and we've been caretaking it for the last several years. We get our firewood in exchange for the labor.

Tonight I was out clipping out some deadfall from the trees, with showers of pollen all over me (yep, got a good case of bronchitis) when I looked behind me-- and there was a huge wild turkey-- scarfing up the bugs in the ground. It was too cool!!!!

This orchard hasn't been pruned, watered, or cared for for the last 12 yrs, so it will take about 4-5 yrs of major tlc to get it to come back to quality apples. Last year, we couldn't eat the apples, but boy was the apple cider magnificient!! 70 gallons of it since last Sept-- and all but 2 are gone..

I know that many of you back east are still getting hammered, and this summer- I will be wishing I was up in Washington-- or someplace very cool-- because when it's 80+ in March and April- summer will be 115+ for several weeks on end. Until then- we will enjoy the now!!!!!!!

Blessings,

Tracie************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

April 10, 2007

Tracie,

Thanks for sharing the visual...I envy your experience this weekend.

I have orchards too and can not wait for a break in the weather to be

a kid again, climbing through the branches to prune the trees. 3 " of

snow on the ground Easter Sunday...perhaps this weekend will be

better. Suppose I'd rather have snow than 115+ summers. The turkeys

are still bedded in the woods probably tending their nests. The

deer, on the otherhand, are as thick as thieves around the orchard

these days, as the does begin to drop their spotted offspring.

And I agree... " until then- we will enjoy the now! " How true. Enjoy

the day.

Peace...Tony

>

> Tony,

> This is great! I do know that any small amount of movement is good

for the

> soul. Now that spring is here-- I've been able to get into a

Heritage apple

> orchard-- some of the trees are 100 yrs old. This property belongs

to a good

> friend, and we've been caretaking it for the last several years.

We get our

> firewood in exchange for the labor.

> Tonight I was out clipping out some deadfall from the trees, with

showers of

> pollen all over me (yep, got a good case of bronchitis) when I

looked behind

> me-- and there was a huge wild turkey-- scarfing up the bugs in the

ground. It

> was too cool!!!!

> This orchard hasn't been pruned, watered, or cared for for the last

12 yrs,

> so it will take about 4-5 yrs of major tlc to get it to come back

to quality

> apples. Last year, we couldn't eat the apples, but boy was the

apple cider

> magnificient!! 70 gallons of it since last Sept-- and all but 2

are gone..

> I know that many of you back east are still getting hammered, and

this

> summer- I will be wishing I was up in Washington-- or someplace

very cool-- because

> when it's 80+ in March and April- summer will be 115+ for several

weeks on

> end. Until then- we will enjoy the now!!!!!!!

>

> Blessings,

> Tracie

>

> **************************************

> See what's free at

> http://www.aol.com.

>

April 14, 2007

Tony,

That is awesome;

I will pray that you continue on the road to healing!

Marla

Bramer

" Faith

sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible "

From: Neurosarcoidosis [mailto:Neurosarcoidosis ] On Behalf Of Tony

Sent: Monday, April 09, 2007 10:12

AM

To: Neurosarcoidosis

Subject: Having

a good day...and you?

After 6 months of not so good days, happier times are

on the