My Symptoms

Lethargy consumed me. I could not wait for the others to go off-campus to lunch, which I always refused, because I needed to sneak in a nap.

This was unusual behavior for me, because at the time I was an active, athletic, health conscious, 40-something, 130 mile a-day commuter, who played Racquetball every day at lunch-time and had plans to celebrate my 110th birthday.

Suddenly I’m sleeping all the time? Something ain’t right!

I’d sleep through lunch, stay late and sleep for a couple of hours, but not charge over-time. My supervisor thought he was getting extra work out of me, for free. Hah! As the ex-prez, (you know who you are) has been known to say, “Not gonna happen!”

The reason I mention the commute aspect is because it was during one such commute that I began to suspect something was terribly wrong.

That day I had worked the 10 am – 6 pm shift. After contributing a much needed few hours of nap time, I’d left work around 8:30 pm.

For many years my route on the commute home was to drive west on highway 580, to 13, to east 24, through the Caldecott Tunnel in Orinda, Ca. I used to jokingly say I could do it in my sleep.

I must say it was a bit of a surprise, when I actually did it.

The first time it happened, I drove into the tunnel in the fast lane, as usual. I noticed a big, brown, Ford Crown Vic’ next to me in the right lane. It was veering real close to the center line, so I eased to my left just a little bit. Figured he was probably afraid of hitting the outside railing and would prefer to tangle with me in my little commuter.

Next thing I remember, I looked up and had traveled about a half-mile beyond the tunnel, still in the fast lane. I remember swerving slightly toward where the Ford should have been, but it was nowhere to be found. Did I dream the Ford part? I can’t say.

Realistically, I must have gone into a zone of some sort, still holding on to a consciousness, but as far as I was concerned, I had fallen asleep.

After that first time, it happened many nights in a row. It got to the point to where I looked forward to it, and yes I know that’s crazy, but I craved the rest.

Every night for weeks I was God’s co-pilot. Something else had to be lighting my path. Like clockwork I’d wake up a half-mile out of the tunnel, roll down a window, take a breath and thank God I made it.

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It became my new normal.

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See Part 1. Living With Sarcoidosis

See Part 2. What’s Wrong With This Picture! I’m Not Lazy!”

See Part 3. My Symptoms

See Part 4. My New Normal

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“Good Health and Success are a Lifestyle . . . Let’s Choose to Live Well,”

CK Dillon

Contact: Charles@CreateVitality.Com

On the Web: Http://CreateVitality.Com

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What’s Wrong With This Picture! I’m Not Lazy!”

I remember one day specifically when the symptoms began to manifest, initially in a persistent cough.

An associate I’d worked with for over 10 years knew something was wrong. He had never seen me ill. Heck, I had been the picture of health proudly earning a ten-year perfect attendance pin!

He burst through the door and came straight over to my desk. Handing me a huge bag of cough drops and two bottles of cough syrup, he said, “Hey man, I stopped at the drug store this morning and got you these.”

Then he said, “We’ve got to finish this project today bro; I’ve got to get out of this room, it’s killing me!”

We were in the process of building a new communications system for a university. This was the last day that I would have any assistance. In a way I looked forward to the solitude.

After he and all the others made similar statements about being ill, I began to think the room we were working in had become contaminated from all of the new equipment. Once turned on, the equipment would warm up and give off a “burning plastic” odor.

Everyone who entered that room and worked there for a day or two, became ill. Some refused to come back.

That realization was my “Eureka” moment. I had figured out why I was sick.

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If I could move out of the room . . . I’d get well. It was a no-brainer. I happily gave the campus my request for a new office.

There were a few challenges!

• this room hadn’t always caused illness
• it had been my office for 13 years prior to the system upgrade with no problems
• the campus didn’t have any more office space
• the campus rep did not feel the room was the cause of my problems

Air Quality Inspection

Up until that time the campus rep and I had a civil working relationship, but it quickly became strained when I arrived at her office with what I considered a “joke” solution. She didn’t appreciate my attempt at humor.

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I wasn’t laughing either. I was doing what I had to do to get well. When I requested the air quality inspection, I was assured there would be no adverse findings.

Unfortunately, a contaminated room was the only logical answer to how I was feeling.

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See Part 1. Living With Sarcoidosis

See Part 3. My Symptoms

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Join CreateVitality.Com’s “Better Health for Boomers” Free Newsletter by filling in the Sign Up Form on the right panel.

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“Good Health and Success are a Lifestyle . . . Live Well,”

CK Dillon

Contact: Charles@CreateVitality.Com

On the Web: Http://CreateVitality.Com

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Today’s article is the first in a series about a disease, Sarcoidosis, that hits more than close to home with me. It’s something I’ve lived with every day for the past 15 years.

Hope I do it justice.

Here’s My Story.

Early fall, nineteen-ninety-five, was to be an extreme and lonely period in my life. After being ill for several months during the summer, I was diagnosed with something called Sarcoidosis.

Initially told by a specialist that the disease affected mainly African Americans and Scandinavians, I quickly realized I had no one to talk with who could relate to what I was going through.

I didn’t know any other African Americans who had been diagnosed, and I didn’t know any Scandinavians, period.

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My close friends listened and lent a sympathetic ear when I needed it, but they couldn’t feel me, so to speak. I imagine that’s what it’s like with most serious diseases.

Here’s a big “Thank You!” to all of you who participate in various support groups.

When I was first diagnosed, there was very little information on the web, or anywhere else about Sarcoidosis. I’d spread the word whenever the opportunity presented itself, but most people just couldn’t relate. And frankly, my knowledge was limited.

Fast-forward to this decade and the disease is no longer obscure. I’ve come to realize many other African Americans were right there with me, waging the battle against an enemy unidentified.

Those who came before weren’t known as pioneers. They were referred to in a less endearing light. “He’s Lazy with a capital L,” was something I used to hear a lot about a certain older gentleman, “he’s always been lazy.” Lethargy is a common symptom of Sarcoidosis. Maybe “old dude” wasn’t just “lazy.”

One of my earliest symptoms was lethargy. Friends and co-workers had always known me to be energetic, but suddenly I’d hear whispers, “he’s always real tired lately.”

At that time, in nineteen-ninety-five, my symptoms were a “Charles only” problem. I didn’t want to be tired, or as some would feel, “lazy,” I just couldn’t help it.

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See Part 2.  . What’s Wrong With This Picture!  I’m Not Lazy!”

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If you liked this article, share it with a friend.

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Join CreateVitality.Com’s “Better Health for Boomers” Free Newsletter by filling in the Sign Up Form on the right panel.

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“Good Health and Success are a Lifestyle . . . Live Well,”

CK Dillon

Contact: Charles@CreateVitality.Com

On the Web: Http://CreateVitality.Com

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