Looking for Answers

My symptoms began with a bad cold at the end of the winter, leaving me with a nagging cough that just wouldn't go away.  Spring was on the horizon and everyone said it was the worse pollen season ever, so perhaps I was developing allergies.  I had never had any problems before, but I dutifully made an appointment with an allergist, only to find that I'm allergic to nothing except dust.  I was no closer to getting rid of that annoying cough, but it might explain my aversion to housework perhaps!

The ENT doctor thought I had asthma, but that just didn't resonate with me.  I had seen asthma in family members, and it didn't look like this.  The inhalers that the ENT doctor gave me to help with the so-called asthma just made me nauseous.  His response, rather than to tell me to stop or switch the inhalers, was that I must have stomach problems, and give me a referral to a gastroenterologist.  I was not paying close enough attention at the time, but this was to become a familiar pattern; treat the symptom with a drug; address any side effects with another drug that also may have side effects, calling for yet another drug and so on, ad nauseam.

In the meantime, the cough was still ever present, making conversation difficult and forcing me to carry around a bottle of water, a supply of cough drops, and to sip on hot tea throughout the day. Cough medicine didn't work, allergy pills didn't work.

I kept looking for a doctor who could tell me what what going on.  Navigating through the medical system is not a simple task, and I didn't have iHart to help me.  It would be several months before I finally got an answer.

iHart wellness, and you should too!

Five Years Ago

Five years ago a call from my doctor marked the beginning of my descent into sickness.  Of course, I didn't view it as such.  Not having been sick before, I assumed I could just take a few pills and continue on with life as normal.  I had a demanding job, and I was used to managing stressful situations, working long hours, and meeting tight deadlines.  I thought I could just keep going, business as usual, but something had to change.  It took iHart coming home and showing me that I had to let go of my definition of normal.

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Five years ago I was someone who worked 12-15 hour days, went to the gym three times per week, went hiking on weekends.  As if that wasn't enough, I even started taking ballroom and swing dance lessons.  I existed on very little sleep, worked hard and played hard.  I was so busy that I didn't register the ever increasing shortness of breath, the accelerated heart rate, and the incessant fatigue.

 I didn't respect these warning signals.  Instead I just pushed through, not realizing I was burning myself out.  Lucky for me, my daughter came home and brought a new perspective.  Sara looked at me through the iHart Lens and saw that things must change.  With her help, I began my journey to wellness.  

About the author:  Patricia Hart was diagnosed with sarcoidosis five years ago and had to abandon a thirty-five year career, and reformulate her plans for the future.  Her daughter Sara Hart, creative director of the iHart Lens, has been instrumental in helping pave Pat's path to wellness.  To help raise awareness for this mysterious disease, Pat has decided to chronicle her sarcoidosis journey as iHart@Home.  The iHart Lens captures Sara's interest in photography and the arts, yoga and mindfulness, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.  This mother-daughter collaboration embodies the iHart vision to empower women in setting new directions for themselves.  

For more details, visit the iHart Lens website at www.ihartlens.com.  iHart wellness, and you should too! 

iHART ... and you should too!

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