Key Takeaways:
- Sarah Bishop, a detective, was diagnosed with sarcoidosis, a condition she had never heard of before, after months of vague symptoms.
- She is documenting her journey on her Facebook page, Running Rocks & Ridges for Sarcoidosis, to raise awareness and funds for the condition.
- Bishop had to push for a diagnosis, as repeated trips to the doctor and blood tests shed no light on her condition.
- She has undergone surgery to install a pacemaker and defibrillator and is on medication to prevent the condition from spreading to other organs.
- Bishop is determined to stay active and has set a goal to run The Goat, a challenging event, to raise awareness and funds for sarcoidosis.
Introduction to Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is a condition that affects many people, but it is often unknown to those who are diagnosed with it. This was the case for Detective Sarah Bishop, who had never heard of the condition before her diagnosis. Bishop’s journey to diagnosis was a long and challenging one, with months of vague symptoms such as fatigue, night sweats, and tiredness. She had to push for a diagnosis, as repeated trips to the doctor and blood tests shed no light on her condition. It wasn’t until she noticed changes in her heart rate that she was finally able to get some answers.
The Road to Diagnosis
Bishop’s symptoms were initially dismissed as hereditary, but she knew that something was wrong. She had always had low blood pressure, but when it started to rise, she knew that it was unusual. She also noticed that her heart rate was abnormally low, even during exercise. Despite being a keen runner, she found that she couldn’t push through her usual runs, and her sports watch was reading unusually low heart rates. It wasn’t until she asked her partner to check her pulse after a run that she realized something was seriously wrong. Her pulse was only 68, despite being breathless and physically exhausted. This led to an ECG, which showed that something was not right, and Bishop was sent to the hospital for further testing.
Living with Sarcoidosis
Bishop’s diagnosis was confirmed after a month-long stay in the hospital, during which time her heart would stop for up to seven seconds. She underwent surgery to install a pacemaker and defibrillator and is now on a range of medication to prevent the condition from spreading to other organs. The sarcoidosis was also found on her lymph nodes and oesophagus, which enabled medical specialists to carry out biopsies on the granuloma that confirmed the diagnosis. Almost 18 months on, Bishop admits that the whole experience has felt unreal at times, as if she’s in a parallel universe. She’s aware that the condition is unique for each person diagnosed, and she’s reluctant to be singled out as an inspiration. However, she hopes that her story will help counter some of the doom and gloom surrounding the condition.
Staying Active with Sarcoidosis
Despite the challenges of living with sarcoidosis, Bishop is determined to stay active. With the approval of her cardiologist, she has set an active goal to get back into exertion, which she believes is beneficial for both her physical and mental health. She prioritizes exercise to combat the fatigue caused by the condition and the medication she’s on. Running is particularly meaningful for her, and she has her sights set on The Goat, a challenging event that she’s done before. However, she’s under no illusions that running it after all she’s been through will make for a different race. She’s documenting her journey on her Facebook page, Running Rocks & Ridges for Sarcoidosis, to raise awareness and funds for the condition.
Raising Awareness and Funds
Bishop’s goal is to finish The Goat with a smile on her face, and she’s using her journey to raise awareness and funds for sarcoidosis. She’s grateful for the support of her family and friends and hopes that her story will resonate with someone who is going through a similar experience. By sharing her journey, she hopes to counter some of the doom and gloom surrounding the condition and show that it’s possible to live an active and fulfilling life with sarcoidosis. If you’d like to support Bishop’s fundraising efforts, you can click on the link provided to donate.