Generally, when we talk about going to see the doctor, or going to the hospital, we are referring to the traditional Western or allopathic medical system. In this system of care, the so-called "medical model" predominates. Typically, the person seeking services (consumer) is evaluated based upon complaints and observable symptoms, by the primary care physician. When necessary, the patient is referred to a specialist. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment usually entails: 1) doing nothing, 2) administering medication, 3) surgery, 4) specialized treatment such as radiation, 5) referral to another healthcare provider, or 6) some combination of the above treatment options. Over the last decade, primary care physicians have begun to refer more patients to practitioners providing complementary and alternative therapies.
In Part I of this article, I will explore the traditional Western, allopathic interventions for a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. In Part II, I will examine some of the complementary and alternative therapies that may be effective in managing sarcoidosis symptoms.
At least one-fourth to one-half of the persons newly diagnosed with sarcoidosis will need some form of treatment. Because sarcoidosis is a multi-system disease, symptoms may arise from any of the systems. Therefore, treatment will be dictated by the nature of the disease, the presenting symptoms, the consumer's past medical history, current medical state, and reimbursement. Ideally, the final choice for treatment is a collaborative decision made by a well-informed consumer and the physician. However, for many known and unknown reasons, consumers often defer to the physician for the final decision. Even when this is not the case, the consumer's full understanding of the impact of the treatment decision on his or her life is often delayed until the acute problems have been treated.
Consumers may go to the doctor for any number of symptoms that sometime occur with sarcoidosis. Shortness of breath and persistent cough send consumers to the doctor's office most often. Other complaints may appear as general as headache, general malaise, dry mouth, weight or hair loss, or visual changes. Other symptoms may interfere with mobility, such as certain neurological conditions (foot and hand neuropathies, muscle weakness, or paralysis). Joint stiffness, fatigue, pain, and seizures may make it difficult to function in daily life. Some consumers experience facial palsy, chest rails, fever, and nosebleed. The combination of symptoms is as unique as each individual. Following the appropriate evaluations and tests to determine the treating diagnosis, several interventions are customary.
