Re: I'm a GN Nurse w/ Sarcoidosis

I just figured out today that I am having a flare of sarcoidosis and the resulting e. nodosum. I am guessing it is stress since next Monday I start RN school. I have my LVN but went straight back to school without working as LVN. A lot of my old classmates are working nights as LVN and it is very hard on them and they are a lot younger than me (I will be 43 this month). I worry about my ability to work med surg right out of school and if I plan on getting further education like BSN and eventually my masters, does it really matter where I start? One of my old LVN classmates who just got her RN is working in a drug rehab place and she really likes it. How much are we really hurt if we don't start out med surg? I would hate to try it and fail. (Although I know if I don't try it, I will never know.) Any suggestions on anything - specializing, e. nodosum, sarcoidosis, etc. - would be greatly appreciated. I would have started a new thread but I couldn't figure out how!

Re: I'm a GN Nurse w/ Sarcoidosis

I have sarcoid as well and I'm 28 (diagnosed at 26). I didn't believe my diagnoises at first either since I didn't have any lung issues. I had an open lap and a lymph node biopsy - they were ruling out lymphoma- and they said the biopsy was consistant with extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. I get terrible joint pain and abdominal pain, fever and constant fatigue. I did prednisone for a long time which worked but also made me gain 40lbs and i swear I didn't sleep for months. Now I take Methotrexate and Neurontin and it seems to be stable (although I did get IV Solu-Medrol when it gets bad). I too had trouble trying to explain to employers why I miss so much work. I now work agency and its working out great. Not what I wanted to do but so far so good. I work 3 days a week, which ever days I want to work, and if I have a flair I dont work. Since Im not obligated to work a certain amount of shifts the agency doesnt care if I work or not. This is the only reason I'm able to continue to work as an RN. I honestly thought about giving it up and going back to school for something else. Glad I havent had to yet.