Learning to Deal with Reality
Me & Sarcoidosis: A Lifetime Partnership
By Gilbert Barr, Jr.

Subtitled "A Patient's Story About Living with a Chronic Health Condition," Me & Sarcoidosis narrates in sometimes painful detail the life of Gilbert Barr leading up to his eventual diagnosis of sarcoidosis, with diabetes insipidus as a secondary condition.

But Barr doesn't wallow in misery at the changes his medical condition has wrought on his life, although some could say he has plenty of reason to. Throughout his narrative, Mr. Barr reminds himself and us, "reality is reality." His book shares his painful reality with us, and the strategies he employs in his life to make the best of things.

While it is clear that Mr. Barr is not a trained writer, his narrative hits home. He details the difficulties, familiar to many with diabetes insipidus, of getting diagnosed. "I explained I was thirsty a lot and urinating more than usual. [The doctor] looked me over, stuck his finger up my rectum and checked me for diabetes, then said my blood sugar was ok and my rash would clear up in time." It would eventually take him three years before a physician really looked at his symptoms and added them up to sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis is a multi system disorder characterized in affected organs by a type of inflammation called granulomas. The cause is unknown. Some people with sarcoidosis affecting their pituitary glands, such as Gilbert Barr, can develop diabetes insipidus as a result.

At one point, Barr was hospitalized. "I remember one doctor wandered by with an intern and read my chart. After he noticed the notes on my chart, instead of being concerned with my current state, he seemed more interested in explaining to his intern about my diabetes insipidus condition. Then he started talking real low to the intern, telling him, 'You don't see too many of these patients in person.' You can learn a lot from this. He turned to me real cocky and asked, "So how does the diabetes insipidus make you feel?' with his intern ready to jot down my response. I looked at him directly in the eyes and with a tone full of attitude said, 'right now I feel like I look and why are you even here? Unless you're the doctor who understands what needs to be done to me, this isn't the time. Once I'm back stable then I might answer your questions, but until then go be a big shot with someone who cares!' I glanced at the young intern, who had a shocked look on his face and I remember thinking maybe he just learned a real lesson he will not forget."

At the end of each chapter, Mr. Barr summarizes his main points and throws out some nuggets of advice. "A way to improve your relationships with your medical professionals is for you to take the extra step to be nice and courteous to those helping you" he writes at the end of chapter 12. It's good advice to follow, whether you have DI or not. But he offers much more. Discover for yourself. While you may not learn anything more about diabetes insipidus, you will learn more about life and how to take a positive attitude. This is one book worth reading.

You can learn more about Gilbert Barr's story and his book Me & Sarcoidosis - A Lifetime Partnership (2002, Writer's Club Press, New York, NY) by visiting his web site at www.gilbertbarrjr.com.