• I received an article via email titled “Associations between adherence, depressive symptoms and health-related quality of life in young adults with cystic fibrosis.”  The first line of the article is the following, “Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life shortening disease, however prognosis has improved and the adults with cystic fibrosis live independent lives and balance the demands of work and family life with a significant treatment burden.  They administered 3 standardized questionnaires to 67 CF patients aged 18-30 years; Medication Adherence Scale, Major Depression Inventory and CF Questionnaire.  One third of the participants reported systems of depression. Health-related quality of life scores were especially low on vitality and treatment burden and symptoms of depression were associated with low health-related quality of life.  High depression symptoms scores were associated with low adherence.  All of that mumbo jumbo means that depression and CF go hand in hand.  The higher the rate of depression, the lower rate of adherence of treatments and meds, etc. and vice versa.   (more…)

  • /shannonigansToday I had my third set of intercostal blocks in my back for the rib pain.  As you know, I have a broken rib that is taking forever to heal due to the fact that I can’t take a break from breathing, coughing or sneezing to give it time to heal.  The pain is better than when it first began back in February, 5 and a half months ago so for that I’m glad but there is still a little bit to go to be pain free.  Yes, I hope to be pain free.  Yes, I’m asking for a lot. Yes, I’m stubborn. hahaha.  I have a follow up appointment with the pain clinic August 10th to talk about this set injections hoping to be done with the pain clinic.   (more…)