There is no cure for CF. There has been leaps and bounds in research for medicines to help treat CF. They have made headway in research for a cure but nothing solid. The saying, “the cure is right around the corner!” has been around for many many years. My parents heard it when I was diagnosed 34 years ago and “they” (CFF, docs, etc.) are still saying it today. With that said, we are closer to a cure than we were 34 years ago. I don’t think I will see a cure in my lifetime but who knows, someone may surprise me with that. If I can live my life as an example and do my part for research then that is all that matters for the generations behind me. They are doing research with stem cells in hopes of helping correct the defective CF gene, which is promising. (more…)
CF Happens
Sometimes in life CF (Cystic Fibrosis) happens…pun intended
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Airway clearance is a big part of life with CF. There are many different ways to do airway clearance. Pictured are a few handheld devices. All of these you either inhaled into to expand your lungs or you breathe into to help vibrate the lungs, which loosens up mucus and makes you cough. There is also the vest, which, I use. There are others not pictured or mentioned. The goal of airway clearance is to loosen up all the mucus in the lungs so that you can cough it out. It only has one way out and we have to work for it. I joke that I wish I had a spit release valve, like on a trumpet, so that I could open it and blow it all out. It is a lot of work coughing out all the junk. We don’t have control over when we cough. Well I should say that doesn’t mean that we sure don’t try to control it. My husband likes to park in the “back 40” in parking lots. When he pulls in the spot he says, “AIRWAY CLEARANCE!” (in a sweet singing voice) Exercise is also another great form of airway clearance.
Some CFers dislike the VEST and prefer the old standard of clapping (PD&C=postural drainage and clapping). That is where you lay down or sit up (depends on what you prefer) and someone claps with cupped hands on your back and sides to help loosen the stuff up so you can cough it out. When I was growing up we called it “beating,” heck we still do. Many times I would hear my mom says, “Shannon, come here I need to beat you.” I have been known to ask my husband to beat me. The kids like to joke that “dad beats Shannon and she takes drugs.” There is also a percussor (pictured below) that does the same thing as clapping through vibration. It vibrates the lungs to loosen the junk so make it easier to cough out.
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CF Happens 