A support system can make or break someone, that is no different and probably more true in people with CF. Everyone needs support in their life. CFers need a lot of love and support as well. Having CF is physically and mentally draining at times therefore we need people around us whenever we need it. I personally hate needing and asking for help. I want to do everything on my own. I’m stubborn like that. It is a real hit to the self esteem when you can‘t do things you used to do or that you want to do and need help. There are some people that can’t handle loving someone that has CF, for whatever reason and that is another knock to the ol self esteem. (more…)
CF Happens
Sometimes in life, CF happens…pun intended.
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Here is a list of common signs and symptoms of CF:
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Very salty-tasting skin (my mom used to kiss my forehead and lick her lips to see if I needed to eat a salty snack to replenish salt)
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Persistent coughing (coughing is what we do and we do it well)
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Coughing that produces thick sticky mucus (oh the things that come out of our lungs)
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Frequent lung infections (frequently diagnosed as pneumonia or bronchitis before CF diagnosis and classified as CF Exacerbation and/or pneumonia after diagnosis)
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Wheezing or shortness of breath (a lot of people with CF also have asthma like I do…double whammy)
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Poor growth and slow weight gain, in spite of a good appetite, failure to thrive (what lead to my diagnosis)
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Frequent greasy, bulky stools or difficulty in bowel movements (oh boy, you don’t even want to know)
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Small, fleshy growths in the nose, called nasal polyps (there have been people that have been diagnosed because their polyps led to questioning CF because they are so prominent in CF patients) (I have had multiple sinus surgeries which I will talk about on another day)
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Liver issues, enlarged or scaring or narrowing of the ducts
CF affects multiple parts of the body but is mostly known as a lung disease and/or problems with pancreatic/stomach.
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CF Happens 