CF related work

maelstrom · Mar 27, 2008

I was just wondering if anyone here has a job related to CF, and how it affects you. Basically, I'm wondering if having to think about CF issues at work can get to be too much emotionally... if it might be better to have a job that would be more of a break from thinking about all the hard CF stuff?

My background (sorry if it's long): I'm 26, my 27-year-old husband has CF, met him at the end of college, when I was already planning on going to grad school. I'm currently finishing up my masters in biomedical engineering, having done my research project on neural interface work (think prosthetics etc). I had been planning on getting a PhD but I have been struggling in grad school. Got married last summer, and then my husband had some fairly serious issues with depression... luckily his health is ok still, but that period had the two of us struggling with some of the heavy stuff that CF'ers go through. It was was a challenging period, and my work suffered a lot.. to the point where my advisor said something to me about not thinking I should stay for a PhD.

At this point I just don't know what I want to do. My interests in college had always been focused on neuroscience related work. But I feel like my whole perspective on life has changed, and I've been struggling to stay motivated with my research. I looked at a lot of other options career-wise, and during my searching, found a lab doing research for CF. I am seriously considering contacting the head of this lab to see if I could work there.

So my question: is it a good idea to focus my career on CF related research? On the one hand, I feel like I would have a very high motivation level, because I'd be doing work related to an issue that is extremely important to my life. On the other hand, I am worried that constantly thinking about CF might be too much emotionally for me to handle. I believe that we need to find balance in our lives, and my husband has always taken the tactic of not focusing on his CF. I admire him for that, and he's been able to accomplish so much: got a job and bought a house right out of college, then got a better job closer to me, we got married and bought a condo together. I know that being overly focused on CF can lead to a lot of depressing thoughts. So I'm not sure what to do. I guess I feel that it might be helpful to be doing something productive about CF - maybe it would let me feel more in control?

So, just wondering if anyone here does CF related work, and if it takes a toll on you emotionally, or if you find it to be motivating and gives you a feeling of purpose with regards to the disease. Any responses would be very helpful at this point, since my husband is pretty private about CF so I don't have many people to talk to about these issues. Thanks for reading!

maelstrom · Mar 27, 2008

I was just wondering if anyone here has a job related to CF, and how it affects you. Basically, I'm wondering if having to think about CF issues at work can get to be too much emotionally... if it might be better to have a job that would be more of a break from thinking about all the hard CF stuff?

My background (sorry if it's long): I'm 26, my 27-year-old husband has CF, met him at the end of college, when I was already planning on going to grad school. I'm currently finishing up my masters in biomedical engineering, having done my research project on neural interface work (think prosthetics etc). I had been planning on getting a PhD but I have been struggling in grad school. Got married last summer, and then my husband had some fairly serious issues with depression... luckily his health is ok still, but that period had the two of us struggling with some of the heavy stuff that CF'ers go through. It was was a challenging period, and my work suffered a lot.. to the point where my advisor said something to me about not thinking I should stay for a PhD.

At this point I just don't know what I want to do. My interests in college had always been focused on neuroscience related work. But I feel like my whole perspective on life has changed, and I've been struggling to stay motivated with my research. I looked at a lot of other options career-wise, and during my searching, found a lab doing research for CF. I am seriously considering contacting the head of this lab to see if I could work there.

So my question: is it a good idea to focus my career on CF related research? On the one hand, I feel like I would have a very high motivation level, because I'd be doing work related to an issue that is extremely important to my life. On the other hand, I am worried that constantly thinking about CF might be too much emotionally for me to handle. I believe that we need to find balance in our lives, and my husband has always taken the tactic of not focusing on his CF. I admire him for that, and he's been able to accomplish so much: got a job and bought a house right out of college, then got a better job closer to me, we got married and bought a condo together. I know that being overly focused on CF can lead to a lot of depressing thoughts. So I'm not sure what to do. I guess I feel that it might be helpful to be doing something productive about CF - maybe it would let me feel more in control?

So, just wondering if anyone here does CF related work, and if it takes a toll on you emotionally, or if you find it to be motivating and gives you a feeling of purpose with regards to the disease. Any responses would be very helpful at this point, since my husband is pretty private about CF so I don't have many people to talk to about these issues. Thanks for reading!

maelstrom · Mar 27, 2008

I was just wondering if anyone here has a job related to CF, and how it affects you. Basically, I'm wondering if having to think about CF issues at work can get to be too much emotionally... if it might be better to have a job that would be more of a break from thinking about all the hard CF stuff?

My background (sorry if it's long): I'm 26, my 27-year-old husband has CF, met him at the end of college, when I was already planning on going to grad school. I'm currently finishing up my masters in biomedical engineering, having done my research project on neural interface work (think prosthetics etc). I had been planning on getting a PhD but I have been struggling in grad school. Got married last summer, and then my husband had some fairly serious issues with depression... luckily his health is ok still, but that period had the two of us struggling with some of the heavy stuff that CF'ers go through. It was was a challenging period, and my work suffered a lot.. to the point where my advisor said something to me about not thinking I should stay for a PhD.

At this point I just don't know what I want to do. My interests in college had always been focused on neuroscience related work. But I feel like my whole perspective on life has changed, and I've been struggling to stay motivated with my research. I looked at a lot of other options career-wise, and during my searching, found a lab doing research for CF. I am seriously considering contacting the head of this lab to see if I could work there.

So my question: is it a good idea to focus my career on CF related research? On the one hand, I feel like I would have a very high motivation level, because I'd be doing work related to an issue that is extremely important to my life. On the other hand, I am worried that constantly thinking about CF might be too much emotionally for me to handle. I believe that we need to find balance in our lives, and my husband has always taken the tactic of not focusing on his CF. I admire him for that, and he's been able to accomplish so much: got a job and bought a house right out of college, then got a better job closer to me, we got married and bought a condo together. I know that being overly focused on CF can lead to a lot of depressing thoughts. So I'm not sure what to do. I guess I feel that it might be helpful to be doing something productive about CF - maybe it would let me feel more in control?

So, just wondering if anyone here does CF related work, and if it takes a toll on you emotionally, or if you find it to be motivating and gives you a feeling of purpose with regards to the disease. Any responses would be very helpful at this point, since my husband is pretty private about CF so I don't have many people to talk to about these issues. Thanks for reading!

maelstrom · Mar 27, 2008

I was just wondering if anyone here has a job related to CF, and how it affects you. Basically, I'm wondering if having to think about CF issues at work can get to be too much emotionally... if it might be better to have a job that would be more of a break from thinking about all the hard CF stuff?

My background (sorry if it's long): I'm 26, my 27-year-old husband has CF, met him at the end of college, when I was already planning on going to grad school. I'm currently finishing up my masters in biomedical engineering, having done my research project on neural interface work (think prosthetics etc). I had been planning on getting a PhD but I have been struggling in grad school. Got married last summer, and then my husband had some fairly serious issues with depression... luckily his health is ok still, but that period had the two of us struggling with some of the heavy stuff that CF'ers go through. It was was a challenging period, and my work suffered a lot.. to the point where my advisor said something to me about not thinking I should stay for a PhD.

At this point I just don't know what I want to do. My interests in college had always been focused on neuroscience related work. But I feel like my whole perspective on life has changed, and I've been struggling to stay motivated with my research. I looked at a lot of other options career-wise, and during my searching, found a lab doing research for CF. I am seriously considering contacting the head of this lab to see if I could work there.

So my question: is it a good idea to focus my career on CF related research? On the one hand, I feel like I would have a very high motivation level, because I'd be doing work related to an issue that is extremely important to my life. On the other hand, I am worried that constantly thinking about CF might be too much emotionally for me to handle. I believe that we need to find balance in our lives, and my husband has always taken the tactic of not focusing on his CF. I admire him for that, and he's been able to accomplish so much: got a job and bought a house right out of college, then got a better job closer to me, we got married and bought a condo together. I know that being overly focused on CF can lead to a lot of depressing thoughts. So I'm not sure what to do. I guess I feel that it might be helpful to be doing something productive about CF - maybe it would let me feel more in control?

So, just wondering if anyone here does CF related work, and if it takes a toll on you emotionally, or if you find it to be motivating and gives you a feeling of purpose with regards to the disease. Any responses would be very helpful at this point, since my husband is pretty private about CF so I don't have many people to talk to about these issues. Thanks for reading!

maelstrom · Mar 27, 2008

I was just wondering if anyone here has a job related to CF, and how it affects you. Basically, I'm wondering if having to think about CF issues at work can get to be too much emotionally... if it might be better to have a job that would be more of a break from thinking about all the hard CF stuff?
 
 My background (sorry if it's long): I'm 26, my 27-year-old husband has CF, met him at the end of college, when I was already planning on going to grad school. I'm currently finishing up my masters in biomedical engineering, having done my research project on neural interface work (think prosthetics etc). I had been planning on getting a PhD but I have been struggling in grad school. Got married last summer, and then my husband had some fairly serious issues with depression... luckily his health is ok still, but that period had the two of us struggling with some of the heavy stuff that CF'ers go through. It was was a challenging period, and my work suffered a lot.. to the point where my advisor said something to me about not thinking I should stay for a PhD.
 
 At this point I just don't know what I want to do. My interests in college had always been focused on neuroscience related work. But I feel like my whole perspective on life has changed, and I've been struggling to stay motivated with my research. I looked at a lot of other options career-wise, and during my searching, found a lab doing research for CF. I am seriously considering contacting the head of this lab to see if I could work there.
 
 So my question: is it a good idea to focus my career on CF related research? On the one hand, I feel like I would have a very high motivation level, because I'd be doing work related to an issue that is extremely important to my life. On the other hand, I am worried that constantly thinking about CF might be too much emotionally for me to handle. I believe that we need to find balance in our lives, and my husband has always taken the tactic of not focusing on his CF. I admire him for that, and he's been able to accomplish so much: got a job and bought a house right out of college, then got a better job closer to me, we got married and bought a condo together. I know that being overly focused on CF can lead to a lot of depressing thoughts. So I'm not sure what to do. I guess I feel that it might be helpful to be doing something productive about CF - maybe it would let me feel more in control?
 
 So, just wondering if anyone here does CF related work, and if it takes a toll on you emotionally, or if you find it to be motivating and gives you a feeling of purpose with regards to the disease. Any responses would be very helpful at this point, since my husband is pretty private about CF so I don't have many people to talk to about these issues. Thanks for reading!

welshwitch · Mar 27, 2008

I don't think i would ever get a job that dealt w/ CF. I knnow people w. CF who have worked at CFRI or got jobs as genetic counselors. That's great and it works for them. But as a CF patient I think that one of my "therapies" as you will is fitting in the world as a normal person and doing stuff that is meaningful to me that doesn't depress me. Even coming to this website is hard for me (and yet so addictive!) because I am forced to witness and hear horrible stories of pain and suffering. COuld I do this 40 hours a week? I doubt it.

On the other hand, some people find it theraputic to go into the medical profession and proactively work to find solutions to CF. I feel bad that I can't be one of those people. Like, I am a slacker for just sitting back and letting others do all the work.

This is a really interesting question. I think I could do something if it were my work and didn't hit so close to home. But work and personal life are important for me to keep separate; I need to have a job I don't bring home with me.

welshwitch · Mar 27, 2008

I don't think i would ever get a job that dealt w/ CF. I knnow people w. CF who have worked at CFRI or got jobs as genetic counselors. That's great and it works for them. But as a CF patient I think that one of my "therapies" as you will is fitting in the world as a normal person and doing stuff that is meaningful to me that doesn't depress me. Even coming to this website is hard for me (and yet so addictive!) because I am forced to witness and hear horrible stories of pain and suffering. COuld I do this 40 hours a week? I doubt it.

On the other hand, some people find it theraputic to go into the medical profession and proactively work to find solutions to CF. I feel bad that I can't be one of those people. Like, I am a slacker for just sitting back and letting others do all the work.

This is a really interesting question. I think I could do something if it were my work and didn't hit so close to home. But work and personal life are important for me to keep separate; I need to have a job I don't bring home with me.

welshwitch · Mar 27, 2008

I don't think i would ever get a job that dealt w/ CF. I knnow people w. CF who have worked at CFRI or got jobs as genetic counselors. That's great and it works for them. But as a CF patient I think that one of my "therapies" as you will is fitting in the world as a normal person and doing stuff that is meaningful to me that doesn't depress me. Even coming to this website is hard for me (and yet so addictive!) because I am forced to witness and hear horrible stories of pain and suffering. COuld I do this 40 hours a week? I doubt it.

On the other hand, some people find it theraputic to go into the medical profession and proactively work to find solutions to CF. I feel bad that I can't be one of those people. Like, I am a slacker for just sitting back and letting others do all the work.

This is a really interesting question. I think I could do something if it were my work and didn't hit so close to home. But work and personal life are important for me to keep separate; I need to have a job I don't bring home with me.

welshwitch · Mar 27, 2008

I don't think i would ever get a job that dealt w/ CF. I knnow people w. CF who have worked at CFRI or got jobs as genetic counselors. That's great and it works for them. But as a CF patient I think that one of my "therapies" as you will is fitting in the world as a normal person and doing stuff that is meaningful to me that doesn't depress me. Even coming to this website is hard for me (and yet so addictive!) because I am forced to witness and hear horrible stories of pain and suffering. COuld I do this 40 hours a week? I doubt it.

On the other hand, some people find it theraputic to go into the medical profession and proactively work to find solutions to CF. I feel bad that I can't be one of those people. Like, I am a slacker for just sitting back and letting others do all the work.

This is a really interesting question. I think I could do something if it were my work and didn't hit so close to home. But work and personal life are important for me to keep separate; I need to have a job I don't bring home with me.

welshwitch · Mar 27, 2008

I don't think i would ever get a job that dealt w/ CF. I knnow people w. CF who have worked at CFRI or got jobs as genetic counselors. That's great and it works for them. But as a CF patient I think that one of my "therapies" as you will is fitting in the world as a normal person and doing stuff that is meaningful to me that doesn't depress me. Even coming to this website is hard for me (and yet so addictive!) because I am forced to witness and hear horrible stories of pain and suffering. COuld I do this 40 hours a week? I doubt it.
 
 On the other hand, some people find it theraputic to go into the medical profession and proactively work to find solutions to CF. I feel bad that I can't be one of those people. Like, I am a slacker for just sitting back and letting others do all the work.
 
 This is a really interesting question. I think I could do something if it were my work and didn't hit so close to home. But work and personal life are important for me to keep separate; I need to have a job I don't bring home with me.

TonyaH · Mar 27, 2008

I cannot speak for the medical/research side of things, but I worked for 5 years as a Director of Special Events for the CFF. I had to quit. It was too emotionally draining to live CF 24 hours a day. While it was definitely the most rewarding work I've ever done, it was also the work that took the most out of me.

TonyaH · Mar 27, 2008

I cannot speak for the medical/research side of things, but I worked for 5 years as a Director of Special Events for the CFF. I had to quit. It was too emotionally draining to live CF 24 hours a day. While it was definitely the most rewarding work I've ever done, it was also the work that took the most out of me.

TonyaH · Mar 27, 2008

I cannot speak for the medical/research side of things, but I worked for 5 years as a Director of Special Events for the CFF. I had to quit. It was too emotionally draining to live CF 24 hours a day. While it was definitely the most rewarding work I've ever done, it was also the work that took the most out of me.

TonyaH · Mar 27, 2008

I cannot speak for the medical/research side of things, but I worked for 5 years as a Director of Special Events for the CFF. I had to quit. It was too emotionally draining to live CF 24 hours a day. While it was definitely the most rewarding work I've ever done, it was also the work that took the most out of me.

TonyaH · Mar 27, 2008

I cannot speak for the medical/research side of things, but I worked for 5 years as a Director of Special Events for the CFF. I had to quit. It was too emotionally draining to live CF 24 hours a day. While it was definitely the most rewarding work I've ever done, it was also the work that took the most out of me.

rubyroselee · Mar 27, 2008

I always wanted to be able to help/counsel people with CF. I had been a camp counselor at a couple different CF camps before and loved that more than anything. I thought about being a genetic counselor, a respiratory therapist, a psychologist, etc. I realized that working with CF people would not be very smart, and ended up going into nursing in the hopes of working in an area of medicine where I would enjoy myself. Turns out I didn't enjoy nursing anyways, although I am still working with my RN license in the medical field in a safe environment for me.

My spouse is an RT. Her dream was always to work with CF people because she found it very intriguing after she met me...and part of the reason why she went to school to become an RT. She has yet to work with CFers, but it still sits in the back of her mind as something she would like to do. I get a little worried about that because I wouldn't want her to get upset and discouraged about CF after working with CF day in and day out...plus she has to deal with my CF every day too. Seems like too much CF (to me anyways). So I think she's content doing regular RT work for the time being.

I think it can be a little overwhelming to work with CF and live with CF every day. It's like you can never get away from it then. But some people may like that sort of thing and find their niche in that type of work. I guess you have to go with your gut and decide if the work will be an exciting long-term job that you would enjoy.

rubyroselee · Mar 27, 2008

I always wanted to be able to help/counsel people with CF. I had been a camp counselor at a couple different CF camps before and loved that more than anything. I thought about being a genetic counselor, a respiratory therapist, a psychologist, etc. I realized that working with CF people would not be very smart, and ended up going into nursing in the hopes of working in an area of medicine where I would enjoy myself. Turns out I didn't enjoy nursing anyways, although I am still working with my RN license in the medical field in a safe environment for me.

My spouse is an RT. Her dream was always to work with CF people because she found it very intriguing after she met me...and part of the reason why she went to school to become an RT. She has yet to work with CFers, but it still sits in the back of her mind as something she would like to do. I get a little worried about that because I wouldn't want her to get upset and discouraged about CF after working with CF day in and day out...plus she has to deal with my CF every day too. Seems like too much CF (to me anyways). So I think she's content doing regular RT work for the time being.

I think it can be a little overwhelming to work with CF and live with CF every day. It's like you can never get away from it then. But some people may like that sort of thing and find their niche in that type of work. I guess you have to go with your gut and decide if the work will be an exciting long-term job that you would enjoy.

rubyroselee · Mar 27, 2008

I always wanted to be able to help/counsel people with CF. I had been a camp counselor at a couple different CF camps before and loved that more than anything. I thought about being a genetic counselor, a respiratory therapist, a psychologist, etc. I realized that working with CF people would not be very smart, and ended up going into nursing in the hopes of working in an area of medicine where I would enjoy myself. Turns out I didn't enjoy nursing anyways, although I am still working with my RN license in the medical field in a safe environment for me.

My spouse is an RT. Her dream was always to work with CF people because she found it very intriguing after she met me...and part of the reason why she went to school to become an RT. She has yet to work with CFers, but it still sits in the back of her mind as something she would like to do. I get a little worried about that because I wouldn't want her to get upset and discouraged about CF after working with CF day in and day out...plus she has to deal with my CF every day too. Seems like too much CF (to me anyways). So I think she's content doing regular RT work for the time being.

I think it can be a little overwhelming to work with CF and live with CF every day. It's like you can never get away from it then. But some people may like that sort of thing and find their niche in that type of work. I guess you have to go with your gut and decide if the work will be an exciting long-term job that you would enjoy.

rubyroselee · Mar 27, 2008

I always wanted to be able to help/counsel people with CF. I had been a camp counselor at a couple different CF camps before and loved that more than anything. I thought about being a genetic counselor, a respiratory therapist, a psychologist, etc. I realized that working with CF people would not be very smart, and ended up going into nursing in the hopes of working in an area of medicine where I would enjoy myself. Turns out I didn't enjoy nursing anyways, although I am still working with my RN license in the medical field in a safe environment for me.

My spouse is an RT. Her dream was always to work with CF people because she found it very intriguing after she met me...and part of the reason why she went to school to become an RT. She has yet to work with CFers, but it still sits in the back of her mind as something she would like to do. I get a little worried about that because I wouldn't want her to get upset and discouraged about CF after working with CF day in and day out...plus she has to deal with my CF every day too. Seems like too much CF (to me anyways). So I think she's content doing regular RT work for the time being.

I think it can be a little overwhelming to work with CF and live with CF every day. It's like you can never get away from it then. But some people may like that sort of thing and find their niche in that type of work. I guess you have to go with your gut and decide if the work will be an exciting long-term job that you would enjoy.

rubyroselee · Mar 27, 2008

I always wanted to be able to help/counsel people with CF. I had been a camp counselor at a couple different CF camps before and loved that more than anything. I thought about being a genetic counselor, a respiratory therapist, a psychologist, etc. I realized that working with CF people would not be very smart, and ended up going into nursing in the hopes of working in an area of medicine where I would enjoy myself. Turns out I didn't enjoy nursing anyways, although I am still working with my RN license in the medical field in a safe environment for me.
 
 My spouse is an RT. Her dream was always to work with CF people because she found it very intriguing after she met me...and part of the reason why she went to school to become an RT. She has yet to work with CFers, but it still sits in the back of her mind as something she would like to do. I get a little worried about that because I wouldn't want her to get upset and discouraged about CF after working with CF day in and day out...plus she has to deal with my CF every day too. Seems like too much CF (to me anyways). So I think she's content doing regular RT work for the time being.
 
 I think it can be a little overwhelming to work with CF and live with CF every day. It's like you can never get away from it then. But some people may like that sort of thing and find their niche in that type of work. I guess you have to go with your gut and decide if the work will be an exciting long-term job that you would enjoy.

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