Optimists

[Renee Vasquez]

So I'm new to this site, and thus far I have noticed many "Aged" Cf-ers. Which makes me very optimist about the future. My question for all you is "What is positive in your life?" and "What do you do to stay optimist?"

 

[windex125]

Good I am glad you feel that way... I just turned 60 last month. I've lived a life with a positive attitude. I never thought of the CF as something that was going to kill me. I hv at this point only one functioning lung but the good one has taken over the job very well. my PFT's run in the high 40's I have a port in my right shoulder that was put in more than 10yrs ago for IV meds when needed, I was so upset abt that but it has proved to be the best thing for me. Also kept me out of the hospital many times. CF is a disease that effects us all very differently with me it was my lungs. But last year I had my first attack of pancreastsis, and a second 2 weeks ago each time I spent a week in the hospital and now I use enzymes. I was PS up till last year. CF the disease that keeps on giving... I'm a petite woman of 5' and wt abt 107 and it goes up and down abt 5lbs constantly. I also hv lost some of my hearing and use hearing aids do to inhalation of a med I used many years ago. But I do not need them all the time. The stomach issues piss me off now as I am Italian and love my pasta red sauce dinners with my family / red wind included. So have to cut back on that. I was able to have a wonderful career in the oil industry in the late 80's to 90's I was told I wld never get preg. and my husband understood that as well. I even told him I wld understand divoice, but he said out of the question. On my 11th year of marriage the EPT stick turned pink what the hell. Gave birth to a 7 lb 15oz baby boy 24 yrs ago. Stopped working and became a full time Mom. Working was easier LOL was never able to get preg again, but guess that was not meant to be. I hv a lot of other issues related to the CF but why spoil a good story right. I say live yr. life to the fullest. Very important to keep up with yr treatments and meds. I told people for years I had bad asthma I just felt it was my choice to be private. Do not believe everything you read on the internet. Good luck to you. Pat/CF-60

 

[windex125]

that's red wine included.....

 

[ethan508]

Renee great idea, it would be nice if there was a section on the main page for "Positive Things" or "CF Victories."

I'm not really 'aged' yet, but I still want to share. In my late teens, my FEV1 was in the mid 80s. Then over the course of a few years I started using the vest (which helped my PT compliance), then came Pulmozyme, followed by Hypertonic Saline and Tobi. By my middle 20s my FEV1 had increased to 108% (a .8L increase). I've dropped a bit since then but with Lumacaftor + ivacaftor in the pipeline, I’m optimistic that maybe I’ll be able to get that back again (or at least stop dropping) at least until another new treatment comes out.