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Smokers cough around CFers

T

tammykrumrey

Guest
This is something that I have thought of before, and it was brought up on another forum (that is not as good as this one<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) This is my concern:

My mom is a closet smoker...she is 54 years young. She started smoking when I was a baby, about 35 years ago. She says that she stopped smoking 16 years ago when her first grandchild (Dalton who has CF) was born. We ALL know that she has not been able to stop. Her and my Dad were supposed to do it together, and my Dad succeeded. But mom still says she does not smoke, but you can smell it on her and in the bathroom when she walks out.

And her cough tells a different story too. She coughs so badly that she turns red and cannot catch her breath. She produces sputum because I have seen it come flying out during a bad laughing spell. It breaks my heart because I love her so much, and my dad is so worried about her health. But she will not go to get an x-ray, that my dad begged the doctor to order for her.

I know she is scared, because she just lost her mom to emphysemia (spelling?) about 3 years ago. I know that she doesn't want to admit that she can't stop smoking because it will kill her to look into her three CF grandchildren's eyes. I know it is hard for her.

But...I worry also about Kayla, Hannah and Dalton. Can she be harboring bacteria in her lungs that can be passed to our kids? She is with my girls at least one afternoon each week, and spends much more time than that with them. They love being with her, and she has a blast spoiling them at the movies, bowling, putt-putt, shopping, getting manicures, etc... She is not around Dalton as much only because he is a teenage boy with better things to do<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And I am somewhat concerned as to if she could catch B. Cepacia from Dalton and pass it on to Kayla and Hannah. My sister and I have worked hard at keeping our kids at a safe distance from each other in order to prevent this.

Or, am I over reacting<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Has anyone thought about this, or have any experience with it? I could request that she get a sputum culture done<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But we can't get her to get a simple x-ray...

I think I will jot this down in my notebook to ask at CF clinic<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
T

tammykrumrey

Guest
This is something that I have thought of before, and it was brought up on another forum (that is not as good as this one<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) This is my concern:

My mom is a closet smoker...she is 54 years young. She started smoking when I was a baby, about 35 years ago. She says that she stopped smoking 16 years ago when her first grandchild (Dalton who has CF) was born. We ALL know that she has not been able to stop. Her and my Dad were supposed to do it together, and my Dad succeeded. But mom still says she does not smoke, but you can smell it on her and in the bathroom when she walks out.

And her cough tells a different story too. She coughs so badly that she turns red and cannot catch her breath. She produces sputum because I have seen it come flying out during a bad laughing spell. It breaks my heart because I love her so much, and my dad is so worried about her health. But she will not go to get an x-ray, that my dad begged the doctor to order for her.

I know she is scared, because she just lost her mom to emphysemia (spelling?) about 3 years ago. I know that she doesn't want to admit that she can't stop smoking because it will kill her to look into her three CF grandchildren's eyes. I know it is hard for her.

But...I worry also about Kayla, Hannah and Dalton. Can she be harboring bacteria in her lungs that can be passed to our kids? She is with my girls at least one afternoon each week, and spends much more time than that with them. They love being with her, and she has a blast spoiling them at the movies, bowling, putt-putt, shopping, getting manicures, etc... She is not around Dalton as much only because he is a teenage boy with better things to do<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And I am somewhat concerned as to if she could catch B. Cepacia from Dalton and pass it on to Kayla and Hannah. My sister and I have worked hard at keeping our kids at a safe distance from each other in order to prevent this.

Or, am I over reacting<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Has anyone thought about this, or have any experience with it? I could request that she get a sputum culture done<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But we can't get her to get a simple x-ray...

I think I will jot this down in my notebook to ask at CF clinic<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
T

tammykrumrey

Guest
This is something that I have thought of before, and it was brought up on another forum (that is not as good as this one<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) This is my concern:

My mom is a closet smoker...she is 54 years young. She started smoking when I was a baby, about 35 years ago. She says that she stopped smoking 16 years ago when her first grandchild (Dalton who has CF) was born. We ALL know that she has not been able to stop. Her and my Dad were supposed to do it together, and my Dad succeeded. But mom still says she does not smoke, but you can smell it on her and in the bathroom when she walks out.

And her cough tells a different story too. She coughs so badly that she turns red and cannot catch her breath. She produces sputum because I have seen it come flying out during a bad laughing spell. It breaks my heart because I love her so much, and my dad is so worried about her health. But she will not go to get an x-ray, that my dad begged the doctor to order for her.

I know she is scared, because she just lost her mom to emphysemia (spelling?) about 3 years ago. I know that she doesn't want to admit that she can't stop smoking because it will kill her to look into her three CF grandchildren's eyes. I know it is hard for her.

But...I worry also about Kayla, Hannah and Dalton. Can she be harboring bacteria in her lungs that can be passed to our kids? She is with my girls at least one afternoon each week, and spends much more time than that with them. They love being with her, and she has a blast spoiling them at the movies, bowling, putt-putt, shopping, getting manicures, etc... She is not around Dalton as much only because he is a teenage boy with better things to do<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And I am somewhat concerned as to if she could catch B. Cepacia from Dalton and pass it on to Kayla and Hannah. My sister and I have worked hard at keeping our kids at a safe distance from each other in order to prevent this.

Or, am I over reacting<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Has anyone thought about this, or have any experience with it? I could request that she get a sputum culture done<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But we can't get her to get a simple x-ray...

I think I will jot this down in my notebook to ask at CF clinic<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
T

tammykrumrey

Guest
This is something that I have thought of before, and it was brought up on another forum (that is not as good as this one<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) This is my concern:

My mom is a closet smoker...she is 54 years young. She started smoking when I was a baby, about 35 years ago. She says that she stopped smoking 16 years ago when her first grandchild (Dalton who has CF) was born. We ALL know that she has not been able to stop. Her and my Dad were supposed to do it together, and my Dad succeeded. But mom still says she does not smoke, but you can smell it on her and in the bathroom when she walks out.

And her cough tells a different story too. She coughs so badly that she turns red and cannot catch her breath. She produces sputum because I have seen it come flying out during a bad laughing spell. It breaks my heart because I love her so much, and my dad is so worried about her health. But she will not go to get an x-ray, that my dad begged the doctor to order for her.

I know she is scared, because she just lost her mom to emphysemia (spelling?) about 3 years ago. I know that she doesn't want to admit that she can't stop smoking because it will kill her to look into her three CF grandchildren's eyes. I know it is hard for her.

But...I worry also about Kayla, Hannah and Dalton. Can she be harboring bacteria in her lungs that can be passed to our kids? She is with my girls at least one afternoon each week, and spends much more time than that with them. They love being with her, and she has a blast spoiling them at the movies, bowling, putt-putt, shopping, getting manicures, etc... She is not around Dalton as much only because he is a teenage boy with better things to do<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And I am somewhat concerned as to if she could catch B. Cepacia from Dalton and pass it on to Kayla and Hannah. My sister and I have worked hard at keeping our kids at a safe distance from each other in order to prevent this.

Or, am I over reacting<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Has anyone thought about this, or have any experience with it? I could request that she get a sputum culture done<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But we can't get her to get a simple x-ray...

I think I will jot this down in my notebook to ask at CF clinic<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
T

tammykrumrey

Guest
This is something that I have thought of before, and it was brought up on another forum (that is not as good as this one<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) This is my concern:

My mom is a closet smoker...she is 54 years young. She started smoking when I was a baby, about 35 years ago. She says that she stopped smoking 16 years ago when her first grandchild (Dalton who has CF) was born. We ALL know that she has not been able to stop. Her and my Dad were supposed to do it together, and my Dad succeeded. But mom still says she does not smoke, but you can smell it on her and in the bathroom when she walks out.

And her cough tells a different story too. She coughs so badly that she turns red and cannot catch her breath. She produces sputum because I have seen it come flying out during a bad laughing spell. It breaks my heart because I love her so much, and my dad is so worried about her health. But she will not go to get an x-ray, that my dad begged the doctor to order for her.

I know she is scared, because she just lost her mom to emphysemia (spelling?) about 3 years ago. I know that she doesn't want to admit that she can't stop smoking because it will kill her to look into her three CF grandchildren's eyes. I know it is hard for her.

But...I worry also about Kayla, Hannah and Dalton. Can she be harboring bacteria in her lungs that can be passed to our kids? She is with my girls at least one afternoon each week, and spends much more time than that with them. They love being with her, and she has a blast spoiling them at the movies, bowling, putt-putt, shopping, getting manicures, etc... She is not around Dalton as much only because he is a teenage boy with better things to do<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And I am somewhat concerned as to if she could catch B. Cepacia from Dalton and pass it on to Kayla and Hannah. My sister and I have worked hard at keeping our kids at a safe distance from each other in order to prevent this.

Or, am I over reacting<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Has anyone thought about this, or have any experience with it? I could request that she get a sputum culture done<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But we can't get her to get a simple x-ray...

I think I will jot this down in my notebook to ask at CF clinic<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
T

tammykrumrey

Guest
This is something that I have thought of before, and it was brought up on another forum (that is not as good as this one<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">) This is my concern:

My mom is a closet smoker...she is 54 years young. She started smoking when I was a baby, about 35 years ago. She says that she stopped smoking 16 years ago when her first grandchild (Dalton who has CF) was born. We ALL know that she has not been able to stop. Her and my Dad were supposed to do it together, and my Dad succeeded. But mom still says she does not smoke, but you can smell it on her and in the bathroom when she walks out.

And her cough tells a different story too. She coughs so badly that she turns red and cannot catch her breath. She produces sputum because I have seen it come flying out during a bad laughing spell. It breaks my heart because I love her so much, and my dad is so worried about her health. But she will not go to get an x-ray, that my dad begged the doctor to order for her.

I know she is scared, because she just lost her mom to emphysemia (spelling?) about 3 years ago. I know that she doesn't want to admit that she can't stop smoking because it will kill her to look into her three CF grandchildren's eyes. I know it is hard for her.

But...I worry also about Kayla, Hannah and Dalton. Can she be harboring bacteria in her lungs that can be passed to our kids? She is with my girls at least one afternoon each week, and spends much more time than that with them. They love being with her, and she has a blast spoiling them at the movies, bowling, putt-putt, shopping, getting manicures, etc... She is not around Dalton as much only because he is a teenage boy with better things to do<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

And I am somewhat concerned as to if she could catch B. Cepacia from Dalton and pass it on to Kayla and Hannah. My sister and I have worked hard at keeping our kids at a safe distance from each other in order to prevent this.

Or, am I over reacting<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Has anyone thought about this, or have any experience with it? I could request that she get a sputum culture done<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But we can't get her to get a simple x-ray...

I think I will jot this down in my notebook to ask at CF clinic<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

JazzysMom

New member
This is a good ?? & maybe much of it could be answered by googling. I dont know if emphesyma, COPD etc is more prone to certain bacterias or just general lung issues.

I would be concerned also. I am not going into any horrific stories, but many times what seems like a simple cough can turn into something. I am sure she is scared of this possibility and that is why she is adament about not going to the doctor.

I dont have any answers for you except to find out about potential bugs she is vulnerable to etc. As far as confirming what she does/doesnt have....well my friend Mothers can be difficult to deal with. I have one of them and until she is ready you might have a long haul!

HUGS....
 

JazzysMom

New member
This is a good ?? & maybe much of it could be answered by googling. I dont know if emphesyma, COPD etc is more prone to certain bacterias or just general lung issues.

I would be concerned also. I am not going into any horrific stories, but many times what seems like a simple cough can turn into something. I am sure she is scared of this possibility and that is why she is adament about not going to the doctor.

I dont have any answers for you except to find out about potential bugs she is vulnerable to etc. As far as confirming what she does/doesnt have....well my friend Mothers can be difficult to deal with. I have one of them and until she is ready you might have a long haul!

HUGS....
 

JazzysMom

New member
This is a good ?? & maybe much of it could be answered by googling. I dont know if emphesyma, COPD etc is more prone to certain bacterias or just general lung issues.

I would be concerned also. I am not going into any horrific stories, but many times what seems like a simple cough can turn into something. I am sure she is scared of this possibility and that is why she is adament about not going to the doctor.

I dont have any answers for you except to find out about potential bugs she is vulnerable to etc. As far as confirming what she does/doesnt have....well my friend Mothers can be difficult to deal with. I have one of them and until she is ready you might have a long haul!

HUGS....
 

JazzysMom

New member
This is a good ?? & maybe much of it could be answered by googling. I dont know if emphesyma, COPD etc is more prone to certain bacterias or just general lung issues.

I would be concerned also. I am not going into any horrific stories, but many times what seems like a simple cough can turn into something. I am sure she is scared of this possibility and that is why she is adament about not going to the doctor.

I dont have any answers for you except to find out about potential bugs she is vulnerable to etc. As far as confirming what she does/doesnt have....well my friend Mothers can be difficult to deal with. I have one of them and until she is ready you might have a long haul!

HUGS....
 

JazzysMom

New member
This is a good ?? & maybe much of it could be answered by googling. I dont know if emphesyma, COPD etc is more prone to certain bacterias or just general lung issues.

I would be concerned also. I am not going into any horrific stories, but many times what seems like a simple cough can turn into something. I am sure she is scared of this possibility and that is why she is adament about not going to the doctor.

I dont have any answers for you except to find out about potential bugs she is vulnerable to etc. As far as confirming what she does/doesnt have....well my friend Mothers can be difficult to deal with. I have one of them and until she is ready you might have a long haul!

HUGS....
 

JazzysMom

New member
This is a good ?? & maybe much of it could be answered by googling. I dont know if emphesyma, COPD etc is more prone to certain bacterias or just general lung issues.

I would be concerned also. I am not going into any horrific stories, but many times what seems like a simple cough can turn into something. I am sure she is scared of this possibility and that is why she is adament about not going to the doctor.

I dont have any answers for you except to find out about potential bugs she is vulnerable to etc. As far as confirming what she does/doesnt have....well my friend Mothers can be difficult to deal with. I have one of them and until she is ready you might have a long haul!

HUGS....
 

LouLou

New member
If she is producing sputum, I would think it is reason to be concerned that she could culture a bacteria. Wow, 54... you must be young. My mom is 62 and I'm 28. I would get her sputum tested. If she resists just tell her it's doctors order that anyone that is in regular contact with all 3 children that has a productive cough has to be tested - - sorry mom, you have to do it - - for the girls. Now if she does culture pseudo she might too have cf. Never say never.
 

LouLou

New member
If she is producing sputum, I would think it is reason to be concerned that she could culture a bacteria. Wow, 54... you must be young. My mom is 62 and I'm 28. I would get her sputum tested. If she resists just tell her it's doctors order that anyone that is in regular contact with all 3 children that has a productive cough has to be tested - - sorry mom, you have to do it - - for the girls. Now if she does culture pseudo she might too have cf. Never say never.
 

LouLou

New member
If she is producing sputum, I would think it is reason to be concerned that she could culture a bacteria. Wow, 54... you must be young. My mom is 62 and I'm 28. I would get her sputum tested. If she resists just tell her it's doctors order that anyone that is in regular contact with all 3 children that has a productive cough has to be tested - - sorry mom, you have to do it - - for the girls. Now if she does culture pseudo she might too have cf. Never say never.
 

LouLou

New member
If she is producing sputum, I would think it is reason to be concerned that she could culture a bacteria. Wow, 54... you must be young. My mom is 62 and I'm 28. I would get her sputum tested. If she resists just tell her it's doctors order that anyone that is in regular contact with all 3 children that has a productive cough has to be tested - - sorry mom, you have to do it - - for the girls. Now if she does culture pseudo she might too have cf. Never say never.
 

LouLou

New member
If she is producing sputum, I would think it is reason to be concerned that she could culture a bacteria. Wow, 54... you must be young. My mom is 62 and I'm 28. I would get her sputum tested. If she resists just tell her it's doctors order that anyone that is in regular contact with all 3 children that has a productive cough has to be tested - - sorry mom, you have to do it - - for the girls. Now if she does culture pseudo she might too have cf. Never say never.
 

LouLou

New member
If she is producing sputum, I would think it is reason to be concerned that she could culture a bacteria. Wow, 54... you must be young. My mom is 62 and I'm 28. I would get her sputum tested. If she resists just tell her it's doctors order that anyone that is in regular contact with all 3 children that has a productive cough has to be tested - - sorry mom, you have to do it - - for the girls. Now if she does culture pseudo she might too have cf. Never say never.
 

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I get nervous too around one of DH's uncles who used to smoke -- now he smokes cigars and doesn't inhale because he has "asthma", for which he needs to use a nebulizer (after not inhaling) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Fortunately, he doesn't come to many family events and DS is usually on the go and doesn't have much to do with him.

What I WAS concerned about earlier this year was my FIL, who has sinus issues, has had several surgeries over the years -- and the last time he had a miserable sinus infection, my husband took MIL aside and explained we were concerned about what his dad could be harboring in his sinuses -- especially since my FIL tends to use a hanky, which he carries around and stuffs back in his pocket -- haven't been able to address that issue yet -- but I digress...

Anyway, my MIL goes along to the ENT appointments and requests they do a culture to make sure he's not growing anything nasty.
 

Ratatosk

Administrator
Staff member
I get nervous too around one of DH's uncles who used to smoke -- now he smokes cigars and doesn't inhale because he has "asthma", for which he needs to use a nebulizer (after not inhaling) <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Fortunately, he doesn't come to many family events and DS is usually on the go and doesn't have much to do with him.

What I WAS concerned about earlier this year was my FIL, who has sinus issues, has had several surgeries over the years -- and the last time he had a miserable sinus infection, my husband took MIL aside and explained we were concerned about what his dad could be harboring in his sinuses -- especially since my FIL tends to use a hanky, which he carries around and stuffs back in his pocket -- haven't been able to address that issue yet -- but I digress...

Anyway, my MIL goes along to the ENT appointments and requests they do a culture to make sure he's not growing anything nasty.
 
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