When do I tell others?

[cherry]

So I am new to this whole forum thing but I decided to take a chance...
I am a 23 year old woman with CF. The issue is that I was diagnosed when i was 5 but was not told about it until I found out about it in 6th grade via a student's book report. My parents chose not to tell me and because of this I keep CF very private and do not tell anyone but some very close friends. When do I tell friends or boyfriends? Do you tell them right away? It is obvious that something is wrong because of my cough and "asthma" can't always cut it. i am so used to hiding it that I don't know what to do.

 

[anonymous]

Hi,

how could your parents hide it, didn´t you do any therapy?
Well, I was diagnosed as a baby, but the first time I went to a cf-center was with 12 years. Idid always take my kreon in front of other people and if somebody asks,I explain it. Why should I hide it? Since I have to take insulin, I do also take it everywhere, I don´t like to go to a (possibly dirty) restroom.
Its nobodys fault, that I´m sick, so there is no reason to be ashamed.

Uli,43,cf/cfrd

 

[Lilith]

I don't hide it, I usually tell people after they've gotten to know me and my personality. I've never been shy <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> Everyone I've ever told has handled it well, so maybe I've just been lucky. But if you like a person and you're interested in becoming friends (or more) with them, it would be better to get it out in the open. So sense in waiting.

 

[wanderlost]

I don't tell people very quickly - but that has always been my choice - my paretns never hid it and year after year as a kid, each new teacher or new friend I made, my mom went and explained to them all about CF. That was embarrassing to me and might be why I chose not to tell people. Eventually, when i get to know people better I do tell, because, as was said earlier, at some point, asthma just doesn't cut it any more!