Cheriz: My life with Cystic Fibrosis

Theatre, Show Choir, etc: I'm so glad I decided to get involved with theatre this year! I did theatre in high school, throughout the community, at College (U of I). However, in 2011 I didn't do a single show. Which I usually do 2 a year, so I really missed it. I'm so glad I decided to do Hairspray this summer, because it made me realize how much theatre is a part of my life. Because I realized I need to keep performing, I did show choir this fall, and in the spring I'm auditioning for at least 1 show! Next summer, I hope to produce, choreograph, or direct a show. I'm not sure where I will end up for my Graduate Program, but no matter where it is, I'm going to get involved with theatre. I hope to do more Improv and Stand-Up Comedy too. Doing Show choir makes me realize how much I miss dance too. I really miss doing ballet, tap, swing dancing etc. I should look into taking more classes!!! I taught my mom a shuffle ball-change step, and a times step. A...

So much to do! I have been eating a lot more and I hope my weight is still climbing, but my usual 5 therapies a day (supposed to be 9) didn't happen in the last 48 hours. To be honest, I haven't done a single med since yesterday. Ugh and I can tell.  I could list a million reasons why, but bottom line I always find something else to do. Something that I can convince myself is more important, which is followed by my brain saying "its okay, I will get back on track tomorrow." I know it is normal to struggle some days (or for a few days in this case) to do them all. But it doesn't make it any better and it shouldn't become my excuse. Tomorrow I work 10:30am-2pm, I AM going to get up at 7:30 do all 4 nebulizers before work and I will do my 2 afternoon nebs between 2-3pm. I will be out of town from 3-11pm. Honestly, I probably won't don't my night meds, since I will be tired and have to work morning and evening shift friday. However, friday night I'...

Roller Coaster Effect: Yay, I'm better and I've been eating more. That is a big key to my knowing I'm doing better. A couple nights ago, while I was at school, I had one of those "seizure type" episodes.  I don't call them seizures, because people automatically freak out and ask me if I start shaking on the floor.  No, I haven't had any grand mal seizures since I was very little. The seizures I have now are related to my brain freaking out because it isn't receiving enough oxygen. I'm just told to breathe deep and focus on breathing to make them go away. Monday's wasn't that bad. I could stand, walk, and still respond to people. I was just on a very slow speed. It would take a while for things to process, my vision got blurry, and I was dizzy and a little numb.  Usually, I end up on the floor since my body goes completely numb, I can barely see, and I'm so dizzy I just cling to the floor ( It reassures me I'm on...

Schedules and being an amzing multi-tasker! I don't make a schedule of everything I have to do during the day, but I do have a huge calendar at home with everything I have going on that day: school, work, show choir, play practice, parties, church stuff, etc. I try to get up (and usually succeed) 1.5- 2 hours before I have to be somewhere. I will shower and then do my therapies (albuteral, hypertonic, pulmozyme, and Cayston/Tobi) while drying/styling my hair and putting on my make-up. I pack my huge bag my mom made me, which fits my therapy machine, my textbooks, a change of clothes for dance practice, and my "lunchbox (I store my meds stuff in)." I needed a new lunchbox my old one was too big and I'm not sure where it went... oops. So I bought these: I put 2 small ice packs ( $1 each at most stores) and the cold meds in the tops zipper part and then put the containers on the left in the main part of the lunchbox. I put my albuteral & hypertonic med ...

A Week of Antibiotics and Christmas Decorations... I feel a lot better. I'm so glad I didn't end up on IVs or in the hospital! I have been really trying to do all my meds. And for the most part I have been. I'm not 100% back yet, but I'm headed there. I had a few days off from work in a row, which really helped. And on Saturday I had nothing planned, so we decided to have a movie marathon day at my house (with a handful of friends), so I could be lazy, do meds, eat, and relax all day. Genius idea. When I'm sick my biggest downfall is that I keep running around. I perform in theatre, I go to parties, out with friends, stay up late.  I don't change my schedule at all, excpet I take more pills and do more therapies. Which I know I should not do as much, BUT I really can't stand not doing stuff. I loved being involved, working, going to school, etc.                      ...