Cheriz: My life with Cystic Fibrosis

2013- a Reveiw I posted Pictures that capture the big moments of 2013- below the description I have posted blog links - incase you want to read about the events more! 2013: I was cast in a play, where I was a pregnant nagging wife... (Read about Opening Night Chaos HERE) But I got 104 fever opening day, was transported by ambulance to Chicago's Hopistal for a Virus and Fungal Infection.... (Read About After the Virus...) I got out in time to celebrate my BIRTHDAY! I turned 28 in April :-) Andrew got me 3 gifts and one of them was... SHELDON! ( Read About My Birthday HERE! )  In May we performed in a play, Xanadu! Andrew was the lead & got to roller skate around stage in short-shorts!  ( Read About Xanadu & see my Mohawk! ) In May I finished Real Estate Classes and Andrew Finished his General Ed, Classes. Then June 1st was the CF walk in Hollowayville! (Read About the CF Walk Success...

Chuggin Along: I think I can, I think I can... I know, I know, famous words. Who would of thought that the Little Engine that could, would ACTUALLY inspire someone. Well, those are words I repeat sometimes, when I'm trying to accomplish something tough! Putting my own N-G Tube down my nose, changing my Stomach Tube, walking after some of those groan surgeries, and WHENEVER I run... I need that saying.    It's pretty amazing how certain things can inspire someone! I like to replay certain songs over and over like "you can count on me "by Bruno Mars. I LOVE IT. I know that I'm trying really hard right now to stay inspired to work at getting my lung function back.. I'm 100% Compliant since mid November. Wow, that means I have done 9 nebulizers (breathing treatments, and 45 minutes of my vest)every single day. I'm pretty amazed. See what all my day entails and how I've been compliant HERE!  Now.. I haven't been in School the last month, or worki...

Stomach Issues, Gee, Wonder Why: Let me start by stating that, I take a lot of pills. Its not a big deal and all of them are very important. I take vitamins, oral antibiotics, some oral steriods, pills for acid reflux, pills for arthritis, and then enzymes every time I eat.  But lots of people don't realize how crucial those pills are to me (well, to us CFers) I take 5-6 enzymes with meals and 3-4 with snacks (so 30 enzymes, and 10 other random pills a day). I have been good about taking them. I hate that Cystic Fibrosis affects my digestive system so much. If I can't digest anything, I won't have the nutrients I need to keep healthy, or be able to digest the food to keep weight on. Over the years, the enzymes have gotten better and help us absorb more. I've been on Pancreas, Creon, and now have been on Zenpep for the last couples years. I love my Zenpep ( read the RX list for Zenpep here ) However, the enzymes weren't effective en...

Placebo or Med:      Clinical Trials are important to the advancement of meds that can help cure or correct a medical problem. There are lots of trials for different types of new drugs to help Cystic Fibrosis. Some inlcude: CFTR Modulation, Nutrition, Inhaled Anitbiotics, etc. To see all the clinical trials that have turned into meds to help us, as well as others that are currently being studied go to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Research Webpage: ( http://www.cff.org/research/DrugDevelopmentPipeline/ ). There is a very helpful graph that explains all the clinical trials.      I'm currently in a clinical trial, where I alternate two drugs. I receive one drug every other month and on the alternating months I receive either the other drug or a placebo. I'm not sure how this will affect me if I end up getting the placebo. My body has been taking these two drugs already alternating for years. So if all the sudden one of those disappear, not only ...

Traveling and my weekend: I love visiting and traveling, but with CF it can be a little difficult. However, I still always enjoy it. Andrew and I traveled home this weekend to visit his family (especially his sister, who was also home to celebrate getting her Nursing Degree). We drove home on Saturday, but Andrew had to work on Monday, so he drove back sunday before the weather got too bad. However, my mom invited me to stay with her for a few days to Christmas Shop with her. Its boring shopping by yourself and I still had all my shopping to do for Andrew. So I was very excited to get to shop with mom Monday and Tuesday. Tuesday Night was my sister's (she is a music teacher Pre-K - 8th, including two bands and a choir-whew, she's a busy lady) student's Christmas concert. It was the bands' Concert and both bands did great. It's cute, cuz you can tell she is really proud of them (pretty sure you can see tears in her eyes after they finish) and of course, Mom an...

48 Hours Without Food- (Pin Challenge #1):      It's really not that big of a deal, I've had so many stomach and Gastrointestinal issues over the years, that skipping food doesn't usually bother me. However, once when I was in the hospital for an  intestinal blockage I couldn't eat for a couple weeks. and Liquids don't cut it, so after a while I started to dream about all the food I'd want to eat once I got the green light. I started watching food network for ideas and made lists of all the food I wanted to buy and wat once I was out of the hospital.  Grocery Shopping was always really fun, but a little expensive. Well, two days ago, on Friday, I had my colonoscopy. (to read about my somach issues: click here)       The doctor said that my colon and intestines looked good and that I just had an intestinal infection. So all should be okay, as long as I just give it time, when my stomach issues act up. She told me to keep tak...

Colonoscopy, Fun: As you may remember from reading my October Posts (  Oct Post #1   &  2nd Oct Post ) that I was admitted a second time that month for Gastrointestinal issues. I was having stomach cramps and what was believed to be Antibiotic Associated Diarrhea. However, CT scan revealed my colon and intestines were inflammed.  After having a rough 2 months of GI issues, and cuting out most food (diary, meat, grease, carbonated beverages, and sugar). I finally am getting a Colonoscopy to see what in the world is going on! I'm been taking Probiotics, was on meds for both C. diff and AAD. I even added driking Kefir to add to the probiotics and good bacteria.  Only now am I seeing any changes, less stomach aches, etc. I add a 1/2 cup pf the Kefir to my smoothie, its not bad -yum! I really reccommend it and Probiotics (so talk to your doctor about it), it could really help you out! Read about Colonoscopies here! So I'm glad to be g...

New Look: Getting Tech-Savvy: Since, I'm getting more involved in blogging, I decided it was time to give my blog a makeover! eMake-overs are always fun, whether you getting a new hair style, or outfit at the mall. However, I've been researching a lot about blogs and social networking. And I thought it may be time to update my blog's look.      I think I like my new one (at the top) a lot better than the old one (pictured on right). What do you think? I wanted my blog to feel more personal and I wanted to make it more tech-savy. I kept the black/purple color scheme. But made the purple the main color instead (and made it a softer purple). I then started looking up how to make my own buttons, widgets, etc. It isn't too hard to find tutorials for anything these days, between google, pinterest, and forums, you can pretty much find instructions for anything. I used a simple code and photobucket to make my own buttons: I think my new Tw...

CF: A part of me: Some Celebrations are this weekend: First of all, Happy Birthday to my Dad!  I think my Dad is absolutely Amazing!!! Please take a minute to read all about why he is a phenominal father in this past father's day blog post!  Also you can read about a funny story with a simple example for how dad is always there to save the day in this lil past post here! So besides my Dad's Bday being today, Andew and I put up Christmas/Had a Holiday Dinner yesterday! We put up the Christmas Tree, some decorations, listened to Christmas Music and did some baking!  Here are some of our Christmas/Holiday Pictures!        Our Tree ------------------------------------------- Media Center -------------------------------------- Above the Couch ------------------------------------------- Our Hallway Closet Doors :-) Haha! We used a Clean/New Stomach Syringe for the Turkey! Seri...