Cheriz: My life with Cystic Fibrosis

    I'm not talking about how I like my eggs. I'd like to take this blog entry and discuss some things that are going amazing! First of all, as you may remember my stomach issues had returned (I wrote about this in my last post- see it here ). Well, thankfully, other than some stomach aches, its hasn't been to bad. I think the worst is over and I'm getting better! I had a sinus infection a week or so ago too, but I was able to beat it on my own! I've haven't gotten over anything without any anitibiotics in years, like since HIGH SCHOOL! On the topic of antibiotics, I think I have done fairly well. Its almost been 5 months since I was on IVs and I haven't needed any oral antibiotics (other than my usually 3 doses of zithromax a week. So yay! I am still shocked I got better from my last "whatever it was" without extra meds! I was even working 6-8 days at work everyday. I think this is where having a significant other helps and really shows me how mu...

All the NEWS:    Well, you may have read earlier about my weight gain and how all my old clothes weren't fitting. Well, here's a pic of me today (before heading to work) in my new dress pants! Love the gray color! Something else new I worked a new Family Video Store today (in Glenveiw), it was only a 30 minute drive there, which is only 5-10 more minute drive than my usual driving to the Westchester store. I still work at Weschester, but filled in for an employee at the other store. I really enjoyed it, their store is a little less hectic than ours. The manager asked if I'd be willing to fill in for other shifts or pick up hours at their store too. I said sure. At Westchester in the last few weeks I worked 25- 30 hours each week.  Adding another shift at Glenveiw will bring me closer to 40 and help me test how I would do full-time (working for Family Video). In other news... Unfortunately, I've been having some problems similar to ones that I did in the fall the la...

All the little problems:   In case you are waiting to hear back about the results, let me start by saying I don't have results. BUT, the dates for the tests are set up! I also know Dr B is going to get the results to the Bone Density scan at my next Apt on the 10th of April. I'll have my Diabetes test that week too. So by the end of April I will know if I have osteoperosis and diabetes. Both things I have always had issues with and knew some day I could end up with problems with either or both. I was taking calcium supplements to make up for the lack of calcium I eat and drink. I dont drink milk (it tends to make me throw up), and I have limited how much other dairy I eat. I limit dairy, grease, spicy foods, carbs, sugar and I drink non-caffiene drinks. I don't really eat chocolate and only allow myself "fun coffee" drinks once every couple months (Christmas, etc). Why do I do this? Well, I have issues with energy ( it flucates too much), I've had seizures,...

Culver's in Princeton: Some fun stuff and exciting news! I came home (to my hometown) on the train on Tues! I decided to spend a lot of time with my family! I got to hang out with my Mom and Uncle Brian on Wed! We went for dinner with my Uncle Dan! We walked through the mall afterwards and I found a new pair of dress pants that I LOVE! And I really needed them. Haha, since October I've been around 108 lbs. I'm not having any trouble recently keeping weight on! I eat 3 big meals a day, and maybe one late night snack (high calorie healthy smoothie or I splurge and have a hot cocoa). I try to be good with sugars/carb though due to my "maybe being diabetic." I go next week for my bone density scan and then the week after my diabetes test! But ever since October, my weight is not nearly as much of an issue! Sadly, I out grew most of my pants. I have one pair of jeans that fit nicely, and one that are tight! My 2 pair of dress pants did not come near to buttoning thou...

I know, thanking a social media site seems odd. But it does keep us connected online! I love that my Mom's side of the family has a "Family Group" on Facebook and we can all just talk to each other and set up weekly lunches! Otherwise, I'd really miss my Aunties, Uncles, Cousins, etc! It makes high school reunion and CF event planning MUCH easier! Also, if you read 150th Blog post HERE!  then you understand how important the online community is to CFers. (I know at U of I, I learned CFer isn't politically correct, but I'm not typing out "people with CF" all the time and I think most "CFers" would agree, we all call ourselves this, for the most part...) CFers need the online support, since we are not encouraged to be around each other, due to the passing of infections and harmful bugs we harbor in our lungs. No worries, people without CF, don't catch them. To be honest, it's more likely you will get us sick. But still, we get stare...

Clinic & Tests! Yep, today was my clinic appointment and my clinical trial appointment. Both in one day, saves me from taking multiple days off from work. It still can't tell if I'm on the placebo or real med yet... But the Clinical Trial is going well! My Clinical Trial only has 3 months left and then I'm done! Which means doc will be able to change my meds then:-) I know he's planning on taking me off the 5 mg of Prednisone. And I want to be taken off advair completely and my acid reflux pills to be "when needed" instead of everyday. I've gone without Advair before for almost a month and didn't notice a difference. My old Doc at the old clinic I went to put me on it, but I never thought it did much. We'll see...We also dicussed further my getting my stomach tube out. Why do I want it out? Find out in the post  Tu-Be or Not Tu-Be  (haha cheesy title, I know).  AND GUESS WHAT!!! He said I'm headed the right way! I haven't used it sin...

Sorry and Thank You! First of all, let me state that I don't mind living here. I don't mind the Chicago area I live in. BUT, I miss my family and friends! I miss those weekly family lunches we have, and hanging with my mom and my dad. Dad doesn't do facebook, and he's so busy; we only get to talk to him when we are home. I miss that. I miss taking afternoon walks with Sarah, or car cruises with Amanda! I miss taking my babysitting kids to the park and library! But there are pluses to living in this area. There are way more options for stores, restaurants, etc. However, living on a strict budget to save up for other things I want, means not really exploring those places much. Luckily, I keep pretty busy just working, doing typical stuff (like grocery shopping, pharmacy runs, library runs, etc)! Also, this CF walk has been keeping me on my toes! So to all my family and friends sorry we can't see each other more. I just have been crazy busy! Plus, Andrew works 30+ h...

My Blog & my Mom: Some exciting news, a few days ago a list was published with the top 35 Cystic Fibrosis Blogs: Mine was on that list. I was listed as #7  See the List of Blogs HERE!  I put the badge on the left top side of my blog! Also, for anyone considering walking in June at the Princeton Walk. If you want to register you I can. I just need your birthdate, goal donation/fundraising amount, contact info.  I'm excited that it's getting closer! That's all that's about new...except it's March, slowly getting warmer, and my Mom came to visit! In my last post I updated everyone on all the different things that have been going on! I know it's a lot of info in a lil blurb, but I wanted to make sure to cover each topic! So now it's march, wish it was warmer and less snowy. Like I said in the post: Walk in My Shoes: Spoon Theory , shoveling snow, clearing off my car, and the cold all bother my lungs a lot. I'll be very happy when the snow is gone ...

Updates: I want to take a little time to update everyone! First of all, as you know I took a medical withdrawal from school and took a medical leave from work. I've been back to work for about 2 weeks and I'm sooo glad to be back. We switched my hours from store closer (close 1am) to the opener (open 9:30am). Day shift is much more conducive to doing all my nebulizers, eating, working out, etc. Plus, we have a new store manager, who had a best friend with CF. Sadly, her friend passed away when she rejected her new lungs. But thanks to thanks to that friendship my boss understands completely and checks-ins with me to make sure I'm keeping up! Withc is nice to know she cares! She makes sure the scheduling works with my meds too!  I HAVE been doing them all. Still 100% compliant with my nebs since I started the Trial in November! so 3 months compliant with all 9 breathing treatments and all the oral pills I take too! So yay!  As far as the medical withdrawal from school. I...