When I first got an enteral feeding tube as a teenager, I had no idea how many doors it would open for both my health and my involvement with the cystic fibrosis community. Fifteen years later, here's how I'm doing today.
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Kids can be picky eaters. When you have a child with CF and the nutritional stakes are higher, you may need some creativity to keep them interested.
Managing your blood sugar if you have cystic fibrosis-related diabetes is difficult, but the glycemic index can help.
Aspergillus species is a fungus that often lives in the airways of children and adults with cystic fibrosis. When people develop an allergic reaction to Aspergillus, it is called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis.
At this age, your child with cystic fibrosis is ready to transition from breast milk or formula to whole milk or a high-calorie supplement. Encourage independent eating. Create a consistent schedule and mealtime expectations.
Individuals with cystic fibrosis require more energy to breathe normally, fight lung infections and compensate for poor digestion. For these reasons, they need more calories than people without CF.
Your body needs vitamins to help it grow, function, and fight off infection. Try to incorporate foods rich in these vitamins and take a vitamin supplement, if necessary.
Like vitamins, minerals also help with normal growth, function and maintenance of good health. Individuals with cystic fibrosis can be deficient in these minerals.
With help and support from my parents, I felt empowered to make my first big decision with my cystic fibrosis care: When to remove my G-tube.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa are strains of bacteria that are widely found in the environment. Pseudomonas is a major cause of lung infections in people with cystic fibrosis. The bacteria thrive in moist environments and equipment, such as humidifiers and catheters in hospital wards, and in kitchens, bathrooms, pools, hot tubs and sinks.