I am grateful that I can run and work out at the gym even though I have cystic fibrosis. Still, I can't help feeling guilty that others with this disease are struggling, and it's hard to shake the feeling that one day it could be me.
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Although your teenage years can be difficult, they ultimately help mold you into the person you are meant to be -- especially when you have a chronic disease, like cystic fibrosis.
After my last hospitalization, I faced new challenges and issues related to my cystic fibrosis -- including panic attacks and supplemental oxygen. Although it's been difficult adjusting to my “new normal,” I am slowly learning how to cope with the uncertainties of my disease.
I've learned that what I tell myself about how cystic fibrosis affects me, affects my belief in what I can achieve, and how I feel about myself as a person.
When I was younger, I thought my cystic fibrosis affected me and only me. I have begun to realize the emotional toll that CF also takes on my family and loved ones.
Cystic fibrosis may impact your health and productivity, but life doesn't stop just because you're feeling ill. Although CF can sometimes make it difficult to maintain your responsibilities, I've learned a few tricks over the past 30-odd years to stay productively motivated and take it one step at a time.
Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are a standard component of quarterly cystic fibrosis clinic visits, but they can often cause a great deal of stress for people with CF. Here are a few strategies that I've found helpful for reducing my own PFT anxiety.
Because so much rides on them, the pulmonary function tests (PFT) -- that are a part of every cystic fibrosis care center visit -- fill me with anxiety.
Cystic fibrosis can be isolating, but people with CF know what others go through every day. It makes the moments of connection all the more meaningful.
When I was young, I didn't think much about having cystic fibrosis. Over time, I realized how big of an influence it has on my life.