My medical history is short compared to most CFers. I’ve had very few problems and until the last 8 years, really didn’t even “face” my CF because it wasn’t a daily challenge. I've had other medical issues I'm including that have nothing to do with my CF.
9/1978 Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis with a sweat test of 98
7 years old: Benign tumor removed from belly button. All I remember is what looked like 7” long needle the surgeon inserted into my belly button to give me anesthesia which hurt like hell. Next thing I can tell you is I had a little bump from that needle that I continually scratched….for years….creating a serious scar on my belly that looks like a lightening bolt. Hard to see in this picture, but the dark circle is also from that procedure.
15 years old: Sinus surgery to fix deviated septum and remove nasal polyps. Plenty of NON CFers have polyps, but CF patients seem to have it MUCH more. The average CFer I know has had this surgery 4x!!! Me, 3x.
WHAT ARE NASAL POLYPS?
WHAT ARE NASAL POLYPS?
20 years old: Bunion surgery on right foot. This was before new advancements. I had a piece of the bone removed and the rest screwed back together. I had knee high cast for 3 months, which didn’t stop me from driving a 5-speed with my toesJ
6 months after foot surgery I had sinus surgery to remove nasal polyps, AGAIN! Complications required the surgery to be stopped and a week later, back under the knife! O HELL NA!!
25 years old: Intussusception. This is a medical condition in which a part of the intestine has invaginated into another section of intestine, similar to the way in which the parts of a collapsible telescope slide into one another. This usually happens to infants and young children, so for me to have this happen at 25, was a medical phenomena. I am proud to say my surgeon was very accurate and managed to leave me with a straight scar...not some crooked ass keloid. This was one of the worst experiences of my life and because of it, will refuse any future surgery suggestions. If I’m not unconscious or dead, good luck cutting me open.
GRAPHIC VIDEOS...NOT FOR WEAK STOMACHS!!!! This is not me, just SIMILAR to what they did to me.
THE WHOLE SURGERY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLFhU5T1X58
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLFhU5T1X58
27 years old: FIRST lung infection and heavy antibiotics for 30 days via a PICC. This was a rude awakening. I really came face to face with having CF. PICC lines are something CFers experience often, although I have had only 4, that's enough! A 90 minute drip of antibiotics every 6 hours.
28 years old: Lung infection treated with heavy antibiotics for 3 weeks via PICC. Post a major relationship ending, I was a mess and failed miserably to take care of myself.
30 years old: Ecoli!! I think I died and came back to life. After a month of abdominal pain, a urinary track infection followed by a bladder infection, they tell me I have an ecoli infection. I’m down to 100lbs at this point, which is ridiculous. I remember going to bed one night watching my favorite movie, The Princess Bride and a stuffed animal thinking it was my last night on earth. I didn’t even call anyone to tell them. When I woke up the next day, I thought I was dreaming. I made some phone calls and decided it was time to take care of myself. I reached out to my friend who directed me to the health food store and acupuncturist. I was nursed back to health over the next 2 months.
31 years old: Back to the Dr. for a PICC. This course of antibiotics was the most intense and my body suffered the most. I got down to 99lbs, could barely walk up a flight of stairs, had an overgrowth of yeast inside my body and on my skin. It took 6 months to recover. My skin has never been the same nor has my lungs. I definitely feel weaker and more susceptible to infection since then.
33 years old: Overgrowth of bacteria in lungs requiring heavy antibiotics for 3 weeks via PICC. This was the worst of any PICC I’ve had. The PICC nurses swear they know everything, as do phlebotomists, but my veins aren’t what they seem. The nurse struck a nerve and sent lightening bolts through my body. I wanted to strangle that woman. They tried to insert the PICC again under x-ray so they could SEE the veins, and again, NO SUCH LUCK. What happen to my first PICC nurse? She did it so smooth in one try. I ended up having the PICC inserted and 3 days later my vein collapsed. I refused another try so they used a peripheral IV. WAAACK SAUCE! A PICC is so you don’t have to be stuck many times….so much for the idea. I was a pincushion for the next 3 weeks. BOOTSIE!
As for now….I’m definitely going through some lung issues. Watch out for enormous mucus balls flying out the window of the car. My Dr. isn't so sure I should be getting PICC lines considering my lungs are in good condition. If I do need treatment, lets vote for oral antibiotics!
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