Did you know?  Cystic Fibrosis affects more than just the lungs.

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It's been a week of sputum tests and a visit to the Doctor.  Simon is quite relieved that the pain in his chest is possibly scar tissue from his recent episode of pneumonia.  He was afraid that the infection hadn't cleared up.  When he thinks this the problem grows in his mind.

He's also been able to have some of his chronic medication paid for on an on-going basis by medical aid. The balance of his needs are supplied free by Addington Hospital which is a life line.  It would cripple us financially if it weren't.

The following step to be dealt with over the next week or so is to secure a disability grant; a long process of endless queues and 'couldn't-care-less-it's-my-tea-break' officials.  There is also certification needed from the District-Surgeon which, in itself, is a hurdle of ignorance to be cleared.  Simon did manage a while ago to get a grant for six months and was told 'that should be sufficient time to recover from your Cystic Fibrosis'.  So here we go again to arm wrestle with the man in the white coat.  But I mustn't get started with my history of 35 years dealing with the medical profession.  Well not yet!

Simon has been asleep for most of the day but eventually woken to watch rugby on TV.  He's still complaining about a pain in his chest on the lower left side.  This was the site of his recent bout of pneumonia which put him in hospital for two weeks.  This also means that the infection hasn't cleared up completely.

The results from the sputum test came back came back from Addington Hospital showing a heavy infestation of Pseudomonas in his lungs. They are always there but the type varies and require specific types of anti-biotics to keep them under control.

We'll see what the doctors say this week.

A Better few Days

The long weekend days have been better than usual.  My youngest Son visited from Johannesburg with his wife and  daughter.  This injected some much needed distraction which is always a good thing for my Boy with CF.  Added to this a day spend at uShaka Marine World helped although it was difficult from a breathing aspect.  But all-in-all a good three days.

This coming week we need to get a sputum sample analysed at Addington Hospital to see if the correct anti-biotics are being used for nebulising.

My Boy seems to have bounced back a little.  He's not quite so downhearted as he was and the days seem to have reverted to a 'normal' routine.  Routine for him is a lot of sleep. A little eating. A bit of TV. Some time on Facebook and other computer things. Then there are the serious matters; nebulising and physiotherapy.  He becomes upset and cross during these sessions which occur twice a day.  I suppose it brings him back to bitter reality and his mood is understandable.

He says that he likes sleeping because he dreams of being well and normal and being able to do what he wants to..........

Cystic Fibrosis

One of my Sons (I have three) has cystic fibrosis.  This is a genetic disorder which prevent the cells in his body from dealing with mucus which then is too sticky and hard to dispel from his lungs and other organs.  This mucus then becomes a seat for infection and causes the destruction of tissue.

My Boy has worked long and hard to keep CF at bay (He's now just short of 36) but the last decade has seen a steady decline in his lung function to a present low of 15%.  In the last 15 months he has contracted pneumonia twice and on each occasion spent two weeks in hospital on antibiotics.

He returned home from his last hospital stay two weeks ago but his health has suffered a serious setback.  He has told me he is 'not long for this world' and is very withdrawn and quiet. His life is empty and consists of sleeping, inhaling antibiotics via a nebuliser, eating a little and sometimes watching some television.

He is very tired and sometimes does not have the strength to climb one flight of stairs.

He is despondent and sad.  So am I.

I lost another tooth to time recently.  I've worked out that if I loose one every 2 years I have enough left to see me through.

I was asked if such an antique is valuable.  It is.  It contained so much silver that I was investigated for dealing in unwrought precious metal.