College and CF

[Magerly111]

Ok, so I have CF (like most of you), and have gone through all the regular schooling (elementary, junior high, high school, and presently college). I am almost done my college career, thank God! But I was wondering how many of you that are in college, or have been in college, and have CF actually stayed on campus. I have lived on-campus for the past 2 and a half years, but at the end of the first 2 years, I wound up in the hospital. Before then, I had only been hospitalized once in my sophomore year of hs. Now, my cousin who has CF just started college this year, and her pulmonary function started to go down pretty bad. Her doctor mentioned that it could be from living on-campus, because of mold underneath rugs, or on walls, or sharing bathrooms with other students. She has now decided to live at home for the rest of her college career. I have felt no real problem with living on-campus yet and I'm in my third year. Although, ever since I have lived on-campus, I end up in the hospital after the year has ended, and I probably will again this summer, just because my doctor thinks my pulmonary function isn't at it's high, but to me, it's pretty darn high compared to most CF patients. My doc. is all about preventing infections though, so maybe that's why. I don't know. I was just curious as to how many people have stayed on-campus and had no real problems with it, like me. I am considering living at home next year, but I haven't completely decided yet. My sister went all through college on-campus too, and she has CF, and has only been hospitalized once....although I guess you can't always compare CF patients to other ones, because I think she has a VERY mild case of it...cuz unlike me, she slacks off of her meds, and still lives w/o infection or pulmonary function decrease. Me on the other hand, I do all my meds/treatments religiously, and still end up with problems. There is no justice! haha. Ok, enough rambling on from me now. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> <img src="i/expressions/sun.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

Hi Kim
I am a 27 y.o. woman with CF. I went to college in my late teens and early 20's, just as you are. It was a lot of fun for me. I lived on campus for the first 2 years then I lived in a house with 3 other girls and then I had a house of my own. I always went in the hosp. after school was out for the year, for a 'tune up.' When I lived in the dorms I always had a flu shot, tried to eat and sleep right, and I would walk, work out in the gym, or swim on campus. So I was pretty healthy. My pft's were a little higher then (just because I was younger). So I didn't regret that decision at all.
I think all of us have to do what is best for us. Living on campus was one of the most fun times in my life. I had great girlfriends, and so many good times. I am really glad I had that experience. Last year, I went back to school and lived at home (because I'm married now). I did notice that I was more aware of people with colds, coughs, etc. because I wanted to protect my health the best I could. This meant socializing with my friends at restaurants after class, etc. rather than hanging out at the student center. That just worked for me.
Good luck with your last years of college and may you enjoy them.
-Kelli
<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[serendipity730]

Kim,
I grad. college last year, and I lived away all four years. I think that there is something to what your cousin's dr. says, but in my case, I prob. would have been in the hospital either way. I think that it is a matter of balancing quality of life vs. health. If living at school makes you or someone else really sick all of time, then it prob. isn't worth. However, in your case where it just means a yrly hospitalization, I would ask myself how I would feel about living at home. I know that had I lived at home during college, I would have hated it. I am in grad. school right now and living with my parents. I hate the commuting, and I am glad that I didn't do it in undergrad. Besides, living on campus during undergrad is a great social experience. That's just my 2 cents!<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

 

[anonymous]

I am in my fourth year of college (and not done yet!) and lived on campus for the first two years. Mostly it was the "roommate" thing that I didnt like, not necessarily the dorms. I stayed up a lot later just because it is hard to go to sleep with a bunch of freinds around. Also I wouldnt do my chest pt in front of anyone, so I would have to wait until I had the room to myself to do it, which meant alot of the time I missed it. I exercised a lot to counteract this, and it worked well. I was pretty healthy during those two years except for catching MONO which totally sucked. After sophomore year I decided to live in an apartment by myself. I am an only child and COMPLETELY value my privacy and solitude, so I love living alone. I can do whatever I want and no one bugs me. It has helped my health, but also my sanity!

I do not regret living in dorms though...it was great to be in that situation and living with 6 girls freshman year was so fun.

Caitlin 21

 

[Magerly111]

I just want to thank you all for your comments on this issue. I think I'm going to continue to live on-campus. I have my own room this year, which kinda sucks because my whole life I've shared a room, but I do like the privacy. I never really had problems with doing my meds in front of people...except my freshman year. But by sophomore year, I was comfortable enough to do it in front of my roommates. This year, with my own room, I am obviously comfortable with doing my stuff, and I feel like do it all very well. Next year I have been asked to live with 5 other girls in a townhouse on-campus. They have just recently been built, and the best part about them, is that I'll have my own room, but I will have friends living with me. I can't wait actually. I agree with you all, quality of life is very important. My mom lets me make my own decisions with almost everything I do, as long as I am responsible. I have so much fun living on-campus, because I get to see my friends, and my bf who goes here. My real home is about a half hour away from my school, so it would be kinda a pain to commute up here, especially since I like to have later classes, and that would cause major problems with parking, haha. I was basically just curious as to how other CFers coped with college and their physical health, and I think I got great response. My cousin was hospitalized for her very first time this past summer, before even going into college, and then while on-campus, her PFT's went down, so she decided to live at home. Now I don't know if I am totally off with this, but does CF tend to get worse or harder to keep under control as you get older? I never had problems when I was young, and then a few years ago, was when I started going into the hospital and stuff.

 

[anonymous]

Hi Kim~
I did the whole college thing too. I lived on campus for three years. Last summer I fell extremely ill and had to leave my senior year of college to get a lung transplant. Well I got the transplant 5 weeks ago and doing great. I'm taking the rest of the year off though and going back in the fall. To answer your last question...not to scare you but as you get older the disease gets harder to control. I cannot stress to you enough how important airway clearance is. Please keep on doing that and do it well! It will prolong your years and your life and decrease infections. I was not doing airway clearance properly when I caught pneumonia. That's how i ended up needing a transplant. But all is well...transplant isn't the worst thing in the world. Its risky but wonderful!
Well i hope this helped
Margaret
Double lung 11/11/04