Recent content by ContinuallyRefined

I'm not aware of CF being a show stopper for a commercial pilot's license (second-class medical certificate required). Recreational pilots need to pass a third-class medical and the FAA states there were 113 third-class medical certificate holders (student or recreational pilots) with Cystic...

Good for you, Dsnow. I'm 41 wcf and got my private pilot's license in my early 20's. I had to get a medical every year instead of every three if I remember right. I enjoyed flying for many years before I ultimately couldn't pass my medical any more. I don't remember if it was due to lung...

Starting my research on organizations that manage fundraised money for transplant and have found a few--COTA, NFT, HelpHopeLive. Does anyone have experience with any of them or have any insight on how they differ? Know of any others? Is it hard to get reimbursed or do they pay bills directly...

I can relate to a lot of what you expressed. Feeling like a different person and pinning it to not contributing to society. I have two children so staying busy is not a problem but I miss contributing outside my family. As another poster did, I started volunteering recently and I really look...

Janddburke -- So glad to hear your daughter is on the college track. I learned so much well beyond academics by going away to school (UCSB). I went 2 hours away from home but honestly wish I went further. My homesickness and living in the past by going home on weekends delayed the adjustment...

"Has this happened to anyone else before as the result of a cold/virus/bacterial infection and did it resolve without hospitalization? She is running around like crazy and has been jumping on her trampoline for an hour straight without any indications of respiratory distress." My...

That's great from a common diet/health perspective. Lost calories from a CFer's point of view. Oh well, at least you're modeling it ;)

That's great about modeling the eating. You're funny. Do his docs recommend low sugar or is that your preference for him?

Absolutely possible. Meet with a trainer and get a routine of lifting and enough protein. Also, check out this post on gaining muscle written by an MD with CF.

SO awesome you're thinking about this, Aboveallislove!! Keep the creative juices flowing! I think as important as continuing to keep the fun factor high is to model exercise endlessly as parents. If you told him *nothing* but simply exercised as a family regularly and as parents (bike, run, ski...

Delayed in males for sure. My guess is for similar reasons it's delayed in gymnasts -- extra stress on the body. My voice didn't change until 18. Starting at age 14 my CF doc would peek under my arms and down my pants to see if I'd started growing hair yet. HATED that!! I wish I had the balls to...

Do you NEED concentrator? I ask b/c I have an Airsep Lifestyle which is a portable concentrator but I more often use my helios marathon that holds liquid oxygen. Sure, the liquid runs out (filled up from my oxygen keg at home) but so does the battery on the concentrator. I like it the liquid...

Best advice I've ever received from a doctor was to focus on the things I can control and let go of the things I can't. I can control how many breathing treatments I do per day, how many calories I eat, how often and what kinds of exercise I do, if I want to do IV's or not, what people to spend...

They don't cut through much muscle as the incision is between ribs below pecks. Transplant is a last ditch effort to save a life. I don't recommend putting much thought into it until you're closer to being a candidate. I've been below 50% lung function for 14 years and have been considering...

Anyone see the episode with Lindsey McLaughlin last night? If not, you can watch it on ABC's site. The show was a documentary spanning a few weeks including getting "the call." Uplifting, eye-opening and tear inducing. Good demo of how top-notch many of the professionals we deal with are. I'm...