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When I received my first T4A for my CPP benefits earlier this year, we looked at the requirements online and decided I wasn't eligible. (We didn't actually apply.) It sounds like I need to go back and take a look at it again. Thanks to both of you for the information!

The US gets a little crazy with all their tax deductions. Canada tends to have a lot less of them. I'm not a tax expert, but the only deductions I'm aware of are not specific to CF. I am on CPP disability, but I looked at the Disability Tax Credit and I did not qualify. There's also the general...

I'm on long-term IVs, so my volume of supplies and medication is very large. We have a large storage cabinet in our living room. I have it crammed full of pills, inhalers, IV supplies, needles, syringes, etc. Because my nebulizer and flutter are washed after every use, I keep them in a plastic...

That sounds very challenging. Can you take the NeilMed rinse in powder form and buy a large bottle of distilled water? That's how I normally manage my sinus rinses. I'm on long-term IV meds. I usually call ahead and tell the hotel that I need a refrigerator in my room for my IV bags. They've...

Jim -- thanks for the follow-up post. That's great that you've been smear negative for six months. I'm not giving up my health, but I am thinking it's time to give up on getting twelve months of negative smears. I've been constantly smear positive for the last six months even with aggressive...

Tonya -- when I first started culturing abscessus, my FEV1 dropped about 10%. My normal FEV1 is now in the 45% to 50% range. Last year I wasn't doing very well, so they decided to try to target my pseudomonas. They switched my IVs off my normal abscessus med (Cefoxitin) to something else...

Tonya -- I'm sorry to hear that your son's FEV1 fell 11%, but if he's feeling better the FEV1 may come up over time. My doctors always emphasize the importance of FEV1 results and how I actually feel. I agree with Jim that you should not be going off IVs so quickly, although that's not really an...

I've been having increased problems with hemoptysis during the last year. It definitely freaks me out whenever I cough up blood, but small amounts are OK. When I'm coughing up blood (more than streaking), I've been told to go off inhaled medications (e.g., hypertonic saline, pulmozyme) and...

I started growing mycobacterium abscessus in 2008. I've been on aggressive treatment that includes IV meds and several orals for the past three years. I started the IVs because I was having a decrease in FEV1 as well as just not feeling very well. My doctor wants me to have twelve months of...

I am pancreatic sufficient. During the last two years, I've started to have a lot of GI issues including constipation, bloating, gas. My doctors wondered if I might becoming pancreatic insufficient. However, they did a blood test (I don't remember which one) that they said provided that I was...

My baseline lung functions is usually between 45% and 50%. Last year I got really sick and my FEV1 dropped to 31%. Even though my oxygen saturation dropped to around 90% (from a normal close to 99%), they tested me and concluded I did not need oxygen. My weight is normally around 155 lbs, but I...

The initial placement for me usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes. I've seen people on here that say ten minutes, although I can't imagine how that's possible. It can take longer if they run into difficulty with the person's veins. I've heard of people taking several hours, but I think this is...

I've been undergoing IV med treatments for the last three years using a PICC line. In terms of maintenance, the PICC needs to be flushed once a day. This really isn't hard -- you just use a saline syringe. Even though they say PICC lines last a year, this has not been my experience. I am using...

Whenever me or my partner feels like one of us is getting sick, we sleep in separate beds. We also try to spend less time around each other. Sometimes we realize later that it was nothing, but it's better than me getting sick. Just a cold sets me back health wise, so it's not worth taking a chance.

Thanks for the comments! Deb — I’m certainly familiar with Denver’s reputation from these CF forums. I’m in Canada, so my provincial health plan would not cover seeing a doctor in the US. That said, my NTM specialist is plugged into the work they do at Denver. He’s mentioned to me their...

I’ve been growing mycobacterium abscesses since 2008. I first underwent treatment for it in late 2008 into 2009 because it was having a negative impact on my health. This initial treatment started with some IV antibiotics, but was primarily orals. My health improved somewhat, but I continued...

I can understand what you're going through. I was diagnosed at 34 after being sick for months. I'm sorry you have to wait so long to see the CF doctor. My wait was about two weeks, although that felt like a long time. Once I was put on proper treatment, I started feeling better within a few...

I was diagnosed at 34. As described above, I have a more mild case and am pancreatic sufficient. The sweat tests suggest that I do not have CF, but my case was confirmed with a DNA test. His symptoms sound like standard CF symptoms. I agree with the comments above that he should get tested...

As others have said above, masturbation is a healthy way to relieve sexual tension and is not bad for you. People have different sex drives and some people need sexual release more frequently than others. It sounds like you're someone with low sex drive. This could be caused by side effects of...

Many years ago I had sinus surgery and the surgeon got me started doing daily sinus rinses. I find they get a lot of the blockage out and clear things up. The junk I'm clearing from my sinuses would otherwise have drained into my lungs. I mix 1 1/3 cups distilled water, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda...