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Adults
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
I dont believe that it is any easier as you get older. I have known all my life about my CF..was diagnosed as an infant. I am now 31. I have different problems now as I get older. There are more things that come into play as an adult...being work, family, etc. I am a mom with a job and trying to run a household. I would have to say it only gets harder...you just learn how to handle them differently.
Dea
Dea
I was not diagnosed until I was 22 and I have to say that being older definitely made it easier on me. I have read (on these boards) about teenagers and young kids at school being teased and how hard it is to be a normal kid. I think it would have been a lot harder for me to accept had I found out when I was in high school.
Dave 30 w/cf
Dave 30 w/cf
Emily65Roses
New member
But then again, it's also easier if you've just always known about it. For me, I don't have real problems with accepting the CF, because it's all I've ever known. You know what I mean? I imagine finding out in teenage years is just about the worst time to do so. I'd say it's easiest if either:
1. You know from birth
Or
2. You find out after you become an adult and have better coping capabilities
1. You know from birth
Or
2. You find out after you become an adult and have better coping capabilities
IHAVE A SON WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS. HE IS SEVEN , I HAVE A REALLY HARD TIME WITH HIM TAKING HIS TREATMENTS HE SAYS HES TIRED OF THE TREATMENTS . MAYBE IF THERES A WAY YOU CAN WRITE TO ME . MY ADDRESS IS 33212 LANDRUM RD SAN BENITO TEXAS 78586 . MY NAME IS CHRISTINA GARCIA , MY SONS NAME IS JESUS GARCIA ,JR. THANK YOU.<img src="i/expressions/rose.gif" border="0">
HollyCatheryn
New member
I wouldn't necessarily say that having CF is easier as an adult, but it is very different. For instance, I used to go in the hospital before every school semester at a minimum. I battled to keep weight on or gain weight. I was sick all the time, but pushed through it because I wanted to be in school. The doctors kept talking to me about doing x,y or z because they thought I could live a long time if I took care of myself. Emotionally it was hard because they told me to take care of myself so I could live longer, but they didn't offer any reasons to live longer. Like life span was the end in itself. When I hit 20, I was not in better health, but I was married and that changed things. I did my treatments because of the life I had and wanted to keep, not because of numbers. Over a couple of years, partly due to the fact that much of CF seems to stabilize after the stress of adolescence is past, my health improved. I am a mama now, so I have yet another reason to take good care of myself. The doctors approach is different now, also. Instead of reaching for what they know, they are less certain, more unsure of how to proceed. More of my care is up to me now. Not many CF docs have much experience with mothers with CF, especially those who breastfeed (as I have). There are fewer knowns, but seemingly more possibilities. Every year people with CF are changing the face of CF. By reaching for our dreams and achieving them, we are making it easier for the next people coming up, to dream and aspire. When I was a kid, there were no healthy adults for me to look up to and set as examples. Today's kids are in a much better position to take hope and see the achievements of adults with CF. The focus used to be just getting us to adulthood, but now the fastest growing population of people with CF is the adults. Everything is different when you have already accomplished the goals that people set for you at the young age of 20 or 25 or 30. Then you are freed to dream your own dreams. Having CF as an adult has been freer mentally and emotionally than when I was younger. The logistics of making my treatments happen is harder because I have other people's schedules to consider with my own.
I agree too with HollyCatheryn, but also totally with Emily. I was diagnosed when I was 11 so just coming up to my teenage years and I really think it is the worst time. Everything is changing anyway at that age, so having this to deal with as well is very hard. All you want at that age is to be accepted, but then this thing comes along to make you different to everyone else. Obviously, I have no comparison as to whether it really is the most difficult age, but I believe it anyway!
I do also think (in answer to the original question) that as much as there is always a new issue to deal with alongside your cf (or because of it) as you reach adulthood, the whole idea of cf, the fact that you have it, is easier to deal with and accept. I think this is maybe because it is easier to be open with people about it (in my case anyway) as children can be harsh, but adults are more understanding in most cases and so do not judge you badly for having a condition that is obviously out of your control anyway. You learn how best to deal with all the treatments, how far you can push your body etc and also you chill out more about things like having to join in every single thing like going out when all your friends are etc, so you can more easily choose to stay home one night to do your meds instead without feeling you are missing out on life so much.
I really think that being diagnosed at such an odd age meant I didn't fully appreciate the severity of the condition and the things I could do to help myself, to keep myself well and to prevent myself becoming sicker. I really skipped a lot of treatments and when I look back I wonder why, as I often felt ill and the way to stop that is by doing the meds. but that kind of knowledge only comes with age, wisdom and acceptance and I was at the totally wrong age to accept what was wrong with me. As child, living with it your whole life, you know no different and just go with it, and as an adult, you are generally more accepting of life and all that it throws at you. Also, like hollycatheryn said, I now have things that I really want to live for. I am getting married this year, and do all of the things I am supposed to as there is no way I intend to leave early and miss out on all the wonderful things I could experience with my husband to be. As much as I had a loving and supportive family growing up, it's not the same as having someone who loves you and who you love back, willing you on and wanting to be there with them for as long as possible.
Sorry, I totally went off the subject.
That's only my viewpoint, but there it is.
I do also think (in answer to the original question) that as much as there is always a new issue to deal with alongside your cf (or because of it) as you reach adulthood, the whole idea of cf, the fact that you have it, is easier to deal with and accept. I think this is maybe because it is easier to be open with people about it (in my case anyway) as children can be harsh, but adults are more understanding in most cases and so do not judge you badly for having a condition that is obviously out of your control anyway. You learn how best to deal with all the treatments, how far you can push your body etc and also you chill out more about things like having to join in every single thing like going out when all your friends are etc, so you can more easily choose to stay home one night to do your meds instead without feeling you are missing out on life so much.
I really think that being diagnosed at such an odd age meant I didn't fully appreciate the severity of the condition and the things I could do to help myself, to keep myself well and to prevent myself becoming sicker. I really skipped a lot of treatments and when I look back I wonder why, as I often felt ill and the way to stop that is by doing the meds. but that kind of knowledge only comes with age, wisdom and acceptance and I was at the totally wrong age to accept what was wrong with me. As child, living with it your whole life, you know no different and just go with it, and as an adult, you are generally more accepting of life and all that it throws at you. Also, like hollycatheryn said, I now have things that I really want to live for. I am getting married this year, and do all of the things I am supposed to as there is no way I intend to leave early and miss out on all the wonderful things I could experience with my husband to be. As much as I had a loving and supportive family growing up, it's not the same as having someone who loves you and who you love back, willing you on and wanting to be there with them for as long as possible.
Sorry, I totally went off the subject.
That's only my viewpoint, but there it is.
I was diagnosed when I was 2, so I have known nothing but CF. My parents treated my treatments like we were playing a game, they made it fun! They also treated my meds that way too. It was just something I had to do, Like brushing your teeth. I knew of nothing else, so this is what I had to do. I have never missed a treatment or did not take my meds and that has stuck with me to my adulthood. Now, granted in College I probably did not do a treatment at night cause I got in late, bad me! But for 99% of the time in my life I did it all and continue to do it. Sure I do get tired of it all, but the alternative is worse. I rather do all that I can to stay out of the hospital and stay well so I can be with my husband. It is hard but it is worth it!
Jennifer
32yr with CF
Jennifer
32yr with CF