I saw a pulmonary expert last Thursday and got some preliminary results about my cf. I was of course hoping he would say I wasn't treating my asthma properly and that my cf was still dormant. He took one look at my chest x-ray and said he could see cysts and an abscess in my lung. He said the damage was "moderate". I think that was a way of saying "I don't know until I see a ct scan". I did the pft and again he said "there is a moderate amount of blockage". Very vague. He put me on two wide spectrum antibiotics. I gave a sputum sample and blood for all the blood tests. I will get a ct scan on Wednesday and see him again next week. That is when he will be able to tell me what "moderate" is and set up a treatment plan for me. This means I know that my cf is at the forefront now but I'm not sure how bad it is. I still feel healthy but that might be because I have gotten used to feeling sick. I am dusting off the bicycle and plan on getting back on a regular exercise routine. I already eat a healthy diet and stay active so it won't be hard for me to get back to exercising. My wife and family have been very supportive. I felt bad for my mom because she already lost my sister to cf nearly 32 years ago. She died in the hospital the night before mother's day. She was in denial about my cf like I was. We had a good cry then started to be more optomistic by the end of our conversation. I like my doctor too. He went to med school at the university of Wisconsin where I was first diagnosed and where my sister died. He has worked with several people that have cf and has connections with the cf foundation. He knows about treaments and how to "cut through the red tape" so I can get them. He is already checking with my insurance to see what they will cover so he can find ways to cover what the insurance won't. He seems very proactive and wants to please me, not the horrible insurance giants. I just want to thank everyone who responded to my last posting. I recieved some invaluable advice as well as support. I am learning now to accept my disease and to "play the hand I've been dealt", as my dad would say. Good luck to all and I hope to hear from some of you from time to time. I need the support and I think I can be supportive too.
Ta Ta For Now
Doug
Ta Ta For Now
Doug