My friend with CF...

megrr11 · Apr 5, 2010

My best friend has CF and she is 19 years old. Just 2 days ago she went to the ER because she coughed up blood.

I know all throughout high school she wasn't very keen on taking her meds because she was just so sick and tired of having to always take something and she felt guilty of how expensive it was for her family. Because of her lack of care for herself the past few years I can't help but think this is something serious. She's never coughed up blood before.

She's not updating me very well either. She's been known to not tell me the full story of what is going on and it worries me that she's not telling me someting. Can anyone please give me some advice?

megrr11 · Apr 5, 2010

My best friend has CF and she is 19 years old. Just 2 days ago she went to the ER because she coughed up blood.

I know all throughout high school she wasn't very keen on taking her meds because she was just so sick and tired of having to always take something and she felt guilty of how expensive it was for her family. Because of her lack of care for herself the past few years I can't help but think this is something serious. She's never coughed up blood before.

She's not updating me very well either. She's been known to not tell me the full story of what is going on and it worries me that she's not telling me someting. Can anyone please give me some advice?

megrr11 · Apr 5, 2010

My best friend has CF and she is 19 years old. Just 2 days ago she went to the ER because she coughed up blood.

I know all throughout high school she wasn't very keen on taking her meds because she was just so sick and tired of having to always take something and she felt guilty of how expensive it was for her family. Because of her lack of care for herself the past few years I can't help but think this is something serious. She's never coughed up blood before.

She's not updating me very well either. She's been known to not tell me the full story of what is going on and it worries me that she's not telling me someting. Can anyone please give me some advice?

megrr11 · Apr 5, 2010

My best friend has CF and she is 19 years old. Just 2 days ago she went to the ER because she coughed up blood.

I know all throughout high school she wasn't very keen on taking her meds because she was just so sick and tired of having to always take something and she felt guilty of how expensive it was for her family. Because of her lack of care for herself the past few years I can't help but think this is something serious. She's never coughed up blood before.

She's not updating me very well either. She's been known to not tell me the full story of what is going on and it worries me that she's not telling me someting. Can anyone please give me some advice?

megrr11 · Apr 5, 2010

My best friend has CF and she is 19 years old. Just 2 days ago she went to the ER because she coughed up blood.
 
 I know all throughout high school she wasn't very keen on taking her meds because she was just so sick and tired of having to always take something and she felt guilty of how expensive it was for her family. Because of her lack of care for herself the past few years I can't help but think this is something serious. She's never coughed up blood before.
 
 She's not updating me very well either. She's been known to not tell me the full story of what is going on and it worries me that she's not telling me someting. Can anyone please give me some advice?

NYCLawGirl · Apr 5, 2010

hi meg,

coughing up blood in and of itself isn't rare for CFers, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything super serious is going on. i assume your friend was admitted to the hospital from the ER since she's not in much contact right now. if that's the case, then know that she's getting the care she needs. if she was released, then hopefully it was just a minor bleed.

i'm sure you know this, but stuff like lung bleeding is scary -- both for the person it happens to and their loved ones. give her a little space right now to come to grips with what happened, hard as it is. sometimes we don't give the full story in part b/c we haven't yet processed all of our own feelings yet, and it definitely doesn't always mean that there's some terrible dark secret. yes, lung bleeds are scary, and yes (not going to lie) they can be serious. but they are also a part of CF for many people, and our doctors are well versed in how to treat bleeds. probably the best thing you can do for your friend right now is to be a calming presence -- give her a friend to open up to when she's ready and stand with her as she faces this new, difficult "CF milestone."

as for the not taking her meds, i don't want to preach, b/c i've been in that place myself. all i can say is that it's important for CFers to take meds, even when it seems futile, expensive, and exhausting. i'm sure your friend understands that, and guilt for the past never helped anyone, in my personal opinion. i really hope that if anything comes of this experience, it might be that your friend is able to really recognize the importance of CF care, but more than that i hope she heals, emotionally and physically. she is definitely in my thoughts for a smooth recovery!

CF asks so much not only of patients, but also of our family and friends. you are SUCH a good friend to be so concerned, and to seek out advice. i just want to say that, because you deserve to hear it. your friend is lucky to have you.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 5, 2010

hi meg,

coughing up blood in and of itself isn't rare for CFers, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything super serious is going on. i assume your friend was admitted to the hospital from the ER since she's not in much contact right now. if that's the case, then know that she's getting the care she needs. if she was released, then hopefully it was just a minor bleed.

i'm sure you know this, but stuff like lung bleeding is scary -- both for the person it happens to and their loved ones. give her a little space right now to come to grips with what happened, hard as it is. sometimes we don't give the full story in part b/c we haven't yet processed all of our own feelings yet, and it definitely doesn't always mean that there's some terrible dark secret. yes, lung bleeds are scary, and yes (not going to lie) they can be serious. but they are also a part of CF for many people, and our doctors are well versed in how to treat bleeds. probably the best thing you can do for your friend right now is to be a calming presence -- give her a friend to open up to when she's ready and stand with her as she faces this new, difficult "CF milestone."

as for the not taking her meds, i don't want to preach, b/c i've been in that place myself. all i can say is that it's important for CFers to take meds, even when it seems futile, expensive, and exhausting. i'm sure your friend understands that, and guilt for the past never helped anyone, in my personal opinion. i really hope that if anything comes of this experience, it might be that your friend is able to really recognize the importance of CF care, but more than that i hope she heals, emotionally and physically. she is definitely in my thoughts for a smooth recovery!

CF asks so much not only of patients, but also of our family and friends. you are SUCH a good friend to be so concerned, and to seek out advice. i just want to say that, because you deserve to hear it. your friend is lucky to have you.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 5, 2010

hi meg,

coughing up blood in and of itself isn't rare for CFers, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything super serious is going on. i assume your friend was admitted to the hospital from the ER since she's not in much contact right now. if that's the case, then know that she's getting the care she needs. if she was released, then hopefully it was just a minor bleed.

i'm sure you know this, but stuff like lung bleeding is scary -- both for the person it happens to and their loved ones. give her a little space right now to come to grips with what happened, hard as it is. sometimes we don't give the full story in part b/c we haven't yet processed all of our own feelings yet, and it definitely doesn't always mean that there's some terrible dark secret. yes, lung bleeds are scary, and yes (not going to lie) they can be serious. but they are also a part of CF for many people, and our doctors are well versed in how to treat bleeds. probably the best thing you can do for your friend right now is to be a calming presence -- give her a friend to open up to when she's ready and stand with her as she faces this new, difficult "CF milestone."

as for the not taking her meds, i don't want to preach, b/c i've been in that place myself. all i can say is that it's important for CFers to take meds, even when it seems futile, expensive, and exhausting. i'm sure your friend understands that, and guilt for the past never helped anyone, in my personal opinion. i really hope that if anything comes of this experience, it might be that your friend is able to really recognize the importance of CF care, but more than that i hope she heals, emotionally and physically. she is definitely in my thoughts for a smooth recovery!

CF asks so much not only of patients, but also of our family and friends. you are SUCH a good friend to be so concerned, and to seek out advice. i just want to say that, because you deserve to hear it. your friend is lucky to have you.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 5, 2010

hi meg,

coughing up blood in and of itself isn't rare for CFers, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything super serious is going on. i assume your friend was admitted to the hospital from the ER since she's not in much contact right now. if that's the case, then know that she's getting the care she needs. if she was released, then hopefully it was just a minor bleed.

i'm sure you know this, but stuff like lung bleeding is scary -- both for the person it happens to and their loved ones. give her a little space right now to come to grips with what happened, hard as it is. sometimes we don't give the full story in part b/c we haven't yet processed all of our own feelings yet, and it definitely doesn't always mean that there's some terrible dark secret. yes, lung bleeds are scary, and yes (not going to lie) they can be serious. but they are also a part of CF for many people, and our doctors are well versed in how to treat bleeds. probably the best thing you can do for your friend right now is to be a calming presence -- give her a friend to open up to when she's ready and stand with her as she faces this new, difficult "CF milestone."

as for the not taking her meds, i don't want to preach, b/c i've been in that place myself. all i can say is that it's important for CFers to take meds, even when it seems futile, expensive, and exhausting. i'm sure your friend understands that, and guilt for the past never helped anyone, in my personal opinion. i really hope that if anything comes of this experience, it might be that your friend is able to really recognize the importance of CF care, but more than that i hope she heals, emotionally and physically. she is definitely in my thoughts for a smooth recovery!

CF asks so much not only of patients, but also of our family and friends. you are SUCH a good friend to be so concerned, and to seek out advice. i just want to say that, because you deserve to hear it. your friend is lucky to have you.

NYCLawGirl · Apr 5, 2010

hi meg,
 
 coughing up blood in and of itself isn't rare for CFers, and it doesn't necessarily mean anything super serious is going on. i assume your friend was admitted to the hospital from the ER since she's not in much contact right now. if that's the case, then know that she's getting the care she needs. if she was released, then hopefully it was just a minor bleed.
 
 i'm sure you know this, but stuff like lung bleeding is scary -- both for the person it happens to and their loved ones. give her a little space right now to come to grips with what happened, hard as it is. sometimes we don't give the full story in part b/c we haven't yet processed all of our own feelings yet, and it definitely doesn't always mean that there's some terrible dark secret. yes, lung bleeds are scary, and yes (not going to lie) they can be serious. but they are also a part of CF for many people, and our doctors are well versed in how to treat bleeds. probably the best thing you can do for your friend right now is to be a calming presence -- give her a friend to open up to when she's ready and stand with her as she faces this new, difficult "CF milestone."
 
 as for the not taking her meds, i don't want to preach, b/c i've been in that place myself. all i can say is that it's important for CFers to take meds, even when it seems futile, expensive, and exhausting. i'm sure your friend understands that, and guilt for the past never helped anyone, in my personal opinion. i really hope that if anything comes of this experience, it might be that your friend is able to really recognize the importance of CF care, but more than that i hope she heals, emotionally and physically. she is definitely in my thoughts for a smooth recovery!
 
 CF asks so much not only of patients, but also of our family and friends. you are SUCH a good friend to be so concerned, and to seek out advice. i just want to say that, because you deserve to hear it. your friend is lucky to have you.

megrr11 · Apr 5, 2010