New to the CF club: DX at 43...

[Daveyboy209]

Juliet,
A late diagnosis...had to chime in on this one. I was diagnosed at age 34. I am now 46. I was up at Mayo Clinic for yet another sinus surgery and they had it figured out within minutes, tested me and BAM, Positive. My reaction was different than they were expecting I think. I just kind of sat back and said, "So that's what it is. I'm not going crazy!" I had had my share of sinus problems (15 surgeries to date) and was beginning to have more frequent and non-ignorable GI problems. It's good to know what it is that has been effecting me. My only problem, and please don't follow in my footsteps on this, is that I chose to ignore my disease. I figured if I had gotten by for 34 years trying to live my life as normal as everyone else I could continue that way indefinitely. (I was wrong by the way). I still consider myself very fortunate. Though I have more issues than I did 13 years ago, I've seen what this disease can do. So my advice... listen to the doctors, do your treatments, laugh and enjoy! (And never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.)
Dave 46 male with CF, Asthma, MRSA and now Hypoglycemia. Married and one son who is in the National Guard and College

 

[Daveyboy209]

Juliet,
A late diagnosis...had to chime in on this one. I was diagnosed at age 34. I am now 46. I was up at Mayo Clinic for yet another sinus surgery and they had it figured out within minutes, tested me and BAM, Positive. My reaction was different than they were expecting I think. I just kind of sat back and said, "So that's what it is. I'm not going crazy!" I had had my share of sinus problems (15 surgeries to date) and was beginning to have more frequent and non-ignorable GI problems. It's good to know what it is that has been effecting me. My only problem, and please don't follow in my footsteps on this, is that I chose to ignore my disease. I figured if I had gotten by for 34 years trying to live my life as normal as everyone else I could continue that way indefinitely. (I was wrong by the way). I still consider myself very fortunate. Though I have more issues than I did 13 years ago, I've seen what this disease can do. So my advice... listen to the doctors, do your treatments, laugh and enjoy! (And never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.)
Dave 46 male with CF, Asthma, MRSA and now Hypoglycemia. Married and one son who is in the National Guard and College

 

[Daveyboy209]

Juliet,
A late diagnosis...had to chime in on this one. I was diagnosed at age 34. I am now 46. I was up at Mayo Clinic for yet another sinus surgery and they had it figured out within minutes, tested me and BAM, Positive. My reaction was different than they were expecting I think. I just kind of sat back and said, "So that's what it is. I'm not going crazy!" I had had my share of sinus problems (15 surgeries to date) and was beginning to have more frequent and non-ignorable GI problems. It's good to know what it is that has been effecting me. My only problem, and please don't follow in my footsteps on this, is that I chose to ignore my disease. I figured if I had gotten by for 34 years trying to live my life as normal as everyone else I could continue that way indefinitely. (I was wrong by the way). I still consider myself very fortunate. Though I have more issues than I did 13 years ago, I've seen what this disease can do. So my advice... listen to the doctors, do your treatments, laugh and enjoy! (And never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.)
Dave 46 male with CF, Asthma, MRSA and now Hypoglycemia. Married and one son who is in the National Guard and College

 

[Daveyboy209]

Juliet,
A late diagnosis...had to chime in on this one. I was diagnosed at age 34. I am now 46. I was up at Mayo Clinic for yet another sinus surgery and they had it figured out within minutes, tested me and BAM, Positive. My reaction was different than they were expecting I think. I just kind of sat back and said, "So that's what it is. I'm not going crazy!" I had had my share of sinus problems (15 surgeries to date) and was beginning to have more frequent and non-ignorable GI problems. It's good to know what it is that has been effecting me. My only problem, and please don't follow in my footsteps on this, is that I chose to ignore my disease. I figured if I had gotten by for 34 years trying to live my life as normal as everyone else I could continue that way indefinitely. (I was wrong by the way). I still consider myself very fortunate. Though I have more issues than I did 13 years ago, I've seen what this disease can do. So my advice... listen to the doctors, do your treatments, laugh and enjoy! (And never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.)
Dave 46 male with CF, Asthma, MRSA and now Hypoglycemia. Married and one son who is in the National Guard and College

 

[Daveyboy209]

Juliet,
<br />A late diagnosis...had to chime in on this one. I was diagnosed at age 34. I am now 46. I was up at Mayo Clinic for yet another sinus surgery and they had it figured out within minutes, tested me and BAM, Positive. My reaction was different than they were expecting I think. I just kind of sat back and said, "So that's what it is. I'm not going crazy!" I had had my share of sinus problems (15 surgeries to date) and was beginning to have more frequent and non-ignorable GI problems. It's good to know what it is that has been effecting me. My only problem, and please don't follow in my footsteps on this, is that I chose to ignore my disease. I figured if I had gotten by for 34 years trying to live my life as normal as everyone else I could continue that way indefinitely. (I was wrong by the way). I still consider myself very fortunate. Though I have more issues than I did 13 years ago, I've seen what this disease can do. So my advice... listen to the doctors, do your treatments, laugh and enjoy! (And never lose the ability to laugh at yourself.)
<br />Dave 46 male with CF, Asthma, MRSA and now Hypoglycemia. Married and one son who is in the National Guard and College

 

[JennifersHope]

I finally feel up to posting to this.... I was dx at 29 I am now 35... I was not relieved to find out my dx.. I would rather have believed it was asthma and bronchitis... So I did what any good girl would do.. I denied it..

I was dx by a Katie Couric, ( news reporters) husbands GI doctor.... I went to him when I started to become PI.. I had such horrible stomach pains I could not stand it or stay out of the bathroom..

While I was there, I had been coughing my head off, and was on medication for pneumonia.... The doctor wanted to talk about my cough and it was making me so frustrated because I had seen every doctor under the sun and I was told I had "weak lungs" Hey fine with me.. I just wanted this doctor to fix my dang stomach.. He after listening to me came out with to me and my step mom that he thought I had CF.. He wanted me to try some enzymes while I waited for testing..

I took the script for enzymes and I left... I didn't get the script filled for a week.. and during the time I suffered but I couldn't see getting them because there WAS no way I had CF.... One day I caved and I took them.. low and behold, no stomach ache.. Hey that was just a coincidence so I stopped taking them.. I think you know what happened..

I made them test me so many times for CF because I didn't believe it.. though I was very symptomatic...

I am now 35.. so that was six years ago.... I on average have been in the hospital every three months.. Now in the last year.. my life has hit me upside the head.. When I was first dx.. I was just starting nursing school....so I had plenty to keep me busy... and I was able to push through...going to school on IVS etc....

Now since Dec, I have been out of work.. I was an ER nurse.....it is very hard for me to say was.. very hard since it is so new that I had to give it up...

Emotionally, I am very slow to process..(no comments from any of my friends) honestly for a few years we would joke and just call it my cold....

Now I am at a stage where I am angry about it.. but wahoo... since we all know the stages of grief...denial, anger, bargin, depression, acceptance.. Yippie that is six years I made it out of denail and I am now angry.....

I guess I said enough for now...

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

I finally feel up to posting to this.... I was dx at 29 I am now 35... I was not relieved to find out my dx.. I would rather have believed it was asthma and bronchitis... So I did what any good girl would do.. I denied it..

I was dx by a Katie Couric, ( news reporters) husbands GI doctor.... I went to him when I started to become PI.. I had such horrible stomach pains I could not stand it or stay out of the bathroom..

While I was there, I had been coughing my head off, and was on medication for pneumonia.... The doctor wanted to talk about my cough and it was making me so frustrated because I had seen every doctor under the sun and I was told I had "weak lungs" Hey fine with me.. I just wanted this doctor to fix my dang stomach.. He after listening to me came out with to me and my step mom that he thought I had CF.. He wanted me to try some enzymes while I waited for testing..

I took the script for enzymes and I left... I didn't get the script filled for a week.. and during the time I suffered but I couldn't see getting them because there WAS no way I had CF.... One day I caved and I took them.. low and behold, no stomach ache.. Hey that was just a coincidence so I stopped taking them.. I think you know what happened..

I made them test me so many times for CF because I didn't believe it.. though I was very symptomatic...

I am now 35.. so that was six years ago.... I on average have been in the hospital every three months.. Now in the last year.. my life has hit me upside the head.. When I was first dx.. I was just starting nursing school....so I had plenty to keep me busy... and I was able to push through...going to school on IVS etc....

Now since Dec, I have been out of work.. I was an ER nurse.....it is very hard for me to say was.. very hard since it is so new that I had to give it up...

Emotionally, I am very slow to process..(no comments from any of my friends) honestly for a few years we would joke and just call it my cold....

Now I am at a stage where I am angry about it.. but wahoo... since we all know the stages of grief...denial, anger, bargin, depression, acceptance.. Yippie that is six years I made it out of denail and I am now angry.....

I guess I said enough for now...

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

I finally feel up to posting to this.... I was dx at 29 I am now 35... I was not relieved to find out my dx.. I would rather have believed it was asthma and bronchitis... So I did what any good girl would do.. I denied it..

I was dx by a Katie Couric, ( news reporters) husbands GI doctor.... I went to him when I started to become PI.. I had such horrible stomach pains I could not stand it or stay out of the bathroom..

While I was there, I had been coughing my head off, and was on medication for pneumonia.... The doctor wanted to talk about my cough and it was making me so frustrated because I had seen every doctor under the sun and I was told I had "weak lungs" Hey fine with me.. I just wanted this doctor to fix my dang stomach.. He after listening to me came out with to me and my step mom that he thought I had CF.. He wanted me to try some enzymes while I waited for testing..

I took the script for enzymes and I left... I didn't get the script filled for a week.. and during the time I suffered but I couldn't see getting them because there WAS no way I had CF.... One day I caved and I took them.. low and behold, no stomach ache.. Hey that was just a coincidence so I stopped taking them.. I think you know what happened..

I made them test me so many times for CF because I didn't believe it.. though I was very symptomatic...

I am now 35.. so that was six years ago.... I on average have been in the hospital every three months.. Now in the last year.. my life has hit me upside the head.. When I was first dx.. I was just starting nursing school....so I had plenty to keep me busy... and I was able to push through...going to school on IVS etc....

Now since Dec, I have been out of work.. I was an ER nurse.....it is very hard for me to say was.. very hard since it is so new that I had to give it up...

Emotionally, I am very slow to process..(no comments from any of my friends) honestly for a few years we would joke and just call it my cold....

Now I am at a stage where I am angry about it.. but wahoo... since we all know the stages of grief...denial, anger, bargin, depression, acceptance.. Yippie that is six years I made it out of denail and I am now angry.....

I guess I said enough for now...

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

I finally feel up to posting to this.... I was dx at 29 I am now 35... I was not relieved to find out my dx.. I would rather have believed it was asthma and bronchitis... So I did what any good girl would do.. I denied it..

I was dx by a Katie Couric, ( news reporters) husbands GI doctor.... I went to him when I started to become PI.. I had such horrible stomach pains I could not stand it or stay out of the bathroom..

While I was there, I had been coughing my head off, and was on medication for pneumonia.... The doctor wanted to talk about my cough and it was making me so frustrated because I had seen every doctor under the sun and I was told I had "weak lungs" Hey fine with me.. I just wanted this doctor to fix my dang stomach.. He after listening to me came out with to me and my step mom that he thought I had CF.. He wanted me to try some enzymes while I waited for testing..

I took the script for enzymes and I left... I didn't get the script filled for a week.. and during the time I suffered but I couldn't see getting them because there WAS no way I had CF.... One day I caved and I took them.. low and behold, no stomach ache.. Hey that was just a coincidence so I stopped taking them.. I think you know what happened..

I made them test me so many times for CF because I didn't believe it.. though I was very symptomatic...

I am now 35.. so that was six years ago.... I on average have been in the hospital every three months.. Now in the last year.. my life has hit me upside the head.. When I was first dx.. I was just starting nursing school....so I had plenty to keep me busy... and I was able to push through...going to school on IVS etc....

Now since Dec, I have been out of work.. I was an ER nurse.....it is very hard for me to say was.. very hard since it is so new that I had to give it up...

Emotionally, I am very slow to process..(no comments from any of my friends) honestly for a few years we would joke and just call it my cold....

Now I am at a stage where I am angry about it.. but wahoo... since we all know the stages of grief...denial, anger, bargin, depression, acceptance.. Yippie that is six years I made it out of denail and I am now angry.....

I guess I said enough for now...

Jennifer

 

[JennifersHope]

I finally feel up to posting to this.... I was dx at 29 I am now 35... I was not relieved to find out my dx.. I would rather have believed it was asthma and bronchitis... So I did what any good girl would do.. I denied it..
<br />
<br />I was dx by a Katie Couric, ( news reporters) husbands GI doctor.... I went to him when I started to become PI.. I had such horrible stomach pains I could not stand it or stay out of the bathroom..
<br />
<br />While I was there, I had been coughing my head off, and was on medication for pneumonia.... The doctor wanted to talk about my cough and it was making me so frustrated because I had seen every doctor under the sun and I was told I had "weak lungs" Hey fine with me.. I just wanted this doctor to fix my dang stomach.. He after listening to me came out with to me and my step mom that he thought I had CF.. He wanted me to try some enzymes while I waited for testing..
<br />
<br />I took the script for enzymes and I left... I didn't get the script filled for a week.. and during the time I suffered but I couldn't see getting them because there WAS no way I had CF.... One day I caved and I took them.. low and behold, no stomach ache.. Hey that was just a coincidence so I stopped taking them.. I think you know what happened..
<br />
<br />I made them test me so many times for CF because I didn't believe it.. though I was very symptomatic...
<br />
<br />I am now 35.. so that was six years ago.... I on average have been in the hospital every three months.. Now in the last year.. my life has hit me upside the head.. When I was first dx.. I was just starting nursing school....so I had plenty to keep me busy... and I was able to push through...going to school on IVS etc....
<br />
<br />Now since Dec, I have been out of work.. I was an ER nurse.....it is very hard for me to say was.. very hard since it is so new that I had to give it up...
<br />
<br />Emotionally, I am very slow to process..(no comments from any of my friends) honestly for a few years we would joke and just call it my cold....
<br />
<br />Now I am at a stage where I am angry about it.. but wahoo... since we all know the stages of grief...denial, anger, bargin, depression, acceptance.. Yippie that is six years I made it out of denail and I am now angry.....
<br />
<br />I guess I said enough for now...
<br />
<br />Jennifer
<br />
<br />
<br />

 

[moosemom]

Hello,
I too am a late diagnosis. For me the roller coaster ride continues. I have always been a live life to the fullest kind of person but I am even more now. It was MAC that finally led to my diagnosis but unlike you I can't get rid of it...

This site has been a real help as I continue to to learn what having CF means for me: what I am willing to give up (I no longer am able to work) and what I should do, but can't seem to make myself do beacuse i feel no different when I do or i don't, and most importantly, what I want to do & see while I still want to and can. Like Jennifer, I run the gammet with my emotions i may hit each stage of grief in one day especially if it is a bad day. The folks here are the BEST support, so don't be shy...

Marci

 

[moosemom]

Hello,
I too am a late diagnosis. For me the roller coaster ride continues. I have always been a live life to the fullest kind of person but I am even more now. It was MAC that finally led to my diagnosis but unlike you I can't get rid of it...

This site has been a real help as I continue to to learn what having CF means for me: what I am willing to give up (I no longer am able to work) and what I should do, but can't seem to make myself do beacuse i feel no different when I do or i don't, and most importantly, what I want to do & see while I still want to and can. Like Jennifer, I run the gammet with my emotions i may hit each stage of grief in one day especially if it is a bad day. The folks here are the BEST support, so don't be shy...

Marci

 

[moosemom]

Hello,
I too am a late diagnosis. For me the roller coaster ride continues. I have always been a live life to the fullest kind of person but I am even more now. It was MAC that finally led to my diagnosis but unlike you I can't get rid of it...

This site has been a real help as I continue to to learn what having CF means for me: what I am willing to give up (I no longer am able to work) and what I should do, but can't seem to make myself do beacuse i feel no different when I do or i don't, and most importantly, what I want to do & see while I still want to and can. Like Jennifer, I run the gammet with my emotions i may hit each stage of grief in one day especially if it is a bad day. The folks here are the BEST support, so don't be shy...

Marci

 

[moosemom]

Hello,
I too am a late diagnosis. For me the roller coaster ride continues. I have always been a live life to the fullest kind of person but I am even more now. It was MAC that finally led to my diagnosis but unlike you I can't get rid of it...

This site has been a real help as I continue to to learn what having CF means for me: what I am willing to give up (I no longer am able to work) and what I should do, but can't seem to make myself do beacuse i feel no different when I do or i don't, and most importantly, what I want to do & see while I still want to and can. Like Jennifer, I run the gammet with my emotions i may hit each stage of grief in one day especially if it is a bad day. The folks here are the BEST support, so don't be shy...

Marci

 

[moosemom]

Hello,
<br />I too am a late diagnosis. For me the roller coaster ride continues. I have always been a live life to the fullest kind of person but I am even more now. It was MAC that finally led to my diagnosis but unlike you I can't get rid of it...
<br />
<br />This site has been a real help as I continue to to learn what having CF means for me: what I am willing to give up (I no longer am able to work) and what I should do, but can't seem to make myself do beacuse i feel no different when I do or i don't, and most importantly, what I want to do & see while I still want to and can. Like Jennifer, I run the gammet with my emotions i may hit each stage of grief in one day especially if it is a bad day. The folks here are the BEST support, so don't be shy...
<br />
<br />Marci
<br />

 

[ERINSBIZ]

I was dx @ 18months old, however; I am 34 and I feel like I have recently been dx due to decline because of age and having children. I had two children and I hit my thirties and there you have induced lung CF. As a child my mom always made me aware of my "special" condition, cf, but I led a very very healthy childhood. I only took enzymes and went to annual appointments. It was definently out of mind out of sight. It wasn't until I hit my twenties I had more and more, frequent bronchitis.

Now I am finally taking CF seriously and trying to take care of my CF because it's much bigger than bronchitis quarterly. I can't ignore it anymore.

 

[ERINSBIZ]

I was dx @ 18months old, however; I am 34 and I feel like I have recently been dx due to decline because of age and having children. I had two children and I hit my thirties and there you have induced lung CF. As a child my mom always made me aware of my "special" condition, cf, but I led a very very healthy childhood. I only took enzymes and went to annual appointments. It was definently out of mind out of sight. It wasn't until I hit my twenties I had more and more, frequent bronchitis.

Now I am finally taking CF seriously and trying to take care of my CF because it's much bigger than bronchitis quarterly. I can't ignore it anymore.

 

[ERINSBIZ]

I was dx @ 18months old, however; I am 34 and I feel like I have recently been dx due to decline because of age and having children. I had two children and I hit my thirties and there you have induced lung CF. As a child my mom always made me aware of my "special" condition, cf, but I led a very very healthy childhood. I only took enzymes and went to annual appointments. It was definently out of mind out of sight. It wasn't until I hit my twenties I had more and more, frequent bronchitis.

Now I am finally taking CF seriously and trying to take care of my CF because it's much bigger than bronchitis quarterly. I can't ignore it anymore.

 

[ERINSBIZ]

I was dx @ 18months old, however; I am 34 and I feel like I have recently been dx due to decline because of age and having children. I had two children and I hit my thirties and there you have induced lung CF. As a child my mom always made me aware of my "special" condition, cf, but I led a very very healthy childhood. I only took enzymes and went to annual appointments. It was definently out of mind out of sight. It wasn't until I hit my twenties I had more and more, frequent bronchitis.

Now I am finally taking CF seriously and trying to take care of my CF because it's much bigger than bronchitis quarterly. I can't ignore it anymore.

 

[ERINSBIZ]

I was dx @ 18months old, however; I am 34 and I feel like I have recently been dx due to decline because of age and having children. I had two children and I hit my thirties and there you have induced lung CF. As a child my mom always made me aware of my "special" condition, cf, but I led a very very healthy childhood. I only took enzymes and went to annual appointments. It was definently out of mind out of sight. It wasn't until I hit my twenties I had more and more, frequent bronchitis.
<br />
<br />Now I am finally taking CF seriously and trying to take care of my CF because it's much bigger than bronchitis quarterly. I can't ignore it anymore.