NYCLawGirl
New member
I don't know about the "enlarged" liver thing -- I do know that my liver enzymes become elevated sometimes, which I believe is pretty common with CF, esp. during active infections. I don't think that I've ever been treated specifically for anything liver-related, though. It's just something they keep an eye on more than anything. But, like Leah, I know some CFers who have had major liver issues, to the point of needing transplant.
The joint thing is pretty common, at least to some degree. Osteoporosis is common among CFers, so DEXA (bone density) scans are done pretty frequently -- I think the CFF recommends once a year. CF-related arthritis is also very common. For one thing our bodies are pretty much constantly fighting infection, even when we don't have an "active" flare-up, because of the bacteria that lives in our lungs. Infection in the body leads to inflammation, which can build up in places like the joints and cause pain. We're also typically on meds that can cause joint pain or other types of body aches(antibiotics, steroids, etc), and then, of course, you have to add in the malabsorption issues, which means that a lot of the time we have out-of-whack vitamin/mineral levels. Basically it's a recipe for body pain, although the degree to which it actually affects individuals seems to vary quite a bit.
Personally I've never had a ton of pain associated with my CF. Now that I have advanced lung disease I do notice that I have more issues with inflammation and pain, but it's never really too bad, esp. considering some of the stories I hear from other people. At my worst I can still control it with a couple of advil, and even that is pretty rare. I'm not positive, but I think part of it has to do with the fact that I do a lot of exercise - including gyrotonic and yoga as well as traditional cardio - so I'm constantly stretching out my joints and muscles.
The joint thing is pretty common, at least to some degree. Osteoporosis is common among CFers, so DEXA (bone density) scans are done pretty frequently -- I think the CFF recommends once a year. CF-related arthritis is also very common. For one thing our bodies are pretty much constantly fighting infection, even when we don't have an "active" flare-up, because of the bacteria that lives in our lungs. Infection in the body leads to inflammation, which can build up in places like the joints and cause pain. We're also typically on meds that can cause joint pain or other types of body aches(antibiotics, steroids, etc), and then, of course, you have to add in the malabsorption issues, which means that a lot of the time we have out-of-whack vitamin/mineral levels. Basically it's a recipe for body pain, although the degree to which it actually affects individuals seems to vary quite a bit.
Personally I've never had a ton of pain associated with my CF. Now that I have advanced lung disease I do notice that I have more issues with inflammation and pain, but it's never really too bad, esp. considering some of the stories I hear from other people. At my worst I can still control it with a couple of advil, and even that is pretty rare. I'm not positive, but I think part of it has to do with the fact that I do a lot of exercise - including gyrotonic and yoga as well as traditional cardio - so I'm constantly stretching out my joints and muscles.