I am also one diagnosed late in life. In January of this year, at age 76 I was diagnosed with CF. All my life I had coughing and bringing up thick mucous. I also always have had digestive issued. My son had Cf, diagnosed at age 5. He died from CF at age 28. Although I always had these symptoms, no doctor ever suggested that I be tested. It was unheard of back in 1967 for an adult to have CF. finally this past year my symptoms were becoming more severe, I asked to be tested. I have the F508 gene and 2 other unknown mutuations. I am now going regularly to the local CF clinicmwhere they now have an Adult CF doctor who only sees adult patients.I nebulizing pulmozyme once a day. I am doing much better now. I turned 77 in July. I was able to live a normal life all these years, had 3 children (one with CF, 2 are carriers), have 6 healthly grandchildren, a long career as a CPA owning my own business, and taught at a University for 12 years. Now I am retired and still very active. I wish my son could have had the benefit of all the new treatments and knowledge about CF. The CF gene was just discovered in 1989, and he died in 1991. I am so grateful for this forum. I have discovered many others out there that were not diagnosed unitil later life. I hope that by studying us old folks the CF doctors will be able to find helpful information towards a permanent cure. My son's doctor many years ago believed that the final cure would come by being able to correct the defective gene before birth. I have found it amazing that there are so many mutuations of this gene. keep living your life as you were, and CF just adds a few more things to your daily routine.
