HMMM what an interesting topic. OK, LOGICALLY, OF COURSE YOU SHOULDN'T INHALE ANY KIND OF SMOKE...CIGARETTES, WEED, INCENSE! THEY ARE ALL DAMAGING, NOT ONLY TO SOMEONE WITH CF, BUT EVERYONE. I WAS what the Dr.'s called a medical miracle, and amazing CF patient, an ambassador of CF health. NOW, not so much....
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<br />Realistically....
<br />I am 33, and I used to CHAIN smoke CLOVES. O yes. Chain smoke. A pack a day...when I was 18, I thought, "F" it, Im in amazing health so who cares. I was an athlete, ran marathons, danced 2 hours a day...a medical miracle. I even smoked pot. Who didn't? I was invincible. I never had any desire to smoke cigarettes. They stink. I didn't feel anything positive from the one puff I did take. I got a little older and got over cloves. I was still alive, so why risk it? I did continue to smoke pot...actually i had a group of CF friends all my age who smoked pot. They were not the amazing CF patient I was, but still. We were on the path of, "WE HAVE ONE LIFE TO LIVE SO LETS EXPERIENCE IT LIKE "NORMAL!"
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<br />I worked in an industry where drugs, alcohol and smoking was #1 and I did it all. Then on MTV, was THE REAL WORLD 2004 with Frankie, a CF patient who smoked cloves (<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1562302/real-world-alum-frankie-abernathy-dead-at-25.jhtml).">http://www.mtv.com/news/articl...thy-dead-at-25.jhtml).</a> This was my first awakening. At first, I really connected with her and her story. And then I REALLY CONNECTED.
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<br />In 2006 I had pnemonia for the first time. I've had it 3x since and currently feel like I'm getting sick again. Having a PICC line is the most HORRIFIC THING I've ever experienced.....they tell you it doesn't hurt, they say it's NECESSARY....until you get a shaky handed nurse who strikes a nerve and you feel lightening in your body!!! FORGET THAT CRAP!!!! I've got 8 circular cars from the MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS to run a PICC into my arm for lung infections. Each will be getting a ROSE tattoo to remind me of the utter stupidity I suffered through as a young adult and I'm paying for now. Not to mention the ridiculous amount of antibiotics they fill you up with, which at the end of the day is HARMFUL and deplets your body of so many of it's natural sources to fight illness.
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<br />It's up to you what you breathe, but I'll tell you this, when I was 18, I was in better health than ANYONE I knew and even the Dr.'s couldn't figure it out.
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<br />When I was 25, I was just really learning what CF was after undergoing Intussusception surgery. You see, I never had "CF" like they say in books or on TV. I only knew other CF patients who were living the CF life.
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<br />At 33, I'm sitting in my boyfriends bed, while he watches me hack up phlegm that could stop a semi truck....
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<br />Don't act like you don't know smoking is bad for you. Don't pretend like you are invincible. And surely, don't kill the rest of us.
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<br />Having CF means you are already STRONGER than the average human....so don't give in for a cig. Believe me, I am not one to have regrets, but my life now....is a result of weakness.
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<br />Read the story.
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<br />I never had lung issues. Until the last 5 years. You see, sure you can smoke now....and die later. Or you can breathe air now....and
