Teenage-like Dilemma

etabetac

New member
I'm afraid this is a dilemma similiar to what I had as a teenager but now I'm reliving it as an adult.

I am a graduate student, which I've said before. I will be presenting at three conferences in the next month. As most graduate students are, I am pratically broke so I try to save money when I can. The way I am doing it is by sharing a hotel room at these conferences. But my big dumb brain just didn't think that one through very well.

It's been years since I have had to be in the same hotel room with someone I did not know well. High school field trips was the last time. Since then all trips have been taken with family, friends, or roommates. All of them were aware of all of my health issues. I am honest with those three groups of people.

However, I agreed to share a room at the first conference with three people (everyone gets their own bed this way). At the second and third conference, which run back to back, I agreed to share a room with another person in a nice hotel that has a hostel-like bathroom situation (so I imagine one can't occupy the bathroom for hours in order to do treatments). In both cases, these people are my classmates and will be my colleagues and in the same job market when we graduate. They also know people who may hire me in the future. It's a relatively small field.

These people are new classmates who are acquaintances but not yet friends. CF has never come up. It was just never appropriate in any conversations we've had because they have pretty much revolved around school/research. Let's do mixed methods and by the way I have cf just never went together.

I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable about this and wish I had just gotten my own hotel room. I did do the teenage thing and think about not worrying about treatments but I do not have this luxury, particularly not for a week and a half at a time.

Thoughts and suggestions on how to broach this with my hotel-mates/classmates/future work colleagues. Thanks for your help.
 

etabetac

New member
I'm afraid this is a dilemma similiar to what I had as a teenager but now I'm reliving it as an adult.

I am a graduate student, which I've said before. I will be presenting at three conferences in the next month. As most graduate students are, I am pratically broke so I try to save money when I can. The way I am doing it is by sharing a hotel room at these conferences. But my big dumb brain just didn't think that one through very well.

It's been years since I have had to be in the same hotel room with someone I did not know well. High school field trips was the last time. Since then all trips have been taken with family, friends, or roommates. All of them were aware of all of my health issues. I am honest with those three groups of people.

However, I agreed to share a room at the first conference with three people (everyone gets their own bed this way). At the second and third conference, which run back to back, I agreed to share a room with another person in a nice hotel that has a hostel-like bathroom situation (so I imagine one can't occupy the bathroom for hours in order to do treatments). In both cases, these people are my classmates and will be my colleagues and in the same job market when we graduate. They also know people who may hire me in the future. It's a relatively small field.

These people are new classmates who are acquaintances but not yet friends. CF has never come up. It was just never appropriate in any conversations we've had because they have pretty much revolved around school/research. Let's do mixed methods and by the way I have cf just never went together.

I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable about this and wish I had just gotten my own hotel room. I did do the teenage thing and think about not worrying about treatments but I do not have this luxury, particularly not for a week and a half at a time.

Thoughts and suggestions on how to broach this with my hotel-mates/classmates/future work colleagues. Thanks for your help.
 

etabetac

New member
I'm afraid this is a dilemma similiar to what I had as a teenager but now I'm reliving it as an adult.

I am a graduate student, which I've said before. I will be presenting at three conferences in the next month. As most graduate students are, I am pratically broke so I try to save money when I can. The way I am doing it is by sharing a hotel room at these conferences. But my big dumb brain just didn't think that one through very well.

It's been years since I have had to be in the same hotel room with someone I did not know well. High school field trips was the last time. Since then all trips have been taken with family, friends, or roommates. All of them were aware of all of my health issues. I am honest with those three groups of people.

However, I agreed to share a room at the first conference with three people (everyone gets their own bed this way). At the second and third conference, which run back to back, I agreed to share a room with another person in a nice hotel that has a hostel-like bathroom situation (so I imagine one can't occupy the bathroom for hours in order to do treatments). In both cases, these people are my classmates and will be my colleagues and in the same job market when we graduate. They also know people who may hire me in the future. It's a relatively small field.

These people are new classmates who are acquaintances but not yet friends. CF has never come up. It was just never appropriate in any conversations we've had because they have pretty much revolved around school/research. Let's do mixed methods and by the way I have cf just never went together.

I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable about this and wish I had just gotten my own hotel room. I did do the teenage thing and think about not worrying about treatments but I do not have this luxury, particularly not for a week and a half at a time.

Thoughts and suggestions on how to broach this with my hotel-mates/classmates/future work colleagues. Thanks for your help.
 

etabetac

New member
I'm afraid this is a dilemma similiar to what I had as a teenager but now I'm reliving it as an adult.

I am a graduate student, which I've said before. I will be presenting at three conferences in the next month. As most graduate students are, I am pratically broke so I try to save money when I can. The way I am doing it is by sharing a hotel room at these conferences. But my big dumb brain just didn't think that one through very well.

It's been years since I have had to be in the same hotel room with someone I did not know well. High school field trips was the last time. Since then all trips have been taken with family, friends, or roommates. All of them were aware of all of my health issues. I am honest with those three groups of people.

However, I agreed to share a room at the first conference with three people (everyone gets their own bed this way). At the second and third conference, which run back to back, I agreed to share a room with another person in a nice hotel that has a hostel-like bathroom situation (so I imagine one can't occupy the bathroom for hours in order to do treatments). In both cases, these people are my classmates and will be my colleagues and in the same job market when we graduate. They also know people who may hire me in the future. It's a relatively small field.

These people are new classmates who are acquaintances but not yet friends. CF has never come up. It was just never appropriate in any conversations we've had because they have pretty much revolved around school/research. Let's do mixed methods and by the way I have cf just never went together.

I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable about this and wish I had just gotten my own hotel room. I did do the teenage thing and think about not worrying about treatments but I do not have this luxury, particularly not for a week and a half at a time.

Thoughts and suggestions on how to broach this with my hotel-mates/classmates/future work colleagues. Thanks for your help.
 

etabetac

New member
I'm afraid this is a dilemma similiar to what I had as a teenager but now I'm reliving it as an adult.

I am a graduate student, which I've said before. I will be presenting at three conferences in the next month. As most graduate students are, I am pratically broke so I try to save money when I can. The way I am doing it is by sharing a hotel room at these conferences. But my big dumb brain just didn't think that one through very well.

It's been years since I have had to be in the same hotel room with someone I did not know well. High school field trips was the last time. Since then all trips have been taken with family, friends, or roommates. All of them were aware of all of my health issues. I am honest with those three groups of people.

However, I agreed to share a room at the first conference with three people (everyone gets their own bed this way). At the second and third conference, which run back to back, I agreed to share a room with another person in a nice hotel that has a hostel-like bathroom situation (so I imagine one can't occupy the bathroom for hours in order to do treatments). In both cases, these people are my classmates and will be my colleagues and in the same job market when we graduate. They also know people who may hire me in the future. It's a relatively small field.

These people are new classmates who are acquaintances but not yet friends. CF has never come up. It was just never appropriate in any conversations we've had because they have pretty much revolved around school/research. Let's do mixed methods and by the way I have cf just never went together.

I am beginning to feel very uncomfortable about this and wish I had just gotten my own hotel room. I did do the teenage thing and think about not worrying about treatments but I do not have this luxury, particularly not for a week and a half at a time.

Thoughts and suggestions on how to broach this with my hotel-mates/classmates/future work colleagues. Thanks for your help.
 

Skye

New member
That is a tough one! I sure understand your dilema. I am a little surprised that didn't cross your mind before booking the room<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> You might be surprised at the support you will get. If you act casual about it, your room mate will be comfortable. Most people understand very little about CF. If you are not comfortable doing nebs in the room, do you have a portable nebulizer that you could do somewhere else? Do you bring your vest on trips? Doing a nebulizer treatment is not all that unusual for many many people, it is the vest that will throw them for a loop<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Could you sub doing the flutter for a week instead of vest. I couldn't get away with that but you might be at a level that you could.

I have often wondered how difficult it would be to go through airport security if you were traveling with a colleague<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Let us know how things work out.
 

Skye

New member
That is a tough one! I sure understand your dilema. I am a little surprised that didn't cross your mind before booking the room<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> You might be surprised at the support you will get. If you act casual about it, your room mate will be comfortable. Most people understand very little about CF. If you are not comfortable doing nebs in the room, do you have a portable nebulizer that you could do somewhere else? Do you bring your vest on trips? Doing a nebulizer treatment is not all that unusual for many many people, it is the vest that will throw them for a loop<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Could you sub doing the flutter for a week instead of vest. I couldn't get away with that but you might be at a level that you could.

I have often wondered how difficult it would be to go through airport security if you were traveling with a colleague<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Let us know how things work out.
 

Skye

New member
That is a tough one! I sure understand your dilema. I am a little surprised that didn't cross your mind before booking the room<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> You might be surprised at the support you will get. If you act casual about it, your room mate will be comfortable. Most people understand very little about CF. If you are not comfortable doing nebs in the room, do you have a portable nebulizer that you could do somewhere else? Do you bring your vest on trips? Doing a nebulizer treatment is not all that unusual for many many people, it is the vest that will throw them for a loop<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Could you sub doing the flutter for a week instead of vest. I couldn't get away with that but you might be at a level that you could.

I have often wondered how difficult it would be to go through airport security if you were traveling with a colleague<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Let us know how things work out.
 

Skye

New member
That is a tough one! I sure understand your dilema. I am a little surprised that didn't cross your mind before booking the room<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> You might be surprised at the support you will get. If you act casual about it, your room mate will be comfortable. Most people understand very little about CF. If you are not comfortable doing nebs in the room, do you have a portable nebulizer that you could do somewhere else? Do you bring your vest on trips? Doing a nebulizer treatment is not all that unusual for many many people, it is the vest that will throw them for a loop<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Could you sub doing the flutter for a week instead of vest. I couldn't get away with that but you might be at a level that you could.

I have often wondered how difficult it would be to go through airport security if you were traveling with a colleague<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Let us know how things work out.
 

Skye

New member
That is a tough one! I sure understand your dilema. I am a little surprised that didn't cross your mind before booking the room<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> You might be surprised at the support you will get. If you act casual about it, your room mate will be comfortable. Most people understand very little about CF. If you are not comfortable doing nebs in the room, do you have a portable nebulizer that you could do somewhere else? Do you bring your vest on trips? Doing a nebulizer treatment is not all that unusual for many many people, it is the vest that will throw them for a loop<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Could you sub doing the flutter for a week instead of vest. I couldn't get away with that but you might be at a level that you could.

I have often wondered how difficult it would be to go through airport security if you were traveling with a colleague<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

Let us know how things work out.
 

AnD

New member
I take it it is too late to get your own room then?

Hmmm, maybe the first thing you should do (and this would kinda "break the ice" about it) is contact them and make sure that they don't have any allergies/sensitivities to your neb meds since you will be sharing a room. You never know what their medical backgrounds are either <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . If you aren't comfortable sharing all about your CF with these people yet (if ever <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ), just tell them that you have daily breathing treatments that you have to do for a condition that you were born with. Then, it will just be something that you have had the entire time you have known them, not something contagious, and no big deal as far as your work potential, etc. is concerned, since you've gotten this far without them noticing anything different. JMHO, of course! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I really don't know what else to tell you, but I would think that the more nonchalant you are about it, the easier it will go over. I know that with me, when I do my meds in front of someone new, it is always a little uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes, as they "take it all in", so to speak <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , but after that, if I am comfortable with it ( I try set the tone with my demeanor and answer their (possible) questions as no big deal, no matter how awkward I may be feeling at first, either), then it has been a non issue from then on.

And maybe if the beds are arranged this way, you could ask for the bed next to the wall, so you have a little "privacy" corner for your coughing and all that- just bring a good book or two, a booklight and get some extra pillows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .


Good luck!
 

AnD

New member
I take it it is too late to get your own room then?

Hmmm, maybe the first thing you should do (and this would kinda "break the ice" about it) is contact them and make sure that they don't have any allergies/sensitivities to your neb meds since you will be sharing a room. You never know what their medical backgrounds are either <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . If you aren't comfortable sharing all about your CF with these people yet (if ever <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ), just tell them that you have daily breathing treatments that you have to do for a condition that you were born with. Then, it will just be something that you have had the entire time you have known them, not something contagious, and no big deal as far as your work potential, etc. is concerned, since you've gotten this far without them noticing anything different. JMHO, of course! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I really don't know what else to tell you, but I would think that the more nonchalant you are about it, the easier it will go over. I know that with me, when I do my meds in front of someone new, it is always a little uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes, as they "take it all in", so to speak <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , but after that, if I am comfortable with it ( I try set the tone with my demeanor and answer their (possible) questions as no big deal, no matter how awkward I may be feeling at first, either), then it has been a non issue from then on.

And maybe if the beds are arranged this way, you could ask for the bed next to the wall, so you have a little "privacy" corner for your coughing and all that- just bring a good book or two, a booklight and get some extra pillows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .


Good luck!
 

AnD

New member
I take it it is too late to get your own room then?

Hmmm, maybe the first thing you should do (and this would kinda "break the ice" about it) is contact them and make sure that they don't have any allergies/sensitivities to your neb meds since you will be sharing a room. You never know what their medical backgrounds are either <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . If you aren't comfortable sharing all about your CF with these people yet (if ever <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ), just tell them that you have daily breathing treatments that you have to do for a condition that you were born with. Then, it will just be something that you have had the entire time you have known them, not something contagious, and no big deal as far as your work potential, etc. is concerned, since you've gotten this far without them noticing anything different. JMHO, of course! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I really don't know what else to tell you, but I would think that the more nonchalant you are about it, the easier it will go over. I know that with me, when I do my meds in front of someone new, it is always a little uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes, as they "take it all in", so to speak <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , but after that, if I am comfortable with it ( I try set the tone with my demeanor and answer their (possible) questions as no big deal, no matter how awkward I may be feeling at first, either), then it has been a non issue from then on.

And maybe if the beds are arranged this way, you could ask for the bed next to the wall, so you have a little "privacy" corner for your coughing and all that- just bring a good book or two, a booklight and get some extra pillows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .


Good luck!
 

AnD

New member
I take it it is too late to get your own room then?

Hmmm, maybe the first thing you should do (and this would kinda "break the ice" about it) is contact them and make sure that they don't have any allergies/sensitivities to your neb meds since you will be sharing a room. You never know what their medical backgrounds are either <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . If you aren't comfortable sharing all about your CF with these people yet (if ever <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ), just tell them that you have daily breathing treatments that you have to do for a condition that you were born with. Then, it will just be something that you have had the entire time you have known them, not something contagious, and no big deal as far as your work potential, etc. is concerned, since you've gotten this far without them noticing anything different. JMHO, of course! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I really don't know what else to tell you, but I would think that the more nonchalant you are about it, the easier it will go over. I know that with me, when I do my meds in front of someone new, it is always a little uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes, as they "take it all in", so to speak <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , but after that, if I am comfortable with it ( I try set the tone with my demeanor and answer their (possible) questions as no big deal, no matter how awkward I may be feeling at first, either), then it has been a non issue from then on.

And maybe if the beds are arranged this way, you could ask for the bed next to the wall, so you have a little "privacy" corner for your coughing and all that- just bring a good book or two, a booklight and get some extra pillows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .


Good luck!
 

AnD

New member
I take it it is too late to get your own room then?

Hmmm, maybe the first thing you should do (and this would kinda "break the ice" about it) is contact them and make sure that they don't have any allergies/sensitivities to your neb meds since you will be sharing a room. You never know what their medical backgrounds are either <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> . If you aren't comfortable sharing all about your CF with these people yet (if ever <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ), just tell them that you have daily breathing treatments that you have to do for a condition that you were born with. Then, it will just be something that you have had the entire time you have known them, not something contagious, and no big deal as far as your work potential, etc. is concerned, since you've gotten this far without them noticing anything different. JMHO, of course! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0">

I really don't know what else to tell you, but I would think that the more nonchalant you are about it, the easier it will go over. I know that with me, when I do my meds in front of someone new, it is always a little uncomfortable for the first couple of minutes, as they "take it all in", so to speak <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> , but after that, if I am comfortable with it ( I try set the tone with my demeanor and answer their (possible) questions as no big deal, no matter how awkward I may be feeling at first, either), then it has been a non issue from then on.

And maybe if the beds are arranged this way, you could ask for the bed next to the wall, so you have a little "privacy" corner for your coughing and all that- just bring a good book or two, a booklight and get some extra pillows <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> .


Good luck!
 

etabetac

New member
I am not sure why I didn't think about it and I think it's because I've traveled so frequently with friends lately and I was so excited to get in to present for the conference and knew I had to book the room. It was a spur of the moment and someone said they'd split the cost with me. And I knew there was no way I could afford $200+ a night for 8-9 nights plus transportation plus food plus conference costs. The other conference we all got in as a group (6 of us, which is nearly my entire class) and someone suggested all staying together and everyone else said yes and so it was assumed that I had agreed to it.

I am/should be fine with the flutter for the week and a half. But I still have to figure out how not to gross out hotel-mate. I think I'd be kind of grossed out if the tables were flipped.

I haven't had any problems with airport security, ever. We are probably taking the train to one and driving to other. I imagine that's probably slightly more lax than airports.

I imagine that I'll be so nervous that it will be difficult to make hotel-mate comfortable.
 

etabetac

New member
I am not sure why I didn't think about it and I think it's because I've traveled so frequently with friends lately and I was so excited to get in to present for the conference and knew I had to book the room. It was a spur of the moment and someone said they'd split the cost with me. And I knew there was no way I could afford $200+ a night for 8-9 nights plus transportation plus food plus conference costs. The other conference we all got in as a group (6 of us, which is nearly my entire class) and someone suggested all staying together and everyone else said yes and so it was assumed that I had agreed to it.

I am/should be fine with the flutter for the week and a half. But I still have to figure out how not to gross out hotel-mate. I think I'd be kind of grossed out if the tables were flipped.

I haven't had any problems with airport security, ever. We are probably taking the train to one and driving to other. I imagine that's probably slightly more lax than airports.

I imagine that I'll be so nervous that it will be difficult to make hotel-mate comfortable.
 

etabetac

New member
I am not sure why I didn't think about it and I think it's because I've traveled so frequently with friends lately and I was so excited to get in to present for the conference and knew I had to book the room. It was a spur of the moment and someone said they'd split the cost with me. And I knew there was no way I could afford $200+ a night for 8-9 nights plus transportation plus food plus conference costs. The other conference we all got in as a group (6 of us, which is nearly my entire class) and someone suggested all staying together and everyone else said yes and so it was assumed that I had agreed to it.

I am/should be fine with the flutter for the week and a half. But I still have to figure out how not to gross out hotel-mate. I think I'd be kind of grossed out if the tables were flipped.

I haven't had any problems with airport security, ever. We are probably taking the train to one and driving to other. I imagine that's probably slightly more lax than airports.

I imagine that I'll be so nervous that it will be difficult to make hotel-mate comfortable.
 

etabetac

New member
I am not sure why I didn't think about it and I think it's because I've traveled so frequently with friends lately and I was so excited to get in to present for the conference and knew I had to book the room. It was a spur of the moment and someone said they'd split the cost with me. And I knew there was no way I could afford $200+ a night for 8-9 nights plus transportation plus food plus conference costs. The other conference we all got in as a group (6 of us, which is nearly my entire class) and someone suggested all staying together and everyone else said yes and so it was assumed that I had agreed to it.

I am/should be fine with the flutter for the week and a half. But I still have to figure out how not to gross out hotel-mate. I think I'd be kind of grossed out if the tables were flipped.

I haven't had any problems with airport security, ever. We are probably taking the train to one and driving to other. I imagine that's probably slightly more lax than airports.

I imagine that I'll be so nervous that it will be difficult to make hotel-mate comfortable.
 

etabetac

New member
I am not sure why I didn't think about it and I think it's because I've traveled so frequently with friends lately and I was so excited to get in to present for the conference and knew I had to book the room. It was a spur of the moment and someone said they'd split the cost with me. And I knew there was no way I could afford $200+ a night for 8-9 nights plus transportation plus food plus conference costs. The other conference we all got in as a group (6 of us, which is nearly my entire class) and someone suggested all staying together and everyone else said yes and so it was assumed that I had agreed to it.

I am/should be fine with the flutter for the week and a half. But I still have to figure out how not to gross out hotel-mate. I think I'd be kind of grossed out if the tables were flipped.

I haven't had any problems with airport security, ever. We are probably taking the train to one and driving to other. I imagine that's probably slightly more lax than airports.

I imagine that I'll be so nervous that it will be difficult to make hotel-mate comfortable.
 
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