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tune up
- Thread starter anonymous
- Start date
NoDayButToday
New member
When you go in for a tune-up, they basically give you a few (2, sometimes 3) IV antibiotics, combined with at least 3x/day physical therapy and other tests (x-rays, PFTs, etc.) The course of IVs is usually at least 2 weeks, sometimes more. This doesn't mean you are in the hospital for two weeks; if you are at a doctor who permits home IVs, you may get a Piccline placed the second day and be at home for the rest of the course, once you are stablized. Much better deal, if you ask me. But anyway, usually a tune up's called for when you feel especially run down and oral antibiotics aren't doing much. The age tune ups can start varies greatly. I had my first at 5, but I've heard of people who haven't had one until their college years. I'd imagine it has a correlation with when you begin to culture pseudomonas regularly, but I'm not positive.
As hard as tune-ups are the first couple of times, they do get more bearable with time. My biggest tip for the hospital is ASSERT yourself. If a person cannot get an IV started for your child, demand someone else try. There's no need to stick your child over and over again. When you're in there, you may think "Oh they're the hospital, they must know what they're doing." But don't be afraid to ask tons of questions and demand change when things are not right.
As hard as tune-ups are the first couple of times, they do get more bearable with time. My biggest tip for the hospital is ASSERT yourself. If a person cannot get an IV started for your child, demand someone else try. There's no need to stick your child over and over again. When you're in there, you may think "Oh they're the hospital, they must know what they're doing." But don't be afraid to ask tons of questions and demand change when things are not right.
Well Coll,
I am so imoressed by you and you are only 15.....I too have CF and i am 29. But i was very sick as a child and then as i got into my teens i was hospitalized once a year. In the last 2-3 years its been about 2x a yr. I really don't care for the home IV business as i live on my own and find that its a lot of work. but of course i don't like being stuck in the hospital either. But the way i look at it is i will do whatever it takes to get me back on track.
Stay well!
I am so imoressed by you and you are only 15.....I too have CF and i am 29. But i was very sick as a child and then as i got into my teens i was hospitalized once a year. In the last 2-3 years its been about 2x a yr. I really don't care for the home IV business as i live on my own and find that its a lot of work. but of course i don't like being stuck in the hospital either. But the way i look at it is i will do whatever it takes to get me back on track.
Stay well!
I do IV's about three times a year- at home. I avoid the hospital for a few reasons - one there is always too much light, two - the matress is vinyl and makes me sweat, three - they start IV's at the most ridiculous hours of the night, or want to take blood at 4 a.m. Or my favorite, they don't know the importance of putting the right amount of heparin in my Port. So the stress of the hospital is too much for me so I do them at home, and I can exercise and eat what I want and not have to wait a half hour before eating because they haven't brought my Enzymes - however I have learned to have my own stash handy. I guess I am just a creature of habit, and to me sleep is essential - if I don't get it I can't get better.
Sarah
27 w/cf
Sarah
27 w/cf