Hello Amber..I am not going to attack you in anyway, just express my opinion on your topic. As far as you expressing that we should be thnkful for the medical treatments avaiable to keep us alive, yes I am grateful that I do have access to health care, if I was born in the 40's, I wouldn't be alive because I rely on technology of a ventilator to stay alive, utilize all of those fancy antibiiotics to keep my bugs in control etc... but that doesn't stop the suffering we feel. Sometimes I have good days, sometimes bad...I feel comfortable posting about the good, the bad and the ugly in my life in this forum because I feel that I am understood. The posts that I read regarding issues that are common to CF'ers are those of people who just need support or advice on how to deal with what is bothering them at that time whether it be sinus surgery or IV's or yet another tune up in the hospital, even relationships and finances come into play here. Let's face it....who better knows what another CF'er is going through than another person who is going through the same thing or have experienced it? That's what these boards are for...there is alot of diversity amongst us, yet there are alot of similarities as well. I know that sounds confusing, but many of us have gone through the medi port decisions, worried about finances, been through alot of surgical proceedures, have digestion issues etc...those are the similarities that I see. For example, someone might post that they have to decide on a G-tube to give them extra calories and are scared about the proceedure and what to expect afterwards. On this forum, there is a very good chance that someone will be of help to this person. Or...if someone is having a particularly bad day with coughing their lungs up or are just feeling down in general, they should feel comfortable posting about it. Venting helps, I worry about those who stuff it all in. Let's face it...CF has it's ups and downs, I can feel good one day and be admitted to the hospital the next so yes, I do cherish each day that I am here and am thankful for that.
I hope that you are doing well, Jenn 33 w/CF, vent dependent, musc. dystrophy