CF Awareness Month Blog #4 - Illness & Admissions

Thankfully, this is something I don't have much experience with. Throughout my whole life, I've been relatively healthy for someone with Cystic Fibrosis. For the past 6-7 years, I've done a much better job taking care of myself and being proactive about my disease which I think has really helped keep me healthier, too. I've never been in the hospital since my surgery as a newborn. I am absolutely terrified for the day to come when my doctor tells me that my infections can no longer be controlled by oral antibiotics and that I have to start IV antibiotics.

Right now anytime that I catch a cold or develop some type of infection, I usually go on a two week round of oral antibiotics, typically Cipro. (I also alternate each month taking an inhaled/nebulized antibiotic TOBI - done every other month so I don't build up a resistance) And each time I go to my CF clinic appointments, I have to give a sputum (mucus) sample so they can test it in the lab to make sure my mucus still susceptible to Cirpo and a couple different oral antibiotics. Over time, a CF patient's body can build up a resistance to antibiotics, then you no longer have them as a choice when you get sick. Once you're body has built a resistance to all oral antibiotics, the only other choice is to receive them through IVs.

As of my last appointment, my mucus is still susceptible to all oral antibiotics...thank goodness!