I Want an eFlow!!!

So I just found a CF message board (http://forums.cysticfibrosis.com/) and read about a nebuliser called eFlow (http://www.paripharma.com/technologies1.htm). Apparently, this makes taking meds go much faster. It takes like half the time compared to what I am using now. If I could get one of these, I would have an extra hour of free time every day!!! I want one soooooo badly! Tomorrow I'm calling the coordinator at my CF clinic to learn more about this!

Week 2 Off Birth Control

The big news of Week 2 is that my chart shows I ovulated!!!! Now, this is exciting for a CFer because research has shown that we are less likely to ovulate than non-CFers. However, a few odd things did happen: I never got a positive OPK (although I could have missed my surge), and I didn't have any fertile CM until after my temperature rise. I don't know if this is a result of coming off the pill (because cycles can be out-of-wack after the pill), or something else. I'll just have to wait and see over the next few months.

Other than that, this week was similar to the first (less bloat, more sex drive), except I did experience some ovulation pains and a lot of nausea the day of ovulation. Now I’m just waiting for good ol’ Aunt Flow.

My CF Story (Part 1)

I met CF mother on the Nest.com baby boards yesterday, and she mentioned to me that it was inspiring to hear from an adult with CF who is doing well. That touched me so much and made me decide to share CF story for any CF parents who may read this. This is a relatively long story, so I will tell it in multiple parts. Here is Part 1:

I was born in November of 1976 in Portland, Maine. A few months after I was born, my grandmother was playing with me and nibbling on my toes, when she exclaimed, “Oh my! She is so salty!” This concerned my mom, who had heard babies with salty-tasting skin should be tested for CF, and mentioned this to my pediatrician at my next appointment. The doctor shrugged it off and said “there is no way she has CF” because I had no symptoms or family history of CF. However, my mom, wanting her fears relieved, insisted they perform a sweat test to confirm I did not have CF. Much to everyone’s shock, the sweat test results were positive.

Me as a Baby (Wasn't I Cute?)

My parents refused to believe that I had a fatal disease and took me to the Children’s Hospital in Boston for second opinion. Again, the doctors said, “there is no way she has CF” but the sweat test came back positive.

My parents were told that I would probably live about 16 years.

So began a lifetime of medication for me. I remember being very young and taking this gross liquid medication daily (it was an antibiotic) and fighting my parents tooth-and-nail over taking it. I also remember having to start every meal with a bowl of applesauce that my mom had emptied my digestive enzyme capsules into – I hated it when the little enzyme beads would be stuck in my teeth because they tasted awful.

However, I never exhibited any symptoms of CF for years. I remember my doctors sweat testing me again when I was older just to make sure I really did have CF. It wasn’t until I was 12 and got really sick that my doctors conceded that yes, I had CF.

Random Observation (CF Related)

I've noticed that, when I get really hungry, especially around lunchtime, I start coughing up gunk. Today I didn't get to eat my lunch at 11:00 like I usually do, and I was starving by the time I could eat. And I was coughing up lots of lovely green stuff. I wonder why that is....

On a related note, I hate coughing up gunk at work/in public because I know it grosses people out.

Week 1 Off Birth Control

I just finished my first week off the birth control patch (actually, I have been off it for two weeks, but the first week was my standard "withdrawal week" that patch wearers do every cycle so they get their periods).

Here are my comments on the first week:

• It's cycle day 12, and no signs of ovulation yet (CM or OPK-wise)
• I am not good at taking my temperature at the same time each morning, which means my Fertility Friend chart has a lot of open circles
• My boobs always ache a little bit
• I am not bloated anymore (yay!)
• I have more sex drive now (double yay!)
• CF-wise, I haven't noticed a difference. I had one day with a fever of 100.4, I coughed up green phlegm about 5 times yesterday, and I still have my usual sinus headaches. However, with all that said, I feel great most of the time and don't cough much, but I've felt great since I started hypertonic saline a few months ago, so I don't attribute it to going off BCP.

I've added a link to the chart on the side, in case anyone is interested.

Finally Drinking Wine

I skipped happy hour today because I had to make up work and exercise I missed when I was sick on Wednesday...after working late, working out, showering, and doing my meds, I am finally drinking wine at 9:30 (Yum...wine). Greg is passed out on the couch already :) Hopefully we will be hanging out with friends tomorrow night!

I Love Thursdays

Because:

-It's almost the weekend
-The Style section is in the paper
-The Office and Lost (best show ever!) are on tv

And I feel much better today.