Tuesday 4 November 2008

Beginnings...mid way through

This is an experiment. I have occasionally tried to keep a journal, I've attempted to find a way to record bits of my life here and there. But I often get caught up in actually living it to worry about commenting on it! I think that having a blog could be a good idea to track my health though, I have Cystic Fibrosis which is a genetic disease that slowly eats away at my lungs and digestive system due to an over production of salt in my body. The main problem for me is that I produce a very sticky mucus which cloggs up my lungs on quite a severe level, is also prevents my stomach from breaking down the fats and proteins in my food so I don't get the full benefits of it, (the food!). Find out more about what it really is, here! I guess for me, life is like a game of prevention...like Buckaroo or something...you go though life trying not to 'wake the beast', or catch a cold which will lead to infection and a 2 week cause of Intravenous antibiotics (I.V's). On the other hand however, I have an amazing life with incredible family, friends and doctors who have kept me in fantastic health up until now and I am very grateful to them and God for their care. Spending 2 weeks on the hospital ward is only a rare occasion for me, this is only the second time ever that I have had to stay in for a full 2 week course of I.V's. It is also quite a wake-up call to how I need to look after myself better to prevent having to stay in hospital as an inpatient. Laying on my hospital bed, I can hear the breathless struggles of other patients, fighting to breathe without coughing and spluttering. I don't want to get to that stage where to get up and walk over to the toilet is a15 minute slow motion fight for my lungs to get a little more oxygen, a sombre thought but I'd rather know the reality of my situation. On a more positive note! The intention for this blog is to help me to track the progression and digression of my health for the oncoming years, maybe it will highlight areas where I'm struggling physically, emotionally or spiritually and whether those factors are linked to having CF, the medicine I'm on, the lifestyle I'm leading at that time, etc. And so...