Life Expectancy???

Hi there,

Life expectancy in CF is a tough one. The life expectancy is given as a general average of when people with CF have died. So it's not a guarantee or a real expectancy. It's actually more given now a days as an advertising scheme. "Look a year ago life expectancy was 31, now with your help and support it's 35".

I've known people die at age 14, 20 and 26. I've also heard of people with CF in their 80's. I've met one person in their 60's on our unit and he's doing really well. I have many friends in their 40's.

CF is completely unpredictable, when it will strike. I've met people on the transplant list who've been given a year to live by doctors and 4 years on they're still alive and batteling waiting for transplant.

I can never understand what it must be like to be on the other side. Having CF, I've learnt plenty about life expectancy along the way. When I was born, the doctors told my mum, 2 years, then 5 years, then 12 years, then 21 years. I've beaten all of them, but now the expenctancy is moving even quicker, so I'm yet to reach 31, and it's already moved on to 35.
Expectancy is there in the back of my head and I tend to use it in arguments with people when they go down the "you not disabled" route or "I don't care if my smoking is effecting you" route. But there's no point worrying about it, for me anyway, as it's not a definate.

Hope this helps in someway, to ease some of your worries.
Gem

Man I hate that route. Pissin me off.

Darkies wrote:

"Expectancy is there in the back of my head and I tend to use it in arguments with people when they go down the "you not disabled" route or "I don't care if my smoking is effecting you" route. But there's no point worrying about it, for me anyway, as it's not a definate."

That route.