im new talk to me!

hello my name is Rachel, im 15 ill be 16 in June, i live in Maine. I was diagnosed with CF when i was 4, i have been hospitalized 5 times i actually just got done my home IV thearopy thuesday, im a sophomore in High School im a pretty good student i like to have fun and particapate in activities. Not alot of people no about my disease but most of my friends do my best friends are really supportive i still have a hard time when people ask me about my cough but i do a good job kinda just sayin oh its nothing really. (if you no what i mean) but im up for any conversation and question. Im new to this so the more people who reply to this the better that will be for me. I have more questions i would like to ask to others who go through all the same treatments as me with the vest and neb and all the medication, like I said im willing to talk to anyone and ask and answer any questions.. thank you!

HI Rachel! I am new here too. Its nice to see that there are so many others that understand how you feel, eh? High school is hard, I know. I'm 27, it's been a looooong time since I've been there but I can still relate. I have become a master at suppressing a cough in social settings but when you really have to cough there's nothing you can do to stop it :). You'll find that even though most people don't know what CF is they really don't care. Most people are so absorbed with themselves that even if they ask why you cough all the time and you tell them - they won't remember what it is you have, they'll just remember that you have something... so you don't really have to worry about being judged or looked at funny or pitied too much.

I've always been relatively healthy, only having been hospitalized a handful of times. Now that I'm in my late 20's I do breathing treatments several times a day but I cannot stand the vest... it irritates my skin really bad, of course, I have had the same vest for about 10 years and I've heard they are different... so.... I dunno what's it's like now but I do not like it. I know a lot about CF though so if you have any questions about anything just ask me, I love to talk about it. I don't know anyone in my life who has it so I'm excited to be talking to others, it's encouraging to hear about all of the people in their 40's!!

I hope I hear from you!
Angie (AWOL - A Wolberd :)

Hi Rachel! I'm Kim, I am 13 years old. I've been diagnosed with CF since I was born. I got started on enzymes when I was either 1 or 2. I have a little brother who will be 10 in December. His name is Zane, he has CF also. When I read your post about the vest and nebulizer I thought you probably do the same treatments as me. What do you think of your treatments? I really don't like doing them. What kind of activities do you do? I use to be in softball. I also like horseback riding,swimming,biking and ice skating. I play the trumpet in band. I have another sickness inside of me. It's called Psuedmonas. You've probably heard of it. If your wondering were I live I live in Montana. Our school here has already started. Has your school started yet? Here where I live there are not alot of people to talk to about CF. It is cool to have somebody to talk to here on the internet, especially because people are from all over the country. I hope we can keep talking. See ya!

Hi, Rachel!  my name's Deirdre (deer-druh), and I'm nineteen.  I was only diagnosed with CF about two and a half years ago.  I'm doing the vest and nebulizer treatments.  I'm only on pulmozyme right now (the TOBI  is month on, month off for me, and it's my month off :D).  I wanted to ask what part of Maine you're from, if you don't mind me asking.  I go there every summer to visit family.  My granmother's in Bangor, an uncle of mine lives with his family in Orland, and I usually go for vacation in Owls Head.  I LOVE Maine, and hope to live there when I get older.  I'm in California right now, which is great, but my soul is in Maine.  Anyway, hope to hear from you soon.  You can also email me at: [email protected]