Saturday, October 28, 2017

Medication Rules

Anyone else feel like trying to take oral antibiotics the right way is somewhat of a puzzle? You would think popping a pill two times a day is easy, but of course they have to add all these "rules" that complicate everything! And at my age if I am going to take an antibiotic I am going to take the damn thing right because I am not messing around when it comes to CF.


My current antibiotic rules per my pill bottle:


"Take this medication 2 hours before or 6 hours after meals, antacids, vitamins/minerals."
Also
"Do not take with dairy"


Before I head to the gym I usually drink a glass of milk, but since I can't take cipro with dairy or 6 (Yes, six) hours after eating I figured this is the best time to fit in my antibiotic. So my pre-gym routine is currently (and temporarily) a glass of water, cipro, and minocycline. Easy enough! By the time I work out, shower, dress, and do treatments I am around the two hour mark.


The evening dose is a little trickier. I take an antacid in the evening (I know you are supposed to take it in the morning. Long story, but basically I do it all wrong so don't be like me). Antacids and cipro don't mix. Fair enough. I also take Orkambi in the evening which needs to be taken with fatty food. Oh wait, Cipro can't be in that mix either. So I had the perfect plan. Eat dinner, six hours later take my antibiotics. Set my alarm for 2 hours and go to bed. I had my Orkambi, enzymes, my night meds and some string cheese sitting next to a glass of water next to my bed waiting for my alarm to go off. Great idea, right?


Except in the morning I woke up to realize I must have never actually set the alarm because there everything sat untouched next to my bed. Sigh! I am frustrated with myself because I was up coughing at one point and I wish I would have been coherent enough to see my meds next to the bed. So I got my antibiotics in, but missed everything else last night!


And before I sound like a spoiled brat, I do realize this puzzling oral antibiotic schedule is a piece of cake compared to IV schedules or hospital stays and I am grateful that I am able to do oral antibiotics (and I super hope it works this time)!

Monday, October 16, 2017

October

The scorching summer sun has started to relax, shining less intensely and calling it quits earlier and earlier with each passing day. The clouds, something of an anomaly in the summer have started to make their brilliant fall appearance. The sky roars to life every few hours as evening starts to approach, with geese in formation finding warmer parts to call their winter home.




Fall is always bittersweet to me. The weather cools to perfect temperatures which brightens my outdoor loving heart. And yet, by October, the adventures of summer are only memories and the beaches, lakes and rivers sit alone waiting for the weather to warm again. I spend hours in the garden, removing the summer crops until my vegetable beds are vacant. A wave of sadness washed over me as I realize fresh melons, tomatoes and berries just bursting with sweetness won't grace our tables until the long cold days of winter, and the newness of spring have already passed. The seeds for the winter garden have been nestled in starter containers under a heat lamp waiting for the right time to be sown in my now lonely vegetable beds.


Warm cozy sweaters and scarves just can't possibly warm my soul the way the hot summer sun can. For now, I am finding joy in the kaleidoscope of fall leaves that are swirling around my neighborhood and the promise of magic in the upcoming holiday season. But there is still a little corner of my soul that is pouting because I already miss summer.

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Fevers, Flu Shots, and Colds

I was hesitant to write this post because the last thing I want to do is scare someone away from getting a flu shot since you getting a flu shot could save a cyster's (or fibro's) life and all. So I am going to preface this by saying that I have always reacted strongly to vaccinations. I get a fever from every single vaccination every single time! So this years flu shot was no different.


Monday morning I woke up with a little strange tickle in my throat. I kept wondering if the sensation could possibly be a cold, or allergies, or my imagination (funny how these symptoms popped up right after I did a post about how well my body was behaving). I had scheduled flu shots for both me and Kaylee that afternoon and I was a bit worried I may be coming down with something and wondered if I should delay the shot. I decided to get the shot anyway because I am going to be around a lot of kids in the next coming weeks and just didn't want to risk anything. We went to get our flu shots immediately after I picked Kaylee up from school. Poor kid had no idea that the errand we had to run would end with her getting poked with a needle. She cried when I explained why we were at the doctor and even tried to hide her arm from the nurse. The nurse told Kaylee to look the other direction. I started to say, "Focus on my..." when the nurse interrupted to say, "all done." Kaylee shouted with excitement, "That was TOO fast!" She didn't even realize that she just got a shot. She actually left the little shot room with a smile plastered on her face. Whew.


I was brave when I got my shot too and we went to celebrate with a little ice cream. That night, I got fevers which we all expected. The next day same thing and once again, expected. I should note Kaylee carried on as if nothing happened and no sign on a fever at all.


As soon as the fevers passed my cold hit. I had the usual, coughing incessantly for 24 hours followed by zero voice (from all the coughing). When the incessant coughing finally stopped I was left with a heavy chest and copious amount of watery mucus (happens every time my cold settles to my chest). And now I am in that weird period that my mucus is thick and gross and I know that in the next few days my mucus will get worse and I will be calling for antibiotics or it will suddenly clear up and I will be able to move on with life. Sigh! I have so much going on this upcoming week that I am really hoping my poor body can pull through this one.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Two Years and Counting

This month officially marks TWO years hospital free!! I can't remember the exact date I was admitted so I am sure I am a week or two early, but I am celebrating now anyway. It is also 1 1/4 years IV free!


It has also been a little over 2 years on Orkambi. Coincidence? I think not! I can't wait to see what new meds are around the corner and how much healthier all of us in the CF community can be!!