LIVING WITH CF

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic condition, which currently has no cure. With this in mind, Cystic Fibrosis Australia (CFA) is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people living with CF as well as advancing treatments to reduce symptoms and the effect CF has on the body.

While the details vary dramatically from person to person, living with CF is all about the routine. This routine can consist of one or two nebulisers every morning and every night with physio sessions in between plus up to 60 tablets per day including antibiotics some containing enzymes that aid in food metabolism.

On top of this, there is the constant need to incorporate exercise into each day to keep the lungs active, making sure you eat enough nutrients and healthy fats to maintain a healthy body weight and avoid malnutrition.

Due to advancements in medical research, there are now options to treat people with CF from home and increase their quality of life.

For everyone with CF, it is important to keep well-rested and keep on top of things. Of course, it’s harder for some than it is for others, but vigilance is always key. If they let their guard down and don’t keep to their routine, people living with CF will find themselves in hospital. Hospitalisations can consist of at least two weeks and include procedures such as intense physiotherapy and strong antibiotics administered through an IV drip. People with CF can be admitted into hospital up to six times per year.

Outside of hospital, there are specialist and CF-specific clinics where people with CF visit regularly to be tested and monitor their health.

This information is just the basic outline of living with CF – there is far more to this disease and things only get more complicated when you introduce the complexities of family and professional life. CF is a full-time job.