Well, this time I made it over 3 weeks off IV antibiotics before catching a cold. Fortunately, this infection seems less intense than the one I had in January. The congestion isn’t quite as bad, and I haven’t really been feverish. It did, however, move into my lungs, and I’m dealing with a fair amount of chest congestion, upper respiratory irritation, and fatigue.
I almost always have a bottle of antibiotics on hand, so this time I started taking them as soon as I got sick, before I even spoke to my doctor. My doctor then added a second oral antibiotic, and told me to stop the blood thinners a few days early and start taking the anti-fungal medication to treat aspergillus. Hopefully the antibiotics will help prevent CF-related bacteria from getting completely out of control while my body fights off the viral infection. I’m cautiously optimistic that I won’t end up in a full-blown CF exacerbation this time, since I started antibiotics right away and my endurance is still pretty decent. Fingers crossed!
Fortunately, before getting sick, I was able to make my annual trip to visit the Yolkut family for the 12th consecutive Pesach. Anna and I were roommates in college, and during chol hamoed our other roommate Sarah came down from Cleveland to visit. It was the first time all 3 of us have been together in YEARS! I’m so glad I was able to be there for a great roommate reunion!
I’m well aware that spending the first few days of Pesach with loads of children is probably why I’m sick now. I knew going in that it was a risk, I tried to be careful and washed my hands a lot, but clearly it wasn’t enough. But, I have no regrets. Managing chronic illness is always a balance between maintaining your health and living your life. Sometimes you fall off the edge in either direction, and that’s OK. Sometimes I cancel or avoid activities in order to protect my health, and sometimes I knowingly expose myself to risks in order to do things I enjoy and be with people I love. Living a completely cautious life would be unfulfilling, and living completely carefree would be foolhardy. I try to find my way somewhere in the middle.
Hopefully the antibiotics will keep me from falling off the cliff this time around, and hopefully treating the aspergillus will eventually have a positive impact on my overall health. And hey, no more blood thinners! Now I can do all the high risk activities! Bungee jumping, anyone?
I almost always have a bottle of antibiotics on hand, so this time I started taking them as soon as I got sick, before I even spoke to my doctor. My doctor then added a second oral antibiotic, and told me to stop the blood thinners a few days early and start taking the anti-fungal medication to treat aspergillus. Hopefully the antibiotics will help prevent CF-related bacteria from getting completely out of control while my body fights off the viral infection. I’m cautiously optimistic that I won’t end up in a full-blown CF exacerbation this time, since I started antibiotics right away and my endurance is still pretty decent. Fingers crossed!
Fortunately, before getting sick, I was able to make my annual trip to visit the Yolkut family for the 12th consecutive Pesach. Anna and I were roommates in college, and during chol hamoed our other roommate Sarah came down from Cleveland to visit. It was the first time all 3 of us have been together in YEARS! I’m so glad I was able to be there for a great roommate reunion!
I’m well aware that spending the first few days of Pesach with loads of children is probably why I’m sick now. I knew going in that it was a risk, I tried to be careful and washed my hands a lot, but clearly it wasn’t enough. But, I have no regrets. Managing chronic illness is always a balance between maintaining your health and living your life. Sometimes you fall off the edge in either direction, and that’s OK. Sometimes I cancel or avoid activities in order to protect my health, and sometimes I knowingly expose myself to risks in order to do things I enjoy and be with people I love. Living a completely cautious life would be unfulfilling, and living completely carefree would be foolhardy. I try to find my way somewhere in the middle.
Hopefully the antibiotics will keep me from falling off the cliff this time around, and hopefully treating the aspergillus will eventually have a positive impact on my overall health. And hey, no more blood thinners! Now I can do all the high risk activities! Bungee jumping, anyone?
