Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic Fibrosis

Awareness of the physical challenges that cystic fibrosis sufferers go through has gone up over the past twenty years, and many steps have been taken to try to increase their quality of life. Medical research has found ways to treat the different ailments that arise because of cystic fibrosis. Antibiotics are used to prevent and treat the many infections that this disease can cause, genetic research has pinpointed the actual mutated gene that causes cystic fibrosis, and physiotherapy is now used to loosen fluid buildups inside the lungs. The health complications associated with this disease are numerous, but a side of cystic fibrosis that is not so apparent is the psychological effects that patients face. Here are some of the psychological issues that sufferers of cystic fibrosis have to deal with.

1. Loneliness – When you can’t do the same things that your friends are, go to the same places, and you have overprotective parents, it can take a toll on somebody. Many parents, in an attempt to protect their children from the outside world, keep their children inside the house and in their direct supervision at all times. While doing this is understandable and the parents are just trying to keep their kids healthy, it can make the cystic fibrosis sufferer feel alone. Parents should make sure that their children have fun but safe activities to do with their friends. You can’t keep them locked up forever.
2. Growth – Children that have cystic fibrosis are not going to grow as fast as their peers, and that can make them feel inadequate. While everybody else begins to grow in height during puberty, for a CF patient the growth spurt can come several years later, if at all. Many children will feel embarrassed about this, and the other kids at school are not going to make things any easier. Classmates that are unaware that somebody has this disease can often be cruel, and teasing and bullying may occur.

3. Hospital – Cystic fibrosis can often force children to spend several weeks in the hospital if complications occur. When this happens, the patient will be missing a good portion of schoolwork and time with their friends. Luckily, sometimes there are teachers that go to hospitals to teach those that are missing time from school, but that does not always happen. Not being able to live a normal life can cause cystic fibrosis patients to worry about their futures and wonder how they are going to be able to hold down a job.

These are not the only factors that affect the psyche of a cystic fibrosis sufferer. Most of us will never be able to understand exactly what they go through, but we do know that their lives are not easy. We need to get the word out about cystic fibrosis so that more research can be done, more donations can fund hospital care and medication for patients, and so that people understand this disease.