Living With Cystic Fibrosis Means
Many of you are aware of the way cystic fibrosis can affect the human body and all of the health complications that it can create. What many people do not realize though, is the amount of restrictions, psychological issues, and relationship strains that come along with cystic fibrosis. Living with any disease is difficult, that is a well known fact. But specifically, cystic fibrosis will affect every single part of a sufferer’s life, and that can be difficult to deal with. Here are some of the problems dealt with regularly by people living with cystic fibrosis.
1. Medication – Because CF causes frequent infections, people with the illness take at least one antibiotic at all times, even when they are relatively healthy. The reason they also have to take medication when they are healthy is so that infections are prevented from occurring in the first place.
2. Hospital – Although not true for everyone, patients that are suffering from serious complications due to cystic fibrosis will find themselves in the hospital for treatment rather frequently. Everyone that has cystic fibrosis has to visit hospitals for exams that will test things such as lung function, but it is only when something goes wrong that a patient will spend a good amount of time there.
3. Restrictions – Anybody that has cystic fibrosis is encourage to live a normal life, full of friends and fun. The important thing to remember though is that you may not be able to do things that everybody else can. If someone went to a friend’s house to spend a few days, they need to make sure that they bring their medication with them. Because cystic fibrosis causes infections, sufferers are encourage to stay out of situations or places that could worsen their illness.
4. Parents – Many parents can be too overprotective of their CF child, not allowing them to do things that normal children do. Dealing with parents can be a frustrating part of growing up with this illness, and it will take time for parents to loosen their reins a bit. Sometimes a patient might find that their parents were right in their restrictiveness, and appreciate it when they get older. It all depends on the person and the parents.
5. Psychological issues – Growing up being different from all of your friends and family members can have an effect on the human psyche. Having restrictions put on what you can and can’t do, having to take medication frequently, hospital visits, all of these things can make it hard for a child with CF to fit in with their peers. As we are all aware of, kids can be cruel. They (along with many adults as well) are not so accepting of those that are different from them.
Cystic fibrosis does not only affect the body, it affects the life of the sufferer and everybody around them. Sometimes, it is important to keep that in mind.
