Hugging & CF

It was wonderful getting to meet Graciy and Josh today at clinic. I got to meet their adorable little girl, too!

Graciy is just as cute and sweet as I'd heard and I got THREE (3) hugs from her! Meeting them was the highlight of my day!

Someone asked what CF is. CF is Cystic Fibrosis. For those asking about the 3 foot rule, CFers are prone to certain bacteria that others don't get. Those bacteria are hard to fight once you get them and you never quite rid yourself of them. It takes harsh and particular antibiotics to cut back on that bacteria. CF clinics usually will have different scheduling times for CFers with different bacteria, so we don't cross contaminate. I have Pseudomonas. Some CFers don't have that "yet" so they wouldn't want to be near me or they could contract it. B. Cepacia is even worse, so they aren't seen at the same time and place as I am.

"People with CF can contract infectious species of B. cepacia from others who have these bacteria, either by direct contact through bodily fluids such as saliva and sputum, by shaking hands, or even indirectly from contaminated surfaces, such as sinks and tissues."

So that's why they have the 3-foot rule at CF Centers. Of course, I could wear a mask and wash my hands immediately if I still wanted to hug someone, but if I don't know someone well I don't see taking the additional chance - for my sake or theirs. When I was in the hospital my CF nurse told me they preferred I not take a walk in the hallway because there were some "B. Cepacia's" down the hallway. I have a hard enough time finding abx to fight the Pseudomonis so I'm fine with not taking chances with anything else!

My PFT's were really good today. That's a Pulmonary Function Test. Last time they were 42% and 1.08 ltr and today it was 46% and 1.24 ltr. I haven't been above 45% since I was at Johns Hopkins about 3 years ago.

They decided to continue my IV abx and oral Cipro (750mg 2x/day for most CFers, not the "usual dose" others get. It's a HORSE PILL!) for another week because I'm still having some symptoms. I also contracted a staff infection in my one nostril while in the hospital so that has to be swabbed now. But the news was basically good.

We discussed the Swine Flu (H1N1). Vanderbilt's ICU is 25% full with Swine Flu patients and most are on respirators. She said if an otherwise healthy person contracts it, it's mostly like other flu's. But if people with lung disease, old people or very young children contract it, it could be deadly. My entire family is supposed to get the vaccine as soon as it's available, plus the regular flu vaccine. (We had discussed this on the CF board, as many aren't sure what to do. Especially since the H1N1 is a new vaccine.)