5 Great Stretches For CF

Getting Active With CF

I'll admit it, I hate exercising more than anyone. I will find any and every excuse to NOT exercise. However, my CF doctor is an exercise fanatic, so I am starting to consider it. His professional opinion is that daily exercise can truly improve lung function and help with weight gain. I hate to agree with him, but he is absolutely correct. Performing 30-60 minutes of cardio along with weights and stretches can significantly improve your breathing. With a lot of pushing from my CF doctor and my friends, I joined a gym this summer at my school. I absolutely love it. I go the gym 3-4 times week. I spend some time on the cardio machines (treadmill, bike, or eliptical), stretches with the exercise ball, and some weights to improve my posture for better breathing. I still dislike exercising, but I am excited to try something new for CF on a consistent basis and am curious and excited to see the results in a few months.
I know that joining a gym is not an option for everyone, so here are some ideas for a simple workout at home that I have been doing when I am not at the gym. The easiest way to get a decent cardio workout is doing 100-250 jump ropes (with or without a rope). Jumping jacks are also a great option. After the cardio, try to do some pushups (I prefer the manly pushups). Start with just 5 or 10 reps and then increase your reps as you feel necessary. To improve that CF hump on on upper back, try out some stretches that will open up your chest and help you stand/sit up straighter and breather easier. These three simple workouts are absolutely free and easy to do daily at home.
And ofcourse, exercising is also great for mucus drainage. Exercising will help loosen up the clogged mucus from the lungs as you breathe harder during exercise and it will make you cough so you can get rid of all that junk. If you would like to improve your lungs, join me in my journey to better health with exercise and share your workout stories with me. Leave a comment about your routine.

CF Surveys-Make Some Cash

Are you looking for some extra cash? Well, there are some perks to having CF and one of them is doing CF surveys and participating in research and getting paid for it. CF surveys are conducted by pharmaceutical companies, equipment companies, and other industries that want to learn more about us CFers and our lifestyels. Many nebulizer companies, nutritional shake companies, and drug companies often conduct consumer research surveys targeted for CF patients. Most of these surveys are 1-2 hrs long and pay $100-$300 per survey. Some are conducted in home, some online, and some at specific sites. If you are interested in participating in CF surveys and getting paid for them, ask your healthcare provider how to sign up. The surveys are very simple and ask basic questions related to your life. There are no right or wrong questions, and it is quite a fun experience. The next time you see your CF doctor, ask them if they know about any CF surveys that are going on in your area. Get involved and GET PAID FOR IT.

Prednisone And CF

Prednisone is a synthetic glucocorticosteroid drug. This drug is given to patients for many different reasons. The main effect of this medication is to suppress the immune system and block the inflammatory processes of the immune system. Many CFers are on Prednisone for its anti-inflammatory effects. Prednisone helps with inflammation in the body including the lungs; it also helps the ease of breathing due to the reduction of inflammation. I, too, take prednisone when I am taking IV antibiotics. I am placed on this medication before all IV infusions because about five years ago I went into a septic shock after starting IV antibiotics and ended up in the ICU. To avoid this septic shock, I begin all my IV infusions with a high dose of prednisone and taper down every four days until I am off the IV medications to avoid any adverse reactions. Although, prednisone is a great medication for short-term use, it has many side-effects. The main side-effects are extreme hunger (leads to weight gain which is not bad for CFers), water retention (moon faced), growth stunting, mood swings, increases blood sugar, and depresses your immune system, which can lead to other infections such as fungal infections. CFers who are diabetic have to be extra careful when they are on Prednisone to monitor their blood sugar. Prednisone tends to spike sugar levels. CFers who are not diabetics should also check their glucose frequently to make sure their blood sugar stays normal.
I, personally, have a love/hate relationship with Prednisone. I love this medication because it helps with my breathing, helps me gain weight, and makes me feel better faster. I also hate this medication because I have the worst mood swings, it tastes bitter, and I cannot stop thinking about food when am on it.
Tell me your story if you have CF and are on Prednisone or have taken Prednisone.