IVs and more

Last weekend got worse. I was better on Saturday but spent Sunday coughing the contents of my lungs out three times over. We did some dusting which solved some of the problem but ultimately it was this very flu-like virus causing me problems. It is not just me. My mother never takes time off work but took off a week due to this virus, and my Dad who never considers himself ill has been bedridden for 3 days. Nasty.

With this in mind I saw the doctor - the good one - on Tuesday. My lung function was down to 2.45/5.05. Quite bad in fact. However she put that and the coughing all down to the flu, which was unusual I have found for CF doctors. However she warned that my immune system was down and I needed IVs as a precaution. Really, after the experiences I had gone through with the virus I could not disagree. It was disappointing though since I only had my last set 3 months ago, however this was a special instance.

I started IVs on Wednesday, and have slowly been recovering my energy. I have missed all days of work except Monday, but sleeping at extra times in the morning and evening may give me some time back at work tomorrow. Meanwhile, with a bit of help with transport from the players I should be running my Orpheus game this afternoon.

As always I question the need for IVs. My sputum is mostly clear already and it is not turning thin like I would expect if I really need them. Yet the fact that thick sputum persists is, I tend to think, a sign that the flu has not truly gone yet, so not having to think about the pseudomonas is a good thing.

I saw the acupuncturist on Thursday who prescribed more no.9, the light spleen tonic. However a few days of that has had limited effect, so I will also try no.11 again to clear my lungs and open them out. I have to hope that with the limited use of the IVs, Chinese medicine (and exercise) can restore my lung function.

Finally, I talked to this sensible doctor about salt. She turned it around: because the salt goes to all the wrong places in a manner seemingly not fully understood, CF patients end up with all their cells perpetually dehydrated. Quite a sobering thought, but a good reference point for understanding and treatment.

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Recovering from a bug

This is my second day off work, but it seems comparatively (!) unrelated to CF. My parents both have the same bug, so I am confident that large amounts of the problems were caused by this bug. Unfortunately it triggered off my lungs - repeatedly, and all Wednesday night. I spent yesterday continuing (but improving) the pattern - 30-50 minutes of sleep followed by a cough or five followed by up to an hour of restless wakefulness. It felt like I did not know if I was asleep or awake.

The good thing is that after the rowing machine on Wednesday I was actually producing something yesterday which soothed my throat partially, and of course that clears out part of my lungs. Everything is still very thin, albeit slightly yellow. Unfortunately the lack of sleep and the continuous coughing has left me somewhat battered but I should be better in a day or two.

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After the rugby

WAAAALES.... WAAAALES....WAAAALES.

 

Ahem. Sorry 'bout that. Yes I went to the rugby on Saturday and what a match it was. First time I think I have been to a match where Wales actually won. More relevant is that I survived: the hardest task was not the match, since between long johns and extra jumpers I was pretty warm, but the moving of heavy furniture (ready for it to be taken from my late grandmother's house). However I was somewhat shattered on Monday. The continuous late nights do not help (my fault there).

So despite lung function being bad (I think) I seem to be doing very well and I have a gym induction today. I have been taking no.11 again, so much that I was trying to cough up nothing today - unless the depths of my lungs are full and I cannot feel it there is nothing to bring up.

 

Addendum: I returned from my gym induction - did 6 minutes on the rowing machine - and I am knackered. However, I suspect it is as much to do with the late nights and endless dry coughing today (last nights herbs seem to be trying to move something that is not there).

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Late night review

I am in the peculiar situation, for me, of coughing quite a lot up, or at least continuously, and having somewhat poor lung function - my FEV1 on the homekit is showing 275 rather than the 300+ it should be - while both gaining fitness and having quite a lot of energy. Certainly being able to do more than an afternoon's work while having late nights (it is 1am now!) is a positive sign.

Other wierdness is the regular need to sleep with a towel (folded up it puts pressure in the right places to clear my lungs) and the amount of blood I coughing up. Nothing to get worried about medically, but more than usual. My half-theory is that I am clearing bits from the bottom of my lungs that have not been cleared in a long time: this explains the colour of some of the sputum (most of it is clear or pale yellow, but some is thick and green despite everything else); and if it has been there a while it is more likely to have damaged/weakened the lungs or else to require more effort to shift it.

I swam 10 lengths yesterday without any real problems (apart from the blood) and have arranged a gym induction (the CF forums have already provided a recommended trainer!). I am not quite running on full energy yet, but the one night I went to bed early this week, I proved that I can do a lot in a day. Tomorrow I am off to rugby in Wales - my grandmother bought these tickets before she died - which means getting up in less than 6 hours time. I predict a dopey Sunday, but no real ongoing problems - very good for me.

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