CF Arthritis

for years it was a mystery disease/allergy for my sister Aline, she's always had CFAA (cystic fibrosis associated arthritis) the worst. It started with red spots everywhere and one of her joints swelling up and hurting... along with fever, aches & pains. She has suffered from it since she was a pre-teen.

the children CF clinic never knew what it was, she was tested for everything. the first day I was seen by my adult CF doc, I asked him about it and he said it was CFAA, pretty common in CFers.

I googled it, and here are some good webpages I found.

http://www.wellsphere.com/cystic-fibrosis-article/understanding-cystic-fibrosis-associated-arthritis/149455

http://www.cysticfibrosis.ca/en/aboutCysticFibrosis/Arthritis.php

it explained everything that had been going on with my sister and as I got to be an older teen me as well... we found a good natural supplement for muscle recovery that keeps away the symptoms. if I miss taking them for a while I get a huge CFAA attack... so, I try to remember to take them!

losing sleep and a low immune system also contribute to an attack, today I got red spots and slight aches & pains. if it gets bad enough I take advil, it helps with the inflammation. the reason I believe this happened was the loss of sleep these last couple days and I may have forgotten some of my pills (OOPS).

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What, Why & How Much (Nutrients!)

Updated post: http://cysticfibrosisblog.blogspot.ca/2011/01/what-why-how-much-nutrients-updated.html

Vitamin D

So my test results came back... all is good except my vit D! :(

It's at 39! Acceptable numbers are 75-250...

What to do?
Could the fact that I didn't fast, and took all my supplements that day, affect the data?

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MARRIED!!!

Marriage life is awesome! I have a husband to do therapy on me :) lol

I'm just now having time to update websites, blogs, facebook, twitter... changing my name is a work in progress... who knew?

had surprise blood work at my last clinic which was April 8th. Still haven't found out the results but I'm guessing their good because otherwise I think I would have received a call! I'm still going to find out the results of the vit D levels (last blood test was over a year ago and they had changed the vit D required levels, it was very low). I take a "real food" vitamin and mineral supplement so I cant wait to see what the test results were like!

FEV1 was 97%! my sisters both beat me, Aline had 99% and Kate had 103%. we all have Delta F508 mutation so this is quite a miracle and blessing from God!

CF siblings

Growing up we were known as the "3 CF girls" having someone to go to clinic with, talk to & understand what CF was like, and I couldn't imagine it any other way.
I'm the oldest of us and I want to thank my parents for having the courage to have more children and go through all the extra work to raise us the healthy way.
I want to hear about other CF siblings, parents & spouses and hear your opinions about having more kids when you already have one with CF, having more then 1 CF sibling etc.

Eating Fresh For CF!

*as seen on www.cysticlife.org

Running out of pills is never fun but it demands creative thinking, this time I think I just might have hit the jackpot!!!!

EATING FRESH! as in fresh fruits & veggies! you might have guessed what pills I ran out of... my probiotics & enzymes (ones I pay for and make a big difference with my digestion). So, here is what works even better or the best when in combination:

Half of my meal fresh - fave fruits & veggies:

bananas

apples

broccoli

lettuce (salad)

carrots

For probiotics I make sure I have lots of yogurt!

With the wedding, a house & transitioning to a new job finances can be tight... this is one way of saving money & not putting my health at rist!

Busy as a bee!

With the wedding in May, starting a new job (or two), marriage counseling, maybe buying a house... so many changes and everything is happening at once!

after months of looking for a job I finally got one! I love it and if I can I will get another, the one I have right now is 15 hrs a week so I think another part time job wont hurt.

my health has been doing super great through this very extremely cold winter after adding garlic pills to my regular supplementation.

my book is still in progress and might be paused for a big because these next few months promise to keep me on my toes at all times!

I've officially changed my website from www.rebeccaelias.org to www.cfchampion.com

I have also changed my poetry website to a blog - http://rebeccajaye.blogspot.com

Engaged!

Abe got on his knees just at the stroke of midnight on new years!

A great way to start the new year!



I'm a very lucky girl and we're planning a spring wedding.