I'm finally doing it!!!!!

I'm writing my CF book!!! This time the words are just coming to me. It's like perfect timing or something, I have the support of my wonderful boyfriend and time to do it... wish me luck.

If any of you would like to hear specifics about my life, CF or family in my book just send me an email at chooselife828@gmail.com

Prospective title is "Cystic Fibrosis: From Sick to Healthy"

Thanks for all the support,

Rebecca

2nd hand smoke = inhaler & antibiotics

Note: Thank Facebook for the details on when this all happened, my memory isn't that good.

Friday Night
October 23

As a DD (designated driver) for my friends I felt it wouldn't hurt too much if I kept my mouth shut and let them smoke in thier own car. I was wrong, extremely wrong!

I already had a sore throat (I get it usually once or twice a year - at least I don't get the flu) so my immune system was already fighting off whatever that was... I've stood outside by people who were smoking but never crammed in a car with the windows closed for 15 min of smoke inhalation.

Saturday
October 24

Throat still hurting & coughing getting pretty bad. My boyfriend was amazing and gave me therapy after only 4 hrs of sleep (I woke up because of caughing).

Sunday
October 25

I had an extremely bad cough (sore throat had disappeared, like usual after 1-2 days), wheezing, lack of energy & loss of appetite - the 4 symptoms of a chest infection. I was under the impression that I needed a fever as well to think of it as anything serious. I was wrong. again.

Wednesday
October 28

Side note: yes I was dumb again to wait so long before doing something about my symptoms.

I asked my dad to confirm what I thought were the symptoms of a chest infection, when he didn't list "fever" all I could say was "I have all 4", his advice was to call the doctor and get antibiotics & an inhaler.

Knowing what needs to be done and getting it done - two totally different things!

Here is what happened in list form:

Wednesday
- called left a message for my family doctor (in hindsight I should have called CF clinic)
- got a call back just before she was leaving and was told to go to the local ER

Thursday
- got a sermon from the ER doc about the H1N1 vaccine because I told him I've never been vaccinated and don't plan to ever be! (I'll also add that he said I would die if I got H1N1)
- finally got an antibiotic!
- talked to my mom (ex-nurse), she said that my CF doc had told her that as someone with CF we need a larger & longer dose of antibiotics
- called my CF clinic & left a message

Friday
Got a call back & prescriptions faxed to my local pharmacy with a follow up check-up date set for Monday, November 2nd.

H1N1

My comments on a status about H1N1

"There is no evidence that any influenza vaccine thus far developed is
effective in preventing or mitigating any attack of influenza. The
producers of these vaccines know that they are worthless, but they go
on selling them, anyway." -- Dr.... J. Anthony Morris (formerly Chief
Vaccine Control Officer at the US Federal Drug Admin.)

"Http://www.vaccinationeducation.com to the contrary, but to everyone
their own, I've never been vaccinated or had any shots and I'm healthy
even with CF"

"That's what I guessed after hearing about the transplant. I'm praying
it all works out for him. My health is not where it is because of
luck, my parents probably fed my sisters & I with everything the
health food store had to offer, we went on quite a few "healthy diets"
& take lots of food supplements... But it's worked for us, we've been
improving rather then staying at the same level or getting worse.
Staying as far away from drugs or anything that brings down the immune
system is also part of our health stratagy, it also helps drugs work
better and faster when we do need them.
NOT listening to foolish doctor advice also helped (having a junk food
area - easy to reach for kids, 2 yrs on antibiotics, preventative TOBY
treatments, etc). It's a hard path to follow but I thank my parents
for doing so because my health is worth it!"

"I don't blame doctors for what they say it's how they've been
programmed, it's my job to listen and then research and figure out
what is in my best interest. To put the responsibility of my health in
doctors hands would make me foolish.
I don't have a mild case of CF, I have to work very hard everyday to
stay healthy & improve. Taking my pills & trying to live a healthy
lifestyle is like a full time job... I know it doesn't look like I'm
sick and most of the time I have no apparent symptoms to people who
don't really know me but I fight and somedays it catches up to me and
I get tired and just want to be normal but I do what I do for my
family & friends.
I try and share what I've learn & what works because I hope to help
others with CF.
I truly admire everyone with CF because I know what it takes to keep
on fighting for every breath...
As of right now I got a wicked caugh cuz my friends smoked in the car
while I was a DD for them after a party, let me just say I learnt my
lesson! I hope my almost 8 years of no pneumonia doesn't stop now cuz
of my brief lack in judgement."

Job Hunt

It's easier said then done. After emailing many applications I've only got 2 replies, one for a mlm business and one that requires me to work all kinds of shifts which I can't do because of my health... I'm getting desperate here.

I feel stuck and out of control :(

For good news, I found out my body is healing it self even more so I can cut down on more pills! Yea!

Lots of Changes! + iPhone!

Best news first - I got an iPhone!!!!! Which I'm actually using to update this blog right now!!!!

Now to the not so great news... I've been feeling bad consistantly for the last while. Why? You might ask? FOOD! I really need to figure out if I should be taking less enzyme type pills (all natural) I'm at the bare minimum already but maybe my body is doing super great at this healing process I've embarked on? Let's hope so!

Bad news: my insurance claim did NOT go through because my CF was a pre-existing condition (duh!) that caused the CFTA (CF related Arthritis) so an insurance company again finds a way to screw people over, FYI my CFRA was not pre-existing. Oh well at least this means I will need a job!

So, I'm looking for a receptionist job, weekday 9-5 hours. I'm actually pretty pumped about it!

Follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/cfchampion

Updates & iPhone?

I've updated my website www.rebeccaelias.org! hope you enjoy it... just have one more page to finish on the website and then it will be complete... if there is info you would like me to have have on there just send me an email and I will do the best I can!

I've gained another 3 lbs :) so that makes me 106 lbs, 4 more to go and I've reached my previous high of 110 lbs! I try and take the ensure every day but it doesnt always happen... something is working though!

my sister the other day said that just taking my pills is a full time job, no wonder having a real f/t job didnt work out for me - I already have one! (on a side note, on the new website I put a list of the type of supplements I take - each with links to definitions on how they affect the body thanks to wikipedia)

I hopefully this month will be getting an iPhone! I'm so excited!! Bills have been difficult with all the new changes in my life but I've found a cheap iPhone plan and hope everything works out good...

Exercise is a major weakness of mine, I've been trying to get into a routine of doing a 15 min. workout at least once a week. with the weight loss comes lack of energy & stamina that a persons needs to exercise, so I'm hoping that things will change a little more once I am back to 110 lbs!

Today is the one year anniversary of my boyfriend and I dating, it's been the best year of my life!

Ensure drinks & weight update

So I only gained 3 lbs out of the 10 that I lost... Knowing how much I
like coffee they got me the café latté flavor of ensure plus :)
They do sort of remind me of pediasure which I hate cuz I had so much
of it as a kid.

I'm feeling much more comfortable with my adult CF team.

It's taken a while to get used to not working but I've noticed how
much better it is for my health. When I discussed it at CF clinic they
were very supportive and the process for me being on EIA (Employment
and Income Assistance).

Big changes ahead and hopefully it'll all work out without too much
stress.

EIA, twitter, facebook

EIA - The process has started to get Employment and Income Assistance. At my last CF clinic it was decided that my health is not worth risking at the price of a full time job, so my bills still need to get paid... this is my only option.

twitter account - www.twitter.com/rebeccaelias

facebook account - www.facebook.com/relias

I'm now working on getting my CF website back up and running... a new look is in the process too! www.rebeccaelias.org


Phl 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

to whom it may concern:

a little something I wrote to the corrupt medical system we have to endure:

They tell me to shut up
They say it’s illegal

To share my story
To tell the truth.

They poison the sick,
Kill the innocent
All for the money
And ulterior motives.

My experience baffles their theories
Threatens their way of life,
But it doesn’t change the way they think
It doesn’t change the way they act.

So ignore the needless pain you cause everyday
And keep killing the ones you have sworn to not harm,
So supplements can’t CURE and drugs can?
Then why doesn’t it work out just like you planned.

Water for dehydration
Vitamin C for scurvy
So arrest me for what I just wrote
Because it’s illegal, right?

It’s still the truth
And no matter what you do
For the people who think for themselves
Your plans will fail

I find it fitting that this will be the first thing I put on my new website www.rebeccajaye.com

free speech & med leave

Yeah right, as if that exists... you might be wondering why I'm ranting like this. So I hate to legally take down a bunch of posts because of "non compliance" its a bunch of BULL $H!T lol

anyways, I will keep fighting the good fight...

due to some strange new complications with my CF I am now on med leave for a couple of months... I've lost 10 lbs... time to get better, eat more, change some bad lifestyle choices and get back up there!!!!

Almost One Year

So... long time no update.

I still work at Timmies, it's an awesome job and I really enjoy it. Thank-goodness I'm not supervising anymore. I think I'm too nice for that, lol. I work part time nights an evenings which works out great because I don't have to work more then 4 days in a row. Ten days in a row is just too much.

My polyps are not bothering me but they are there, I'm hoping they don't get worse.

This last October was my 3 year anniversary of no hospitalizations!!!

I'm working on putting up a website which has all my poems and lyrics... maybe a couple extras as well :) it's time I shared that part of me with the world.

On the 17th of March I will have been going out with my boyfriend for 6 months! It's been an awesome 6 months. He is so supportive and caring about my CF and all the pills I take, lol.

My car "Clifford" has been a pro this winter... it's been really cold and he's given me no problems :) he's such a good little car.

I promise the next update will be sooner then a year from now :)

Till then, God bless.

Work and Play: feat. NEW CAR!!!

Still work full-time at Timmies :) I love my job! Only supervise part-time, which is perfect because supervising full-time is just too stressful. No one needs more stress, it ain't healthy!

Moved in with my sister and her family, it was the best thing I did this year, I love the environment and my NEW CAR (2008 Pontiac wave5) rocks at life! oh and also helps with the gas to and from work :)

Dating. Finally think I might give it a whiff, no reward without risk :)

BAD NEWS:
I can feel my polyps are back... thankfully I can still breathe through my nose. I'm praying for a year without surgery. Don't want to wait 3 years for surgery again, that is the worst part of having polyps - needing surgery and NOT GETTING IT DONE! (like the Larry the Cable Guy reference?) :)

Catch-Up

Feb. 14 - Valentine's Day















The surgery went super awesome! didn't need any pain killers and was back to work 2 days after the surgery :)

the new year

a sinus infection. a week of antibiotics. another scheduled surgery.
not missing a day of work! plus the opportunity of getting my very own
apartment. life doesnt slow down, not even at the start of a new year.

--
Sent from Gmail for mobile | mobile.google.com

Don't look to become a person of success, look instead to become a
person of value. -Einstein

back from a cruise :)

I didn't get sick!!!! You should have seen the huge amount of pills I took a long. It was such a blast, I guess you'll have to be my friend on facebook or myspace to see pictures :)

Independence

I'm in my new place but haven't fully settled in yet, I didn't know I had so much stuff!

The job is going great, I really love it. I figured out after a week or two how to properly schedule my pills, eating & work so that I'm not in pain! yea! Makes work even more fun!

I should have done this months ago.

All grown up

My first week on the job is over. I definitely earn what money I'll get! Having CF and a full time job isn't easy, especially when the people there don't know you have CF or know it and don't really know what that means. I like it though, I get treated normal. I haven't quite figured out how to rightly schedule my pills, eating and working so that I'm not in pain but it's getting better. I think It'll just take time and a little experimenting.

I haven't moved into my apartment yet, hopefully by the end of the month. I love this independent stuff!

As far as my nose goes... my smell is gone again. Man, I wish my surgery had happened!

From Cambodia...

Nose News

For about a week now I've been able to SMELL! I thought it would pass but obviously it hasn't, and hopefully wont. I'm not like a super smeller now or anything, most of the time I have no idea what I'm smelling but it feels so great!

I've also been able to sleep with my mouth closed these last few weeks. That's great but I still want these polyps out. People always comment on how I sound like I have a cold :(

Cancelled :(

My Polyp surgery got cancelled! I'm on the waiting list but have no idea when it will happen. This is very disappointing but I'll get over it (once I have the surgery). Haha.

The whole Lyme Disease/antibiotics seems to be going ok. The only thing that has changed for the worse is how well my digestive system works. Things are a lot better when I have lot of probiotics.

I found out today that I'm 112 lbs. this is the heaviest I've ever been! The doctors are going to be really happy.