New to CF Group.

[Guest guest]

Hi

I'm Natalia and I am 24 with CF. I was diagnosed when I was really

little, A couple years old. I did well throughout high school and okay

throughout University, but those 5 years of school really worn me down.

High school is bearable compared to University, where there is not

enough time to do all the school stuff, let alone CF stuff. So I

graduated this past May and came crashing down since then. one flare

up after the other. Never really bouncing back from each previous one.

Now I am on IV treatment for a month at home. I live alone and it

still works out really well. The nurse comes every morning to change

the bag, though I am learning how now, so in a few days I will do it by

myself. They will only come every 4-5 days to change the line. So it

gives me a sense of independence. I am having it out on Christmas

day. I was on the same treatment in June, but only for 10 days and

really it did very little for me. So who knows what this will do. I

also started to take steroids, first time for that, and already it has

helped with my appetite a lot. I have lost 16lbs during the summer,

and seem to be losing more daily. So I hope this helps.

About non-CF stuff. I went to University for architecture, but soon

realized that I cannot practice within that field. I get too sick too

often. So I started my own business designing hand-bags and jewelry,

and it has been going well. Kinda exciting, considering I thought that

I would never be self-sufficient. Which is as painful of a realization

as CF taking over your body. I don't know which is worse.

I would like to meet some of you, especially those young adults out

there with CF. Dealing with the uncertainly of their future. Plus I

can give advise to those of you that have little ones. I want to share

experiences and help you any way, since I dealt with all of it. Plus I

was a fairly active kid and teenager, never allowing anything to stop

me. And I have some strong view points about exercise and CF, as well

as life choices with respect to Educations and career choices.

I love to share, and hope to learn from you, as well as share my own

life struggle with CF. It's a hard thing, and all those on this list

who deal with it, by either being parents, siblings, friends, or are

carriers themselves, you are strong people.

Natalia