Could this be true?

        Hi,

    My 15 year old daughter is kind of overweight but also tall. She has shown alot of symptoms of Cystic fibrosis. I know some children with this disease and they are very skinny and shorter. Is it possible that my daugether could have Cystic fibrosis even if she is a little overweight?                 

                                                                                                                                                      Thanks!

Thanks,

      When she was a baby she ALWAYS had alot of bowell problems and they diagnosed her with IBS also she caught lung infections numerous times and had been hospitalized because of it. She always had a 'rattly' or 'mucusy' cofh but lately I find its been getting ALOT worst. Shes always been fairly active. Shes always been 'bigger' but she is fairly fit She plays alot of All star Ice hockey and Soccer but lately when she pertisipates in any physical activity she has trouble breathing and has cofhing and wezzing fits sometimes cofhing up mucus and she will also become VERY tired which is very unusual because in her previous years is was impossable to wear her energy off. Her sinus I took notice to is always blocked off and shhas a stuffy nose an awful lot and I'v also noticed she catchs the flu quit often.  She doesn't have an appitite anymore and gets full fairly quick. Now she doesn't have as many bowell problems as she did when she was a baby but uses the bathroom an awful lot. I'm not quit sure if thats a symptom or not. But if you could help any bit at all it would be perfict! Thanks.

Ok, I'll try and answer best I can.

Asthma CAN also present similar chest symptoms too CF. A friend of a friend of a friend had really bad asthma, she was in hospital more often than us for IV antibiotics. The throat thing, I get with CF but again, it's soemthing that can just happen if you get infections a lot.

Another symptom of CF, is salty skin, especially now it's getting hotter. I'm like a human salt lick right now, all my arms and legs. My face is actually burning with salt. Not everyone with CF gets salty skin too this extent however it is a big telltale sign.

The bowel thing I can't really advise on, as I'm not sure what other conditions might stop you digesting food in the way CF does.

It is definately worth getting your daughter tested, and either way, you need to consult a doctor, so they can control the symptoms your daughter is experiancing and make life a bit better for her.

Any questions you think of, do ask. I'm not a doc, or even a professional. I am however experianced in my own condition, and know a bit about how CF effects my brother and friends.

Gem

Motherhood can give some of us the gift of knowing something is wrong with our children. I am so glad that you listened to your gut and your daughter. I hope I have a child who became ill in her teens, not from CF, and it was a life changing experience for our family.

It is wonderful that your daughter can be treated and is able to live a full life, despite CF. Nowadays people with CF get to do things and have goals. years ago that was not the case.

Take care,
Donnaeil

Kim,

I completely agree with you. I was diagnosed at 2 years old, but didn't start taking my meds properly until about aged 19. I'm now 23. Even now I struggle if someone isn't reminding me, and get annoyed if someone gets on my case too much. There're just so many pills and treatments to do, it gets boring and tiring. I guess it must be even worse if you've just been diagnosed and have all the crap that comes with CF thrown on you all at once.

I know how important the medication is, and your daughter talking all the meds prescribed is very important right now, so the right doses can be figured out for everything, and how many times a day she actually needs to do physio, if she is productive with it or not, and also what type of physio is the best for her, as there are many different types and devices that you can use.

I never know what to say when people aren't taking their meds, as I know how it feels from both ends. I have a brother with CF, I'm always nagging at him, as he takes nothing at all. Including enzymes, meaning he always has belly ache. But at the same time, I have to force down every pill, not because I don't want to be well, but because the meds make me feel sick and some of the repeat on me all day. My nebuliser makes me wheezy and tired. My physio just makes me sleepy, and as I've never had a highly productive chest, it just feels to be a waste of time.

Your daughter will learn though, that these meds and treatments will keep her alive and more well, than when not taking them. Until then, you're doing the right thing by putting pressure on to take her meds. I guess another thing you could do, is explain what each medication does, and why she needs too take it. I know knowledge eventually helped me start taking my meds.

Best of wishes to you and your family, and hopefully CFwill just become a normal part of everyday life soon.