Friends and More
When CF is a part of your life, you might feel different from your friends or siblings. But you probably have a lot of the same interests as other teenagers. People with CF develop and maintain great relationships, too. It might be tempting to try and keep CF a secret or just ignore it, but talking about CF with brothers and sisters, friends, or a person you're dating might make things easier.
You can also try watching Jeremy talk about his CF, and you might feel more inspired to share your story with friends and family.
Brothers and Sisters
It's not unusual for a person with CF to have a brother or sister without CF. Sometimes, the sibling without CF might be really worried about you. At other times, some siblings might feel like you get more attention than they do. That may make them angry with you. It's important to be patient and remember that CF affects your sibling, too. For example, if you're in the hospital, your brother or sister may have to stay with other friends or family. Talking about CF with your sibling may help both of you cope.
Friends
Your family already knows that you have CF. But who else should you tell? A lot of caregivers and doctors think that you should be open about CF. Talking about things helps avoid misunderstandings, and that can help you feel better. It might be hard to tell your friends or teachers at first. Talk to your parents or your CF Care Team about how you should tell people about CF.
Dating and relationships
Dating and relationships can be a fun part of being a teenager. CF might make things a little different for you. If you are close with someone, you may want to tell them about CF. Just like with anything else, talking about things can help avoid misunderstandings. For example, you may need to take your enzymes while on a date. If your date doesn't know about CF, they might not understand why you're taking pills, or why you may need to use the rest room frequently. Being open about CF means your date will know what's going on and there won't be any confusion.
Be sure to check the Resources and Links section of CF Living to find other websites that may provide you with more info.
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Dear Parents,
Foster an open and honest attitude about CF and lead by example.
Indication and Usage
Daily administration of Pulmozyme® (dornase alfa) Inhalation Solution along with standard therapies is indicated in the management of cystic fibrosis patients to improve lung function. In patients with a forced vital capacity (volume of air exhaled with maximum effort and speed) greater than or equal to 40% of predicted, daily administration of Pulmozyme has also been shown to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections requiring the administration of injectable antibiotics. In our pivotal study, safety and efficacy of daily administration has not been studied in patients beyond 12 months.
Important Safety Information
Pulmozyme should not be used in patients who are allergic to any of its ingredients
Pulmozyme should be used along with standard therapies for cystic fibrosis
When starting Pulmozyme therapy, patients may experience change in or loss of their voice, discomfort in the throat, chest pain, red watery eyes, rash, dizziness, fever, or runny nose
These side effects are usually mild and short-lived
The effect of Pulmozyme on exercise tolerance has not been established in adults and children
For further information, please see the Pulmozyme full prescribing information. If you have questions, please discuss them with your CF healthcare team.
