CF Clinic Update

Friday was my quarterly clinic visit.  I was not positive this was going to be a great visit. About a month ago, I had started a Cipro treatment after having difficulties on vacation.  I did a three week treatment and felt 95% better when my treatment ended.  About a week later, I started to feel run down, like I was getting a cold.  Since then my nose has been stuffy and I have been coughing more.  Only having a week off of Cipro before coughing more had me on alert...usually I get a good three to four months before needing to evaluate the need for antibiotics.  But a week?  Not good. 

PFTs, however, where telling a different story.  I had my highest FVC ever and my second highest FEV1.  My FEF 25-75 was the lowest ever, which I always test a lower number in this category.  In fact, this number varied by nearly 20% just from doing three different tests.  My doctors thoughts:

• She explained that the numbers are only one line of evidence for managing care and she considers much more when thinking about treatments.
• Her dilemma with me is whether to treat my symptoms with antibiotics or not.
• She was not concerned with the low 25-75 number. 
• We talked a lot about why the numbers can be great, but not really "matching" my symptoms.  I know I am allergic to grass, so there may be an allergy component to my symptoms. 
• We decided to go a more conservative route to treat this set of symptoms.  I am going to start hypertonic saline and albuterol.  I am going to give it a trail run and check in again at next clinic to see if this helps with my symptoms. 

After the visit, I head over to Union Square in San Francisco for dinner and shopping.  I found great tops at H&M! My favorite.