Originally posted in Fibrosis News

Vertex Pharmaceuticals engages in the discovery, development, and commercialization of small molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases worldwide.

Originally posted in Fibrosis News

Tony nominee Adam Pascal , Heidi Blickenstaff , Julia Murney , join Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame legend Darlene Love and Broadway’s Mary Testa , Julie Halston , Andrew Rannells , and Seth Rudetsky for the Second Annual Broadway Belts! for PFF Benefit on February 27, 2012 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club .

Originally posted in Cystic Fibrosis - Adults

<p>I am not yet&nbsp;on Insulin-medication, but I would like to know, if you get it via shots or as a pill medication and on what does it depend, that u get pills or the shots?</p>
<p>my highest level was at 211 but doc means, I dont need medication yet.&nbsp; I mean I feel the probs, I have with the sugar, but if he means that I dont need.. hmm… I hope I wont break down with a sugar-shock.</p>
<p>Thank u 4 readin my postings.</p>

Originally posted in Cystic Fibrosis - Diagnosis

This is my first visit to this forum and site. &nbsp;I found it because my pulmonologist called me today and freaked me out, but let's start at the beginning.<div><br></div><div>I was diagnosed with CF via sweat test when I was 26. &nbsp;Throughout my life I'd always been&nbsp;susceptible&nbsp;to sinus and pulmonary issues–chronic sinus infections and&nbsp;bronchitis. &nbsp;My mom said I was very sickly after I was born (I was adopted) and that I'd always had breathing issues–my sinuses were so bad, that I had both nostrils cauterized when I was 9 because of bleeding. &nbsp;When I was 8 or so I remember going to a hospital to get tests to see if I had asthma. &nbsp;Apparently not, because I never had to use an inhaler or anything else as a child.</div><div><br></div><div>It wasn't until I was older that I really started having issues with chronic bronchitus and sinusitus – at least twice a year on the bronch. and 3 or 4 on the sinus. &nbsp;After awhile treatment usually involved heavy hitting antibiotics like levaquin combined with an inhaler and&nbsp;
guaifesenin (back before Muconex). When I graduated college I wound up with pneumonia and the physician who read my chest x-rays said: "wow, you've got some bronchiectisus going on, but it could just be related to the pneumonia." &nbsp;Never had another chest xray after that. &nbsp;My primary care said I likely had RAD, not asthma (really, what's the diff? *shakes head*)</div><div><br></div><div>I lived in Northern NV and one summer we had a particularly horrendous bout of wildfires and the smoke wreaked hell on my breathing and my inhalers that I had for my RAD just weren't keeping pace with my need for them. &nbsp;Finally, my Dr. sent me to a pulmonologist who asked me all these questions I'd never been asked before: how were my stools, did I have salt on my skin after sweating (yes), how often was I coughing (all the time, but worse in the AM and at night), was it ALWAYS productive–even when I wasn't "sick" (yes), did my phlem have a 'sweet' taste (yep)?</div><div><br></div><div>Once he told me his suspicions of CF I kinda brushed it off- I'm NOT the typical symptomatic CF patient: I'm obese, I have high lung capacity and lung function, I have no other illnesses – digestive, heart or otherwise. But he did and allergy panel, a sleep study and the sweat-test (which came back positive) and based on all that, the chest x-rays and the bronchiectisus he saw, felt comfortable diagnosing me with CF-if a &nbsp;mild mutation. &nbsp;I was put on a nasal spray and an albuterol and steroid inhaler&nbsp;regimen.</div><div><br></div><div>For years that's all I did. &nbsp;Until recently. &nbsp;I moved to VA, had a pulmo who said I should just keep doing what I was doing because I seemed fine. &nbsp;Then I quit my job and was without insurance for about 2 years.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, my job got insurance and I hadn't seen a pulmonologist recently. I told my pcp Dr. my earlier diagnosis, she sent me to a pulmo in the area and he ran a genetic test on me. &nbsp;Turns up positive: mild mutation (I'd have to look at the form to know which one), but yup, I've got CF. &nbsp;So they hand me a nebulizer (oh, wow, I've only ever seen kids use this!) and 3 different solutions for it.</div><div><br></div><div>So I'm doing that and I'm good up until last year around this time. Since then I've felt very…off? &nbsp;Fatigued, short of breath all the time, sputum is one color then another, but never dark brown or green so I don't really worry…etc. &nbsp;So I get a CAT scan, a Chest and a PFT and based on those she gets me a flutter and&nbsp;&nbsp;I have to do my medications 2 times a day (it's an hour long process each time) and she gives me an antibiotic which seems to improve things…slightly.</div><div><br></div><div>So last June , my job gets new insurance, so I wind up with a new Pulmo. &nbsp;This one sees me and is like, "what do you mean you don't have a chest vest and aren't doing your nebulizer 3 times a day instead of 2?" &nbsp;So I get another CT and chest xray and sputum cultures and a billion blood tests. She got me a chest vest (which I HATE–it makes me nauseated and gives me a headache) and I have to do my medications 3 times a day.</div><div><br></div><div>So those tests. &nbsp;When I went to see her a week ago, she was upset that her office hadn't gotten a hold of me to come in sooner because my cultures and blood tests came back with&nbsp;aspergillus (which is the one thing I'm allergic to), staph. &nbsp;So she's pretty positive after looking over ALL my history that I have ABPA (though she wants one more blood test to be 100% positive) and puts me on an antifungal, antibiotic and HUGE doses of steroids–for 8 months. &nbsp;*lays down*</div><div><br></div><div>Got a phone call from her today saying I've got MAI. &nbsp;She was freaking me out because honestly? &nbsp;She sounded a little freaked out. &nbsp;So now I'm scheduled to see an infectious disease specialist on Friday and based on all the things I've seen I'll now be on more drugs for up to 24 months. &nbsp;*tries to remember to breathe*</div><div><br></div><div>So there's my story. &nbsp;Long and likely overly detailed, but….</div><div><br></div><div>Oh, and HI! &nbsp;*waves*</div>

Originally posted in Cystic Fibrosis - Adults

<p>My foundation the Breathe Easy Foundation.. www-breathe-easy.org</p>
<p>Is a finalist to win a autographed guitar signed by the American Idol Judges. If we win we will auction off the guitar and all the proceeds will go directly to providing financial assistance to people with Cystic Fibrosis. We only have 24 hrs left, voting is unlimited… please send this link to anyone you know and help us win !!!</p>
<p><a href="http://mix1051.radio.com/2012/01/26/vote-for-your-favorite-charity-to-get-the-american-idol-autographed-guitar/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span id="lw_1327580021_0" class="yshortcuts">http://mix1051.radio.com/2012/01/26/vote-for-your-favorite-charity-to-get-the-american-idol-autographed-guitar/</span></a></p>

Originally posted in Cystic Fibrosis - Adults

<p style="padding-left: 60px; text-align: justify;">Hey guys. Does anyone has a good advice for me, what I can do!!!</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px; text-align: justify;">I was diagnosed on allergic reactions against cats. There r 5 classes on testing allergies.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px; text-align: justify;">Unfortunately I got class 5 (the worst) at testing me against cats.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px; text-align: justify;">Does anyone know a good medication?? Dont want to give my cat away… (</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px; text-align: justify;">Greez from Austria.</p>