CF FAQ

Frank and I get a lot of questions about Maelee and Cystic Fibrosis. We don’t mind at all when people ask questions but some might be too shy to ask or feel like they can’t or shouldn’t. Here are some facts that help explain things about CF and also why I am such a freak about hand washing, public places, and germs.

From http://www.cysticfibrosis.com/cfkids_about.html & http://www.cff.org/

Your body needs water and salt to work and grow. Water and salt move through tiny cells in your body. In people with CF, water and salt can not move through the tiny cells easily which makes it dry. The body then produces thick mucus. Mucus forms in the: Lungs which help you breathe. Pancreas which help you digest your food. Mucus sticks in your lungs and throat and makes you cough. Mucus is also a friendly home for germs and bacteria which can make you sick.

CF is inherited. We all get 2 CF genes from our parents before we are born. We get 1 gene from each parent. We either get a Normal gene - which does not have CF, or we get an Abnormal gene - which has CF. If we get 2 Abnormal genes then we will have CF. Our Parents can NOT control which 2 genes we will get. In other words, Maelee inherited CF from both Frank and myself. We both had to give her the gene for her to get the disease. Which means that our brothers and sisters are all potential carriers as well.

In many stages of life, a CF patient will require some type of airway clearance, chest physical therapy, or breathing technique anywhere from 1 to 4 times a day.
CF patients will take Enzymes to help with food digestion.
CF patients will take more Vitamins each day.
CF Patients will take more medicines and antibiotics to feel better.
CF Patients may visit the CF Centers regularly throughout the year for check-ups and health maintenance.

The best way to help Maelee and every other person in the whole world is to wash your hands. “Clean hands save lives.”
http://www.cdc.gov/cleanhands/

When washing hands with soap and water:

Wet your hands with clean running water and apply soap. Use warm water if it is available.
Rub hands together to make a lather and scrub all surfaces.
Continue rubbing hands for 20 seconds. Need a timer? Imagine singing "Happy Birthday" twice through to a friend!
Rinse hands well under running water
Dry your hands using a paper towel or air dryer. If possible, use your paper towel to turn off the faucet

Remember: If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based gel to clean hands.

When using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:

Apply product to the palm of one hand
Rub hands together
Rub the product over all surfaces of hands and fingers until hands are dry.


What is “good hand hygiene”? Good hand hygiene means keeping your hands clean by using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or washing with soap and water. You should do hand hygiene:

-After coughing or sneezing
-After blowing your nose
-Before eating
-After going to the bathroom
-Before and after breathing treatments
-Before and after airway clearance
-Before taking medicine
-If your hands look dirty, use soap and water
-After using common pens, handrails, grocery carts, exercise equipment, automated teller machines (ATMs)
-Before preparing or eating food
-After going to the bathroom
-After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom
-Before and after tending to someone who is sick
-After handling an animal or animal waste
-After handling garbage
-Before and after treating a cut or wound

So to make a long story shorter I wash my hands about every 5 seconds.