Thank goodness for Risk-takers

I had a satisfying clinic yesterday. So satisfying, in fact, that I was there until 6:15 (just kidding---I wasn't there so long for THAT reason.. *grumble*) and not home until 8.

But seriously, I do love when clinic provides me with a new way of looking at things, a new hope for my health, or anything beyond the monotonous repeating of symptoms and drugs.

Yesterday I went in knowing I wanted some antibiotics. I don't feel sick, but I have had more shortness of breath, and thicker sputum and its been 4 months since I was on any antibiotics. It's time.

The cool thing was, apparently I grew pseudomonas for the first time since July 2008 last clinic. I like to think that its the reason for my symptoms. I also think its really cool that I didn't grow it for basically 2 years after my one and only month-long admission. You gotta celebrate the little things.

So anyways I'm on cipro now and we'll see how that goes. My pfts were stable (though "stable" at my since-summer-low of .83 litres and 27%) and my weight was up, so I'm not even sure what I can reasonably expect, but I love the hope.

The final thing I wanted to mention, was this clinic's transplant talk from Dr.T. I spoke with a different doctor last clinic, so it was great to have both of their speeches under my belt. Dr.T echoed what Dr.S felt about me needing to be assessed for safety/insurance reasons especially. I didn't need much convincing. The month I requested to "swallow" this information has helped tons for myself and my family and I was ready for my referral to go through.

Dr.T rambled on about tx, and happened to bring up a woman (I swear I didn't lead her here at ALL) who has gone against advice and became pregnant after transplant...twice. She has done fine so far and Dr.T brought up how much people like that tweak professional perspective and sometimes make what was deemed accurate warning to be a little "harsh" (her word). I used this opportunity to ask her if she thought I would be able to do egg retrieval post transplant, something I've been thinking about. In her opinion, it poses no problem, which warmed my heart with hope. I got thinking about the pregnant woman. I would never make that kind of choice for myself, but I realized that because of how new transplant really is for CF, how grateful I am to people who want to take such risks. They are why we learn. I got thinking about another risk-taking tx'er.. who is currently dating a pre-tx Cf patient I know. I find their situation mind-boggling.. but again, the opportunity for learning is there. I love it and I thank them.