15 Recommendations That Can Improve Life with Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis can be tough to deal with - from seemingly constant visits to the hospital, to horrible bouts of pain. However, there are some ways to cope with it most effectively. Here are 15 top recommendations.

Don’t be afraid to ask for financial help

When dealing with something as painful and serious as cystic fibrosis, it's easy to sometimes forget about the massive cost involved with care. However, the bills still need to be paid one way or another - and this can become an additional stress on patients’ lives. But with certain tips and tricks, you may see those bills dropping, at least slightly.

Discuss with your doctor if there are any government disability tax credits available. Sometimes, even disability savings plans from the government are accessible.

If you are planning on enrolling in school, often there are financial aid options available in the form of bursaries, scholarships, or other means of assistance.

Write numbers on your medication and take notes

Write out the order you have to take your medications in, labeling the first one "1," the next "2," and so on for however many medications you have to take. This is especially useful if your child has cystic fibrosis, and either a teacher, family member, or babysitter will have to give them their medications and might otherwise forget the correct order. The same goes for pancreatic enzymes, and writing out how many enzymes needed to be taken for each snack can be a good way of ensuring you are taking enough.

Develop tricks for taking medication

Again, this is especially helpful if you have a child with cystic fibrosis. If they are having trouble learning how to swallow pills, try putting them near the top of a straw and then drink a beverage through the straw, acclimating them to the sensation.

Be prepared

For those with cystic fibrosis, hospitalizations are basically inevitable. Therefore, you want to make it as easy on yourself as possible. One solution is to have a hospital bag packed and ready at all times. Make a checklist of essentials like clothes, chargers, toiletries, etc.

Make yourself comfortable

Because you will be spending so much time at the hospital, make sure that you're making the experience as pleasant as possible. Bring some things from home to make you more comfortable - like your own pillow, a stuffed animal, or pictures of your friends and family.

Have extra medication

While in most circumstances you will be able to get your prescriptions filled, it's always a good idea to have an extra batch just in case. Maybe one day your car breaks down, or there's a big storm; you never know! Being safe and having extra will never hurt.

Use surge protectors

Surge protectors can be extremely useful to ensure you are always able to plug in everything you need like feed pumps, nebulizers, O2, etc. It definitely adds convenience!

Read on for more tips on improving life with cystic fibrosis.