Donating Blood

Pete gave blood last week, I'm very proud of him!

The needle they use is about the size of a venflon so quite big but the nurse got in easily after cleaning his arm for like 40 seconds, they don't even take that long cleaning my port before it's accessed! It didn't take very long for his blood to fill the bag compared to other people, less than 10 minutes I'd say. Then afterwards he got a nice big dressing and some round thing that they tape over the hole whilst applying pressure, I assume it's to try stop bruising. Jeez when ever I've had needles I'm lucky if I get offered a plaster..! Then he got to have a drink and some biscuits. Apparently he can give blood every 4 months, not sure if he is planning to do that or not. I wish I could give blood but it's not possible since I have CF, as well as being on antibiotics all the time.

If you would like to look in to donating blood, click here

Yesterday was Mothers day and since I am feeling quite well at the moment we had my Mum and Nana round to ours for Sunday lunch, there were 7 of us in total. It was cosy around the table but never mind! I had the left overs in a sandwich today, ummm Sunday dinner sandwich!!

The only complaint I have CF wise at the moment is I keep feeling really tired afternoon/evening time and falling asleep. Last night I fell asleep for about 30 minutes in a uncomfortable position on the sofa, not sure how I managed to nod off! I didn't go the gym at all last week as I have naps instead. I don't really understand it as I am finding it difficult to sleep in on a morning past 8-8.30am, surely if I was tired I would sleep in until later? Who knows?!

Alfie has being having some toilet problems, in that he keeps weeing in the kitchen on a night even though there is a puppy pad down for him (which he doesn't use very often) and we spray the areas where he wees with a repellent. Therefore when I wake up during the night I am getting up once or twice and letting him outside, it seems to be doing the trick however I feel like we have a puppy again not a dog that is nearly 5 years old! It seems to be working though so I shall keep doing it for the sake of our curtains!

I have being taking Alfie to dog classes every week as part of his behavioural training, mainly to try help him behave better with other dogs and for the trainer to see how he is progressing. Last week we had to get our dog to sit on some cardboard, then walk over some poles, sit on some bubble wrap, walk on a plank of wood that was like a sea saw, walk over some hoops and sit on some more cardboard, the aim was to try get them used to obeying commands on different textures. Alfie was really good at it compared to the other dogs and he is a nervous dog, so I was very happy with him.

Tablet Container/Sorter

When I was in hospital the pharmacist gave me a container/sorter to sort and keep my tablets in for a the upcoming week. I've never used one before as I have never seen any that would be big enough to hold all my tablets and to be honest I've never felt I needed to use one as I know what tablets I need to take everyday and I don't forget to take them.

However she gave me it anyway and suggested I have a go with it whilst in hospital so I did and I have found it really useful! It saves me a few minutes every morning and evening as I don't spend time opening containers and popping tablets out of foils (which I find SO annoying as they don't pop open properly half of the time!). However the biggest positive of preparing my tablets in advance is I know what tablets I am running low on, I no longer go to have my tablets and realise I have two tablets left! Oops!

I now prepare them and can jot down what I am running low on and send off my repeat prescription request in time before I run out. I have figured out as well I can prepare two weeks worth of tablets as there are four parts for each day so I can have 2x mornings and 2x nights.

So in conclusion I would highly recommend one if you can find one like mine. It's going to be so handy when I go on holiday as well

Münchausen by Internet

I am a member of a group on facebook for women with CF who are either mothers or are trying to become a mother. It's a secret group so you have to be invited to it and nobody else can see anything you have posted or that you are even in this group. Many women don't want people to know they are trying to conceive or their problems with being a mother, they express personal fears, upsets, details and anger at their difficult situations and they exchange tips and encouragement. Since people with CF can not meet up due to cross infection this group is the the only way for many to communicate with others in similar situations to themselves. It is a lovely supportive group where a person feels she can discuss anything on her mind and not be judged because everyone else on there has had similar thoughts and can give relevant and useful advice as they actually know what it's like and they know it will remain confidential.

I have found this group to be a great help when I have felt down about my own problems and I find it reassuring to read about mothers with CF coping well with parenthood and posting tips relevant to being a CF parent.

However today the administrators (who were brilliant to spot this and investigate) told us that they have had to remove two members as after much research they believe they do not even have CF and have posted lots of lies to gain attention. One of these people I had actually removed from my facebook friends list the day before as I suspected there was something strange about her. I have now gone through my facebook friends list and removed anyone I don't talk to much or know much about who claims to have CF.

It's shaken me up as that group was a safe haven to vent my frustrations and support others, to think that someone has sat there and read through posts and then made lies up for attention makes me feel vulnerable as you never know who people are online and what their intentions are. It then makes me doubt everything I do online, who knows how any people are doing this? Apparently it can be classed as some type of mental illness and I think it must be, why would you pretend to be sick?! It's horrible to think that the only way I can talk to others with CF is tainted by these people who join communities nothing to do with them and make up a whole life to try fit in. Why can't people leave these communities to support one another alone? Why do they have to ruin it by sticking their nose where is doesn't belong? I've had problems with posting things online before and I am much more careful where and what I post now. I have gone off the CFTrust forum as anyone can look at it, you don't even need log in details. I've even considered at times making this blog private because I have no idea who reads it, I try my best to not post too much confidential information on here. But on a forum that is private and on such sensitive topics, that's an all time low.

The Internet is great in some ways but it seems to attract all those strange people out there, please keep a look out for fakers!