The other day I am out riding my horse and I decide to push myself a little harder than I usually do… In my head, I wonder if it is OK to do so or if I should take it easy… After an hour of riding, breathing hard, sweating, I get off of my horse and head into the barn… My trainer, who isn’t feeling well, says she has to haro(plow) the mare pasture and I offer to do it for her… So there I am, driving the big tractor through the pasture… to me, it is so meditative… I do breathing exercises and just concentrate on my lungs and how good it feels to take deep breaths… I thank God for my health and really put myself in a great place… The whole tractor is vibrating and I get 2 hours of thankfulness along with the benefits of a vest… WOW!! But then I wonder if maybe today I had pushed myself a little too hard…
I get home, take a shower, and sit down to relax… Of course coughing just comes along with CF, but tonight, I am paying more attention to it… Then it happens, the dreaded coughing of the blood… eekkk… I HATE IT!! Even though I know that it happens and that it is normal, I HATE IT!!! So then of course, I am concentrating on it and noticing that it isn’t stopping… darn it, I did overwork my lungs today…
When I get to my boyfriends house I decide to share with him what is going on… that is always a little scary because to us (CFers) we know that a little blood in our mucus isn’t necessarily as horrible as it sounds, but to a person who is in love with us, it can be really scary… He shares with me that maybe I shouldn’t go riding tomorrow and I should just take it easy, but that is not me… I DO NOT LET MY CF LIMIT ME!!! I never have and I am not going to start now…. maybe that is good?? maybe it isn’t?? Ahhhh… Needlesstosay, I went riding the next day… hehe… it’s my downfall… I’m stubborn when it comes to my CF trying to limit me…
I need my fellow CFers opinion on this… Have you experienced this at all?? and what did you do?? Do you think I should start watching how hard I work myself?? I just don’t know if I can…
Thank you all for your help in this manner…. I appreciate it so much…
Sarah
15 comments
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March 19, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Winslie Gomez
I congratulate you on being a brave person. You know you suffer from CF, yet you are a determined individual.
I am not an expert and please take anything I have to say with objectivity i.e please don’t sue me.
My mother was a homeopath and I am a rugby coach (like your US football but without armour) so I come from biomechanics and sport from UK.
The main problem appears to be ” difficult for people to clear the mucus from their lungs, is the main cause of the respiratory problems.”
I use Tiger Balm on my son who is allergic to house mites it is similar to VICKS.
Don’t have a shower, have a bath that releases vapours as you relax.
I am writing from UK so have no idea what you have available in your neighbourhood.
The problem is not that you pushed yourself too hard, but rather that you got anxious about pushing too hard.
Try relaxing your mind.
Have you tried pilates?
You have my email now. Please feel free to ask or my link is
http://justlearningman.wordpress.com
I will do all I can to help. You are not limited (as you appear to prove) but just need a few simple suggestions.
May you have a fulfilling life. I believe you have the courage, but you also need to consider all those around you. My advice get them involved explain the average CF person life span.
Enjoy riding!
March 19, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Traci
CALL THE DOCTOR PLEASE. I know deep down you already know that cuz you are too smart not to. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get checked out OK.
allrighty then, Ima call you now.
LOVE YOU,
Traci
March 19, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Alicia
Yeah, I would go get checked. It could be nothing but, why take that chance? You could open yourself up to WORSE things by not taking care of it now.
March 19, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Kristin
Well is coughing up blood a normal thing for you? I didn’t quite think it was. so if its not a normal thing that you’ve talked to the doc about and such then I’d give a call, but if it’s normal and its just streaking then I’d say no biggie but it’s ultimatly up to you and yes you dont what your life to be run by CF and yet as cliche as this sounds I’m sure you dont want it to end thanks to CF
March 19, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Angela
Your right, blood is normal.. Dark red means it could be old or a very slow bleed. Could be broken blood vessels in your throat from coughing, which is ok…just gotta let your throat heal..if its pure blood, get to the doctors..if its stringy blood..give it a day or two to see if it continues…if its brown/red mucousy blood–that could be old stuff your coughing up from the extra push work–which is good!! hope i’ve helped a little..gimme an update and good luck!!
March 19, 2008 at 4:52 pm
kristin
o wow, hunny im soooo sorry. the worrier i am i would call and get it checked out. thats what the docs are for is to help us out when we need it.
im praying for you!
love always kristin and reese
March 19, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Mark
I’m not going to comment on what you need to do. You know yourself better than anyone else does. You’ve also done this before, obviously, and you know how to take care of yourself.
As for allowing CF to limit you, I agree. However, be careful not to burn the candle at both ends. If your body is telling to to take it easy for a day or two, do it. That’s my philosophy and it’s worked well for me for almost 37 years.
As for pushing yourself, I also think that’s good. I think that some CFers are afraid to push themselves. You can only find your limits, in a good way, by pushing up to them or maybe a little beyond them. My limit right now, is 20 miles. Hopefully I can get that to 26.2 by May 4th.
Mark (aka CfKid)
March 19, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Shirleenie
Sarah Jean~~ I love you so much..and if something happened to you I would be so sad! You need to take care of yourself and dont be STUBBORN!! I understand how importaint it is for you to do what you love and I admire that…but we all love you! You need to talk with a DR. just to make sure and be careful..we are in our 30’s ya know!!:) HE HE !! I LOVE YOU!!XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOMUAH!!
March 19, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Jessie
Well I am like you I won’t let my CF limit me. I agree with mark about the pushing yourself and well Everything he said
I for the first time coughed up blood about two months ago. I was told not to do the pulmozyme, hypertonic saline and colystin or Tobi (whichever one I do) as those aggravate the lung MORE so that left me with just plain albuterol and saline and she added prednisone to help relax and open the bronchia, for a few days… Don’t do my vest or ANY form of CPT. I was like OK so I am sick and I can’t do anything to FIX the problem? Anyways My doc told me not to worry it was just a broken blood vessel in the lung (from coughing) and so long as it wasn’t more than like 1/2 a cups worth (cause yeah I am going to look for a measuring cup when I start coughing up blood. lol) Not to worry. But they did do an x-ray to be SURE it wasn’t anything major. I do recommend calling the doc to be sure but as a CFer I am right there with ya on the. Yeah whatever part
Anyways Just take it easy with the CPT’s and Feel better. Try not to stress. (I know its hard) and enjoy the horses.
March 19, 2008 at 8:59 pm
brandie k
Obviously it’s always a good idea to mention your concerns with your cf doctor/team and let them know when you’ve had bleeding episodes however it is only an emergency if you are coughing up liquid red blood in large quanities in a very short time or its not something you’ve experienced before. I am now almost 24yrs old and started having regular bleeds when I was in my early teens. They became very random and would usually last as long as an hour or two…I would try to use a cup or bottle to monitor the ammount until it stopped and usually had as much as several ounces per bleed. My understanding it it can come with the irration of the blood vessels in the airways or possibly with increased infection, things of that nature. Once I had it explain like a scab that never heals therefore it can be aggrivated and bleed until it clots again. It was annoying, yes, but I tried to never let it keep me from doing things. It was bothersome because while is was happening I would have to stop whatever I was doing, usually dancing, laughing really hard or just having fun of course! But I found that if I drank soad, like coke or something carbonated..that usually seemed to help it stop or slow down sooner. It could’ve been all in my head but at least if felt like I was able to do something, lol. Personally, I’d say unless it happens WHILE you are doing what ever activity it is, don’t worry about “pushing” yourself or not doing what you like…unless of course you feel like you should stop or are not feeling great..also if you start to notice a trend of the same thing happening regularly after whatever you were doing maybe there is a connection! You know yourself best so do what you are comfortable with and if you are worried or concerned then take the appropriate messures. I haven’t had those “active” bleeds (as I like to refer to them) for several years now, however I do get regular streaking and sometimes just blood colored mucus. I always let my docs know when i see them, just to keep all aware and informed, however I’ve only ever stopped or change my habbits at the time of the bleeds so as to allow it to stop or heal, etc. As common as it was for me for so many years to have this happen, literally at any time…sometimes while I was sleeping even.. it never made it any easier to deal with, afterall, as “normal” as it can be for us cfer’s…it just doesn’t seem right to have blood coming out of your body! Many times it was just emotionally frustrating and I would get upset just at the principle of not being able to stop it, control it, understand it..etc. As long as those you are around are aware of the problem and you don’t feel like it is something unusual for you, let them know you are not going to put yourself at risk and to trust your judgement…but again that only works if you YOURSELF feel like you are doing what you should. Try not to get to worked up because that can make things worse…but if you start to feel like you should do something different then you probably should…always listen to your body when it give you those signs and signals! Just remember, we still have to live inspite of this stupid disease and just maybe try to adapt your habbits to work with the problems instead of letting it stop you. Good luck!
March 19, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Robert
Hey I know coughing blood can be scary. I have had major battles with it myself. About a year ago I was at the point that I was basically vomitting blood. No mucus, just all bright red blood. Needless to say I called the doctor. That is the best advice I can give to you. Your doctor knows your case and what will work best for you. Definitely do not let CF limit you, I take the same stance. I know heavy excersice may cause some bloody coughs, but I stand ready to enter Law Enforcement Basic Training in August. I do dread that “tickle” I get in the left side of my chest when I can tell the blood is coming. I pay more attention to my coughs and all of a sudden, there it is. Excercise will do it to you, but not exercising will too! The way I see it, the harder I work my lungs, the stronger they will become. Only the doc can say what is best for you. Maybe get an X-ray? Anyway you are definitely not alone. The CF community sympathizes with you.
March 20, 2008 at 4:32 am
Meranda
I think you pushed yourself too hard and your lungs could not handle all the commotion. I cough up blood with Pneumonia, but if your not sick then your lungs are overworked. Do not do any CPT until the blood has stopped. You need the veins that are bleeding to heal. Also, you may want to skip Hypertonic saline (if your using it) for a couple days. Take it easy, rest, do not exert your lungs! What is your lung function?
Meranda
Soon to be 25 years old with CF, CF related Diabetes & Gastroparesis.
March 20, 2008 at 8:02 am
Jennifer
I am a worrier so i would go get it chaecked . you know your self granted but i would still get it checked.
March 20, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Sarah Morris
You guys are so awesome!! Thank you so much for your responses… I want to assure all of you that I am feeling great!! That is actually what made it so weird… So to all of my “concerned” friends… I promise, my lungs feel good… I am really looking to see if other CFers face the same after a hard work out… I went riding the next day, though I took it easy on myself, and there was no problem… so maybe it was the 2 hours of haroing… I can’t imagine sitting down and doing your vest for 2 hours would be good for you either… I love all ny CF friends SO MUCH… thank you for your continued support…
xoxo
Sarah
April 29, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Scottie Somers
Sarah,
I’m just Honored to know You now, and I’m Proud to call You Friend… You go out there and bleed away Doll…….xo
I couldn’t figure out how to leave a comment; I hope this works??
Anyways Hun, You’re an Inspiration and Hero to Many… I say get Rad and bleed a little; a little blood never hurt anybody (it will scare a few)… The fact that You’re out there riding horses and driving tractors and doing all the things that You want to achieve in a Day is GREAT!!!! I’m not going to tell You a story about Me, My Lungs and My bleeding experiences; Yours was a Better Story than mine would be anyways…