Wednesday, November 18, 2009

I'm Sick and it's My Fault

So I head in for some PFTs today (just as a formality) so I can get myself a bed in The Hole ASAP. I've definitely taken a hit this last month with my overall health. If you remember my post from last week, my PFTs were also down about 10% from last month and I'm having hemoptysis. I knew that I was going to have to get in sooner rather than later, but I was hoping to hold off until after Thanksgiving. It's gotten to the point though that I know damage is being done and now I just have to nip it in the bud. The biggest problem has been my lack of energy. And with me, a lack of energy can be a killer...well, let's hope it's not that bad :)

Everything kind of slowly goes downhill when I start missing my runs and workouts. With all of the traveling I've been doing lately, my schedule has been all over the place. I mean, I brought my running shoes to Dallas with me, but did I use them? NOPE. And that's completely on me. I can't blame lack of time. I can't blame weather. I can't blame how I feel. There's nothing to blame but the guy I see in the mirror everyday. Cause here's the deal: I've managed to run when I had even less time, there was worse weather AND I felt even crappier. So there is only one thing left to blame: Ronnie. I've made choices over this last month that have allowed my lung function to slip. I could have pushed harder. I could have scaled back on work. I could have went to bed earlier. There's a million things I could have done differently, but I chose a different way.

Now I have another choice to make: I can sit here and sulk and wonder how things would be different without CF or I can learn from how I'm feeling right now and realize that I don't like it and I CAN control the outcome next time. I'll pick option number two. If I sit around and wonder why, I'll be wondering the same things on my death bed. I don't see the point in asking a question that really doesn't have an answer...and to be frank, if it did have an answer, I wouldn't care what it is. All of this "feeling sick" crap is what actually makes life even more interesting for me. With everyday that passes, I'm learning a little more about myself and my opponent. The fact that I get to face a "challenge" everyday is something that I thrive on. It drives me like you would never believe to prove all of the statistics, numbers and nay sayers wrong. If I lose this challenge, I can guarantee you it won't be Cystic Fibrosis' fault...it will be mine.

Comments (16)

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This will be your first time hospitalized with a fiance! I think you should by a big fake diamond ring from Wal-Mart (we're talking a honker toy ring) and wear it around the hospital. Ridiculous? Yes. Hilarious. Undoubtedly.

I hope you feel better soon. I think it is very wise of you to do be doing what you're doing.
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
That sounds like a good idea to me! I may just have to do it....
I'm sorry you're sick. I'm not feeling too well but it's almost Tobi time so I'm hoping that will take care of it.

Hope you get to feeling better soon
Get well soon, fibro! Way to nip it in the bud.
I think while it may be true that you could have made some better choices, you pushes through, at the time, because you thought it was still an option. Now you see- it's not an option. You're sicker than you thought before. I'm sure that other times, you have pushed through and NOT gotten sicker. Just had a few bad days. Now you learn, to change your parameters for judging your illness. All of us CFers have to reset our parameters each year, each month, as our disease progresses.

The good thing is that now you're taking the time to fight the beast of CF. But, I don't think you should ever blame yourself for your illness flaring up. You don't need to spend your emotional energy feeling guilty that you need some extra care right now. I think a lot of CFers actually end up resisting the care they need just BECAUSE they always feel this guilt when they are actually hospitalized. They feel like, "look at me here, I'm a failure, I got myself sick again." - so the next time they are sick, they avoid the hospital because some part of them remembers that guilty feeling.

So you went to Dallas, so you stayed up late smooching your new fiance instead of sleeping, so you skipped a workout. Next time you might not. But you also might. You might travel and stay up late and be busy livin' your life for a couple weeks. Damn right! You're keeping that body well so you can live that life- and there will be setbacks but don't blame yourself. Just get back on the horse and move forward!!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE, CG Beth Peters
1 reply · active 802 weeks ago
I know what you're saying, but I just KNOW that if I wouldn't have let up a little bit I wouldn't be in this position. But back on the horse I will be in no time!!!!

Ronnie
You have such a great attitude, even when things are down. Things will turn around for you, just stay positive!
Way to nip it in the bud and get it over with....keep that damage from happening. Sometimes we gotta bite the bullet and go for it. Good luck in the hole, bro! You'll be up and running in no time :)
Keep your chin up and feel better soon! You'll get back on top in NO time! :)
I'm with Beth on this one -- life isn't so much defined by our mistakes as the way we react to them. And whose to say that all those choices really were "mistakes" at the time? As cystics we're constantly evolving with our disease -- learning our new limitations, pushing away some of the old ones -- it's a process. For me it is so not about winning and losing (I actually cringe when I hear the phrase "lost his battle to CF") because life shouldn't be a war. A challenge, sure, but when it comes right down to it, whatever happens, you'll have "won" your challenge by being upbeat, inspiring so many people who love and respect you, helping others, and living your life.

Wallowing in self pity isn't productive, but neither are guilt and blame. Move forward, enjoy your turkey in the hole (sounds like a gourmet dish!), and keep doing exactly what you do every day. In other words, keep making us all smile.

Love and good vibes for a speedy recovery!
Piper

PS: LOVE the engagement video! Congrats to you and Mandi on making such a beautiful, fun, and spirited couple!
Sounds like you are doing the right thing! Will be hoping and praying for a quick recovery! Mel (jazzysmom) is going in tomorrow also.....
Take care,
Jada
Ronnie, I'm really late reading some of your posts but I hope you get feeling well so you can eat a lot of turkey and stuffing and all that good stuff!! I'm doing a treatment right now--tobi and I just got done doing pumozyme.. I'm also doing my vest.. I hope that makes you smile! :)

Congratulations on your engagement!!!! :)
Ophelia Hart's avatar

Ophelia Hart · 802 weeks ago

Thanks for your blog Ronnie. It is incredibly entertaining as well as educational. I also run to manage a health condition and I like to tell people about a great book I have read by Haruki Murakami called "What I talk about when I talk about running". http://www.exorcising-ghosts.co.uk/running.html. Perhaps you have already heard of him but i just thought I would mention it. He comes to mind particularly because your writing style is a little similar to his. He writes great non-fiction too.

Anyhow, get better soon. Your blog is fantastic and reaching the lives of so many people, with and without CF.

Ophelia

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