Dear Karen,

Question: "I tend to lose motivation for chest physical therapy and other treatments. Are there effective motivational techniques that I could employ to get me going?"

Answer: This is a very good question. I am not one for chest PT. I love to run, bike, do Yoga and my new thing is acupuncture. I say - mix it up. I realize it is hard for CF patients to get away from the old chest PT regimen, but you would be amazed what a bit of exercise and your daily nebulizer treatments can do. I always remind myself how much better I feel afterwards and feeling better motivates me.

Dear Karen:  My 17 year-old daughter has CF. She is a high school senior and we are looking at colleges. How did you handle CF in college - managing treatments with a busy college schedule??
   Lisa

Dear Lisa: This is a great question. I would advise your daughter to start out at a local community college. This will enable you to save money along the road to a college degree and be close to home for treatments. Once things are on track, she can start to think about transferring to a four-year college.

She should also be sure not to take too heavy a course load, and, if comfortable with it, let her professors know about her CF. There are plenty of college students that take five or even six years to get their degrees. The important thing is to get it!

In terms of managing treatments, I would advise her to learn to evaluate what she can and cannot handle in terms of keeping to the schedule. College should involve fun and social activities, but health still comes first.

To sum it up, there is a balance between "cutting loose" and being tied to a very strict regimen. I made it through college without hospitalization, got my degree, and am now teaching elementary school. Your daughter can reach her goals, too!