Mornings are Tough with CF Part 2: Tips and Tricks

In Part 1 of this article series, I discussed how mornings are not an easy part of the day for a lot of people living with CF. Due to fatigue, disrupted sleep, and stressful early morning treatment burdens, the mornings can be really tough. Over the years, after being forced to be a morning person once I had children like a lot parents, I figured out a few tips and tricks to help me along the way. Here’s my advice on how to make the best of your mornings with CF!

Establish a good routine

Mornings with CF are busy, especially when you need to do airway clearance and take medications. Airway clearance alone adds on about an hour to my morning routine and yet, it has to get done, no matter what. I always feel like I am in a rush, but I have learned over the years that staying organized and having a solid morning routine helps the busy hustle become easier and more efficient.

Some tips to make your morning routine easier:

• Line up your nebulizer cups and medications the night before
• Wake up at the same time no matter what day of the week
• Prep breakfast, coffee, clothes, and your bag as much as possible
• Get a later start if possible for your work or school day
• Do something that lifts your mood such as listening to music

Refuel your body

Sleeping is most likely the longest period of time during the day that your body goes without water or food. No wonder I often wake up parched and hangry. I always feel slow in the morning until I drink my cup of coffee, eat a snack, and rehydrate, and then slowly, I feel better.

Remember that hydration has a big impact on how you feel in the morning. Try to rehydrate as soon as you wake up. A helpful product I found to help hydration in the morning is LiquidIV. LiquidIV is a hydration multiplier found at local grocery and retail stores. I started drinking it when I was on IVs a few weeks ago and it helped me feel hydrated almost immediately, curing my headache and sluggishness. I was shocked!

See a sleep specialist

A few years back I saw a sleep specialist after battling chronic fatigue that wasn’t improving at all. After completing a sleep study overnight in a hotel, the testing showed I had many episodes of disrupted sleep and alertness from coughing throughout the night. The good news was my body was getting enough oxygen, but I just wasn’t sleeping soundly. Don’t be afraid to get a sleep study done by a doctor who specializes in sleep. It’s important to identify any issues as soon as possible so you can get the most restful and healing sleep your body needs.

Do you have any special tips that help make your mornings more doable? Share with us below!