Help Fight CF - 30 Under 30 Fundraiser

I was recently honored to be selected to Nashville’s Top 30 Under 30 and with that distinction I pledged to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis. So I am asking all my friends and family for help.

HOW – How can YOU support Cystic Fibrosis and make a difference in many lives? First, go to my fundraising page below and donate, every bit helps. Next, forward the link to your friends and family. It’s that easy.

www.cff.org/LWC/JakeBachman

WHY - Why Cystic Fibrosis? For me it’s obvious. But for those who don’t know, Cystic Fibrosis is one of the most common genetic diseases in the U.S. with 1 in 25 people being symptom less carriers of the CF gene.  Additionally, 90 cents of every dollar goes directly to CF research making this funding first class in efficency. And I have witnessed first hand the life changing discoveries made over the past 30 years making CF donations one of the most productive and successful.

WHERE - Where will the money go? Donations go directly to research to help improve and extend the lives of those with CF while striving for a cure. What has been done with previous money donated and what are we planning going forward? Research money for CF has lead to advancements moving the median age of CFers from 5 in the 1950’s to 13 in the 1980’s to 37 today. This was made possible by advancements from improved pancreatic enzymes to enhanced respiratory therapies. Upon identifying the CF gene marker as part of the human genome project in 1989 we’ve seen an explosion in new medications and advancements. As for moving forward, we were recently introduced to Kalydeco, Forbes Top Drug Discovery of 2012, a medication developed with the intent to directly go after the defect in the CF gene. This is the first medication for any disease functionally addressing the faulty gene causing the disease. While Kalydeco is conditioned to help a portion of CF gene abnormalities right now, the goal is to continue to endeavor forward to address all CF genes. These life changing advancements have been made possible through donations. Can you imagine what we’re going to be able to do next????

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

Living with Diabeetus (Diabetes), just like Wilford Brimley

As I touched on before, Cystic Fibrosis causes many problems throughout the body. Another effect of increased mucus can be scarring on the pancreas resulting in an insulin deficiency.  This deficiency and inability to control blood sugar levels results in . . . wait for it . . . diabetes.

Monitoring your blood glucose levels is key.  I test my fasting glucose level in the morning with a goal of 80-120. I follow every meal with a 2 hour monitor aiming for below 140. I test the levels is through a finger prick and a blood glucose monitor (just like the commercials).

How do I control my diabetes? Through diet, exercise and more shots than a weekend in Cancun.

Counting carbs is where I begin. Could I cut carbs to eliminate the need for insulin? Probably, but it’s difficult for CFers. When I learned of my diabetes, I cut carbs and controlled my blood sugar level for a while. However, a CFers struggle to keep weight on makes it difficult to maintain a low carb diet. Also, my desire to stay active requires more carbs as well. I decided on a healthy diet, eliminating unnecessary carbs, while keeping the good ones such as pasta, fruit, grape nuts, potatoes and my personal favorite - gummy bears. Okay, the last one doesn’t have much nutritional value but I gotta have something. Eating good carbs at least makes every shot count.

Exercise is next. Cardio helps burn calories and sugar. This lowers my need for insulin and stabilizes my blood sugar levels. Not to mention, I already need to get a healthy dose of exercise for my lungs.

Shots, Shots, Shots . . . And now for the inevitable portion of diabetes, the insulin shot. I need carbs to maintain a healthy weight and lead an active lifestyle. But, I also need to offset the shortcomings of my pancreas. So, I am on a sliding scale where I take 1 unit of insulin for every 18 carbs consumed.  Generally I run 125 carbs for large meals resulting in 6-7 units of insulin. I administer the shots directly into my stomach.

Funny story . . . Back in the ‘90s and early ‘00s, I had a stint of passing out every time I got a shot. Needless to say, I had to get over that really quick when I began taking one 3+ times a day.

Kicking Off My New Years Running Regimen

I haven’t run or exercised much since Gavin was born. My list of excuses include Gavin’s sleeping pattern, the weather, the holidays, family visits, blah, blah, blah.

With the CF Monkey on my back, during these gaps I lose my condition quick. Some of it might be old age too, I don’t remember getting out of shape like this when I was 18. Regardless, I’m coming off a lingering cough and an inconsistent therapy schedule (Gavin turned my schedule upside down for a while). I need to get back to running around my community and the greenway, timing my runs, fitting in some interval workouts and making sure I go to the World Outreach Running Club on Saturdays.

Here’s my first workout week of the New Year to blow CF out and get back in shape.

Monday

Couch to 5K Workout (w/ Amy)  

Warm Up – 5 min ~ .3 mile, Interval Workout – 20 min ~ 1.25miles (60/90 jog/walk)

Run – 1.54 miles ~ 11:25 (7:24 p/mile)

Wednesday

Couch to 5K Workout (w/ Amy) – 1.01 mile run

           

Friday

Run – 2.08 miles ~ 16:34 (7:57 p/mile)

Saturday

Run Group Run – 3.18 miles ~ 27:55 (8:46 p/mile)

Weekly Miles – 9.40 miles  

This will be my jumping off point to whipping my lungs back in shape. I plan to build my mileage, 1-2 mile sustained runs is a great beginning but plan to increase my mileage and speed over time. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this week to get more miles in.

If anyone feels inspired to train for a 5K, I am coordinating a race for Cystic Fibrosis in Murfreesboro on May 18, 2013.

                

My Running History: From Diaper Rash to Warrior Dash

Cystic Fibrosis attacks your lungs, mucks up the system and makes cardio hard. Many see cardio as an obstacle, something to be avoided. I see it as a necessity. I need to get my lungs working hard to assure they are as strong as they can be. How do I do this? Run, run, and then run some more. Sometimes I run hard, sometimes fast, other times far.

Running has always been my most rewarding and enjoyable therapy to combat CF (I’m not a medical professional, this is just my opinion).  And now with diabetes, it’s even more important.

How did I start running? When I was old enough to run, I ran (probably much like Forrest). Later, I turned to soccer, football and basketball; anything that kept me moving. I ran my first 10K at age 9 with my family, the Bolder Boulder in Colorado, I wasn’t fast but finished.  In middle school, I went out for track where I ran the 400 M which is basically medium/long distance for a 12 year old.

In high school, I joined the track team and later cross country. My coach, Mr. Hess, was a Math teacher and coach who had several CF patients through his doors and was familiar with my situation. On the first day of track, he sent me to the distance group without asking. We both knew distance was what I needed. I finished high school placing at Regionals in cross country and in track in the 800m run, 1600m run and 3200m relay and went on to place at State in the relay.

Without structure, it was hard to stay in shape and keep running after high school. I stayed active in intramural sports but didn’t focus on my lungs the way I should. A couple years ago, I renewed my focus on running, particularly to whip my lungs in shape. I began with the Bolder Boulder again, much slower than in high school, a couple other 5Ks, and added the Warrior Dash as a yearly staple.

In 2012, I set my sights much higher and completed the Music City Marathon and Murfreesboro Half marathon. I plan to keep this momentum into 2013.

I am going to post my PR list online as a reminder of the benchmarks I set in the last couple years and plan to beat . . . wait, destroy in upcoming races. 

            5 KM                    23:58 ~ Red Nose Run Lynchburg, TN

            10 KM               1:12:35 ~ Bolder Boulder Boulder, CO

            Half Marathon   2:13:32 ~ Middle Half Marathon Murfreesboro, TN
            Full Marathon    4:58:08 ~ Music City Marathon Nashville, TN

My Medicine Cabinet is a Closet

This is a day in the life of my medicine cabinet:

Pulmozyme (Dornase Alfa) is an inhaled medication through a nebulizer. It takes 10-15 minutes per treatment and I do two treatments daily. CF causes your body to produce extra thick, sticky mucus in your lungs. Pulmozyme uniquely targets the extracellular DNA, acting like scissors in the mucus. It cuts up the DNA strands outside the cell attributing to the problem causing the mucus issue. Pulmozyme helps improve lung functions and reduce risk of respiratory tract infections.

Hypertonic Saline is another inhaled medication administered through a nebulizer. This solution takes 20-25 minutes per treatment, with two treatments daily. Hypertonic Saline is a mucoactive agent and is used to hydrate thick mucus in order to make it easier to cough up. Removing the damaging mucus from my lungs is a key for success.

Advair is an inhaled medication administered through an inhalant diskus. I take one puff twice a day. Advair prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation and is a bronchodilator. It works by relaxing muscles in the airways to improve breathing. It is also used to prevent flare-ups or worsening of chronic obstructions.

Azithromycin is very common and most people are familiar with this basic oral antibiotic. This is the drug used in the popular ‘Z-pak’. I take it three times a week as a preventative aid. This antibiotic is one of the world’s best selling used to treat and prevent bacterial infections. It is used to help boost CF patients potentially weakened immune system.

Creon is a type of pancreatic enzyme supplement. I take 5-6 capsules with every meal and 2-3 capsules with every snack. I have taken enzymes since birth. Creon treats my inability to normally digest food because the pancreas does not make enough enzymes. It improves the digestion of fats, proteins, and sugars.

Source CF is a multi vitamin I take twice daily. Source CF is water soluble and contains vitamins A, B, D, E, K and Zinc. Due to my inability to efficiently process fat soluble vitamins, this is a very important supplement for proper nutrition.

Additionally, I have a couple as needed medications. Examples are Flonase and Albuterol, both of which I have on hand and use on a monthly basis just not daily. And no doubt there is a plethora of other medications I dabble in from time to time when my health requires it. And while my list is long, it’s shorter than is used to be and smaller than many with CF. I also left out insulin for my diabetes; I figured I would leave that for another day.

Well, I had better get going. I’m sure there is some medication I am supposed to be taking right now.

P.S. Most, if not all, of these medications have been made possible because of donations to research organizations specializing in Cystic Fibrosis.

What is Cystic Fibrosis?????

Here is a quick run down on what CF is and what CF is to me.

Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease (thanks Mom & Dad) affecting the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines and fertility. Many ask, yes, I had a cousin with CF who sadly passed away. Moreover, CF wasn’t really recognized until the mid-1900’s, so there’s suspicion CF may have caused infant deaths back in my family tree. Since infant deaths were unfortunately common at the turn of the century, we really don’t know. And for the rest of you, 1 in 25 of European descent is a carrier, so it’s not uncommon.

Lungs -- Difficulty breathing accompanied by heavy coughing is the most serious symptom resulting in frequent lung and sinus infections. Lung disease can persist due to mucus build-up, decreased clearance and resulting inflammation. So I have to focus on staying healthy, keeping my lungs clear and staying on top of a plethora of therapies and treatments for my breathing.

Digestion -- I was part of the 5-10% with an intestinal blockage requiring immediate surgery at birth, a condition called meconium ileus. From there, the mucus clogging my lungs also clogs the exocrine movement of digestive enzymes. Thus, I have an inability to breakdown and digest food efficiently. This leads to malabsorption and malnutrition. I also have difficulties absorbing fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. To compensate, I take synthetic enzymes and water soluble vitamins.  However, this results in me needing to closely monitor my weight and nutrition.

Diabetes -- Due to the damage CF caused to my pancreas, my body recently began not producing enough insulin. It results in a Type 1 and 2 hybrid diabetes. I have symptoms of Type 2 with the insulin dependency of Type 1. I am on a carb counting system where I take insulin shots accordingly. Many ask if I can control my diet to limit the need for injections. Unfortunately, the need for high levels of carbs and calories to stay healthy with CF limits my ability to control the diabetes with diet.  

Lastly, fun with infertility. I will make it quick, I lack a vas deferens, bam. No worries, though.  Clearly, we found ways around that small kink in the plumbing. Enter GAVIN. We had to do In Vitro Fertilization after a small procedure and quality time with a bag of frozen peas. Regardless, Gavin is here.

That is a snapshot of what CF is and what CF has been to me. Tune in again to learn more. And always feel free to ask any questions.

Allow Me To Introduce Myself . . .

Hey Everyone, my name is Jake Bachman.

2012 was a great year, one to remember. We started in London then Scotland, following our Eurotrip was In Vitro Fertilization, then we got PREGNANT, ran a Marathon and attended the Kentucky Derby followed by Baby Showers in Colorado, Tennessee and North Carolina, then we spent some time in Florida and watched the Denver Broncos at the Georgia Dome. THEN GAVIN WAS BORN, we had Thanksgiving and finished the year Griswold style with both sides of the family in our house for Christmas and New Years. Bam, busy year.

For you who don’t know, while keeping busy I was also battling Cystic Fibrosis. And in 2012 I had to learn to balance my newly aquired diabetes with my CF. My health definitely had many ups and downs. My lung fuctions, my weight, and my blood sugar all had their good days and bad.

In the past six weeks with Gavin here I am finding a new challenge to balance my treatments, medications and health with the new little one. With the new year I have a rejuvenated focus on my health while still having a blasty blast with Amy, Gavin and my dog, Piggy.

I am going to chronicle my efforts to build my lungs, manage my weight, work on my fitness and raise money for CF, while probably dropping some Gavin and fatherhood stories in and maybe some random goings ons too.

~ Jake

p.s. Go Broncos, Super Bowl XLVII