I Am Not a Morning Person

I want to start this off with the disclaimer that I have never been a morning person. I am a night owl with a coffee addiction and a second-shift job. However, there is much more to the story. Several months ago, I noticed myself starting to frequently use the phrase “I’m not a morning person.” While there is truth to that statement, it leaves out a large chunk of the reality.

So, let me ask you. What comes to mind when someone tells you that they aren’t a morning person? Chances are, you’re not picturing someone driven to advancing a career. It’s probably someone who’s too lazy to set an alarm clock or too unmotivated to push hard enough.

A typical morning in my life starts by waking up around 8 a.m. (later if I’m lucky) to use the restroom. Steroid-induced hyperglycemia plus a large intake of daily water to prevent kidney damage from all the antibiotics make it so I can barely last eight hours at night without getting up to pee. So, I begrudgingly pull myself from under my sheets feeling completely unrested to start my day.

Next stop is the Holy Grail: coffee. I usually sit and watch a TV show (“Gilmore Girls” anyone?) for about an hour, sipping on my coffee and allowing my lungs a chance to wake up. I have found that if I do my treatment right away, I end up coughing too much to breathe in my nebulizers effectively. (And what good does that do me?) Once my veins are properly flowing full of caffeine, I embark on my hour-long quest of clearing my lungs with four different nebulizers and airway clearance.

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I finally complete these monumental tasks around 11 a.m. It’s time to let the puppy out, feed him, do some training, and play fetch. Next, it’s time to let the other dog out, feed, and exercise him. Lastly, I give myself about five minutes to get dressed, rinse my sinuses, and brush my teeth.

It’s hard for me to go anywhere before noon because it takes three to four hours for my body to become functional and ready to go out the door. If I rush, my whole day becomes unproductive and useless. When I tell people I’m not a morning person, there’s more to it than just being unready to get out of bed.

What simple explanations do you find yourself giving in lieu of the complex truth?

» Follow my journey at The Living, Breathing Wendy «

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Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today, or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.