Abbreviations

Using abbreviations on CYSTIC-L is discouraged because it makes communication difficult for those who may not be familiar with the abbreviation. This can be a particular problem when English is not the native tongue, and for those new to the Internet. Please especially avoid using abbreviations not listed in the following table.

Abbreviations and acronyms not listed in the table may be looked up using this search engine:

AOL	America On Line
APBA	Allergic Bronchio Pulmonary Aspergillosis
BID	2 times a day (used to denote the number of times a medication or treatment is given - contrast with QD, QID, TID) originates from the initials of the phrase in Latin
BGCL	Bad Girls of Cystic-L. A "secret" society of (mostly) women on CYSTIC-L. BGCL have a reputation for being coquettishly disruptive yet totally dedicated to having a good old time with others!
BTW	By The Way
BFN	Bye For Now
CF	Cystic Fibrosis
CFer	A person with Cystic Fibrosis
CFF	Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
CFRI	Cystic Fibrosis Research, Inc.
CFTR	cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene
COPD	Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CPT	Chest Physical Therapy
DIOS	Distal Intestinal Obstruction Syndrome; a build up of sticky stool in the colon producing discomfort on eating because the colon contracts when food enters the stomach. Often a washout with a lavage solution such as Golytely helps (not all that pleasant, admittedly). An abdominal X-ray may help decide if this is the problem.
Dx	Diagnosis
EMLA	Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics
FTT	Failure To Thrive
G	Grin; often written <G, or (g)
HMO	Health Maintenance Organization
IACFA	International Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults
ISHLT	International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
IPF	Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
IMHO	In My Humble Opinion
LOL	Laughing Out Loud
meds	Medications
MIE	meconium ileus equivalent
MRSA	Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
nebs	nebulizers
Oz	Australia; from Australian pronunciation as in "Oz-tral-ya"; also connotes humorous double-entendre reference to the Land of Oz in "The Wizard of Oz".
PDR	Physician's Desk Reference
PFT	Pulmonary Function Test(s) -Refers to a variety of tests from spirometry and maximum voluntary ventilation, helium dilution method, blood gases and oximetry. Usually when people from the USA speak about PFT's, they are referring to spirometry and maximum voluntary ventilation flows (i.e., FVC & FEV1).
PWCF	Person With Cystic Fibrosis; coined Dec. 11, 1994 by the ever droll Antony Dugdale (Founder and Guru of CYSTIC-L) in a parenthetical remark in a note posted to CYSTIC-L:"(Barbara: should we coin the phrase "PWCF" for "people with CF" instead of CF'ers? It works for PWA)" Note that "PWA" means "Persons With AIDS".
QID	4 times a day (used to denote the number of times a medication or treatment is given - contrast with QD, BID, TID) originates from the initials of the phrase in Latin
QD	1 time a day (used to denote the number of times a medication or treatment is given - contrast with BID, QID, TID) originates from the initials of the phrase in Latin
QOD	Every other day
RT	Respiratory Therapy or Respiratory Therapist
Rx	Prescription
TID	3 times a day (used to denote the number of times a medication or treatment is given - contrast with QD, BID, QID) originates from the initials of the phrase in Latin
TPN	Total Parenteral Nutrition. It is liquid food in its most basic form, all broken down into components that the bloodstream can use directly. This way, the patient receiving TPN does not need to eat in order to survive, gain weight or whatever the goal might be. Sometimes it is used to add protein so that surgical recovery is enhanced.
subQ	subcutaneous
tx	Transplant
UNOS	United Network for Organ Sharing