Working while on treatment & food?

[rindaaa]

My husband is going to be starting treatment in about 2 wks.  He is geno type 1a which I hear is the most common  hardest to beat.  He has had hep-c we figure for at least 35 yrs and just recently found out.  :(  He has been a heavy beer drinker all these years so I'm sure that was hard on the liver.  He done all the scans, tests, biospy and was told he is "early cirrhosis".

He is the only one working in our house because I'm disabled and can't work.  So only one income and we are REALLY concerned about him not being able to work.  What he would get on disability would not be even close enough to cover our mortage and other payments.  :(  Its stressing us both out...we don't want to lose our home over this.)  My husband admits he is a light weight when it comes to being ill or not feeling good.  He is 58 years old and is worried about how bad these drugs are going to affect him?  (I know its different with everyone and he won't know until he does it.)  But I was hoping to find out if there are any other people here that have had "physically demanding" jobs and managed to get through treatment?

His job is VERY physical and there is no way around it...no light duty either.  Heavy lifting all the time, installing motors in large industrial machines...climbing up on big tanks, working on big bakery equiptment, lots of walking, etc.  Does anyone here think it will be possible for him to work that type of job for 48 weeks at his age?  He does work 4 ten hour days and has 3 days off which is good from what I'm hearing.  Anyone here had to work a real physical job and did ok?  The thought of losing our house stresses me out.  
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One last thing...I'm curious about food.  He wants to know if most people on treatment lose their appetite, or the taste buds still work and your hungry like you normally would be?  (Or is it different for everyone?)  I went through cancer treatment/chemo and food was GROSS...I could not eat.  I hope its not as bad with these drugs for hep?  Any feedback on these questions would be MUCH appreciated.  

Rinda

[tryin2btough]

Hi

I finished treatment in October, I am 52, and I worked at an active job, lifting boxes moving merchandise, dealing with customers, then I came home and work at cleaning stalls and feeding horses. I only missed a couple of days during treatment. If your husband is in good shape and used to activity it will help, If he is the type that works when he has aches and pains he should make it. Being stubbon helps as well :)
As to food I started losing the desire for some foods at about  halfway through, the taste changed, my 'sad thing' was I could not eat spicy food it really burned my tongue.  I just tried to eat healthier, more protein, and fruit.

[Rockerforlife]

It think this statement says it all  "10% have no sides"......'10 % have heavy sides" the other 80 % fall somewhere inbetween.

[Marc1955]

You sound pretty well informed. As you know, no one can give you a definitive answer. I'm on week 60 of 72 and never missed a day of work, but my job is mental not physical and there were certainly days when I dragged through.

I think some of it depends on whether he becomes anemic. If he avoids that, he may feel bad, but he might be able to shoulder through. If he becomes anemic, it might be physically impossible to do the lifting because he will get physically weaker.

It's very common for the taste buds to be effected by the treatment. For many, it is a trick keeping up your weight and strength. You need to find foods that agree with you. For a while, all I could eat were sweet foods. Anything with salt was disgusting.

One thing to remind yourselves is that the difficulty of the treatment can vary over time. I started out there were no side effects at all and I felt great. Then I hit a wall at about week 10. The next two months were hellish and I thought more than once about quitting. Then, just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, they began to get better. It's still no picnic but it is manageable. So you both should try to shoulder through. It will be tough, but hopefully it will be doable.

Good luck.

[PegOnPeg]

This gets a little tricky.  Yes, it's different for everyone. I can tell you my personal experience, but it is not a guarantee that your hubby will respond the same. He's a guy, I'm a girl, etc.

I am also G1a.

There is one guy I can think of with a physical job..Rockerforlife, I believe. (I'm on week 17 of treatment..I'm not REALLY sure about much these days. He worked thru the bulk of treatment, tho he lost his job for other reasons.

I would think, if you're a physical person to begin with, it would have to be best for you to remain physical. I hope this is true for your hubby...theres 1 guy who went to the gym every day...I cannot imagine.. Many here continue to work while treating..many never lost a day of work..I am still working, but have bad days & I have lost a few days to treatment.

Food...tho food smells good & I get hungary, I've lost 10 lbs since treating..I was down 15 lbs...and I'm a little thing to begin with. I can't spare the 10 - 15. I don't have much of an apptitie, tho sometimes I can really woof down some food..depends on what it is & who made it, I guess.  I don't get a taste for anything..no cravings for something to eat... I'm just eating to get by. I don't enjoy it much.

Again, there are many here who don't have this problem.  It will be impossible to predict how hubby will respond.  He'll have to jump in & play with the rest of us..I'm afraid there's no other way around it.

I wish the 2 of you the best
*peg*