where are the nurse maids

[couchpotato]

Morning everyone, I just have a short observation. I have been reading all the postings and have found some really good info but then I started to realize that nobody has ever mentioned their support systems at home. I am wondering how your spouses, partners, kids etc. are handling the stress and worry of you all being sick? God knows it is harder on you on tx but personally, there are moments when I am terrified, doubtful, angry and very frustrated, so I am imagining I am probably not alone with these thoughts. Anyway, I have delayed my tx until I can see Bui through this, now I'm wondering with the brain fog thing if he will be able to cope caring for me when the time comes! Are any of you dealing with your partner being infected also? Good luck to you all tonight, and thanks for listening.

[Pinksmything]

I'm supporting my husband as he goes through tx.  He actually has been to afraid to learn all the details and kept putting tx off.  After I joined this site, I shared information with him which sort of empowered him and he decided to go through it.  I before I found this site was scared to death. I was thinking Greg had no hope or at least very little.  When I started seeing others become SVR,UND... I was comforted.  It's hard being the spouse/caregiver as I want to do it all for him and I cant.
I haven't gone through the treatment with him as last night was his first shot.  My goal is to support and encourage him as he goes through this... it's all I know how to do... :)     Janet

[Ermana]

I'm the caregiver of a surviving (was taken off tx few weeks ago) and she is continuing to experience severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, no appetite, depression,...  Her Dr feels she shouldn't be so sick anymore and she shouldn't require the pain meds anymore.  She does like her vicodin and has no control when she holds the bottle herself.  The beginning of this week she went into the hosp and had CAT scan and MRI and no cause for her continued pain could be found.  Her liver was found to be enlarged.  My question is this:  are her symptoms from coming off of the tx or is she suffering from withdrawal?  What do I do?
Ermana

[DebbieDo]

Hi, thanks for your encouragement.  I live in southern Ca...
I think you are so wonderful to set up that site. You have alot of knowledge to help people like me who is just learning about Hep C.....

[Kath_in_Md]

It was a very hard lesson for me to learn to ask for help.... I'm independent, and not used to having anyone do anything for me.  I've discovered one of the sides of HCV, is humbling - asking for help enables those who love you to feel good about doing something positive.  Know how good you feel when you help others?  Don't hog that feeling - give it to others <smile>.  So now, when I feel rotten, and my daughter needs to be chauferred somewhere, I call and ask for help.  Spreading it around makes it easier too.

Kath

[DebbieDo]

Thanks for your reply I have never been sick that i couldn't tend to my needs. NEVER......I'm a caregiver not a receiver.
              Deb

[Kath_in_Md]

Well, everyone is different.  I am a single mom with an 11 year old daughter.  So far we're making it ok, at 23 weeks out of 48.  Of course, most of my (if not all) energy goes to work - I'm working full time.  And I do have a wonderful support group of friends and members of my Synagogue.  I have no family in the area, so I depend on these friends a lot.  There are nights that someone comes by with dinner for Sara and I - well, more for her as I have a very limited appetite, and on really bad weeks I've had friends go grocery shopping for me.  But, I'm kinda maintaining although, I make no plans for anything other than work, and then bed early in the evening.  My daughter joins me there to watch some tv.

Kath

[lackalustre]

i think women sometimes have a hard time receiving.  they are usually such caretakers.  its hard for us "moms" to need help when we are usually taking care of everyone elses needs.  but most of us get pretty limited on tx.     sometimes i think the people who say that their marraiges are stronger after tx. are the men.   many women get left in the dirt.   NO NOT ALL THEM.   but women are just more caregivers and tune into that.  its hard for men with sick wives.   my husband is committed but it was very hard to live with a wife who was often unpredictable and unable to do whats always been expected.  my hats off to spouses dealing with this. and children too!

[oldhippiechick67]

If you have one friend, that is great, you can ask her for help if you need something at the store and dont feel like going, and if you have a bad time with it maybe she could come and stay with you.  But you might not have a rough time.  I dont think you need to worry, positive attitude and "I am woman, I am strong" will get you through this.  I have a husband but he works long hrs and we only see each other for a few hrs every day.  I still make him dinner, but there have been lotsa times I wished he would call and say he was picking up dinner for us instead.  And I have a daughter who helps me if I need it, she goes to school too.  I enjoy my time alone, I can watch tv or be on the computer, do laundry, dishes, let the dogs in and out, in and out!  There are some HepC support groups in larger towns.  What state do you live in?  OHC

[DebbieDo]

What if you live alone, will i be able to maintain my life on TX.....this is a scarey thing for me.  I have one friend who knows about my HEP C...family doesnt live close...

[nurse12hr]

I am a spouse of a hepC survivor.  

I remember going through a whole gauntlet of emotions when my husband was first diagnosed.  The worst was an overwhelming fear that he would die.

However, as time went on and we explored treatment options and did the research, we both calmed down and just got to work on it.  He was cranky on tx, had no energy, no sex drive, headachey, mean, depressed, and just unpredictable in general.
We went through a year long treatment TWICE.  

I tried being all lovey and supportive, but it made him worse.  So I settled for just gritting my teeth and trying to just get through each day without a major blow up.  Probably this was the wrong way to handle things, we should have gone for counseling, etc, but hey, we made it without too much damage to our marriage.  

Glad it is over, and he was undetectable at more than a year post treatment, so this chapter is OVER!

[myrtles]

Hello there,  My husband has been behind me 100% but I can see that it is wearing on him and that worries me.  We are only at wk 5 with the 43 more to go.  I know he has to be feeling the stress.  We are strong in our faith and I know that is what is getting him through.  He is very good to me, makes me eat when I don't want to, brings me anything I want, puts me to bed at 7:30 in the evening, takes care of our daughter, washes the dishes after supper, works a full time job that is very demanding physically, washes the clothes...the list is endless.  I am so glad that God blessed me with this wonderful man!!

Our daughter is six and is concerned about mommy. She prays for me all the time.  I know she worries about me when I am really sick and can't get out of bed.  She comes to sit with me and keeps me company.  We watch TV together sometimes.

I am sorry that you get to feeling worried, frustrated and angry.  But don't beat yourself up.  I think these are all normal feelings.  It is good that you come here.  Talk to everyone you can so you don't keep your emotions bottled up.  That is one of the things I worry most about my husband.  I ask him how is he doing and he always says he's fine.  I know that can't be true all the time.  If he was more computer savy I would encourage him to come here and get some support.  Our church family is behind us and that helps tremendously.

I wish you guys all the best.  And when it comes your time to whip the dragon I'm sure he will be there for you too.  In the meantime hang in there!!