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Help In Preparing for Treatment
Hi Everyone
I am posting to get advice on how I should prepare for treatment.
I have a doctor appointment next week to renew some perscriptions and also get started on a antidepressant, any thoughts as to wheather one should take this while on treatment? Can you guy's tell me anything else I will need.
I see my gastro the following day and would like to set treatment up for the end of December. I have a wedding next year at this time so I would like to be finished my 48 weeks. Thank you for your input.
I am posting to get advice on how I should prepare for treatment.
I have a doctor appointment next week to renew some perscriptions and also get started on a antidepressant, any thoughts as to wheather one should take this while on treatment? Can you guy's tell me anything else I will need.
I see my gastro the following day and would like to set treatment up for the end of December. I have a wedding next year at this time so I would like to be finished my 48 weeks. Thank you for your input.
Here is a little shopping list
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Hepatitis/HCV-TX-SHOPPING-LIST/show/312?cid=64
There are also some other TX related pages on the health pages. Some might come in handy for preparation before tx. I compiled a few with the help of people here and they came in very handy for me. I felt very prepared before starting.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=64
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Hepatitis/HCV-TX-SHOPPING-LIST/show/312?cid=64
There are also some other TX related pages on the health pages. Some might come in handy for preparation before tx. I compiled a few with the help of people here and they came in very handy for me. I felt very prepared before starting.
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=64
I'm in CT too just not so far north - at least we can all relate to this lovely weather :(
I don't know if your handle means you live in Hartford, CT, but I work there. I finished 48 a couple of months ago and if you need any help just let me know. Either way, welcome and the best of luck to you!
Kathy73
Kathy73
Congrats on the upcoming wedding! :)
I took an ad a month before starting treatment and I really do think it helped me, I was very glad my doc advised me too.
There is tons of advice we can give you like make sure you get all your test results faxed over and learn how to read them (post them in here and people will show you which are most important), make sure you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water a day (you'll get REALLY dehydrated from the meds otherwise), try at first to take your shot on a night where you have off the next day so you can see how it goes.....just common sense stuff like that.
The most important thing (I think) is making sure you are getting enough of the meds right away, hit it fast and hard and don't give it a chance to recover! Make sure you are getting 'weight based ribavirin' at least - it's especially crucial in the first 12 weeks as we strive to get to undetectible. Ask your doc when he will be giving you your first PCR - if it's not at week 4 really and truly insist kindly that you get one then (including saying you'll pay for it yourself if you have to - the insurance companies do but it's an excuse some doctors give). If he doesn't give you a 4 week PCR then there is a fair chance the doctor is NOT up to date on any of the current advances as this is the biggest and most important one!
I'll let someone else step in now so I don't use up all the words in the dictionary...ask all the questions you have - that probably is the most useful piece of advice. Everyone in here understands and I guarantee you ... probably every question you'll have no matter how stupid it seems has been asked before.
Good luck!
I took an ad a month before starting treatment and I really do think it helped me, I was very glad my doc advised me too.
There is tons of advice we can give you like make sure you get all your test results faxed over and learn how to read them (post them in here and people will show you which are most important), make sure you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water a day (you'll get REALLY dehydrated from the meds otherwise), try at first to take your shot on a night where you have off the next day so you can see how it goes.....just common sense stuff like that.
The most important thing (I think) is making sure you are getting enough of the meds right away, hit it fast and hard and don't give it a chance to recover! Make sure you are getting 'weight based ribavirin' at least - it's especially crucial in the first 12 weeks as we strive to get to undetectible. Ask your doc when he will be giving you your first PCR - if it's not at week 4 really and truly insist kindly that you get one then (including saying you'll pay for it yourself if you have to - the insurance companies do but it's an excuse some doctors give). If he doesn't give you a 4 week PCR then there is a fair chance the doctor is NOT up to date on any of the current advances as this is the biggest and most important one!
I'll let someone else step in now so I don't use up all the words in the dictionary...ask all the questions you have - that probably is the most useful piece of advice. Everyone in here understands and I guarantee you ... probably every question you'll have no matter how stupid it seems has been asked before.
Good luck!
Just a few thoughts...First of all (and it sounds like you are doing this) make sure any known underlying medical problems are stable before launching into treatment. It has been known to make existing problems -especially depression and brain chemical imbalances much worse. My advice for the antidepressant is to continue with it, and speak to your Dr about the possibility of increasing it if necessary during treatment. "Riba Rages" are notorious during treatment and can turn you into an irritable "dragon lady" (my husband's name for me during treatment) and make you hate yourself and everything you hold dear...Picture PMS the size of an H bomb...Yep. Very scary. Add the stress of prepping for a wedding? Not advisable unless you have a third party "planner" who can run interference for you...
What is your genotype and have you had a liver biopsy done? The viral load fluctuates so much that it's number really doesn't matter except to determine whether the Hep C is active or not and if treatment is suppressing it.
Hepatologists are more knowledgeable about hep C treatment and its side effect management than GI Drs, and if possible, you should have one in charge of your treatment. Also, if there is any chance of pregnancy, you may have to delay your treatment as the ribavirin caused birth defects. (If you plan on being sexually active, your Dr should have you on birth control for the duration of the treatment and 1 year after.)
Lastly, include your fiance' and close family and friends in your "support circle". Educate them as to what to expect and what you will be enduring. This is a marathon for everyone involved, and the low point of treatment -when you feel exhausted, you think you are going bald, and you are covered with the rash from H.., and you can't remember anyone's phone number or even if you've changed your underwear that morning- will be that much easier if you have someone who calls, or visits (to make sure you've had a shower that week) or sends you raunchy e-mails to make you laugh...Good luck and God Speed on taking out this Dragon! ((((((((HUGZ)))))))~MM
What is your genotype and have you had a liver biopsy done? The viral load fluctuates so much that it's number really doesn't matter except to determine whether the Hep C is active or not and if treatment is suppressing it.
Hepatologists are more knowledgeable about hep C treatment and its side effect management than GI Drs, and if possible, you should have one in charge of your treatment. Also, if there is any chance of pregnancy, you may have to delay your treatment as the ribavirin caused birth defects. (If you plan on being sexually active, your Dr should have you on birth control for the duration of the treatment and 1 year after.)
Lastly, include your fiance' and close family and friends in your "support circle". Educate them as to what to expect and what you will be enduring. This is a marathon for everyone involved, and the low point of treatment -when you feel exhausted, you think you are going bald, and you are covered with the rash from H.., and you can't remember anyone's phone number or even if you've changed your underwear that morning- will be that much easier if you have someone who calls, or visits (to make sure you've had a shower that week) or sends you raunchy e-mails to make you laugh...Good luck and God Speed on taking out this Dragon! ((((((((HUGZ)))))))~MM
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