How ill do you become on tx

[alagirl]

I expect to be in treatment for about 48 weeks with the combo therapy.  I already have normocytic anemia treated with procrit, so I expect to be able to A) maintain my rbc count perhaps more easily than some on tx and B) not be bothered by the typical response that some people have to procrit (some people get flu like symptoms - long term patients like me don't even notice it.)  The chemo though, that's another story.  Am I definitely going to be sick and unable to work or do some of my other daily tasks?  I am very scared about my future I guess, and I want honest feedback so I can make plans so that I will be ok financially during treatment.

[alagirl]

Fortunately for me, I already have pretty much free access to procrit.  I have been allowed to control my own blood count for about three years now.  I give my procrit at home.  So I anticipate anemia but I will be able to control it without getting formal permission.  One lucky thing for me.  I wonder about depression in my other cell lines though.  I am a little concerned I'll need neulasta or neupogen or whatever it is.  I plan to get pre-authorization for that as well given my immune hx.

[nygirl7]

I treated for 72 weeks and had dreadful problems with the anemia.  Because you already have problems with it...you need to ask your doctor if he will prescribe Procrit or Epogen when you need it.  We had one person Mr. Beagle Bailey who had Thalessemia and had an AWFUL time with his hemo numbers.  Boy he suffered. He eventually was having to have transfusions to keep his numbers high enough.

The side effects vary from person to person and they can be very tough to deal with but if you have a doctor that is proactive dealing with them..it helps a LOT.

Good luck.

[Cindy10]

I treated for 36 weeks and at 3 month post tx I am UND and hubby is on week 35/48 and he is UND so far. We are both Genotype 3A

[JodyLynn]

My first few weeks were ok, been like 10 weeks and im pretty sick, as long as i do things real slow im ok. I feel like i have the flu all the time, but im gonna hang in there. You may do just fine on treatments. I dont work so thank god for that.......good luck to you.

[ShoshanaPNW]

My partner has had very few general side effects (other than anemia--she started procrit today--week 16) but some transient problems like an episode of retinopathy. She's not finding the ribavirin or the interferon difficult. She gets tired easily (and we'll see how this responds to the procrit) and is working about half time at a non-physical job.

[Liz50]

I wish you the best with your tx. It seems that each patient has their own particular set of side effects. My hubby has been unfirtunate in that he hs pretty much all of them, tho he has been able to continue to work. Weekends are a bust, he sleeps them away. The depression has been hardest for him and he just barely started and AD and it's making him kinda sick now--but hopefully that will pass.Does seem like most people can work, tho weekends are rough.
Good L:uck

[Lady Lauri]

alagirl, I have not started yet either so can't help you on your questions, just wanted to say all here say the fear can be worse than the tx, especially that 1st round we're fretting over. I wish you an easy road with it.

Cindy10, that is good to hear right now and very encouraging. Happy for you it wasn't too rough. How long did you do tx and has it worked for you both, thus far?
                                                                         LL

[Cindy10]

I can only speak for myself an hubby. Both treated together, I just finished recently and he is still on it. Neither of us had any major sx (side effects). We both were a little achey w/headaches day after shot but after that we were fine, just fatigue. Don't assume you will be really sick, you may not.

Hubby owns his own roofing business and he still works, in fact he can't sit still, well except on
Saturdays (day after shot). I was not working on tx (got laid off w/pkg) so I did not have too. However I did stuff everyday, housework, garden, walking whatever I could to keep moving. I think it helped us.

Most people do continue to work on tx, but a back plan not a bad idea ;-)

I wish you the best of luck and keep coming here, everyone will be here for you!