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1582614 tn?1310324908

Starting treatment and so afraid

Hello all! I went to my Dr's today and after a month of trying to straighten out my insurance. Meds are ordered and I will be starting tx next week. Any suggestions would be helpful. What should I expect? I'm concerned about how I will feel. I also have a 6 yr old son I have to care for. My husband just went back to work after being laid off for 2 mnths and he works in NJ and we live in PA. My daughter is coming next thursday until sunday. She has classes mon & weds so she can only be here a few days a week. She's in NYC. I also have my 72 yr old mother in law close by. But I'm so afraid of all the possible side effects. ie: depression, blood problems, breathing problems, thyroid problems, lupus, arthritis... I am already treated for depression and hypo thyroid. Have recently been having signs of arthritis in my hands and long time lower back. I'm also a smoker. My 53 yr old sister has lupus and just had quad heart bypass. Help!
11 Responses
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1582614 tn?1310324908
Thank you all for your kind words of encoragement. It really means alot. I will try to take this one day at a time and not concern myself with the what if's... As Trish said Yes I'm going to be excited to start to do something about getting rid of this nasty virus that's been inside me for soooo many years!! I'm gonna kick some butt! I must keep telling myself this! By the way I went to my scheduled dental cleaning and the dentist said I have a cavity that needs to be filled and possibly a root canal... ughh. So he wanted a note from my doc stating that it's ok. What a pain in the a$$. I spoke to my doc and he said to just take care of my tooth before tx. So why does he need a note? Anyway, doc's office was faxing a note and I have app for dentist on tues 4/5, hopefully just a filling so I can start tx on thursday! Thanks again. Love and Health to all. :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi there - It's very normal to be scared before starting treatment and it's good to be aware of the potential for side effects - just don't get too stuck in all that.  It might sound like a funny attitude to take but along with being scared, you can be very pumped that you're about to do something that could get rid of your Hep C!  This is a very exciting possibility, yes??  :)

Sounds to me like you've got a number of positives - you have a daughter who's willing to come by a few days a week even though sounds like she's got a busy schedule, a mother in law who's not too far away (assuming that's a good thing? :) and, if I recall, you've got a supportive psychiatrist who's willing to see you and your husband throughout treatment.  Also seem to recall there's a Hep C support group you discovered that you might drop in on … all good stuff!!  And..you never know..it COULD be a positive that your hubby will be working in NJ for part of the time. :)  

As for your other health concerns during treatment, if you're already being monitored for depression and hypothyroid, you're a bit ahead of the game as your docs will be keeping a particular eye on these things as well as other things, as they'll likely (hopefully) be more vigilant as a result.  Be realistic but don't waste too much time on all the bad stuff that COULD happen…just assure yourself you'll deal with things as they come along…and there will likely be things that come along, but you'll deal.  I'm sure you've managed a number of things in your life and sounds like you've done pretty well….I'm sure as you take this a step at a time, you'll manage whatever comes up along the way through treatment also.    In the end….if you focus on the fact you might get hit by a car if you cross the street, you're never going to get where you're going.  Sometimes…you just have to step off the curb and take a walk on the wild side. :)

Let us know how it goes along the way.  Lots of us have been through it and lots of shared experiences here for you..so you are definitely not alone.

Good luck with this!  Let us know when launch day is! :)

P.S.  Would be good to quit smoking any time but not sure I'd recommend it a week before starting treatment!  You'll sort that out….

Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm also a smoker.

Quit that.  You're going to need all the oxygen that you can move.  
Helpful - 0
1420486 tn?1384793153
I can understand your fears. You hear all the horror stories about tx. and while I dont doubt people have problems w/tx...There are many of us here who have had no problem's or sx with treatment.. Ditto on the above writers.  Good luck to you lady and may the time just fly by for you as it does for many.  ginger
Helpful - 0
1477811 tn?1321386453
I echo what everyone above is saying. The unknown...kinda scary. From what I've read on this forum and from my own experience thus far, the first shot was the worst for me in terms of 1) being afraid to give myself a shot, and 2) the sx which started about 4 hours after injection. Fever, severe chills, body aches. I haven't had that severe of a response since. In fact now, I feel nothing on injection night (Fridays) and over the weekend I have a sore throat sometimes and feel a little viral, but overall, the interferon only took me by surprise that one time. Lots of people here have said pretty much the same thing so try not to gauge what tx will be like from that first shot.

Also, like others say, the sides come and go. Hey, it keeps it interesting! And yes, drink lots of water, which you will probably naturally do since you may feel dehydrated. For me the interferon doesn't seem to be what gives me a hard time. It's the Riba and it took a good 4 weeks for me to see sx from that.

You'll do fine I'm sure. It's good that you have support. That's made a huge difference for me. How many weeks do you have to do? I forget what genotype you are.

Good luck!
June
Helpful - 0
1477908 tn?1349567710
I echo the comments of Bill1954 and willbb. The anticipation is something we all share before we start. Just knowing that your daughter can be around from time to time is re-assuring. I lived alone on tx, but having my daughter nearby, just in case, lifted alot of my anxiety.

There's so many pieces of advice one could give, but I found it to be a bit overwhelming at first - you know, I started thinking i was going to experience them all - and I didn't. What's great about this site is that for every complaint or fear that crops up, there is someone that has been there before and willing to offer support and encouragement. Don't be afraid to ask. Also keep a good dialogue running with your Dr. or NP as their guidance and assistance will be invaluable.

And, so important, keep your eye on the goal of gettting healthy - that thought kept me going many a day!

Best wishes in going forward, Pam

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Avatar universal

  The fear of starting treatment is something we all go through,so you are not alone there. Very often people have only mild side effects and as others have said try to keep a positive attitude.... always keeping in mind  the goal is to get rid of the virus and that is  always worth the fight.,

Good luck..

WILL
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
“Funny when she spends time with him she says she's gonna wait a while to become a mom.”

Hahaha, you raised a bright daughter :o)! You’ll figure out how to muddle through all this somehow. It might require some lifestyle modifications; hubby might have to help clean house, the dishes might not sparkle, and you might find yourself sleeping more than usual. The young one will adapt; they’re usually pretty perceptive about illness and such…

I think once you get started, you’ll find it’s not nearly as anxiety provoking as you’re making it out to be. Some folks do get pretty funky from interferon, but you simply won’t know about yourself until you try it. From my perspective, if you’ve lived through some hangovers in your past, you’ll get through interferon in the future.

Good luck and let us know how things go-

--Bill
Helpful - 0
1582614 tn?1310324908
Dave and Bill,
              Thank you for your words of encourgement. It is the not knowing thats scary and I will try to think positive. And yes my son does keep me very busy! I sometimes think I should be the Grandma not the Mom again. My daughter just turned 26 in March and I'll be 47 in May. Funny when she spends time with him she says she's gonna wait a while to become a mom. That's why I need to do this tx so I can be here for to see my daughter and son become parents. Thanks again. :-)
Deni
Helpful - 0
87972 tn?1322661239
Hi Denise,

Try to remember that tens of thousands of people have gone in front of you with this, and come out the other side unscathed. Many of them are in your situation, or perhaps have other or more complex circumstances, and somehow they muddle through it all.

I’ve had long standing issues with garden variety depression and anxiety, but it never really surfaced or became an issue during the three years I was in treatment. In fact, I tolerated the stuff reasonably well; I got tired a lot, but that was mostly later on in therapy. I didn’t work through treatment, but managed to walk several miles a day in the hills here, and took classes at the local community college.

The aftermath of the first shot was a bit of a surprise; I liken it to a whiskey hangover, but coffee and a hot shower got things going and after that I was okay.

It’s nice to hear your daughter will swing by now and then to help out; if your six your old is anything close to normal, he’ll probably run you a bit ragged, but of course he’d probably do that anyway, regardless of treatment, hahaha :o)!

I’m sure you’ll do okay; it might take a few weeks to catch your breath and get a routine going, but you’ll get through it. Keep in touch with the forum here, and folks will help you along with any rough patches as they show themselves. Many people find this period in advance of treatment the worst part, and that after they begin it feels good getting the disease behind them.

Good luck and take care-

-Bill
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It's natural to feel anxious before starting. You can imagine the worst, but many people don't have the sides you mentioned, and it is very unlikely that you will have all of them :). You just won't know until you start and hopefully you'll be one of the people who has it fairly easy.

For most people it's not great but it's not the end of the world either and we muddle through it. You have a lot of help here when you are concerned or fearful.

It sounds like you have a fair amount going on but also some support. I would try to do whatever is possible to keep your responsibilities to a minimum. Don't make commitments that are unnecessary until you see how you feel and try to ask for help when you need it.

Drink lots of water during tx and exercise if you feel good enough. If you have a history of depression talk to your doctor about antidepressants.  

I am sure you will get many more suggestions.

Good luck and think about the glass being half full and getting rid of HCV. It's going to be okay,
Dave  

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