Supporting a Loved One with Hep C

[ufgatorgirl]

While I myself do not have Hep C, my mother does. My father died of it. Right now, my mom is about midway through the Interferon treatment. She's handled it surprisingly well, considering the side effects and emotional/mental toll. She's in Florida, I'm in Colorado. I want to support her through this tough time, but I don't know what to do or say to make things better. To be honest, I'm scared that I'm going to lose her like I lost my dad when I was just 11. My guess is that he got it before he met her and she got it from him. We don't know for sure. There seems to be a stigma related to people who have this disease from the outside world, as proven by the looks and questions I get when I talk about it. Then it's automatically assumed that I have it. So that's caused me to be careful about discussing it. I don't want people to treat my mom like she's infectious or as if she's not a human being.

I guess where I'm going in all this rambling is that I'm scared to death for my mom, but I'm trying to hold it together for her and be strong for her. How do I support her through this? I'd be silly to say "Everything's going to be OK," because the treatment may not work. Or it may work. Everything is so uncertain.

I just figured if anyone would have advice, you all would. What can I do to support her? Are there support groups she can join? Ways to help with the side effects? What has been your experience/success with the treatment? Should I advise her to join a support forum like this? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks for listening.

[Forseegood]

Hi, your mom is lucky to have you for a daughter...there are support groups out there for people with this disease, and there are support groups for caregivers...now I don't know that it goes into specifics of caregivers, but all caregivers deal with the same ongoing issues. Maybe look into one of those?

Caregiving can be a very stressful thing to do. Also, educating yourself, and your mom educating yourself is very helpful, when you possess knowledge, it tends to make you less insecure about the whole process. Remember, she is still your mom, who has a disease, she's not defined by this...make sure to pay attention to the things in your lives that make you happy and fulfilled. Even just the day to day details that make your life what it is. Life always goes on.

And there is plenty of great support right here on this forum. There is a wonderful member on here, who knows as much as the rest of us, and she is the mother of a hep c infected son. Child24Angel. Wishing you and your mother the best!

[nygirl7]

I'm so sorry for everything that you are having to deal with.  Unfortunately uneducated people often do attach a stigma to this disease - and in fact so many of them could have it and not know it it's amazing.

All you have to do to support your mom is tell her that you love her.  
To me - that is the best medicine I can ever get from my kids.  Just knowing that someone is there for you is oftentimes all someone really needs.

Hep is a very isolating disease - if you could convince her perhaps to come to the forum and make friends on here...well it helped me more than anything.

You are a lovely person and your mother is very blessed to have you.

[hairtamer]

My prayers are with you and your mother.  Your post made me cry, as I am hearing what my 2 children are going through.  Does your mom have internet?  If she does ask her join our support along with youself.  What kind of support does she have in FL?  
God Bless,
Rose