Survival Tips

[audreywald]

I thought it  might help a lot of us if we posted "tips" for surviving aspects of treatment. I am pretty new but so far I have 2:


For those who dislike water (as I do)
freeze a nice flavored juice in ice cube trays. Put them in your water.  Improves flavor a LOT.

Nioxin on hair

I don't know if this will help with hair loss but mine was looking REALLY dry by shot 2. The Nioxin products actually have it shining again.

You guys are wonderful. Thanks for being here for me.

[PhilaGuy]

Good luck, Chevy Gal!  I'll be looking for your posts.  Don't know when I'll be starting (have to get the eye exam and stress test), but I'm sure it's not far off....

[CARUU]

-Aveeno products for skin (especially skin oil and moisturizer)
-Aveeno hydrocortisone for itching rash
-Excedrin Tension (for tension headache)-(contains caffine)
-Regular Tylenol
-8 Hour Tylenol
(don't exceed amount of Tylenor allowed by doc)
- Drink water and drinks with electrolytes-half of your weight in ounces
-Ayr saline nasal spray
-Ayr saline nasal gel
-Humidifier (bedroom and kitchen)
-Lands End Pajamas (can buy at Sears)
-Help with housework (have cleaned 1/month)
-Massage (twice per month)
-Use self scan at grocery store to avoid lines
-Learn about the FMLA laws and your company procedures in case   you need to take time off work
-Don't expect to be able to STAND and talk to friends/acquaint. for a long period of time (headache, lightheadedness, shortness of breath make if very uncomfortable)
-Reorder meds 6-7 days before you will need them (in case of an ins. problem)
-Get a pair of sunglasses (bright light can be bothersome and, as someone said when I first visited here, they will make you look cool :-)
-Light exercise (walk to the end of the block, do Pilates stretches, yoga, etc.)
Sense of humour
Lots of patience!

[lackalustre]

i also used flannel sheets during treatment. so much softer and easier (and warrmer) on your skin.  i used bio degradable laundry soap and used 2 rinses too for my sheets and clothing.

[adavisirl]

I recommend making every effort to get out of bed each morning and exercise a little - even if it's just walking the doggie around the block. It helped keep my spirits up, and seemed to leave me with more energy the rest of the day.

Cheers,
Andrew

[Showboat]

Lots of hugs!!!!  Giving and getting is a good feeling and keeps ya feeling "human".  If you have pets, they help too.  All of that unconditional love.  MASSAGES ARE REALLY A "GOOD THING" TOO.

Water, Water, Water....

[Showboat]

Oh, yes, and keeping your eye on the prize......slaying the dragon and SVR. : > ))  
Reading MedHelp Board.  I did not want to forget that.  You will feel grounded here.

[Showboat]

Oh, yes, and keeping your eye on the prize......slaying the dragon and SVR. : > ))  
Reading MedHelp Board.  I did not want to forget that.  You will feel grounded here.

[dheana]

Did you post something about leaving the competiton?
You don't have to do this. You are stronger then a small virus, you can win.
Be patient, you will be happy and healthy. All the sx you have will be part of history.

[dheana]

I will see my psychiatrist tomorrow. He said last time that I'm not depressed anymore. I still have spells of crying, I feel like crying all the time with no reason. Is this a sign of depression? Sorry for asking stupid question, I don't know what to belive as I didn't have depression before. When can you say that you are not depressed anymore?

[jonihs]

And don't forget to get and keep control of the remote control.  9sorry Indy, I stole that from you)    Joni

[Ambush]

Will someone please call my husband and explain the "control" of the remote thing, please?  He still thinks he has a say in this.  I'm tired of action/adventure movies!  Have a great night all!
ambush :)

[cindee]

Hi Hep C family!!! Use plastic utensils> keeps the yukky tastes away. Get extra toothrushes> I changed mine every month. Cool food taste better than hot, and the smell isn't so intense, I even put a fan in the kitchen to pull out smells when I HAD to cook. I think everybody knows this NO alcohol!!!!!>even try to find hairsray w/o alcohol> I found ion hairspray @ beauty supply.NOT the greatest, but it doesn't contain alcohol. Do allow others to help you!!!!! When the fatique was bad I got a basket to keep reading glasses, note pad, ink pens etc. so I could carry it from room to room and not waste precious energy looking for them. Try to stay away from caffine, as it will take the H2O outta your system. I didn't bathe or wash hair as often, to keep moisture in skin. When my hair started coming out, I only brushed it once a day. Sounds sorta gross. but you'll understand! I also stocked up on pads, I had a terrile cough, and was a pee-pee pants! Best Wishes and this was great for all the newbies. See AUDREY, your brain fog hasn't kicked in yet!!!! Much Love and many Prayers to all. Cindee

[fsplink]

Thanks everyone for all the great info. I haven't started treatment yet but will be in the future. I go for my liver biopsy on Feb. 9 and then will go from there. I'm genotype 2a with viral load on 4.6 mil.
This forum has really been helpful I've learned so much.

[audreywald]

I do find myself thinking and expressing myself more slowly. I believe that is the beginning of brain fog, as I have done up to six shots 2 years ago and found myself getting foggy. It's funny, I used to seek out "brain fog" (that is how I encountered this dragon) and now I try to think of ways to stay alert.

Listen, my new friends, if you could say a little prayer for a young girl named Erin, who died in her sleep last week at the age of 18. She died of bulemia. What a tragedy. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to fight my dragon, this young girls dragon got her before she even knew she was in a battle.

Thanks for listening.

[berlynn]

Hi guys...I just wanted to say that I swear by the Nioxin. My nurse told me to start using it before I started tx. I am now 33/48 and...knock on wood...no hair loss yet. It has dried out some and I do wash it less but so far it's all still there.Nioxin is expensive but my large bottle of shampoo and cond/treatment...has lasted me at least 6 mos....and that's with washing my hair every other day  :)  Good luck. berlynn

[Honey15637]

I am ordering thatshampoo today and starting it even though i have had only 1 shot.  Audrywald...you said you had about 6 shots a couple years ago.  Why did you stop on those?  You just did your 2nd shot this week right?  Took my shot monday and died on tues and wed started to revive haha  And today I'm definitely normal again.  Yesterday I thought I felt fine but was just so darn tired.  All I wanted to do was to crawl in bed and not get out.  I'm lucky in the sense that I can go to my office in mornings and get my work and bring home and work on.  So most of yesterday I laid around and worked on paperwork.  Today I'm hoping to catch up on stuff before the next shot.  Hope all is going well with ya!

[audreywald]

I had a retinal hemmorahge; or so my  eye doc said. This is a very rare side effect that could cause you to lose your vision.

My doc now says it is ok to try again as long as my eyes are watched carefully along with everything else.

[Daria2]

Thank you everyone for the list.I would like to add AQUIS super absorbant towels by Britanne for drying your hair without a blowdryer. Full size is about $US 25, but I got mine at a discount store( Marshals, in Ca) for half.Also satin pillow case for less friction.

[terriri]

Hey guy ----I caught you looken…………Hahahaha

Hi ladies, this one is for you. Toward the end of my treatment I started to look like a dried up turtle head & found this beauty regime to work really well. After washing my face with a mild cleanser I used my own moisturizer concoction consisting of a majority of jojoba oil, a few drops of vitamin e, aloe oil, lavender oil & tee tree oil. You only need a small amount on damp face. Follow up with Lancôme’s “tinted” moisturizing lotion & Rimmel bronze blush # 041 (you can buy Rimmel at Wal-Mart) on cheeks, & a little on forehead & chin. After a week or so you will get close to that healthy dewy sun kissed look. You can use the same jojoba face moisturizer recipe for your body but add a good amount of olive oil, keep it in your shower in a small squeeze bottle with cap. Moisturize after showering & partially patting yourself dry. Massage your nails & cuticles with the same concoction before bed. This moisturizing recipe is also good for mild rashes caused by TX. Personally I couldn’t use Nixen (sp?) shampoo because it was too harsh for my scalp. Instead I used a generic brand of baby body & hair wash to wash my hair and Clairol conditioner for color treated hair. The Clairol conditioner comes in a small tube & can be bought at beauty supply stores near the hair color products. It is not meant to be a leave in conditioner but I used it as such, a little goes a long way & you don’t need color treated hair to get a big benefit. Your hair will look & feel much softer & you won’t go broke buying overpriced hair products. However, if you can find a leave in conditioner you like better, stock up as some days the whole process of washing, rinsing, conditioning, and rinsing is too much. Try to save steps if you can.  Add some mild weekly exercises & you can still feel somewhat womanly during treatment, exercise will also help with your sex drive as it improves body image.
My very best to you all & I hope to hear of your SVR status soon.  

[Indiana]

****! Ya BUSTED me again!! And here I thought I was safe among all the Riba Warriors.
But since I have absolutely NO idea what you are talkin about I guess I'm safe. I mean really...Rommel(he's 41) is blushin' at the Walmart gettin bronze stuff and conditioners, and then he's rinsed, then off to the Produce section for the olive oil and presumably lettuce.... probably to exfoliate. Then he gets generic babies from Miss Clairol that are conditioned and with colored hair. And "Somehow" after all that you manage to show how it improves his SEX DRIVE?? GADS...I just got all kinds of lost in that whole thing.
THAT"LL teach me to look at a "Ladies Only" post!

[shebee]

survival tips....


just like when you scuba...just keep on breathing!!!!

...and never give up.

Shebee