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Treatment and maintaining a job
One of my main concerns is how I will function in the day to day life activities. I wonder if I will be able to work and do the treatment. I am already so tired all the time. My muscular aches and pains can be overwhelming. I have not started treatment as yet and I also wonder what to tell my job regarding my condition. Any thoughts and comments are appreciated.
The story I told was the second opinion. Just felt I needed to try another group as this doctor has a very good reputation. Not so for Nurse Nasty. The nurse is this case appears to run the show so, if I do not feel warm and fuzzy with her now, the future does not look so good either. I may just go back to the old doctor with the nice nurse.
I need to be working on my weight and dropping a few pounds. The doctors would feel much better about treatment. Some things as not as easy as they sound. It is like trying to stop smoking, never started smoking so do not have to quit. However food is another story. It has been the source of instant energy boots at work for a long time (100lbs) now I need to be listing carefully to signals and trying other things to get the boost. Naps, walks, water, vitamins. This has been my struggle. That amd having a desk next to the coffee bar at work, where all the birthday and special occasion food gets left.
I need to be working on my weight and dropping a few pounds. The doctors would feel much better about treatment. Some things as not as easy as they sound. It is like trying to stop smoking, never started smoking so do not have to quit. However food is another story. It has been the source of instant energy boots at work for a long time (100lbs) now I need to be listing carefully to signals and trying other things to get the boost. Naps, walks, water, vitamins. This has been my struggle. That amd having a desk next to the coffee bar at work, where all the birthday and special occasion food gets left.
I would not trust what that nurse or any dr says about hep c. And, no one knows more about YOUR body than you do. You are right in believing that your body might be reacting to the damage already.
I can't believe she said that to you! If you are already too sick to work, doing tx can't be worse and the chance of getting rid of the bug and doing so has to help the liver somewhat, at the very least. Get a new hepatologist and new opinion.
best to you
I can't believe she said that to you! If you are already too sick to work, doing tx can't be worse and the chance of getting rid of the bug and doing so has to help the liver somewhat, at the very least. Get a new hepatologist and new opinion.
best to you
Woke up at 5:30 this morning and began reading all the messages from last week. These postings really are a gift.
I have been measuring the pros/cons of working, starting treatment for a second time and my thinking seems to be in black and white on this subject of health and work. Sooner or later you do begin cheating yourself or your job or both. When I was diagnosed in Dec of 2003, biopsy revealed chirossis. So this has been a part of my life for some 30 to 35 years. I had been working in a very busy stressful office, I thought I was thriving on the fast pace and mental challenge untill I started to fall apart. I began by not speaking what I was thinking. Co-Workers looked at me in wonder or just puzzled. Than I began to realize that I was just not speaking the words I thought I was. Than there is the challenge of learning new processes. Well in a fast paced environment where every thing counts this is just not acceptable. The first round of therapy seemed to slow me down and now the speach is cleared up, however other language and learning skills are just dull.
Than last week, I found myself sleeping a lot. Drive 45 min to work, take an hour nap before going into the office. Getting up in the morning and needing 2 naps before 1pm. Going home and naping. Inbetween I have met with a new Nurse regarding treatment, when I asked her about working while on therapy her response was, if you are too sick to work, you are too sick for therapy. Ouch, that hurt This woman,who by the way also told me it was pointless to need to know what my viral load was if I was not on treatment. (Another story there) So what is the pivital moment, what are the key indicators in the lab work, that tell you you need to step back from your schedule and focus. I keep thinking the doctors know, they keep telling me I am fine and I feel like a putz because I know I can not keep this schedule up.
This forum has also brought up the over 54 and menopause issues.(i am 56) Do any of you in this catagaory find using hormone replacements any help?
My liver has not started to decompensate (fail)the doctors tell me I should be fine, I just do not feel fine. I am applying for LTD Long term disability thru our insurance at work, starting with a reduced workschedule.
DO any of you who have had HEC-c for many years find you are always thinking that the doctors still to not see all of the indicators? That they must still be missing something and do you sometimes feel that the vail between compensated and decompensated liver function is much thinner that we are being told. (Ya that means I have a hard time trusting the medical community) Just wondering if any of the rest of you carry this uneasy feeling around?
Zip
I have been measuring the pros/cons of working, starting treatment for a second time and my thinking seems to be in black and white on this subject of health and work. Sooner or later you do begin cheating yourself or your job or both. When I was diagnosed in Dec of 2003, biopsy revealed chirossis. So this has been a part of my life for some 30 to 35 years. I had been working in a very busy stressful office, I thought I was thriving on the fast pace and mental challenge untill I started to fall apart. I began by not speaking what I was thinking. Co-Workers looked at me in wonder or just puzzled. Than I began to realize that I was just not speaking the words I thought I was. Than there is the challenge of learning new processes. Well in a fast paced environment where every thing counts this is just not acceptable. The first round of therapy seemed to slow me down and now the speach is cleared up, however other language and learning skills are just dull.
Than last week, I found myself sleeping a lot. Drive 45 min to work, take an hour nap before going into the office. Getting up in the morning and needing 2 naps before 1pm. Going home and naping. Inbetween I have met with a new Nurse regarding treatment, when I asked her about working while on therapy her response was, if you are too sick to work, you are too sick for therapy. Ouch, that hurt This woman,who by the way also told me it was pointless to need to know what my viral load was if I was not on treatment. (Another story there) So what is the pivital moment, what are the key indicators in the lab work, that tell you you need to step back from your schedule and focus. I keep thinking the doctors know, they keep telling me I am fine and I feel like a putz because I know I can not keep this schedule up.
This forum has also brought up the over 54 and menopause issues.(i am 56) Do any of you in this catagaory find using hormone replacements any help?
My liver has not started to decompensate (fail)the doctors tell me I should be fine, I just do not feel fine. I am applying for LTD Long term disability thru our insurance at work, starting with a reduced workschedule.
DO any of you who have had HEC-c for many years find you are always thinking that the doctors still to not see all of the indicators? That they must still be missing something and do you sometimes feel that the vail between compensated and decompensated liver function is much thinner that we are being told. (Ya that means I have a hard time trusting the medical community) Just wondering if any of the rest of you carry this uneasy feeling around?
Zip
I wanted to add my good wishes to all the others you've received from your friends here this week. Congratulations on finishing treatment, Califia. You've been a breath of fresh air on this board and you really raised the bar for intelligent and civil discussion. I hope you won't be a stranger now that you're done doing battle with the dragon.
Take care,
Susan
Take care,
Susan
Cuteus wrote above: "I have been paying attention to how people write and I see it a lot with the tx, but also with folks just with hep c status and no tx. or maybe is just aging? grrr"
I'm glad you brought this up. This is one of the most frustrating "symptoms" I have. I have an undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism (I write for a business journal), yet you'd never know it from my spelling and grammar. Actually, it's more of a typing thing. I think I'm typing correctly, but after I re-read what I wrote (usually long after I've hit the send button), I'm horrified. I honestly believe this is HCV-related. My husband is the same age as me and he doesn't have this problem.
Susan
I'm glad you brought this up. This is one of the most frustrating "symptoms" I have. I have an undergraduate and graduate degree in journalism (I write for a business journal), yet you'd never know it from my spelling and grammar. Actually, it's more of a typing thing. I think I'm typing correctly, but after I re-read what I wrote (usually long after I've hit the send button), I'm horrified. I honestly believe this is HCV-related. My husband is the same age as me and he doesn't have this problem.
Susan
I am no well-heeled lady of leisure, but to celebrate the end of treatment I've hired a beautiful young Tibetan ex-monk to clean the house next week. (Not inventing this, I swear.) I'll be durned if I waste whatever energy is being restored to me on mildew removal. Imagine that on a headstone--"Her shower stall was immaculate. Rest in antiseptic peace." Naw, I'm setting my sights a little higher than that!
As for your domestic routine on tx, sounds exactly like small mammal behavior. Maybe there are advantages to adopting gerbil mind (and travel routes), if only temporarily? :) I've been trying hard to find some Buddhist advantage in the simplification and stripping down that happens while on treatment. But yes, it's terribly humbling. No way could I write well or conduct research or grade papers or deliver a lecture or any of that while under the influence. Neuro-linguistic meltdown. And so, my dear, just how much longer do you want to carry on with this? Do you NEED to carry on with this?
As for your domestic routine on tx, sounds exactly like small mammal behavior. Maybe there are advantages to adopting gerbil mind (and travel routes), if only temporarily? :) I've been trying hard to find some Buddhist advantage in the simplification and stripping down that happens while on treatment. But yes, it's terribly humbling. No way could I write well or conduct research or grade papers or deliver a lecture or any of that while under the influence. Neuro-linguistic meltdown. And so, my dear, just how much longer do you want to carry on with this? Do you NEED to carry on with this?
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