Aa
concerned confused scared
I just found out I have hep c type 3a. I can't take harvoni but heard other treatments like solvadi and ribavarin are very harsh. I can't miss work. Any body been thru these medications. How do they make u feel plus I have fibromyalgia and anxiety and Heart palpitations I'm really scared. Someone please answer
hi, I knew lots of people would respond with great advice. I'm finished with treatment, hopefully for good. Another thing I would like to add is making sure your MD is aware of your anxiety issues ahead of time. I was temporarily put on anti anxiety meds because of the ribavirin. Some people, it causes irritability.. In my case, was pretty extreme, at times. I'm almost 60 an in poor health from other issues so I believe treatment was sometimes difficult for me. Everyone is different..my main issue was irritability an mouth issues. Not everyone has the same side affects. Again, I want to say that these current meds are doable, an the positive results are a Hep C free life. I treated for 12 wks. ( GT2 ) but if needed, would have done 24 if called for. This forum was a lifesaver getting through treatment when I had questions an you'll find out , most people here are more knowledgable than....well, I won't go there. Anyway, take care. Mary
Marie: Like Sandi said, it IS a form of 'chemo'. in that it is very strong, and for a limited time, directed at correcting a specific condition, so you are not telling an untruth when you say that. The effects are much the same on us as cancer patients.
As sandi said, you may want to be very careful who you tell what. As many are affected by the image they have of how you get hepc, NOT by the many innocent ways many people do. I, on the other hand, in all my innocence, back in 1990, told everybody everything. I guess either I didn't notice if anyone took it wrong, or maybe the way I did it, in every instance, explaining that I wanted everyone to be safe, so I was being careful and disclosing, influenced people, but everyone was supportive. Of course, I started with my Boss, who was an exceptional human being, then told my co-workers. I think his 'normal, business as usual' attitude went a long way in setting the tone.
Of course, we know so much more today. You can't get this from kissing, handholding, sharing eating utensils, combs, etc, which I used to think. Also, Drs do not even recommend 'protection' for monogamous couples, as hepc isn't transmitted that way. One exception is 'rough' sex, where there is tearing, etc, so blood to blood transfer. Only a super small percent of babies born to hepc Moms have the disease. Many women on here can tell you they had one or more children with no hepc to the kids, and their husbands don't. In my own case, I have been married for 41+ years, have had hepc 40 years (blood transfusions during surgery after a miscarriage shortly after we were married) and my husband does not have it.
This is NOT an STD, yes people can get it from sharing drug needles, etc, but also from blood transfusion prior to the testing for hepc in 1992, from tattoo needles which haven't been properly sterilized, or dental instruments, to same, from shared toothbrushes, razors, pierced earring punches, same with body piercings, and on and on. As I said before and as Sandi reafffirmed, how you got it, doesn't matter, you may never know. Just be mindful of any blood to blood possibilities, so you don't pass it on.
Wow, didn't mean to write a book, just give you info to make you feel more comfortable with this disease.
Again, it is a very slow developing disease, so if you are in early stages, with either NO or very little liver damage, you have time to ajdust to this and decide how and when to handle this.
Hope this helps. this is a really good Forum to have found to help you through everything.
Keep on keeping on, one step at a time. Pat
As sandi said, you may want to be very careful who you tell what. As many are affected by the image they have of how you get hepc, NOT by the many innocent ways many people do. I, on the other hand, in all my innocence, back in 1990, told everybody everything. I guess either I didn't notice if anyone took it wrong, or maybe the way I did it, in every instance, explaining that I wanted everyone to be safe, so I was being careful and disclosing, influenced people, but everyone was supportive. Of course, I started with my Boss, who was an exceptional human being, then told my co-workers. I think his 'normal, business as usual' attitude went a long way in setting the tone.
Of course, we know so much more today. You can't get this from kissing, handholding, sharing eating utensils, combs, etc, which I used to think. Also, Drs do not even recommend 'protection' for monogamous couples, as hepc isn't transmitted that way. One exception is 'rough' sex, where there is tearing, etc, so blood to blood transfer. Only a super small percent of babies born to hepc Moms have the disease. Many women on here can tell you they had one or more children with no hepc to the kids, and their husbands don't. In my own case, I have been married for 41+ years, have had hepc 40 years (blood transfusions during surgery after a miscarriage shortly after we were married) and my husband does not have it.
This is NOT an STD, yes people can get it from sharing drug needles, etc, but also from blood transfusion prior to the testing for hepc in 1992, from tattoo needles which haven't been properly sterilized, or dental instruments, to same, from shared toothbrushes, razors, pierced earring punches, same with body piercings, and on and on. As I said before and as Sandi reafffirmed, how you got it, doesn't matter, you may never know. Just be mindful of any blood to blood possibilities, so you don't pass it on.
Wow, didn't mean to write a book, just give you info to make you feel more comfortable with this disease.
Again, it is a very slow developing disease, so if you are in early stages, with either NO or very little liver damage, you have time to ajdust to this and decide how and when to handle this.
Hope this helps. this is a really good Forum to have found to help you through everything.
Keep on keeping on, one step at a time. Pat
I was treated from Feb. 7 to May 1 this year, for 12 weeks. And yes I am cured. The treatments are a form of chemo, in that they are chemicals. Many people don't know how they got hcv, the important thing is to get it treated. My experience about sharing about your diagnosis and Tx, is to share it only with people who will understand and be supportive. I lost two friends, and I was really surprised about that. I had a lot of support though from cancer survivors, and from this forum. I just told people I was on a form of chemo, the less info the better. Get as healthy as you can before starting, I lost 25 pounds in 3 months before starting, obviously don't drink alcohol, eat a liver friendly diet. Get you support system in place, get educated as much as possible, be proactive for yourself. And feel free to take advantage of our knowledge. ~~Sandi
Hi Pat, Thank you for the comforting words. So are the treatments a form of Chemo Therapy?
Marie: Welcome to the Forum.
Please know that we are all here to comfort, support advise and answer you questions so that you will know what to ask your doctor.
All of us were jarred and, once we could think, scared when we found out. But the treatments are excellent now, and with no or mostly mild sides ( Sx or Side Effects). This is, indeed, the time to get diagnosed. The tx (treatment or treatments) are so much easier now. People who have Gt3 (me,too) are treated for 24 weeks with the Sol/Riba.
There can be side effects on this. The most usual, and most bothersome of which is fatigue - part of which may be due to the side effect from the Riba which can cause a drop in the Hemoglobin. However, most have the fatigue, but are able to work around it. Many have only very mild sides, some none.Being younger helps with tolerance and seems to lessen the sides. Exercise helps.
Also, Bristol Myers, Squibb is coming out with a med developed for, and trials done on GT3s, daclatasvir, which will have the trade name Daklinza, to be used with Sovaldi, the two only, for 12 weeks.
Also, hepc is a slow developing disease, so you do have time to think things through and make sound decisions about treatment, when the time comes.
It doesn't hurt to start now on eating a liver friendly diet, drinking a lot of water - most people don't drink nearly enough as it is - cutting down on or cutting out sugars, sodium, red meats. Water:1 oz water for each pound of weight up to 1/2 your body weight, per day. One of the additional benefits of that much is that it does seem to help w/symptoms on tx.
IF you use alcohol and/ or smoke, then stop or start stopping those activities. Same with recreational drug use.
On here, no one cares where the hepc came from. All we care about is getting rid of it. The health tips above are to keep from damaging your liver as all those things directly affect you liver, so they are useful to do even if you didn't have hepc.
ALWAYS get copies of your Lab results so you can keep them to look back on and compare.
You will be able to get info and answers here, as comfort and support. We have all been where you are and will walk this walk with you.
One last thing, just in case you have a lot of fatigue for a couple or so weeks: mdo you have sick leave or accrued vacation time that you can take, either for a week or two at a time, OR a day here and there, if you need them. I am not saying you will, but it will give you peace of mind if you can arrange ahead of time. You can just tell your Boss, or HR person that you will be doing chemo and MAY have some fatigue from the tx, if you are not comfortable telling them about the hepc. That is still the truth and all they really need to know.
Good Luck! Good treating! On to SVR (Sustained Viral Response = cure)! And again, welcome. Pat
Please know that we are all here to comfort, support advise and answer you questions so that you will know what to ask your doctor.
All of us were jarred and, once we could think, scared when we found out. But the treatments are excellent now, and with no or mostly mild sides ( Sx or Side Effects). This is, indeed, the time to get diagnosed. The tx (treatment or treatments) are so much easier now. People who have Gt3 (me,too) are treated for 24 weeks with the Sol/Riba.
There can be side effects on this. The most usual, and most bothersome of which is fatigue - part of which may be due to the side effect from the Riba which can cause a drop in the Hemoglobin. However, most have the fatigue, but are able to work around it. Many have only very mild sides, some none.Being younger helps with tolerance and seems to lessen the sides. Exercise helps.
Also, Bristol Myers, Squibb is coming out with a med developed for, and trials done on GT3s, daclatasvir, which will have the trade name Daklinza, to be used with Sovaldi, the two only, for 12 weeks.
Also, hepc is a slow developing disease, so you do have time to think things through and make sound decisions about treatment, when the time comes.
It doesn't hurt to start now on eating a liver friendly diet, drinking a lot of water - most people don't drink nearly enough as it is - cutting down on or cutting out sugars, sodium, red meats. Water:1 oz water for each pound of weight up to 1/2 your body weight, per day. One of the additional benefits of that much is that it does seem to help w/symptoms on tx.
IF you use alcohol and/ or smoke, then stop or start stopping those activities. Same with recreational drug use.
On here, no one cares where the hepc came from. All we care about is getting rid of it. The health tips above are to keep from damaging your liver as all those things directly affect you liver, so they are useful to do even if you didn't have hepc.
ALWAYS get copies of your Lab results so you can keep them to look back on and compare.
You will be able to get info and answers here, as comfort and support. We have all been where you are and will walk this walk with you.
One last thing, just in case you have a lot of fatigue for a couple or so weeks: mdo you have sick leave or accrued vacation time that you can take, either for a week or two at a time, OR a day here and there, if you need them. I am not saying you will, but it will give you peace of mind if you can arrange ahead of time. You can just tell your Boss, or HR person that you will be doing chemo and MAY have some fatigue from the tx, if you are not comfortable telling them about the hepc. That is still the truth and all they really need to know.
Good Luck! Good treating! On to SVR (Sustained Viral Response = cure)! And again, welcome. Pat
Thank u for letting me know. How long have u been treating with the meds? My hope is that it clears it , I think im in Denial and i feel like Im scarred for life and will always be known as a dirty filthy person.and the truth is I dont know how i got this. I got 1 tatoo as a mid life crisis at 50. Maybe that was it IDK but im worried.. There is so much out there about people dying because of the meds. so thats why i joined this forum for some support
Thank you for that, I feel a little better knowing theres others out there like me going thru it also. How long were you on the meds. and are you cured now?
The treatments now are all very doable. I had anxiety and heart palpitations before treatment (Tx), and they weren't an issue for me, and I also had to take Interferon. There can be some additional anxiety, so let you doctor know, so you can get help for that if you need to, otherwise monitor the triggers for your anxiety. Many people work the entire time they are being treated too, I did. If you prepare yourself beforehand you can do this, and we on this forum will help you as much as we can.
hello, I understand your anxiety an being scared about your diagnosis. There are people on this forum that are very knowledgeable about treatments that are available. I TREATED W/ Solvaldi an ribavirin ( ribasphere). An not trying to insinuate treatment was a piece of cake but certainly doable. If needed, I would not hesitate to repeat treatment. I'm sure people will be along shortly to answer every question you have. Take care. Mary
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