had to go back to work

[marty59]

Holy crap, just got home from work and man I am beat. Haven't worked since I started. Haven't really gotten any exercise either.
Shot 19 is this Friday, and while my hgb is back up to 12,  ( und since week 4 on triple tx) I just about had to leave early.
Thought I was going to pass out the first time I went up a 10' ladder.

I think, just trying to get through the meds was a mistake on my part.
I'm really wishing I had made the attempt to get a little exercise. Maybe a short walk a couple times a day might have helped.

Now I have to work.

My advice to new to treatment people,,,,,, try and be a little active. Even if you barf along side the road, the rain will wash it away .lol

[marty59]

Well, made it through 3 days of work and while I'm tired and it was tough, I'm feeling pretty good compared to a few weeks ago. My hgb is up to 12 as of Monday and had 10k units of epo yesterday. They reduced the amount from 40k to 20k to the 10k dose.

I can't believe how weak I got.
Doing the same thing that I have been doing for 38 years and I have had to ask for help from my co-workers for some pretty routine things.
Hopefully the muscle tone comes back quick.

[AKHepper]

I worked some as a welder the first time around, I almost had a nervous breakdown it was so bad with the fatigue, luckily the job ended and I got to coast the rest of the way.
The other day I had to do some maintenance work on my truck, I wanted to rotate the tires, but when I tried to take the real dually's off, they were rusted together and I had to beat them loose with a sledge hammer. I didn't think I was gonna be able to finish the job, but I did, and it took me 2 days to recuperate from it. :(
I couldn't see trying to work on this stuff, it's a struggle for me to shuffle off to the grocery store.

[crossroadsec]

I've been on triple since July. It's been rough but I had a lot of damage when I was diagnosed in 2009. I was lucky to find a dr who would treat me. He saved my life. I was given 2 years n now figure on 20. Working can be tuff. This morning I felt like a robot going thru the motions. Then I get in the classroom n am glad to be there. I couldn't work the first year.
I'm 54. If you r functioning well w no life threatening symptoms... You do have a choice. I've always been really healthy in spite of 35 years of hep c. My thing is? I want as many as I can get. My goals for the future w my family - and my personal goals keep my going on the rough days. I'm going w RIBA n peg for 21 more weeks if I can keep my labs good. I'd do it again.  I've met this wonderful forum of people who have taught me so much about living. if you need the $ and can work part time? Sounds doable. For all of our side effects, we're getting undetected and sustained viral response. It goes faster than you think. I'm hoping you'll dream sweet while you make ur decisions. All of us working who posted above have a reason they have to. Many simply can not. Our bodies are so different.
Xoxo Karen :)
Ps: where is Marty? (:O

[pooh55811]

I think the majority of us are on triple med treatment. A few are on SOC (peg./riba).

I know SOC is no picnic, but I do think the triple med treatment is generally more difficult and there are more side effects. The SOC has side effects, but the percentage of people with the side effects increases with the triple treatment.

I was on Incivek for 12 weeks and have been off of it now for 4 weeks. I can tell you that I feel much better, not great, in fact really not very good at all, lol, but considerably better. I still have major fatigue, some rash, malaise, aches, no motivation, heavy lead legs at times, aqchy joints, somewhat clouded thinking (putting the stamps on the wrong side of the envelope, lol, and missing a well known and well marked turn off to the town just north of mine, not once, but twice, in the same 10 minutes. I missed it first going north, and went about 5 miles before I realized it, then I turned around and went south, knowing full well I had missed it going north, and missed it again. I got it the thrid time.)

I think with the triple treatment we have issues you won't have (like anal problems) and our third drug also increase the incidence of rashes, anemia, blood count problems. I have had no problems with anemia or blood counts but some have.

Some people on here have done both so they know better than I do if you do just plain SOC and do not start out with the triple meds.

By the way, keep in mind, some people do not have bad side effects. You won't know until you start. with any luck you will do okay with few sides.

I am no spring chicken either at 65 (really 66 because I recently had a birthday, but I have been posting 65 since I got on the forum last Sept. and I figured if I changed my age people will think I do not know how old I am, lol). I am the oldest patient my doctor has and my case manager says I am their poster patient (makes me wonder what the others are experiencing and looking like). I am just relaying that because age is not the only factor in how well we tolerate the meds. But I do think the third med adds more side effects.

I am sure you will do fine. I wish you the very best.

[bbj2856]

Hi I have a question are you all on the 3 meds?  Are the side affects worse if you are on all  3 drugs. I am going be on Peg and Reb . I am hip c type 3 and mine had just stared to affect my liver. I am doing 24 wk. treatment.

I start my first shot this Sunday I finally got my ins. to approve part of the cost. The Dr told me It was not very far along. I try to work 2 days a week but scared to death reading how this affect you all .  I think I am older than most  I am  68 .
I am so sorry you all having such a hard time I pray it will get easier for us all and we all recover from this dreadful desease.

[crossroadsec]

Lol @ Crigger. Thot about u today. Mine was some better. I've slept long n hard all week. Hope u do too!

[crigger]

  Be careful you do not want to be cure from Hep C and the end up with a Serious head injury falling offf the latter. Then you will be on a different forum

[brianmo]

I agree with some exercise" while you can" during tx but there is no way I could do a physical job.  I thank God I have dogs that need to get out for walks each day, they are my therapy.  I came into tx the best shape of my life. Some days I have to stop going up the stairs. It's the meds.   Be careful.

Mo

[crossroadsec]

Don't be afraid to sit down if you need to. Those little breaks can help u be safe.
Hope tomorrow is good. Catch some zzzzs

[slideman]

I work construction too. Since 1984. Even on my best day of tx I could not have done it. Lots of high work, lifts and ladders. I didn't have enough breath to walk out to the truck. I know first hand what it is to get that call to go back to work, and really need the work!! I been layed off since Thanksgiving. Was supposed to go back last week, but the whole thing got pushed back until Feb. Its not easy to not work, I would bet there are only a hand full of people on here that know what construction is really like. Be careful, safety first!! My hat's off to you for making one day.

[Anne1717]

Geez - I know the feeling.  I started a new job, a VERY active management job-no rest, with 3 weeks left of treatment - HGB in the low 9's.  I fainted my very first day!!   Now that I look back,  I doubt I would have had the discipline to get back to shape on my own.  Even though it was hard and I really didn't think I could go on, I just made myself keep at it.  Of course I collapsed when I got home each day. It really did help me rebuild my strength.  

Be safe and good luck.  This too shall pass.

[researchmonkey326]

Wow!  I worked the entire time I treated but I could not have fathomed climbing a ladder.  I had vertigo some days and low BP others so I was lightheaded much of the time.  I'm an event planner so I got a fair amount of walking in everyday but that was the most I could manage.  I'm with Billy - ladders don't sound cool  at all.  Getting through treatment alive is the goal, remember.  Take care.

[marty59]

Thanks everyone.

I wish I could do 1/2 days, but it wouldn't really work in some contruction jobs.
I even felt a little fustrated at my lack of strenght when lifting even lighter weights.
Then the whole standing upright for the entire day. Sure felt good to get in my Jeep and drive home.
Actually I am very tried and sore, but it is a good tired.

And pooh55811,
I can't even get near the cat food dish without gagging. The litter box is a big no-no.

[pooh55811]

I admire you, Marty, for going back to work. I don't think I could do it. I do know others here on the forum work and I admire them too.

Your fatigue and maybe weakness may be partly due to inactivity, but I still think the meds are kicking our butts. I get tired just doing the dishes or cleaning the cat litter box. Forget about scrubbing floors. That can wait until August when I am off meds, lol. I have only vacuumed once or twice since I began treatment and not all rooms the same day. An outing a day (grocery store, doctor, lunch, vacuuming, just about anything) and I am all in. By 4-5 it's recliner time. Plus, sometimes my legs don't work right and they feel like logs. Plus the joint and muscle aches.

Boy, I really do admire those who are working and my hats off to all of you.

However, I do think your idea of a little excercise is a good idea (if one can those log legs with weights attached to move, lol).

Do be careful on ladders and in your other duties. I hope you feel stronger soon. Could you work part time, like half days? Maybe that would work better. I know that may not be an option.

Hope you feel better soon.

[working dog]

man i would watch out....maybe try half days ..or even better no days...be careful...have you check you bp sitting then standing??? ladders don't sound cool...what if you forget your on the ladder...in 1980 one of my friends i use to frame with in the mid 70s... was real tough....he fell backwards off a six foot ladder working in an ibm building and lost half of his cognitive skills...almost died and  maybe that would have been better for him....things can happen even down low.....good luck...billy

[crossroadsec]

I'm lmbo. But seriously, be careful! I can't even picture a ladder! I hug the handrails on stairs.
Promise you'll pace yourself. Your body is still fighting and you've been through a huge battle already!
Karen :)