just about to start treatment help

[llisa24]

Hi,this is my first time on here i am starting treatment next week ribivlan and interferon (dont know if my spelling is correct) i am so scared are the side effects really that bad?will i be able to care for my 8 year old?and will i be able to work or drive??i am already anemic to start with and suffer panic attacks please can any one help me with some sdvice on what to expect and how to cope        one more thing will i lose my hair????
thanks xxxxxxx

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hi llisa and welcome to the forum,  Everyone reacts different to the meds, so it's hard to say what your sides will be.  When you start make sure you drink plenty of water and try and eat well.  You said your anemic, do you have thalassemia and do you know your HGB?  What is your geno type, and any other stats?  There are many here that will help you along the way while your txing but we are not Drs.
As for the panic attacts, does your treating hep Dr know about them?  That is important for him or her to know.

Be well,

Beagle Bailey

[bobbyullc]

sorry but it sounds like you have several problems to start with. what is your biopsy score. it is important to know if it is imperitive to tx now or not.
tx is much easier on some then others. pray you are one of the some.
bobby

hey butch,

[nygirl7]

Treatment affects everyone differently but I'm a baby and did 72 weeks only missing 3 days.  I wanted to make it thru so I did. I'm a single mom and would have done whatever it took to get rid of this disease in the world so I could live a happy healthy productive life for my kids.

[chevyelcam79]

I am also a single Mom.  I just did my fourth shot Friday night.  Have not missed a days work to date. Some days I don't feel the greatest but have always been one to keep on going!  Just keep an attitude of I can do it and it is not going to slow me down.

It is scary but if you go with an attitude that you can do it, then you can!  

[almondbreeze]

72 weeks and only missing a couple of days of work. Thats  great. Hope when my  turn comes I can accomplish half of what you did. Im a baby.Was told the anticipation of treatment is worse than the treatment my people in my support group.
Have A Great Day

[nygirl7]

I can't say it was always easy but...I just tried to remember at all times that I was saving my life - can't say it was always FUN but if you work closely with your doctor it can be MANAGEABLE.

Make sure you talk to a doc about 'rescue drugs' (Procrit, Neupogen) because they can make ALL of the difference for you. :)

[meki]

Hmmmm...

It could go many different ways for you.

You could have the worst side effects (SX) ever known to humankind or you could breeze through it without a worry in the world.

Each person reacts differently.

The MOST common SX are fatigue - muscle aches - mood changes - insomnia.

My hair became brittle and fell out - I had bad SX --- somewhere in the middle of moderate to horrible.

But again - you won't know until you go through it.

Some folks don't even notice it --- you may be one of those. Keep up with drinking about a gallon of water every day.

Try to exercise if you can.

Set up babysitting - or get an assist with family or friends.

Sit down and talk to your daughter - let her know what is going on and that you really need her help. That there will be months that you just won't have the energy to be that "loving - sporty - fun mom" if you react badly to the medicine ---- let her know you love her - that she is the most important thing to you in the world...

ONE THING I WILL TELL YOU THAT I THINK IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND...

One thing that I CANNOT stress enough.

This medicine can and DOES cause you to have suicidal thoughts.

Things like "I'd be better off dead" === or actually IMAGINING that you could kill yourself ==== it DOES HAPPEN.

You have to be prepared for that. OK?

It may not happen to you --- but it happened to me.

I would never consider doing anything remotely suicidal...

But there were days when the thoughts crossed my mind.

I'm very strong mentally - so I jumped up - brushed those odd, silly thoughts away immediately!

But I could imagine if someone wasn't prepared for it that it could quickly spiral into something horrible.

And keep in mind --- that's what they are --- just thoughts...

But because you might be going through depression on top of all this - be aware that IF your thoughts slide into that thinking pattern that you need to stop them... and if they keep coming back --- or are out of your control --- IMMEDIATELY go to your NEAREST ER - or Police Department.

OK?

They might not happen to you... But my Doc warned me way ahead of time and I was like NO WAY --- Never happen to me --- so when they did happen to me... I was prepared.

I also think most people do ok.

About your hair... Keep REALLY good conditioner on hand.... Stay away as much as possible from things that dry it out --- dye, hair dryers, etc.

Mine frizzed out.

Uhm.. Oh yeah --- Buy yourself some great tweezers! You will get goat hairs on your chin. Pluck baby Pluck.

But your eyelashes will be BEAUTIFUL.

And - keep an eye on nausea - you'll prolly not feel real well to eat --- so invest in nibble foods...

Things you can blend (apples - carrots - oranges), crackers, ginger ale... FLU FOOD...

Uhmmmm - again - get your kid set up for the lack of time you'll have.

I worked full time - but had weeks where getting out of bed --- or focusing on anything was impossible for me.

OK - I've covered my view of treatment... I'm middle of the road.

There have been those who have had worse ---- and those who were quite alright.

I'm going to try to crash now... LOL!

Meki
PS. Good luck --- and just so you know, I've been UND and Just recently turned SVR. So if I could make it through - if you physically can handle it - then you can too!