need advice

[B367]

I'm starting tripple therpy Friday. I haven't said anything to anyone at work. I am a housekeeping mang. at 60 bed assisted living facility. Don't know how it's going to affect me or my ability to work. My Administrator knows I have cirrhosis.but this is different! I know they aren't supposed to discriminate; aren't supposed to!! And to be honest, I don't want the whole staff knowing! I just don't know what to do.  

[frijole]

Can-do is right -- blood disorder is a good choice of words.  I told everyone I was anemic which was absolutely true, but never said it was hemalytic anemia, meaning that it came from medince I was taking.

A word to the wise on blood tests----  you don't have to put up with bad phlebotomists.  If your white blood count and red blood counts go down dramatically because to treatment (tx, as we call it) you may have to have weekly blood tests.  Pay attention to who takes your blood and decide who you want and who you don't.  Be assertive.  I chose the 3 at my LabCorp that were excellent and asked for them.  I refused to be drawn by those I considered butchers.  Also, know your arms.  I have an easy arm and a hard arm.  My favorite techs could draw blood in any of 4 veins.  If I had someone new, I would ask them if they wanted the hard arm or the easy arm.  If you get what you suspect is a trainee, don't let them dig and dig.  Ask for someone else early on.  It is no fun to wear long sleeves for a year to cover up bad blood draws. -- not to mention that they hurt!

Best of luck Friday
bean

[Eradicate]

Hi there, just wanted to wish you the best with your tx. Check out some of my journal entries that explains how my ride has been. I was really worried b4 start date, but kept things to myself and told only those close to me when i started feeling nasty.  When i had to go on sick leave, i told my boss i have a chronic illness that is effecting me blah blah blah. lots of good advice from these forums. Nobody has said to me once that i don't look well. i have dark circles under my eyes, pale skin and look tired, but thank god people usually don't ask questions. As for sx, i feel like i learned as i went along, still have couple more months to go, but still learning what my physical, emitional, mental limit is and to stay within it otherwise I'm in trouble. Ttfn :)

[can-do-man]

You said......"If I ever get the lab payed off it'll be a small miracle. I don't have any ins."

Have you talked to your doctor about this? Or better yet the lab people. you might be surprised as we have had people here get big discounts by doing this..... Never hurts to ask...

[B367]

That's a good reply! Lord knows I sure have been having alot of blood drawn here lately. Seems like one bruise hasn't cleared up before I have to go back. If I ever get the lab payed off it'll be a small miracle. I don't have any ins. and I sure can't get any now!!! I'll probably be on here alot once I start treatment.I don't really have anyone to talk to that understands. Thanks again!

[can-do-man]

If it becomes clear to people that something is wrong and you feel you must say something just say your being treated for a "blood disorder". That should shut them up, any thing more is none of their business... Good luck as a lot of us worked through treatment............

[B367]

Thanks to everyone who replied. It seems that everyone was of the same opinion. That was my gut feeling, but I guess the closer I get, the more scared I get about side effects and such. I haven't told anyone I have HVC except my boyfriend,my son & daughter-in-law and one of my sisters. AS for my administrator; she did ask me today if everything was ok. She knew I went for blood work last week. I told her that I had been going through alot and had alot to go through yet. But that I would rather not go into alot of detail. That I was really a private person and I really didn't want everyone knowing my business. She said that was cool and we would work through it.Again, thanks everyone. This is a great group.

[frijole]

Nope.  I told no one either (Except my business partnter).  The stigma would have been damaging.  I am really surprised you have told your administrator that you have cirrhosis. I find that very hard to convey.  No one except my husband knows I have cirrhosis.  The stigmas is one thing but I guess cirrhosis has always meant "end game" to me even though I now know differently.  I don't want anyone looking at me as if I were in my final hours or even years.  I know I may and probably will live with cirrhosis for 20 years as long as I am attentive to certain things.

As far as your job, I think you will do fine.  You may be slower and if you have to do much walking, you will notice difficulty but you should be okay. As you progress into therapy watch your white blood count closely since you may be around a lot of germs in your work.  

Good luck on Friday.  You made the right choice to treat.  Welcome to the forum.

frijole (bean)

[cheflady]

hi and welcome agree with rest of posts it is nobodys buisness but yours unfortunately there is a stigma and when my hubby looked really ill he told people that he was undergoing chemo and they didnt ask any more questions. I wish you all the very best for tx

[Advocate1955]

My husband didn't tell anyone at work either. He took one or two days off due to side effects or appts, but not many.
Advocate1955

[jules2551]

Congrats on treating but I agree with the others in not saying anything.  I told several close friends, supposed, and they wrote me off because of the stigma and ignorance.  Save yourself the added stress and tell them you are taking a form of chemo and would rather not go into detail.  

Jules

[flcyclist]

I didn't tell anyone at work.  I believe that I would have had plenty of support, but didn't want any change in attitude or be treated any differently.   Do have a plan B if possible, in case you need to take some time off or work reduced hours.  Each person is very different in they way they tolerate the meds, so its difficult to predict how you will deal with the sx.  Good luck to you.