Aa
prepaing for tx
I am about to start trip therapy and am trying to get as much in order as I can. I am assuming I should get my dental out of the way by the sounds of the severe side effects. Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what I could do ahead of time that will help me through tx?
Somedays I feel like I am going to become such a burdern. I guess this is normal to feel this way but wow I am usually the one taking care of things what will I do? I have a lot of anxiety the closer it gets. I just keep trying to think positive................ok I am panicking way too early I know
Somedays I feel like I am going to become such a burdern. I guess this is normal to feel this way but wow I am usually the one taking care of things what will I do? I have a lot of anxiety the closer it gets. I just keep trying to think positive................ok I am panicking way too early I know
I've had problems with dry mouth and besides using biotene mouth wash and gel, I bought xylitol gum and mints from epic.com and used them often.
Here's a list of questions for your doctor:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/360204/guestions-for-doctor-for-newbies-to-tx?personal_page_id=17823
Coffee and vitamin D can help according to recent research.
Start drinking coffee now, and get yourself up to drinking 3+ cups daily. Not everyone can but it's worth a try.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2011/0621_2011_a.html
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/easl/docs/0518_2010_b.html
Here's a list of questions for your doctor:
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/360204/guestions-for-doctor-for-newbies-to-tx?personal_page_id=17823
Coffee and vitamin D can help according to recent research.
Start drinking coffee now, and get yourself up to drinking 3+ cups daily. Not everyone can but it's worth a try.
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2011/0621_2011_a.html
http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/2010_conference/easl/docs/0518_2010_b.html
hrsepwrguy, thanks for the link to my journals. I hope they are helpful. :)
jennnnz7, One other thing that I have seen suggested on this forum is to see your eye doctor and let him/her know that you will be doing Hep C treatment including Interferon. He/she should give you a baseline eye exam prior to treatment, so that if there are changes in your eyes due to Interferon, he/she will be able to advise you and your Hep C doctor.
Also, with regard to the dental work, part of the reason is to get dental work done ahead of treatment so that hopefully you won't require dental work while your immune system is lowered due to treatment. Another reason is because one of the side effects of treatment is dry mouth which can cause significant dental problems including rapid decay. It is a good idea, in my opinion, to invest the time/money in some of the Biotene products to help alleviate dry mouth, be extra vigilant about dental hygiene, and perhaps ask your dentist if he/she would recommend having a cleaning more frequently than every 6 months, perhaps every 3 months. The cost of a cleaning is much less than the cost of a crown, a root canal, or an extraction/implant.
Best wishes on treatment jennnnz7. Praying for UND for you.
Advocate1955
jennnnz7, One other thing that I have seen suggested on this forum is to see your eye doctor and let him/her know that you will be doing Hep C treatment including Interferon. He/she should give you a baseline eye exam prior to treatment, so that if there are changes in your eyes due to Interferon, he/she will be able to advise you and your Hep C doctor.
Also, with regard to the dental work, part of the reason is to get dental work done ahead of treatment so that hopefully you won't require dental work while your immune system is lowered due to treatment. Another reason is because one of the side effects of treatment is dry mouth which can cause significant dental problems including rapid decay. It is a good idea, in my opinion, to invest the time/money in some of the Biotene products to help alleviate dry mouth, be extra vigilant about dental hygiene, and perhaps ask your dentist if he/she would recommend having a cleaning more frequently than every 6 months, perhaps every 3 months. The cost of a cleaning is much less than the cost of a crown, a root canal, or an extraction/implant.
Best wishes on treatment jennnnz7. Praying for UND for you.
Advocate1955
I agree with Dawn. Talk to your treating doctor BEFORE taking any vitamins or supplements. People that have been successful with treatment are successful from the treatment, not any vitamins or supplements. If you are planning on treating with either Incivek or Victrelis there can be drug to drug interactions that can be of serious concern as well.
For example:
"St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) - Plasma concentrations of telaprevir can be reduced by concomitant use of the herbal preparation St.
John’s wort"
Also be aware the anything that contain iron or too much vitamin C which increases iron can have a negative effect on the success of treatment.
Any other over the counter drug can also effect treatment. Anything you are taking should be discussed honestly with your doctor BEFORE you start treating.
Talk to your gastroenterologist.
Good luck!
Hector
For example:
"St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) - Plasma concentrations of telaprevir can be reduced by concomitant use of the herbal preparation St.
John’s wort"
Also be aware the anything that contain iron or too much vitamin C which increases iron can have a negative effect on the success of treatment.
Any other over the counter drug can also effect treatment. Anything you are taking should be discussed honestly with your doctor BEFORE you start treating.
Talk to your gastroenterologist.
Good luck!
Hector
Firstly these are suggestions only, the most important thing is to discuss with your Dr. the supplements you are taking and want to start taking BEFORE you start taking any supplements.
Yes supplements can be expensive and it is a conundrum. Likewise for organic foods, it's a shame really.
Keep taking the ones you already are and maybe there has to be a prioritization of supplements if you go this route. I believe the B complex and green tea followed by vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) is probably the most important. SAMe is a great supplement but is hugely expensive.
Yes supplements can be expensive and it is a conundrum. Likewise for organic foods, it's a shame really.
Keep taking the ones you already are and maybe there has to be a prioritization of supplements if you go this route. I believe the B complex and green tea followed by vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) is probably the most important. SAMe is a great supplement but is hugely expensive.
Thank you so very much everyone. All of these are so greatly appreciated. I will be taking a list of things to Dr with me.
Dawn: you mentioned a lot of natural things; I have already started a liquid vitamin, vit c with flavonoids, and a probiotic (the kind that has to stay refrigerated). I really can not afford these but more importantly I can't afford not to get them. I have been complaing of pain in liver area and so far these things are maybe the reason for my relief.
Dawn: you mentioned a lot of natural things; I have already started a liquid vitamin, vit c with flavonoids, and a probiotic (the kind that has to stay refrigerated). I really can not afford these but more importantly I can't afford not to get them. I have been complaing of pain in liver area and so far these things are maybe the reason for my relief.
Everyone has given you good advice. I have always taken a natural approach to thing, don't get me wrong, if I have issues that disturb me and I think a natural remedy won't help, I def do the pharmacy stuff.
I was already taking some supplements before I was diagnosed. B complex (this since I don't eat a lot of red meat), Bee pollen (energy, very complete protein, many other properties), lots of green tea/white tea, kefire, greek yogurt, not a fan of herbal remedies (they scare me), lots of fresh fruits and veggies, high fiber diet all around.
When I was diagnosed, I researched the supplements I was taking and others. I made a list of these supplements SAMe, vitamin E and D, and increasing my B12 and folic acid. I discussed all of this with my Dr. and he ok'ed taking these things. I have always drank lots of water, and started drinking even more with treatment. For the most part I have had mild side effects, and yes I do believe it is becase of this lifestyle.
You may want to discuss such thing with your Dr.
Make a list of potential side effects and potential solutions (suggested reading from above) and discuss with your Dr. ahead of time, get prescriptions ahead of time. Some of the side effects will snowball very quickly if you do not get a handle on them immediately.
Talk to your Dr. about anemia/neutropenia and what his status on intervention is.
good luck and you will receive lots of help and support from this forum.
I was already taking some supplements before I was diagnosed. B complex (this since I don't eat a lot of red meat), Bee pollen (energy, very complete protein, many other properties), lots of green tea/white tea, kefire, greek yogurt, not a fan of herbal remedies (they scare me), lots of fresh fruits and veggies, high fiber diet all around.
When I was diagnosed, I researched the supplements I was taking and others. I made a list of these supplements SAMe, vitamin E and D, and increasing my B12 and folic acid. I discussed all of this with my Dr. and he ok'ed taking these things. I have always drank lots of water, and started drinking even more with treatment. For the most part I have had mild side effects, and yes I do believe it is becase of this lifestyle.
You may want to discuss such thing with your Dr.
Make a list of potential side effects and potential solutions (suggested reading from above) and discuss with your Dr. ahead of time, get prescriptions ahead of time. Some of the side effects will snowball very quickly if you do not get a handle on them immediately.
Talk to your Dr. about anemia/neutropenia and what his status on intervention is.
good luck and you will receive lots of help and support from this forum.
You also want to be prepared to ask your treating doctor lots of questions. Following is a link that Orphanhawk started that might give you some suggestions. There have been other threads that discussed the same. Good luck getting started.
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/360204/guestions-for-doctor-for-newbies-to-tx?personal_page_id=17823
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/360204/guestions-for-doctor-for-newbies-to-tx?personal_page_id=17823
You may find this helpful....
"A Guide to Preparing for Treatment"
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Preparing%20for%20Treatment.pdf
Support and Resources
Financial Preparations
Insurance (3); The Workplace (4); Medical Leave and Disability (4)
Medical Preparations
Medication Preparations
Side Effect Management
Preparing Your Body
Substance Use (9); Weight (10); Physical Fitness (10); Birth Control (11)
Cognitive Tools
Goals
Attitude
Parting Words
Resources
"Some people report having an easy treatment, but, for most it is a challenging experience. The majority of patients who undergo HCV treatment complete it. The dropout rate due to side effects is roughly 10% to 16%. Patients who are able to complete the entire course of treatment at the maximum prescribed dose are the most likely to reach a virus-free finish line. This means that your chances of eliminating HCV directly relate to your ability to endure the treatment. The purpose of this guide is to provide tools to help prepare you for HCV treatment. Tools may help you get over the bumps in the road. You may never need some of these.
On a daily basis, we do not get flat tires, but most of us carry a spare. We hope that the tools in this guide will be like carrying around a spare tire and a jack – tools you will not need but are important to have for peace of mind.
Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Writer, Hepatitis C Support Project and HCV Advocate
Alan Franciscus
Executive Director, Hepatitis C Support Project
Editor-in-Chief, HCV Advocate
"A Guide to Preparing for Treatment"
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Preparing%20for%20Treatment.pdf
Support and Resources
Financial Preparations
Insurance (3); The Workplace (4); Medical Leave and Disability (4)
Medical Preparations
Medication Preparations
Side Effect Management
Preparing Your Body
Substance Use (9); Weight (10); Physical Fitness (10); Birth Control (11)
Cognitive Tools
Goals
Attitude
Parting Words
Resources
"Some people report having an easy treatment, but, for most it is a challenging experience. The majority of patients who undergo HCV treatment complete it. The dropout rate due to side effects is roughly 10% to 16%. Patients who are able to complete the entire course of treatment at the maximum prescribed dose are the most likely to reach a virus-free finish line. This means that your chances of eliminating HCV directly relate to your ability to endure the treatment. The purpose of this guide is to provide tools to help prepare you for HCV treatment. Tools may help you get over the bumps in the road. You may never need some of these.
On a daily basis, we do not get flat tires, but most of us carry a spare. We hope that the tools in this guide will be like carrying around a spare tire and a jack – tools you will not need but are important to have for peace of mind.
Lucinda K. Porter, RN
Writer, Hepatitis C Support Project and HCV Advocate
Alan Franciscus
Executive Director, Hepatitis C Support Project
Editor-in-Chief, HCV Advocate
Managing Side Effects: Items, shopping list, prescriptions and over the counter medications Dec 04, 2011 - 0 comments
Tags: managing side effects, triple therapy, items to have at home
I hope this journal entry will be useful to us.
Here are two links to threads on this forum (Hepatitis C) where members discussed items, prescriptions, and over the counter medicine that they have used while on treatment to help manage side effects:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Items-I-need-at-home-to-rescue-cue-me-while-on-tx/show/1619415#post_7363894
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/What-have-you-been-prescribed-for-your-sxs/show/1605430#post_7359895
Advocate1955
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/328917/Managing-Side-Effects--Items--shopping-list--prescriptions-and-over-the-counter-medications
Lots of good info located in Advocate1955 journals
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/index/1739543?page=1&personal_page_id=2242526&sort_by=date
Tags: managing side effects, triple therapy, items to have at home
I hope this journal entry will be useful to us.
Here are two links to threads on this forum (Hepatitis C) where members discussed items, prescriptions, and over the counter medicine that they have used while on treatment to help manage side effects:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Items-I-need-at-home-to-rescue-cue-me-while-on-tx/show/1619415#post_7363894
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/What-have-you-been-prescribed-for-your-sxs/show/1605430#post_7359895
Advocate1955
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/328917/Managing-Side-Effects--Items--shopping-list--prescriptions-and-over-the-counter-medications
Lots of good info located in Advocate1955 journals
http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/index/1739543?page=1&personal_page_id=2242526&sort_by=date
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In addition to buying the over the counter meds and items for the side effects, I also stocked up on heavy items, such as Kitty litter. I decided I did not want to be lugging 25 pound boxes of Kitty liter all over the place if I was sick from the meds. (That was a good idea, too, LOL.) I also stocked up on a few easy to eat items and easy to prepare items like hearty chicken soup, whole rye crackers, saltine crackers, etc.
Another thing I did was clean the house top to bottom (before Tx). Good thing I did because the house did not get vacuumed or cleaned for about 7 months during Tx.
I also bought some things that would help me get through treatment more comfortably (a new mattress, a recliner, and some educational DVDs). These were good buys.I am glad I did it. It is nice to have a comfortable bed to sleep in and it is nice to have a recliner to relax in and to watch DVDs from.
I also took care of my teeth cleaning and checking. In addition, I had an appointment with an opthamologist for a base line eye exam, including a retinal scan. These drugs can cause retinal problems so it is wise to get a baseline exam before Tx.
I tried to take care of everything I could before starting Tx. I had the car checked and the oil changed.
And, last but not least, see how you do on Tx. If you don't feel well, let things go if need be, reassess priorities and expectations, do one thing a day if possible, go with the flow. Also, don't book yourself up with engagements. Go to things if you feel like it, but don't book a pile of activities in advance. The side effects change from day to day so you never know how you are going to feel from one day to the next. Plus, just taking the meds on time and in the right order is a full time occupation.
Get a watch with a timer on it or one that can be programmed to go off at med time. Get alarm clocks and timers so that you will always be able to hear one when it goes off. At night time, set the clock across the room so that you have to get up to turn off the alarm. Snooze buttons can seriously threaten getting the meds on time (thereby jeopardizing treatment success).
Try to make this treatment (and the weeks it takes to finish it) your primary activity and focus. SVR is your goal. I think rearranging priorities, schedules, and expectations are key to making the treatment work with as little hassle and frustration as possible. For these few months, one just has to focus on all aspects of Tx and go with the flow.