side effects

[rsterling]

Hello all,
I know I used another thread for this question, because normally by the time I try to ask a question all is full and I am unable to.  I am about to approach my employeer to discuss my illness with him and the fact that I would like to begin treatment after the first of the year.  I would like a response from all with sides so that he and I can sit down and make appropriate accomodations that will work out for the both of us.  I feel that if he can read from experience we will both better be able to prepare and understand.  Of course I know that everyone reacts differently, so please those with minimal sides would be welcome also.

Thank You,  Robin

[rsterling]

GET NAKED was the logo a couple of years ago :).  Since most of the other vendors are men you should only hear. Mostly "Hey Naked lady!"

I tell them all I only drive Naked.  It is a corporation all across the United States.  You can find it in your produce section at the grocery store.  We also do the Costco's.

It's Naked, because there are no additives.  I think they started with the carrot juice, uhggg/


:)

[justhinkn]

Have you ever asked yourself....

Where can a person get NAKED?

Can you get NAKED in the grocery store?  Can you get NAKED over the counter?  What aisle could you get NAKED in?

How much does getting NAKED cost?

Can you drink NAKED while operating a motor vehicle, if not, will the cops pull you over and request to see your NAKED?

Have you ever hearda NAKED wine?

Should you drink NAKED while cow tipping, rodent roasting or badger busting?


By the way, if you think naked weighs less--have you ever seen a naked 400 pound person?

[Indiana]

If that juice is NAKED then hows come its sooo heavy? I know I'm a lot lighter without my clothes.
And just what kind of commercials do they run? I would have SO much fun with that stuff. I can see it now...."GET NAKED"....."NAKED IS THE ONLY WAY TO GO"....."ALL MY FRIENDS ARE NAKED PEOPLE".  The fun would never end! And the logo....I can only imagine. Hahahahahaha
If I ever quit my job I'm commin down there..........

[scruffy]

A world without Indiana would be a world without laughter.:)

[hph5477]

Robin, sent you my journal.  Just remember, days I feel great don't get much entry other than I feel good.  Please don't let the first 2 wks scare you off either.  Those were my worst sx; since then haven't been too bad.

Good luck.  And, of course, happy holidays.

[rsterling]

Thanks I would love to read the journal if it's no bother.

***@****

Thanks again,  Robin

[cindyazure]

I work(ed) in a school w/ handicapped kids.  I have not been to work this school yr. (Sept.) Patience is essential w/ this job and I don't have it right now.  Finished out last yr. & realized I can't do it.  Especially w/ all those trips to the bathroom from the water consumption.  I need to sip all day long.

[lackalustre]

you have been thru the mill with side effects.   sure can relate.  you always sound so upbeat and helpful in spite of your sides.  i really credit u for that.   im 3 mon. post tx.  and still get into snits easily.  i know what u mean about having to be careful about hurting others feelings.  what has been hard for me is people expect me to be "right back to my old self" now that ive stopped tx.  and i am not!!  i tire very easily,  and i do best if i stay in a quiet routinetrying to eat good and exercise lightly.  otherwise i get angry and depressed very easily.  sure hope it gets better.    some days i still need lots of water!!  BTW my enzymes are still normal last test but the ALT doubled from the test be4.  AST the same.  Alt at 45.  high end of norm.   sure hope this virus isnt slowly creeping back.   enzymes were low norm after tx.... love YA.

[hph5477]

I've been keeping a journal of my sx and feelings during tx.  Just did 10/48 yesterday, had a bad headache but the dr had given me Imitrex this time to try.  Was fine after just a few hours and feel great today.  My first 2 wks sx were pretty bad or so I thought at the time.  I could email you my journal if you like (it's in MS Word) but I wouldn't want to scare you off.  Days I feel great don't get much entry into the journal.  Over all, I feel great most of the time; just tire more easily, like everyone else.

[oldhippiechick67]

I am one of those who wont/cant work, I had brain fog so BAD the first 6 months (Im on 48 weeks tx, halfway done), I am feeling a little better now though. And I had horrid Brain-in-a-Vise headaches, dizzy (like spinning on a amusement park ride and cant get it to stop!), itching (esp scalp ears elbows & knees) like I had headlice...UGH!  Those symptoms have finally faded away. I was also extremely tired and got very anemic so would get short of breath with any activity, even talking!  I fell down a few times too.  The brain fog makes thinking very difficult, like I forgot to pay bills, or paid some twice, left food on the stove and forgot about it, burnt my arm on a big pan,  left water running, out driving would forget where I was going, got lost freq. but of course would snap to eventually. Cant lift anything heavy, have lost alot of strength, opening a jar is almost impossible!  The brain fog thing is the worst for me, I wouldnt trust myself to hold a nursing job the way I am.
I dont think I would even be able to hold a simple job, like putting videos back on the shelf!  Oh, and dont forget the riba rage!  Thats another side where you can lose your temper when you are normally a very nice person and rarely snap at anyone, on tx you can turn into a screamin mimi, doesnt take much to get you into a snitfit!  You can hurt ppls feelings so be careful, its the meds not you talking.  Well, hope that helps you rsterling.  Like Erin said, about 1/2 of her hep C patients can continue working full time, 1/4 have to reduce their hours or work part time.  and the other 1/4 get hit hard and cant work.  And your boss cannot lay you off for having this, we are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.   Hugs from ol CRABBY FACE here.

[oldhippiechick67]

They suggest (oops I cant remember, its so many ounces of water per so many lbs you weigh,  this is Galens expertise)
about a gallon plus some per day.  I weigh around 150lbs and drink at a minimum of 8 24oz bottles of water every day. The meds make me very dry mouthed so it is easy to consume that much.  It is important to be close to a toilet at all times, and it helps reduce the side effects (can you imagine how BAD I would be without the water???!!!)  LMAO, lordy, I am lucky I can function the little I do.

[layla]

Great , thanks. I will wait until JanuaryMaybe my PCR can be done a little early. I'm doing 60 weeks anyway and I believe it's just to make sure I am clear after 48 for their records. LL

[The gaffer]

Hope, I manage a busy, fast pace emergency room. So far so good. 4/26 today. My boss and a few nurses know but that is it. Pace yourself, get the rest you need, find time for exercise, eat right, pound on the fluids.

Best to you

Dale

[oldhippiechick67]

Thx lacky! nice to read your post. I saw a cute cartoon that showed a HepC'ers tombstone that read "See! I TOLD ya I was sick!"  Ha ha, I feel ornery enuf to have that put on mine!
Anyhooooo, I read somewhere that it takes us different amts of time to recoup, that some feel better by 3 mo post, some it takes 6 and some even a yr.  I guess after that you should consider other factors to blame the fatigue etc on.  Your ALT is just high norm right?  So thats not too bad, dont worry! Keep the positive attitude!!  "It's not comin back!  Dragon nuts roasting on an open fire!!" lol, gotta luv Kim/Eyedeas for that one!   OHC

[Galen]

Late in tx, about week 40-41, my hemoglobin started dropping again and I had to do the Procrit twice a week for the remainder of tx.  Everything else was ok.

[Galen]

A good rule of thumb is to drink about 1 1/2 oz water for every two pounds of body weight.  So if you weigh 150 pounds you want to drink a little over 100 oz a day.

Everyone is different.  Some have minimal sides, some feel as thought they are going to die.  There is no way to predict.  According to GI PA, about 50% are able to work their regular jobs (though not much else, I gotta say), 25% are forced to work only part time, and 25% are unable to work.

[rsterling]

Gosh Guys!,
I'm so grateful for the responses.  I know that I've mentioned before that mine is a very physical job.  I deliver Naked Juice to the grocery stores in cases, so sometimes I will find myself pushing over 600 pounds up a ramp.  I repetitively lift 25 to 35 pound cases daily.  My boss is a great guy and I really would like to try and leave no surprises, he derserves it.

Again like I said I'm grateful for the responses as many times I really can't figure out how to post or try to and all is full

Thanks Guys!!

Robin

[Sioux]

Hi, I am also in the 25% of the ones who can not work. I am a 1a on peg-intron and rebetol, on week 39 of 48.I worked alittle in the begining. But just could not go on. I hope that you are one of the lucky one's with minimal sides.

OHC - you are an insipration. I really can relate to your posts. As Its sounds like we have alot in common.

Everyone- I look forward to reading all of your posts everyday. It really helps to know that you are out there!!!!

[CARUU]

I have been on tx for 10 weeks and will be going to 1/2 time at work after the first of the year.  I'm operating at about 1/3 the effectiveness of before and have to reserve ALL energy for work.  It's hard to walk from the parking lot to my desk, let alone set-up and lead meetings, project teams, move equipment, be a good teamplayer, etc.  I have daily headaches, major fatigue, depression, weight gain, brain fog, skin rash, thinning hair. I'm going to work M,W,F 6 hours per day and T,Th 1 hour per day from home by eMail and see how that goes.  This has been difficult because I was reluctant to talk about the illness at first, until I tried the tx to see what the effects would be.  Now that I know what the sx are, and am less worried about what others might think, I am talking about it more and continuing to make decisions on what I need to do to take care of myself.  Water, light exercise, attitude, talk therapy, ad, fun, friends are all important components of this.  I'm freeing up some time to be able to do what I need to.  All work and no personal time is not working for me.  Part of this is just forcing myself to get up and moving for a little while.  I think it's especially important during any time that I feel even a little OK, because there are plenty of times when I don't.  Oh, and I don't take hot showers, it makes the fatigue worse.  I'm also trying media free times/days (no TV, newspaper, etc.).  I think I've seen every episode of Trading Spaces and What Not to Wear that I can stand for the rest of the year.

[lookin-up]

I have been meaning to ask this, but keep forgetting....what is a good amount of water to drink every day?

[GI.PA]

It probably would matter to wait until the first..however I would not wait until Feb to have any more labs done.

GI.PA

[cindyazure]

I'm at week 27 and seem to have sx associated w/ Riba only. I take my Pegasys and nothing different happens.  I'm 115 lbs. so the Riba is strong, especially 2/3 pills at a time.  I believe that having an equal amount in your system at all time is key so now I'm trying something new i.e. taking 1 pill at a time spaced equally apart approx. 5 hrs.  Just starting this today.  I'll keep u posted as to reduced sx.  Just trying to make it to my 48 w/o any more breaks in tx.

[slarso]

I am at 6/48 and the sides are very managable. I sell so I use the phone and drive. Long drives and flights tucker me out though, Fatigue is the major of my minor problems. O yeah, I forgot....Forgetfulness i another biggie for me. I write every thing down, have a bunch od stickie notes and bought one of those hand held recorders to make notes when I drive. You can see from many posts here there are a good number of folks who keep full time jobs on tx, unfortunatly there are those who get slammed. It is luck of the draw. remember.. Wasser ist mein freund.....Water is my friend. drink gallons!

Steve

[layla]

Hope it's ok to piggyback here. New question. I was due to have labs in late November but didn't because I was so busy. I don't worry about it much because mine have been very good. I'm on week 43/60. Now I was going to go last week but realize my new insurance has a deductable and copay so I want to wait until January. Since I've had good labs and haven't seen anyone get worse very late in tx I don't see a problem here but I'm not sure. Did anyone have there labs get bad later in tx? In addition I am due to have my 48 week labs (including PCR) in February. I would like to just go then and due the whole workup. Any thoughts or comments on this? LL