Single Parents on Treatment...

[shanro]

I started Triple Therapy (PegInterferon, Ribavirin, and Incivek) on August 3rd... I am a single mom of a 4 year old daughter... She recently got sick with Strep Throat and Conjunctivitis and we have been home for 4 days... I am going crazy unable to really take care of myself since I am taking care of her... She's cleared to go back to preschool tomorrow which I am relieved, however, her pediatrician insists she has her tonsils out before winter since she has a long history of strep and it's anticipated she will have strep up to 5 times again this winter.... If we elect to have the tonsillectomy before winter that will mean 2 weeks at home with me for recovery while I'm on treatment...

How are other single parents out there managing single-parenthood and treatment???????

[DontKnowMuchBoutIt]

Honestly I do not know how I am making it.  I started tx with peg/riba only on 8-19.  I am geno 3 and started with a baseline, vl of 31,600.  After 2 weeks of tx my vl dropped to DETECTABLE, <43 IU/mL.  CBC panels have all been in normal ranges with no significant change from week to week.

It helps me as well to have someone to relate to on this.  My husband tries to understand how hard tx is, but just don't get it.  The way his work schedule is, I most of the time, he isn't home to help with the girls.  I haven't told my parents about having HCV, and I just pretend that nothing is wrong, except maybe a little sore ( I had some bone deterioration and spine trouble going on before tx)  so I can get by with it.  

I found out during my second week of tx, that if I push myself to doing strenous activity on Saturdays after my shot on Friday, it helps me to deal with the sides.  I have been staying pretty tired lately though this week, and I am afraid that my blood counts are off.

As far as keeping in touch during tx, I think that is a wonderful idea.  I am so glad that I ran across this site while I was researching HCV.  If it wasn't for some of the wonderful ppl in the forums, I don't think that I would have make it to this point.  

Have a great day,  I have to get my girls ready for school and daycare, so I can get to work.  I hope to talk with you soon.  :-)

Sarah

[shanro]

Sarah - wow! how are you doing all that???  Must be hard...
When did you start treatment?  Are you on tx: inc or vic?  Have you gotten anemic??  We should def keep in touch during this treatment!!  I know I have days where I just don't wanna anymore when my four year old is saying "mom, mom, mom" all day long... lol!  But I just get through it then I'm ok... I know for me it helps to talk with others who can identify when trying to get through this.  I'm glad I started this thread... I think being a parent of young ones is a whole other challenge while on treatment and it helps to share experiences with and get helpful suggestions from others in the same boat!!
-shanna

[DontKnowMuchBoutIt]

to shanro:  

I feel for you because the tonsillectomy would be a hard choice for me to make as well.  After thinking about your situation and imagining having my 7 year old or 6 month old in that position, I would have to go along with the surgery.   Tonsillitis is no fun, and very painful.  

To robin6969:  I have to beg for help as well.  It's like they think that tx is a walk in the park for us.  On top of having my 7 year old and 6 month old, I am a full time college student and work 20+ hours a week, then have to get the girls to appointments (oldest has visual therapy 2 times a week) then come home and make sure dinner is done, and house is cleaned.  I do not know how I have managed to keep my sanity this long.  Other than my husband though, I have only told 3 other people about me having HCV and get no support from them either.

Keep your heads up ladies, we can do this.  It's just another pot-hole in the road: go around it, jump over it, but please don't ever turn around and go the other way.

Best of luck to all,

Sarah

[shanro]

Thanks for all your suggestions!!  I do have a really great support network... between friends and family... but I always wonder how much is too much to ask?

[robin6969]

Omg my heart, goes out to you. I am so struggling, with a unsupported husband.
I feel like I have to beg, for help. He quit his job right before treatment, with insurance.
It's been a night mare now on cobra. Insurance is charging my $600 a month for paggassi.
Need help desperately, with co pay assistance? Which he doesn't know I,m trying to pay with no job??

[suezeeque]

They still remove tonsils?  I thought that practice went the way of the dodo bird.  ;)

I had tonsilitis repeatedly when I was a kid.  Dr told my mother to have them removed.  She said no way, they are there for a reason.  Perhaps to stop nasties from getting further into my system.  

I'm still alive.  And I still have my tonsils.  :)

[xxmaggiexx803]

It is better to just go ahead and take care of your child's illness and get that out of the way.This way as you go on with your txs you can concentrate on taking care of yourself.In my situation my 16yr old had a bad seizure one morning.found out she has epilepsy and i was starting my txs.I decided to get my daughters tests done and whatever else she needed before starting my txs.I am so glad i planned it that way because of the side affects of the meds.I would need to lie down and rest but my childs needs were met without too much stress.Of course i am not happy she has that illness but she is on good meds and that puts less worry on me.Good luck with whatever you decide to do.things will work out.

[babs824]

just to be a contrarian; i wonder if a naturopathic doc might help find a way to prevent strep. i know some docs are not in favor of removing tonsils. i know that preschool is a breeding ground but maybe the teacher there can be an advocate for u and use it as a teaching moment to help children learn about washing hands and what goes in mouths. just a thought from a non parent who is sympathetic to your plight. getting help is a great idea too. good luck, babs

[Trish77]

Do you have a parent or sibling that can help during your daughter's recovery?  Or a friend who can give you some relief for that two week period?  Or even a reliable teenager who can come in and care for the child where you're there with your daughter also? Parents of your daughter's playmates?  Should be some way you can arrange to have help for a temporary period of two weeks, particularly when you can plan for the time period that works for you.  Might be better than her getting strep unexpectedly for days at a time repeatedly.  

I don't have an answer on the single parenthood while on treatment thing.  My children are grown and away from home so I only had to concern myself with me.   Might be a good idea to think about a building a support network.  You have a ways to go yet.  Good luck with this.

Trish

[flcyclist]

Since you will be finishing the Incivek around mid to late October, maybe you will be feeling better on SOC before your daughter needs her surgery.  There's now way to predict that now, but it is something to consider.  As a fallback, do you have any family or friends in a position to come and assist for a few weeks?  I live far away from my family, so not having anyone to assist can be a real challenge.  Hopefully someone can come to your assitance if you need it.

Hope you do well with trt and have minimal sides.  

[alagirl]

I really feel for you.  I hope some of the other parents in here will speak up as I know that some others have gone through similar issues.  In my case, I was a single parent, but my son put off college to take care of me, so I was fortunate.  But I've seen plenty of parents in here who are caretakers for entire families and nobody in their family seems to cut them any slack.  I don't personally know how they do it, but somehow they do.