Anyone with no side effects

[bennett_st]

Is there anyone out there that has had treatment been able to carry on with full time work and go on with life as normal and been able to keep it from their family, friends and work colleagues. + mostly not had hairloss?  Is there any other medical condition I can say I am treating as a cover-up.    I work with doctors could I fool them?

[Debbie223]

Just remember everyone is different. I will take shot 14 tomorrow...I was scared to death of tx......Only told a few people. I have not missed a day of work, I work in a small office...no one would ever know I was tx....

I have had only two or three bad days....nothing serious...no rash, no fever, no body aches..............tired most of the time......have not lost any weight....so far I feel pretty lucky....

My only advise is don't make yourself sick with worry......you may be ok......

Best of luck to you...

[nygirl7]

It was so very obvious with me - I could barely function --- and looked like a FAT BOZO on Crack...

Hey Meki - stop talking about me!!!!!!!!!!!  

Yes true after I was a skeleton for the first 36 weeks of treatment my last 36 were just like that - big fat bozos on crack!  That us!

[scarredliver]

i just started my treatment last month 09/05. i have genotype 1a. first night of tx i had a slight fever and mild joint aches but was still able to got up and run with my dog next morning. i don't have any sideeffects at all. i work 8 to 12 hours a day 6 days a week. tx every fridays and saturdays my day off. i never change my lifestyle as what my doc advised me. i run everymorning and sometimes at night. i went to my doctor last monday 10/13 for my 4th week tx lab results and he told me that my viral count went down from 1,200,000 to 6980 which is amazing results for me after 4weeks of tx.
this friday is going to my 7weeks of  tx  and still no bad sideeffects.

aside from my pegasys and 1200mg a day of ribavirin, my doc prescribed me some vitamins, one a day multivitamin, vitamin b and e and  folic acid, then my wife prescribed me ( LOL she's not a doctor, she loves and cares too much) a milk thistle and glutathione. i take 2000 mg of glutathione a day. my wife said it is really good for my liver and i trust her words.

please research about glutathione

[cindyfs48]

im on my 10th week.i have worked everyday and then some part time work.my sides havent been that bad.some weeks i get leg pain and fever sometimes i dont.my hair is thinning a little but i have thick hair anyay.headaches is my worst complaint but i deal with it.hope this helps some ppl dont have all the bad sides.i do drink vitimin water and boost.dont know if thats helping but hey ill keep drinking it.

[skydog007]

It depends on how you respond to treatment.  I am amazed at all of the people who were able to carry on during treatment.  I was TOTALLY  disabled, so I guess it's more rare to have my side effects.  I was barely alive for the whole year of treatment.  Don't want to scare you, I did make it.  There was no way that I could work.  I had every side effect imaginable, but I don't do medications well.  Good luck to you and you probably WON'T be like me, but if you are, just know that you will get thru it.  I am 13 months post treatment and clear of the virus.

[nygirl7]

I worked all 72 weeks and lost about 75% of my hair unfortunately but when it got bad I started wearing wigs - nobody even noticed that it wasn't my real hair :)  Losing the hair is NOT the worst side effect because you can manage it and it's not painful (compared to say the anemia).

Treatment can be hard and some days harder than others of course.  The best thing you can do it to take good care of yourself while on tx...rest on the weekends and as soon as you get home at night and really try and make sure that you are ready for the next day in advance (ie: laying out clothes, paperwork the night before) so you have a little extra time in the morning.


I just told people I was on chemo and when they'd ask me for what I said I didn't like to talk about it.  end of the story none of their nosy business anyway! I learned fast how really RUDE people are and now when someone tells ME that they are on chemo I sure don't say OH WHAT KIND OFCANCER DO YOU HAVE, WHERE IT IS?????  I just remember how it felt to have all that intrusion in my life!

My direct bosses knew the truth - they didn't care one bit (well my first boss did and he was so horrible to me I can't tell you but thank God I got promoted when he tried to have me fired so it all worked out. He just didn't like me and it had nothing to do with the treatment...he was a pig!).  I had to tell them and sign up for FMLA in case I couldn't work...and needed company disability - but I managed.

If I could do it you can too believe me!  it's not always eaSy but you just make yourself do what you gotta do and know that it will soon be over!

Good luck!

[LindaC1207]

I'm at the beginning to treatment, just did shot #2 on Friday evening and so far, the sides haven't been too bad.  The first shot was hard, about 5 hours after the shot, I woke up with aches and a fever and had to deal with a lot of leg cramps.  The next morning I was drained and quite sick to my stomach but as the day went on, the symptoms subsided and by Sunday, I was feeling like my old self again.  It continued that way through the week.  The second shot wasn't as bad, although I was a lot more tired through the weekend.

I work full time and get up every morning at 5:00 am to drive a little over an hour to my place of employment, so far it's been okay.  I told most of the people I work with, the people I support in my group, which are doctors and scientists; I work in Medical Affairs.  They have been very supportive and I know if I need to take a day off here and there, they won't mind.  I also have 3 months of short term disability that I can take if I really need to.  Long term disability isn't an option for me, the pay reduction at this time just won't work.  I have a mortgage to pay and also a car payment, amoung a lot of other bills.  

I will keep trying to get my butt here to work, every day, god be willing, and do the best job I can.  

Good luck!
Linda

[sldb]

Did 96wks of tx., worked  three  12hr shifts a week, when off spent most of my time in bed, but I made it to work everyday.    

[meki]

I tell everyone --- even strangers about my Tx...

It was so very obvious with me - I could barely function --- and looked like a FAT BOZO on Crack...

My normally curly hair turned FRIED and fell out in lumps --- so it was thinning --- and I had a bald spot on the very front...

And my nails turned brownish... And my skin got hivey --- and there were dark circles under my eyes --- and my lips were cracked and my tongue had sores all over it.

And I could barely walk --- and barfed all the time --- and well - shoot - you get the picture.

I showed up for work about 4 out of 5 days. I never made it 2 weeks without missing a day or two... It was saaaaaaaaaaaaaad.

But -- I told everyone and I kept a GREAT sense of humor.

I didn't know that I was having BAD side effects until I came here - I thought EVERYONE reacted the way I did.

Towards the end of my 24 weeks --- I started having problems breathing and I started looking up answers ---- cause I thought I was a hypochondriac ---- I mean --- sheesh --- I had just spent the previous 4 or so years LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER to why I was feeling so miserable and awful all of the time - only to be tested for EVERYTHING except... EXCEPT Hepatitis C.

So I had already been programmed to believe I was a hypochondriac.

I came here to this forum --- and I couldn't even interact with the people -- I couldn't get my mind to function enough to type out full thoughts and sentences.

To this day --- I don't know how I made it through work.

I don't know how I managed to make it through any of it.

BUT --- I kept coming here --- and I kept telling everyone at work how I was doing --- and they were --- "butt heads" at first....

The girls put Antibacterial stuff in the bathrooms --- I smiled --- and I thanked them for THINKING OF ME -- cause my immunities were down --- and they were protecting me from THEIR germs --- cause they weren't gonna be able to catch HCV from me...

But after awhile - the folks just kinda started cheering me on...

And I'll tell you what --- it was nice to have some of their understanding.

So --- I'm all for telling the truth.

No one should feel ashamed about this disease...
NO ONE ASKED FOR IT.

NO ONE WENT OUT AND "GOT IT"...

But some of the folks are "private people"

And they don't want people to ask "Where did you get it"...

Because no matter what you say - people thing "DRUGGIE"

Or

"PROSTITUTE"

Or

WORSE....

And you know what?

They are GOING TO KEEP THINKING that kind of stuff until people like you and I teach them differently.

ANYONE who has had dental work - immunizations - surgery - gamma globulin shots - blood transfusions - worked in the medical field or had blood interaction could catch this disease.

People who donated blood before they knew it was possible to catch HCV from needles - people who were in the military where they gave multiple shots with the same gun...

Yanno?

There are a million ways this could be caught

And until people like you and I speak up --- until we tell them the RIGHT information - they will be clueless and have no idea --- and will continue to think people who have HCV are people who "DESERVE IT".

No one deserves it.

So --- I practice what I preach.

I educate people about the disease - I answer questions - and I keep a smile on my face...

I try very hard to show that if it can happen to ME -- it can happen to ANYONE.

Never be ashamed of having a disease.

I'm not.

As far as side effects go --- good luck --- some people have little to no sides....

Some people can't continue...

Some people drop --- badly.

I was moderately severe --- there have been a lotta folks here who have gone through the ringer.

It really depends on your body... how you will handle it.

Much luck to you --- and if you ever have any questions -- please ask.

I also wanted to tell you --- that working with a medical crew --- they should certainly be more understanding than any other group of folks.... Unless there is a policy that if you have a disease that could be contagious and you have to disclose it --- then YOU do NOT have to tell if you don't want to --- but if you have a general reaction to the HCV chemotherapy -- you won't have to tell anyone that there is something wrong --- they will know.

Hugs,

Meki

[fretboard]

You certainly did get alot of good answers, unfortunately they're fairly close to the same ones I've rec'd when I posted similar questions.  You really won't know what is coming   until tx time.  If someone starts tx and they have minimal sx's you don't seem to hear from them that much.  It would be nice if they would occasionally drop in and tell what it's like for them, but I'm sure it most likely would feel odd for them.  Also, they have friends on this forum who are literally going thru hell.  That's another reason they may not want to post, as they feel bad for another hepper who is suffering more than them.  Anyways, good luck with your tx, you certainly do work around alot more medical staff than I do.  God Bless

[dancegirl54]

My son tx for 48 weeks and did not miss a day of school. Of course young people seem to tolerate tx better.  He felt great at the beginning and strangely enough, at the end. There was a phase mid tx where he was pretty tired and lost a bit of weight. None of his friends seemed to notice, but he does have a few other issues as well (on seizure meds). He is still UND!!!!!  If I thought I could sail through as easily as he did I would have tx long ago. I am still waiting for a less debilitating tx.
Lisa

[goldyn]

Oh Cando I didnt want anybody to think i was a braggin!
But Oh Lawd that was some good shrimp, and as i remember was several pounds that I had to stand and fry up.......Good to hear from you...Just had my first Grandbaby born last month what a Blessing....
                                God Bless You Cando
                                                  Goldyn

[sfwandwow]

OHHHHHHHHH!! how i love seafood to the maximum.. yummy

[can-do-man]

bennett, as you have read some can and some can't. Heres wishing the very best.

goldyn, good to see your name again, you forgot to mention you also had huge shirmp dinners with chcolate cake. :)

cando

[CMcH]

I have also said I have a autoimmune thyroid condition which is true and has some of the same symptoms. Some people do end up with Thyroid problems from TX that contribute to lethargy and wt. issues.

[Kristina538]

I told my employer I was going on a 'type of chemo' and requested leave;   I was working 40-60 hours a week and felt I certainly couldn't keep up at the same pace.    Luckily it coincided with me having been there for 10 years, so I told other workmates I was on a 'sabbatical';  I wasn't asked for a doctors certificate.

I think it really depends on your general health also.  I have really appreciated being home so that I can put full effort into food, supplements, rest and exercise, although, as mentioned, I'm way overdue a break.   My specialist likes people to "work" so that they don't focus on the sx's (which I must admit I very much did at first).   I also have a teenage son, so wanted to put my full efforts into home.

It was agonising organising this; lots of prayers were said.   My boss was putting me in charge of a project so I said to her that 'in all fairness I may have to resign....'  She questioned me but I said that as I hadn't fully discussed with the family, I was not going to share with workmates, and besides, I didn't want my personal worries infringing on my job or interractions with others.  She has respected my privacy (I told her that work was my 'happy place' and I didn't want to think about other stuff there!!!).  As close to the truth that I got was that it was 'digestive' and a 'precancerous condition', but then shut her down from enquiring more.

Financially I am going to pay for it at the end, and hope I recover quickly to get back to work so that I can recap the losses.   At this point in my life, my tx time has to be 'all about me' - at this stage I've only got 6 months tx;  if it was longer I would have to re-evaluate to Plan B  (I haven't got a Plan B)!!!

Good luck..

[goldyn]

I worked 30 hours a week teaching preschool , I only told my coworker that i was with that i had a fatty liver that had gotten real bad and was on chemo to help my liver, let me tell you there were days i thought iwasnt going to make it , there was a grandmother of one of the children i taught i only saw every so often, this was about 5 months after tx told me wow you have gotten some sun you look really great, lil did she know i just got some red blood cells flowing again she is the only one that said anything, i did lose a lot of hair but it was so thick to begin with i was fortunate,all the while i took care of 5 of mine own children at home and delt with all of thier needs, ..I thank the Good Lord he Got me through , also a little mellow out pill called ativan helped me out a lot.....
          Good Luck to you Blessings  Goldyn

[Rockerforlife]

I worked tru my last treatment full time and didnt miss anywork,except for the doctors appoinments.But with the combination of missed work due to dotors appointments and my weight loss,my supervisor asked me a few times if i was ok...i never did tell them the details....i just say its was just something personal that i had too take care off....they never asked me for doctors notes or anything either....this time around when i treat i just hope its goes as smooth as before because i work for a new empolyer...same job...just that another company bought the old company and we have new mangement...i think ill be ok...what choice do i really have?....good luck  and keep fighting the good fight.

[CMcH]

I work in a hospital and have told the people closest to me because I am not my regular athletic self. I also have to be aware that my immune system is not what it was and my direct co-workers will need to know why I should not treat certain pts. I have also requested Saturdays off after shot night.
All doctors and medical professionals are well trained in confidentiality but are trained to spot and figure out illness. I know the people I have not told know something is up and have asked questions. When directly asked once I just said I have issues in a joking manner but clearly to shut them down. My boss is an A***** and has mentioned my TX in front of others 2x's .  If he does it again I might have to report him. A good cover that is true but exaggerated is that I take care of my mother after open heart surgery and don't get much rest.
I have reduced my hours a little and have been cleared to go out on SDI anytime I need to.I tried staying home when I was anemic but it just allowed me to focus more on my itchy rash and other discomforts. So I have gone back to work. It is hard and I am beat when I get home to my family. So it is a big toss up to work or not?
As you will hear a lot, everyone is different. I will tell you that when I do tell people they have been very supportive and it is a relief. There is a stigma with this so I only tell people very close to me.
You will do fine. I had all the same concerns you do before I started and I am at 18 of 48 almost 1/2 way. It has changed my lifestyle but hopefully this is a finite process?
Enjoy while you can.
Connie

[Trish77]

sorry...VERY long post .. I should check these things before hitting that button, could have done without much of that, I'm sure.  Best of luck to you.

Trish

[Trish77]

jasper...I just had to tell you ... that was a great story.  Particularly your response when he asked you if you were sh!tting him and when you let him figure it out why you were laughing.  You tell your stories very well.  

bennett....I am on treatment and working full time.  I interact with people all day as part of my job.  I have felt I have done pretty well to work fulltime while on treatment.  I've been thinking hard over whether I feel I could hide this from everybody.  I haven't missed anything more than one full day and two half days of work but my job requires someone to step into the breech when I'm not there so even that gets noticed so I have tried not to miss any at all.  At times, I've been required to step UP and work major overtime to fulfill my responsibilities as part of the team and a senior part of my team.  I've done all of it.  However.  I have also had to take time off for doctor's appointments which have been quite a few and are out of town and I have had to rely on my employer's grace and prior committment to me that they would support me through treatment.  I've had to rely on the understanding of my team for the time missed for doctor appointments.  If they had not known I was going through this, I think they would have noticed that I was not the same Trish .. my one co-worker told me a little while ago that he notices that there were days when he would look at me and think "she's just not doing well today" and during the nausea phase they would say .."so what is it today, Trish?  Chicken wings or licorice?"  Okay, that last one was just because it was a cool way they handled it while I was not doing so well with food. :)

I think even if you handle the treatment well, which I feel I've been lucky enough to do so far ... they will notice something.  What I think is that they will be reluctant to ask with no prior knowledge.  

What I think you need though is to look at it realistically and look at how this COULD impact your job and have your backup plans in place.  Find out what your contingency plans are and know what you can do if the treatment hits you hard because it could.  I knew the contingency plans were not things I wanted to do, such as take reduced income and go on leave .. and even the extreme of giving up my apartment and living with a truck driver friend who had offered me his home if things *really* tanked during treatment because he's hardly ever home.  I hoped to never need them, and I won't at Week 31 and managing....but I have to tell you, it was nice to have them in my back pocket if things did go bad.... and nobody knows.

I was very lucky to have an employer who offered support for my treatment.  Having said that, I know they would move me out of my position if I couldn't keep up with my job, they'd have no choice, so I've tried everything I could do to keep up with my job and sometimes I felt I was pushing it but I've managed to hang in there.  

I hope some of that helped.  You have other questions to answer for yourself besides asking if you think you can pull this off with nobody knowing.  I personally think that they will notice something is not right, not the same and that you are better off considering how you deal with the changes you expect to occur from various angles, whether you choose to tell them or not.  I'm not suggesting you tell them...I'm suggesting you approach this from a more realistic angle that you are unlikely to pull this off with nobody noticing anything is different.

Good luck.

Trish

[geterdone]

I’ll tell you a little story; I work in building maintenance for a county and my building consist of Libraries and Senior Centers which both were land minds for me during treatment because of blood counts. There was a particular person in one library about six months into my treatment I had noticed, the man was healthy looking but sensed there was something amiss. I didn’t talk to him at first but in the coming months I had watched him slowly fade on a weekly, monthly basis. First he was reading books out with the masses and over time recessed into the corners of the library as his weight, hair, complexion, and personality had changed. Then one day it hit me like a ton of bricks I was looking at me! It was like a slow motion movie. This man had been watching me all along as well while I worked at various times in the building and noticed the changes I was going through and how drawn and pale I looked, (which played out in the song hepmax prison blues, jimmy), he had been sitting by the hallway reading a book one day and I had dropped a tool when passing and he tried to reach over and pick it up and he rolled forward out of the chair on to the floor. I felt bad for the guy, got him back up in the chair and he said, man I can’t take this any more, I said what do you mean are you alright? He looked at me and said no, I’ve been on these medications for eight months and it is all I can do to get here each day. I said why do you come to the library if you feel so bad, because if I don’t it will add to my problems, Isolation. In talking, one thing led to another and he told me he was treating for Hepc, I stated laughing, he got mad and upset and said, well what the hell is wrong with you! I said well what do you think? He looked at me for the longest moment then his eyes got real big and said you’re shitting me! I said no, but there was a time I could at a drop of a cough. We talked at different times going forward and I had asked him why he came to the library every day? to be around people and be functional as best as I can be, I said well how many books have you read? He paused for a moment and said why I don’t know I forget! Lol. He has since finished his treatment and is UND at this point and starting to feel better each week. This is/was from a total stranger and if it’s obvious from a casual interaction the people you work with will pick up on it as well. How to cover it up for 6 months or a year, bottom line you can’t unless you don’t work.

jasper

[santaclaus]

im only after takin my 3rd shot las nite and so far no sides other than some headaches but other than that i have been fine and hope it stays like that.
wayne

[geterdone]

It can and has been done but very rarely, one has to be a total *itch to cover it up that well. The meds themselves will change you by some degree to where it will be noticed in a close work environment. Good Luck! when you decide to treat.

jasper