just diagnosed

[klang81]

I was just diagnosed with hepatitis c. I was told I dont need a liver biopsy right now everything looks ok for me to start therapy. I was told I will be on therapy for 24 weeks. I am not exactly sure which meds I will be on I know I will do a shot on friday nights and take 2 pills a day. But I have been reading some of the questions here and now I am really nervous. I was told the shot will take about 8 hours before I get the side effects but listening to yous it sounds like it happens right away. I work the from 5pm-130am and I also have 4 children I dont know when I should take the shot. How bad will these side effects be. Will I be able to function and take care of my kids? Very nervous over this whole situation. Someone please give me some insight to this
   Thank you

[klang81]

Thank you to everyone for your help. I will get through this I have 4 children that want there mommy around for a long time. I guess I will take the day off on the first shot just to see how the side effects are for me and then I will have more of an idea of when to take it. It sounds like I will not be doing it before work like I planned I am glad I asked though. I will be back when I know more and have more questions and know exactly what my treatment is.
   Thank you everyone

[cuteus]

It also depends on which medication you will be on. I had Pegasys/Copegus combo and the first shot was not a knockout. I did feel a light fever and some tummy queasiness, but nothing that kept me awake.
I felt queasiness the first few months. you will have new symptoms come and go, but the key is they will GO for the most part, except maybe anemia. Most people are kept without a blood booster like Procrit, and that makes you fatigued, short of breath and achy, to name a few. Some people manage the tx on this anemia without the extra med, but I feel that doctors wait too long sometimes before prescribing it, therefore reducing that person's quality of life even more.
I  felt like callling in sick almost everyday, but after dragging a few steps in the morning, I knew It was  not bad enough to loose a day.   It is no picnic, but it is manageable and you can get rid of the bug for good. I did 72 weeks at full dose(when I remembered the riba).

[honey1616]

Klang,,,you will be able to do things while on tx,,,but to be honest,,,you won't feel great. It will definitely be tough but you will make it.  I always like to think of doing tx as,,,,I have the choice to feel bad for awhile or if I don't do it,,,I may advance to a bad stage and then,,,well,,,you know,,that would be awful and you would be so sick.  Your health comes first and your loved ones will help you through it. Best of Luck!

Magnum,,,You are a veteran...LOL and deserve a medal! I don't know if I could do tx 3 times unless I was out of my mind haha

[layla]

Each reaction is so different to tx. I did not have any sx's for months. In fact I felt better than before tx. Things went bad when I got thyroid problems from the meds. Just try not to anticipate too much. I know it is hard but for many of us the anticipation was worse than the sx. There are also many different opinions as to when to take your shots. It won't take too long and you will figure out what works best for you. Many take their shots on Friday thinking they will have the weekend to rest and this seems to work for some. My sx's did not hit until at least 2 days after my shot so this did not work for me. Pegintron hits your system quicker because of the way it is immediatly released into your body and wears off over the week where pegasys is released slower at the start and progresses over the week peaking at about day 4. It is still different for everyone.
I am very sorry to hear of your dx. I remember how I cried for months. That was 2 1/2 years ago. Now I am virus free and was a genotype 1 with less than a 50% chance of clearing. Since you are talking about doing 6 months of tx ( I did 18 months) you must be a genotype 2 and your chances then are somewhere around 85%.  Your chances are very good. I wish you the best. LL

[Magnum]

I guess you could call me a veteran after three treatments. The first shot.... Okay here it is. I did it at night, watching a good movie. I can't remember how long it took to take effect, but it was within an hour for me. I remember getting very hot like I had a fever. Sure enough, I had a fever. It was 101. I drank a lot of water. I then started shaking with the chills. Have a blanket or two ready. I was not hungry at all. I went to bed and watched TV. Two hours later, the fever went down and I ate some soup. I had a headache. The chills went away and I spent a restless night, but I slept without a sleeping pill.

The next day, I had a headache but no chills or fever. This is MY reaction, and a possibility for you. I don't want to sugar coat this because this is reality. Everything else doesn't matter. I strongly suggest taking the shot when you're ready to go to bed, not in the daytime and definitely not before you got to work. Be prepared for some anxiety, but all this I mentioned above will pass.

My second shot caused much less of these symptoms except for the headache, which in my case, happened just about after every shot. Avoid arguments and avoid strenuous physical work if possible. Being a madman, I continued my exercise regiment albeit cut down, throughout my entire treatments. The doctor said that really helped.

Drink a lot of water and have a bottle with you everywhere you go. Don't freak out! This is not what will definitely happen to you, just be prepared though. Some blessed people are hardly scathed by the treatment. I knew a neighbor like that. You may luck out and the same will happen to you. Always keep one thing in mind... This suffering is saving your life and you must do it because for now, this is the only treatment that has a good chance of getting rid of this affliction. Stay calm and don't try to foresee the side effects. Get a good movie, some snacks and you should be fine. Keep your family or a friend nearby if it makes you feel better through the first shot. Good luck and stay healthy...

Magnum

[bluepeng]

Getting off topic here, but it's good to hear this heavy maintenance mode of rearing gets better.  He's so darn cute that you just deal with it.  I wanted to treat before he got older -- he may not understand at 3 or 4.  I've also heard the work becomes more psychological as they get older.

It's good to hear that your sons are supportive.  I think the support and staying involved are huge boosts to making it through this.  

Peng

[gr8faith]

If I had a 9 month old I don't know what I would do!!!  I totally applaud you, the little ones are such WORK!  My kids are 22,19 & 13.  No longer physically exhausting, just mentally!!!  Not to mention expensive :)  But they do alot around here, trash, cleaning, dishes, laundry, etc.  My 19 year old daughter has given me everyone of my shots so far.  Both my son's dote on me, bringing me coffee and toast in bed on the weekends, fetching things (like the remote control) etc.  And my husband is great too.

[bluepeng]

I'm not showing my wife gr8faith's post.  My sympathy privileges will be revoked on the spot.   I have a 9 month old and the constant picking up and putting down, chasing, cleaning up, etc.  wears me down and makes me ache.  

Getting back to the original post.  I would get a biopsy.  This is your absolute telling baseline for how your liver is right now.  I would want something like that going forward to compare to after treatment.   You're probably overwhelmed, so worrying about this is the last thing you want -- but ask your doctor again.  

I'm on week 8/24 and some days are better than others, but it's certainly manageable.  I work full time.   Social life has dropped off quite a bit .. my weekends are for recovering.  

Good luck ans stick around here.  Lot's of great info.

Blue

[LvdByGod!]

hi there, i'm sure you will be a great mommy while your on treatment you just need to tell those around you that you will need some help at times and don't be afraid to ask for favors...you will also want to simplify your life as much as possible...

There is something though concerning me about the details of your treatment outline...the first being "why won't the dr order you the very important liver biopsy? it is not that bad and the test is the only way to know what stage and grade liver damage you have...alot of decisions may need to be made based on the biopsy results...perhaps you have no damage then why treat at all right now when you could monitor it and wait for safer/better treatment to come along as many decide to do?...this medicine is very harsh on us...

also, there is the virus and then there is the damage it did...you will want to know how damaged your liver is for various reasons...one being how close are you to cirhosis?...if you don't clear or are a slow responder you will want to know if you should keep at the treatment for a longer period of time...also based on this biopsy you will know if you need to watch for liver cancer or eosophagal varises or other possible problems that can arise from a bad liver...it always pays to know what's going on...

a c-scan can not tell you the grade and stage of your liver only if you have unusual lumps or the overall inflamation involved...i presume he at least made you get one of these...i hope...

the other thing that raises a red flad to me is the amount of "pills" you say dr will prescribe...this must be a mistake cause no one takes that small of a dose and it is vital to be on a full dose especially in the first months of treatment...most folks take around 1000-1200mg daily which is 6 pills a day, (3 pills two times a day). make sure they start you with a high enough dose or your chances of clearing go way down...it should be based on your weight...

you should educate yourself on this disease because you would be surprised how little some drs know about it and proper treatment proceedures...

i pray the best for you...for me it took about 5 hours before the first dose caused the flu like symptoms...then i took a tylenol and the fever reduced and i could sleep. The next day was flu like too and the next shot...then for me it got better and better each injection...

it will be hard the first few months as you get used to functioning on it...but it shouldn't completely put you out of commision...many keep working on it...it will be great to solicit hubby for help or a friend or parent to help with tasks that involve alot of effort...you will be dragging basically for 6 months, cause of anemia...and your sleep may not be full...so you will be dazed a bit like you didn't get enough sleep the night before...these are the primary symptoms...then you will be salted and peppered with a few extra's...everyone's different in these side effects...

so keep an eye on your dr...and you will do great!!! be strong and resolved...and kill that dragon!!!

sandi

[gr8faith]

I remember how confused I was when I first learned I had Hep C.  Welcome to this wonderful place to get support and learn information.

I just took shot 9/24 last night.  Everyone here will tell you that sides vary from person to person.  For me, the first shot was the worst I think.  It has been managable for the most part.

I have 3 kids at home, work full time, have my 85 year old mother living with us, I am her main caretaker, 2 dogs, a cat, and multiple extended family at the house 24/7.  I have not missed much work, maybe one day here and there every other week or so, and my employer and co-workers are VERY supportive.  I am very blessed in this.

I did have a biopsy and think it a good idea to get one, but not everyone does. I am a genotype 3a, bx was grade 1, stage 1 and I am ready to kick this dragon in the butt and get it out of my system.  I have had it 25+ years and found out through donating blood at my daughters high school.

You will find hope, support and wisdom here.  Welcome!