Starting Incivik: Am I nuts to think I can continue working?

[stevepo]

I'll be starting the Incivik combo in a few weeks; I'm a university professor. Am I hallucinating when toying with the notion that I might be able to continue teaching while on the drug? Or is there a possibility? Whadya' think?

[oceanblue701]

If you know your material very well and your teaching load leaves you both office and personal time throughout the day, you might do well.
I found on the INF/Riba combination alone , it was a wonderful distraction to be out and about being productive. That said, you will have to manage very carefully with GI issues and the general exhaustion which can become the overwhelming issue with getting through the treatment.
The worst side effects may pass you by. If they do not, the people here who have already been through the treatment you are beginning will help you get going in the right direction whenever something comes up that you need help with. Good Luck to you!

[Bill200]

Depends on what shape you're in to start with.  I worked through three treatments.  Each time it became harder as my condition worsened.  Sounds like from the tone of your letter and the your job that you'll be able to.

[flcyclist]

I'm on SOC, not on Inc, so your experience might be slightly different with more sx of anemia, rashes, cactus butt, etc.  Even with SOC, the main issues are fatigue, mental fog and rash, especially in the first few months.  It comes and goes with other sx and can be challenging at times.  

Although some days are rough, I've only missed a few days for various reasons, plus the time needed for blood tests, doctor visits, etc.  If your schedule is flexible this shouldn't present a problem.  My personal belief is - the better shape you're in and if a younger age, you have a better chance for dealing well with trt.  You really won't know until you begin and no one can predict this for you.  I'd go absolutely bonkers staying home.  I feel productive at work and most have no idea i'm going through trt.  

Depending on your course load, admistrative duties, social events, etc. your demands as a professor could be overwhelming.  If you can lighten the workload and shorten your days, it would make a big difference.  If your schedule involves teaching large groups of students with challenging intellectual conversations, this might be a struggle some days.  In the beginning I was happy to speak in complete sentences without drewel trickling down the corner of my mouth. :-)

I just got back from a meeting where I had to give a few technical presentations to a large group.  I was a bit concerned how things would go, but all went fine.  I think we tend to worry too much about these things, but again, no way to predict how you will respond to trt.   Ideally, it would be good to have a backup plan if you need to back off your busy schedule.  Wish you the best as you begin.  

[Jillybean65]

There is now way I could have worked for the last 10 weeks. I assumed I would have been able to at least 3-4 days a week. it has financially caused great hardship and wish I had been better prepared. it would be one thing if we could stop the treatment but once you are in, you're in so be prepared not to be able to work, but pray for the best. I'm a single parent with nobody to fall back on, unfortunately.

[thegypsy9164]

You never know.  The treatment effects everyone differently.  Just keep on going as long as you can.  If you are like me, it will be rough not just in the beginning, but throught the course of treatment.  However, I worked through until the last 2 1/2 months when I was just unable to go on physically.  You may be one of the people who are not effected badly and have much less of a problem than I.  Keep your head UP!  Keeping a positive attitude is of vital importance while treating.  Keep us posted on your progress.

[spyderman370]

Week 11 of Incivek did it for me. Hemoglobin down in 8's and gasping like a fish out of water. Got permission to work 2 days from home each week. I have a high stress financial job in NYC. Commute was out of question so I had to drive to city form suburbs. On week 20 now of a 24 week tx cycle - UND twice at 4 and 12 so I am on good track. Here's hoping...

[indy531]

I begin FMLA this upcoming Monday;I simply can't stay 2 steps ahead of 11 year olds and the stamina required physically to teach all 5 classes, meetings, grading,lesson planning, development, conferences-and that is just my teaching job-forget being Mom. I'm on wk 4 of Vic and will be taking 8 wk PCR on 11/21; I may ask hep doc to do CBC and check on hgb-simple walking is getting me breathless.
It may depend on how you react to the drugs and your employer. I don't care to share my dx  in the rumor mill that is my school and I need to rest/heal. This is a very personal decision.

[frijole]

Yes, I agree with others who say it is better to work than stay home.  I know I could not stand to stay home.  I am certainly not as productive but I can still do what needs to be done.  YOu don't know unless you try.

[ann61]

I am an attorney and worked full-time.  I am also an adjunct professor at community college teaching a four-hour course once a week for 10 weeks.  I did not teach my 10 week class while on incivek.  I completed incivek on 10/13 and will start my next class at the college on 11/21.  I am still taking riba and peg and neupogen and procrit as well.  

As you have read everyone deals with things differently.  For me work saved my life since it gave me the opportunity to concentrate on other issues besides the fact that I felt like poop.

I would wait to see how you feel and if possible perhaps you can lighten your load at least during the 12 weeks you take incivek.

Good luck.

[JAY0914]

Everyones different on how the meds affect them...I did 6 months of triple w/Inc...never missed a day of work and i work retail mgmt 60 hrs a week...i was a lucky one with minimal side effects....no one knows until they try...tx is a rollercoaster that can be challenging at times...but its all worth with when you get those 3 words!!  SVR  hopefully i get to hear that in 5 and half months

[banarep]

I worked full time on it and continued to work on a Masters Degree at the same time.  It really does depend on the person.

[aj7538]

Dont project. Take it one day at a time. I am in weel 11 with vic on tripke therapy. I am still working full time and have to be very accurate and detailed as I work with numbers. Tx.is.not easy to be sure, u must push yourself to get.thru. I think most.people.continue working.good.luck

[Ski2011]

Try it and see what happens, I work 4 days a week at a university as a administrator and I have had brain fog at times, but work has kept  me sane.  I don't have the rage, but more emotional side effect and the itching/burning feeling always. I am in my 8th week of treatment.  I had prepared my staff that I was going to have some medical treatment and might get upset and need a time out, but they would all say I am much mellower, and that is just because when I have brain fog nothing is going on up there

[ceecee444]

If you still work on these drugs all I can say is God Bless you man.I'm on week 10 with the tx (Incevik) there was no way I could work between the itchy, rash, fatigue, flaming dragon butt, loss of concentration and that just a few but the worst. Plus getting that 20% fat has been a tough getting bored with a lot of food within the first month, but I'm almost done just 2 weeks to go. I never want to go through this again and I just keep a positive attuide that I am beating this. It's a ***** to go through but in the long run it will be so worth it. So I would say to you DON'T WORK. I'm a very STRONG woman with a positive attitude but boy oh boy this drug takes the frosting off the cake. Good Luck!!!

[frijole]

Boy, that is a tough one.  It can get pretty rough in those last few weeks of the initial 12 - from what I am seeing on this board.  I am in week 12 of triple using Victrelis and I have to say, the anemia has caught me off guard.  I am going to work and sit at my desk for 8 hours, but cannot function well enough to be very productive.  Now the anemia is said to be a little less with Incevik but I am not so sure.  

there are some teachers here.  I am not sure how they are managing, but I don't think it is easy.  

Horsepower - I recognize that look -- I think it is week 36!

[working dog]

i couldn't work at all...was in bed for almost the first 3 months...maybe up for 1 to 4 hours a day...make sure you talk with your doc about when he/she will bring in rescue drugs...like if your hgb starts tanking...gets to around 10 will you start procrit??or will they wait till its in the 8s?they waited too long in my case...my fault though i told them in a sarcastic way..i feel great! big mistake..don't play around with anemia...but you may do fine anyway...i wouldn't count on it though...the triple part of tx is tough for many...after that it can get better...good luck....billy

[hrsepwrguy]

This is meant as a joke of course, it is from a thread just down the page called does treatment change how you look.

http://www.medhelp.org/user_photos/show/239315?personal_page_id=2383097

Thanks Big Daddy for the link

In all reality treatment has it's good days and it can have some really bad days and it is hard to say how you will respond

[stevepo]

Thanks for the thoughtful reply. Vincent Price? Is it weight loss or some other type of generally frightening look? Funny about the grading . . .

[slideman]

I am an estimator for a const co. I had to drop back to 3 days a week. Brain fog was an issue for me, made it hard to answer questions as rapidly as normal.

[mremeet]

It's impossible to say. Everyone has a different reaction to IFN, riba and Incivek together. All are powerful drugs and all can take you down the primrose path during treatment. But with that said, many do ok and hang in there. Some even thrive. I recall a woman named "labrat" here who did standard IFN+riba and then triple therapy with Incivek (after failing IFN+riba) and she worked the whole way through it. She also even worked out at the gym and even said it gave her extra energy!

But she was the exception to be sure. I'd plan on a very light schedule, or extensive time off, in my opinion. As a proff you're gonna need your mental faculties and a clear head. Your appearance and demeanor will also deteriorate. Depending on your confidence level, it may make you feel vulnerable in front of the class looking like Vincent Price in the Abominable Dr Phibes. Or I guess you could play the sympathy angle "Oh, does he have cancer? Poor soul..." Your call. And if someone annoys you, look out because you'll likely have a short fuse at times that could get you in trouble. I certainly wouldn't have wanted any of my proffs grading my tests or assigments on  this stuff. ;-)

But really I'd plan on playing it by ear. If you have the leave, I'd plan on using it liberally. This stuff can really put you through the wringer, most don't get out of it unscathed. (and yes I took it and yes I had to stop work for several weeks).