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Starting treatment in the midst of finding a new job
Hello everyone. I'm 28, male, recently diagnosed with hep c, genotype 1b, liver damage diagnosed as "mild/ongoing". I've experienced no symptoms prior to this news and have rarely been sick in all my life, so this has been shocking and frustrating, naturally. I was happily gaining normal body weight in the last several months (I've been underweight/skinny all my life and was trying to put on some pounds/muscle/body weight). So after eating right, getting rest, working out and maintaining a healthy lifestyle (no alcohol, no drugs, no smoking, etc), news of hep c has been a real downer.
I try to just continue the things I like to do. And now my boss has informed me that I will be out of a job by the next year (not related to the news of my hep c, but because of business decisions). Long story short, I have to find a new job in the coming months, but I'm also going to meet my doctors at the end of this month and I'm guessing I will start treatment in November or December. I wanted to hear the real deal on the first 1-2 weeks of starting combination therapy. Is it likely that I'll find myself taking a few days off those first 2 weeks of treatment at home/in bed/calling in sick? How is treatment coming alongside work? Should I be direct in job interviews about my hep c and about starting treatment? I have a great family and support system, and this forum adds even more hope and optimism as I try to fight this virus. Thank you everyone for any responses. I guess I will be a regular on here now.
I try to just continue the things I like to do. And now my boss has informed me that I will be out of a job by the next year (not related to the news of my hep c, but because of business decisions). Long story short, I have to find a new job in the coming months, but I'm also going to meet my doctors at the end of this month and I'm guessing I will start treatment in November or December. I wanted to hear the real deal on the first 1-2 weeks of starting combination therapy. Is it likely that I'll find myself taking a few days off those first 2 weeks of treatment at home/in bed/calling in sick? How is treatment coming alongside work? Should I be direct in job interviews about my hep c and about starting treatment? I have a great family and support system, and this forum adds even more hope and optimism as I try to fight this virus. Thank you everyone for any responses. I guess I will be a regular on here now.
Thanks everyone and latest comments from ladybug52 and WORRIED A LOT. I don't know if it's jsut coincidence, but stress and focus really has played a part in what I'm "feeling" these past few weeks. When I last posted I was really moitoring my diet and watching my doctor's orders of limiting red meat to 2x a week, trying to get about 9 hours of sleep each night, and I was feeling occasional rib pain. Now I've been spending recent days hunting for jobs, tirelessly looking on the internet, and companies closeby, and I've actually been feeling less pain around my ribs, which I'm guessing is because I'm preoccupied from thinking about my hep c and my liver constantly.
Thanks for your suggestions and I have an appt with my doc this coming week, so I'll further discuss my situation with him. I'm guessing since I'm in a mild ongoing early stage, that there is no immediate rush to start treatment, and my sister even sort of over-exaggerated to me that I have no choice but to get a new job first. I think unless I was really in major stage of the disease then it would not matter, but since I'm at this stage I think securing a job and making sure I have some income is what needs to be done before starting treatment. I do have my own insurance so I'm not worried about a "limbo" period of coverage between employers, I was more worried if tx needs to start "immediately". And I'm sure I need a few months at the new job to settle in. Thanks again.
Thanks for your suggestions and I have an appt with my doc this coming week, so I'll further discuss my situation with him. I'm guessing since I'm in a mild ongoing early stage, that there is no immediate rush to start treatment, and my sister even sort of over-exaggerated to me that I have no choice but to get a new job first. I think unless I was really in major stage of the disease then it would not matter, but since I'm at this stage I think securing a job and making sure I have some income is what needs to be done before starting treatment. I do have my own insurance so I'm not worried about a "limbo" period of coverage between employers, I was more worried if tx needs to start "immediately". And I'm sure I need a few months at the new job to settle in. Thanks again.
I luv my income also. I had planned to treat 10/13 but got a new job and my Dr. cautioned me to not treat until I have established myself in the new work place. You can treat now while you have ins and don't have to worry about losing your job, treat between jobs, or wait till you have proved yourself at you new job and you're eligible for either long term disability or medical leave. These are the options others here on the website gave me. Also you could wait till better drugs come forth.
I had told my previous employer that I had health issues (nothing too specific) and under the HIPPA rules, I'm protected from diclosing any info I don't feel comfortable sharing. There is a stigma with this disease, I work in health care and do not want to frighten my patients that they might somehow catch this from me. My sister asked if it was safe to drink after me. Little late now to ask! Good luck with whatever you decide.
I had told my previous employer that I had health issues (nothing too specific) and under the HIPPA rules, I'm protected from diclosing any info I don't feel comfortable sharing. There is a stigma with this disease, I work in health care and do not want to frighten my patients that they might somehow catch this from me. My sister asked if it was safe to drink after me. Little late now to ask! Good luck with whatever you decide.
I would wait until the new job is in place and probation is over to start tx. No need to tell anyone of your hep c status until you start tx and then tell only the staff that might question frequent medical leave for appts or sick time. I would not start tx and then quit at wk 4, that would loose you the tx naive status and it might not be a positive move.
good luck
good luck
Start treatment NOW, find your count at 4 weeks. You may be a super responder. Then quit and regenerate and get a job. Doc won't like you but you may know by then your long term reaction.
good hunting.
rent
good hunting.
rent
Good advice...I was laid-off in March, diagnosed in May and figured if I am going to do treatment...lets rock and roll. I will make up my mind after an appointment I have in November, continue to carry cobra insur (good advice FL) to make sure I am covered and prepare to go either way. I think it is important to be proactive...set yourself up with a few options and don't try to control the outcome. Be open to change and just roll with it...Good luck..stay peaceful, informed and the answers will come.
Depending on when the current employer 'offs' you, if you have decent insurance, if they give some sort of serial termination package, if the decision to treat is 'go', if you can can afford Cobra premiums (depending on your termination date) it might be an idea to start treatment sooner rather than later (again if the decision is to treat in the first place). That way if you miss work due to the meds or if you job performance drops a bit - what are they gonna do, fire you? Because when you go new job hunting you must be at the top of you game.
Thank you everyone so far for the replies. I just have a short time today to read and reply. I'll keep checking for more replies and I'll also post again later.
HI
I AM VERY RECENTLY DIAGNOSED SO CAN'T HELP YOU WITH HEP C INFO, BUT DO WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE, AS I WORK IN THAT FIELD.
AS FL GUY SAYS...COBRA YOUR INSURANCE FROM YOUR CURRENT JOB ONCE YOU ARE LET GO...IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY AFFORD IT.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET A NEW JOB YOU WILL GENERALLY HAVE A WAITING PERIOD (USUALLY A MINIMUM OF 3 MONTHS) BEFORE YOUR NEW MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE KICKS IN. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY...IT IS VERY, VERY, VERY UNLIKELY THAT YOUR NEW INSURANCE WITH THE NEW JOB WILL COVER ANYTHING RELATED TO A PRE-EXISITNG CONDITION FOR THE FIRST YEAR. THAT YEAR PLUS THE WAITING PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS IS CRITICAL TO YOUR KEEPING COVERAGE SOMEHOW. THE NEW INSURANCE WILL COVER ANY OTHER MED PROBLEMS YOU MAY HAVE BUT NOT IF THEY DETERMINE IT TO BE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE HEP-C OR THE THERAPY FOR IT AND SIDE EFFECTS. IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOT TRY TO HIDE YOUR CONDITION FROM THE NEW INSURANCE COMPANY IN ORDER TO GET COVERAGE FROM THEM FOR YOUR HEP-C. IT WILL BE VERY EASY FOR THEM TO OBTAIN YOUR PRIOR MEDICAL RECORDS AND THEN DENY ANY CLAIMS. COBRA IS ALLOWED TO BE IN EFFECT FOR 18 MONTHS ( I THINK). WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH COBRA IS CONTINUING YOUR CURRENT PLAN BY PAYING THE FULL PREMIUM WITHOUT THE HELP OF YOUR CURRENT EMPL0YER. THAT BEING SAID...IT MAY ACTUALLY BE MORE FEASABLE FOR YOU TO SIMPLY NOT ACCEPT THE NEW JOB'S MEDICAL INSURANCE (FOR WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY A PORTION OF NO MATTER WHAT, UNLESS YOU'RE IN SOME KIND OF KEY MANAGEMENT POSITION...THINK CEO)AND JUST USE THE COBRA BECAUSE IT WILL COVER ALL OF YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS. I WOULDN'T DO BOTH...BECAUSE ONE WOULD ALWAYS BE SECONDARY TO THE OTHER AND YOU WOULD JUST BE PAYING FOR DUPLICATE COVERAGE. ANYWAY...I REALLY JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION (AND THIS IS JUST GENERAL INFO...DON'T TAKE IT AS WRITTEN IN STONE), TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE POSSOBLE INSURNCE NIGHTMARE OF NO COVERAGE SO THAT YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT ALONG WITH THE SICKNESS/SIDE EFFECTS OF HEP-C. I KNOW I COULDN'T AFFORD IT WITHOUT INSURANCE.
GOOD LUCK!
I AM VERY RECENTLY DIAGNOSED SO CAN'T HELP YOU WITH HEP C INFO, BUT DO WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT MEDICAL INSURANCE, AS I WORK IN THAT FIELD.
AS FL GUY SAYS...COBRA YOUR INSURANCE FROM YOUR CURRENT JOB ONCE YOU ARE LET GO...IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY AFFORD IT.
THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WHEN YOU GET A NEW JOB YOU WILL GENERALLY HAVE A WAITING PERIOD (USUALLY A MINIMUM OF 3 MONTHS) BEFORE YOUR NEW MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE KICKS IN. BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY...IT IS VERY, VERY, VERY UNLIKELY THAT YOUR NEW INSURANCE WITH THE NEW JOB WILL COVER ANYTHING RELATED TO A PRE-EXISITNG CONDITION FOR THE FIRST YEAR. THAT YEAR PLUS THE WAITING PERIOD OF 3 MONTHS IS CRITICAL TO YOUR KEEPING COVERAGE SOMEHOW. THE NEW INSURANCE WILL COVER ANY OTHER MED PROBLEMS YOU MAY HAVE BUT NOT IF THEY DETERMINE IT TO BE IN ANY WAY RELATED TO THE HEP-C OR THE THERAPY FOR IT AND SIDE EFFECTS. IT IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOT TRY TO HIDE YOUR CONDITION FROM THE NEW INSURANCE COMPANY IN ORDER TO GET COVERAGE FROM THEM FOR YOUR HEP-C. IT WILL BE VERY EASY FOR THEM TO OBTAIN YOUR PRIOR MEDICAL RECORDS AND THEN DENY ANY CLAIMS. COBRA IS ALLOWED TO BE IN EFFECT FOR 18 MONTHS ( I THINK). WHAT YOU ARE DOING WITH COBRA IS CONTINUING YOUR CURRENT PLAN BY PAYING THE FULL PREMIUM WITHOUT THE HELP OF YOUR CURRENT EMPL0YER. THAT BEING SAID...IT MAY ACTUALLY BE MORE FEASABLE FOR YOU TO SIMPLY NOT ACCEPT THE NEW JOB'S MEDICAL INSURANCE (FOR WHICH YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY A PORTION OF NO MATTER WHAT, UNLESS YOU'RE IN SOME KIND OF KEY MANAGEMENT POSITION...THINK CEO)AND JUST USE THE COBRA BECAUSE IT WILL COVER ALL OF YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS. I WOULDN'T DO BOTH...BECAUSE ONE WOULD ALWAYS BE SECONDARY TO THE OTHER AND YOU WOULD JUST BE PAYING FOR DUPLICATE COVERAGE. ANYWAY...I REALLY JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION (AND THIS IS JUST GENERAL INFO...DON'T TAKE IT AS WRITTEN IN STONE), TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE POSSOBLE INSURNCE NIGHTMARE OF NO COVERAGE SO THAT YOU WON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT ALONG WITH THE SICKNESS/SIDE EFFECTS OF HEP-C. I KNOW I COULDN'T AFFORD IT WITHOUT INSURANCE.
GOOD LUCK!
There is a lot that goes into the decision to treat the hepc or not. Condition of liver, general health, emotional, financial and several quality of life considerations. Before you decide to treat you need to cover many medical bases. Since you are young, and if you have not had hep c since birth, you probably have very little liver damage and that alone may put off your decesion to treat. Personally, if I was going to hit the job huning circuit I would not do it under the influence of the treatment meds (peginterferon and ribabvirin - google them). It's not just a matter of the first few days of treatment, these meds can cloud your sense and sensabilities for the full duration of traditional combo therapy and as a geno 1 you would be heading for a year of it. See your doc, have a full evaluation of your health and hep-c and go from there. Until you have a full plan, do not disclose your disease to your current employer and especially not a prospective employer. There's a lot you need to learn about hep c before you make any significant decisions. For now open ears, eyes and mind - closed mouth.
Welcome! May I ask why you've chosen to start treatment? Do you have a high viral load? High ALT/SGOT? Long-term infection? With mild liver damage (confirmed by biopsy?) it would seem that a young, clean-living person like you could wait to be treated.
That being said, to answer your questions, it's almost impossible to say how you might handle working and treatment. People experience different side-effects, at differing times, and to varying degrees, throughout the course of the treatment. I didn't really get hit hard with nearly incapacitating fatigue until a few weeks in...After about 10 days, the fatigue let up, but then I had intermittent diarrhea for a couple of weeks. Now, after 13 weeks, I feel listless almost constantly, and experience shortness of breath following minor exertion. Someone elses's story will be different.
I'm not sure it would be wise to mention your status during a job interview for several reasons. It might alarm people, since there is a stigma attached to infectious diseases by the uniformed. And what about medical insurance? Could you get coverage at a new job with a pre-existing condition?
It seems wiser to get a job, establish a good relationship with your employer(s), and then begin treatment later when you can feel more confident that you will have their support.
Good luck with all of this, and please know that there are many people here who are eager to be of help to you!
Joyce-58 yr. old female-genotype 2b
That being said, to answer your questions, it's almost impossible to say how you might handle working and treatment. People experience different side-effects, at differing times, and to varying degrees, throughout the course of the treatment. I didn't really get hit hard with nearly incapacitating fatigue until a few weeks in...After about 10 days, the fatigue let up, but then I had intermittent diarrhea for a couple of weeks. Now, after 13 weeks, I feel listless almost constantly, and experience shortness of breath following minor exertion. Someone elses's story will be different.
I'm not sure it would be wise to mention your status during a job interview for several reasons. It might alarm people, since there is a stigma attached to infectious diseases by the uniformed. And what about medical insurance? Could you get coverage at a new job with a pre-existing condition?
It seems wiser to get a job, establish a good relationship with your employer(s), and then begin treatment later when you can feel more confident that you will have their support.
Good luck with all of this, and please know that there are many people here who are eager to be of help to you!
Joyce-58 yr. old female-genotype 2b
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