did u continue employment while on tx? side-fx debilitating or insignificant?

[WinterSteele]

hello all... i'm new on here, joined because i'm facing starting tx treatment in the next week or so and am pretty much scared sh**less.  my main worry is whether or not i'll be able to work.  i begin teaching a couple of 2 hour kids' classes in 2 weeks for 2 x a week for a duration of about 11 weeks.   the timing will be that the teaching gig begins around a week or so after i'm to begin treatment.  i'm tempted to put tx off (no direct threat to my health at this time) and at the same time, want to get it over with!   i'm wondering how it was to work for those of you who did, or attempted to work (or could've?) i don't want to be standing in front of a bunch of kids feeling as if i'm going to throw up/pass out/collapse/be unable to talk due to headaches/have a fever/be constantly itching/have sores all over my mouth/be half bald/experiencing diarrhea/or any other side effects that i can visualize myself experiencing quite vividly....  :P    so.......
-what are your experiences with working while on tx??  
-and are the side fx as bad as everyone is saying? or are the only ones experiencing them posting? would love to hear from people whose were insignificant (if they're out there) as well....  :)  
-also, did your side effects get better after ending incivek?
thanks so much  :)

[crossroadsec]

Not insignificant.. Not debilitating either. I feel like the poster child for have every side. Haven't missed a day of work except for 1x a month to travel to transplant hospital.
Week 31... SO doable and life saving. Wish I'd had found out n started earlier. Good luck.
A few days a week w kiddos? They just may make it easier and give you the boost you need on a rough day. Kids r so funny n spontaneous.
Xo Karen :)

[kmatucson]

Everyone is different.  I work from home and was still not able to keep up.  The first 12 weeks were flu like symptoms the entire time, so I was pretty sick.. and then the 2nd 12 weeks I was hit with anemia.. Could not walk more than 10 feet or stand for more than a minute..  I was so happy the other day because I took a shower and was able to stand the entire time.. have not done that since November.  I have 3 more shots left and I cannot wait to be done..  So, really.. you will not know until you start treatment.  Some people have mild SX and others are hit hard.  A teacher did post something recently asking others who teach how they did..

[WinterSteele]

wow..thank you all!  these are all helpful answers-not sure why it selected brianmo's answer as the best, even tho i like it alot, they're ALL helpful answers, and really helps me in gaining some perspective. and thanks to orphanedhawk for putting the recent work related thread there...i appreciate it and appreciate all the answers and perspectives there as well!  :)

[charm27]

Howdy ! Hope your doing well. Been a nutso year but Im back!

Love to you!


Charm

[belle19]

welcome to the forum.  i'm in my 32nd week and i still work 3 days a week.  i also do cardio classes 3x/weekly.  i do low impact now.  my sx have been mild.  don't get too freaked out.  everyone's different.  you won't know until you start.  i wish you luck.  i was scared when i started but look at what i've done.  belle

[nygirl7]

CHARM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :D

[orphanedhawk]

Here's a recent post dealing with this topic:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/unable-to-work/show/1671332

[charm27]

Hello, welcome to the forum. Unfortunately I was not ablel to work the 55 weeks I was on tx. I bottomed out at 6 weeks and my HGB dropped to 10 , I was unable to work and barely could drive my car. Please dont get discouraged as many people here did 72 weeks and did get to work. I wasnt as fortunate. I had many issues and I was housebound except for the weekly grind to the market to buy food.
Hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones that will be able to work, You just dont know until you get started with tx. I wish you the best and should you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.
There is much knowledge to be learned here.

Charm

I just had my 3 year post PCR (and the last one) and Im SVR.
Well worth the trip! in spite of it all.

[stormy456]

My husband is in his 9th week on triple with INC and has not missed any work so far.  That's not to say that he's felt wonderful all of the time, but hasn't found the sfx to be debilitating.  He's been able to stay ahead of most of the sfx, and really hasn't even had much down time over the weekend (he does his shot on Thursday night.)  I did drag him to Disneyland last week, which probably wasn't the best idea - but even with that he did alright.  You'll find a wide range of experiences on this board - with some who are down for the count from week 1, to some that do not have serious sfx.  I do believe that most people who are doing really well are not as motivated to post as others who are seeking relief from serious sfx.  Best of luck to you.