working

[Linda5758]

I'm considering doing the treatment but am afraid I won't be able to work, and of course I don't want my co-workers to know what is wrong with me, having hep c is not anything people actually feel sorry for you, more like repulsed. sad but true

[working dog]

some can work some can't...i would have a plan either way it goes down...you may have symptoms that are ok to work with...you might not though...i was sure i would be working at least 4 days a week during tx...i figured i was in shape ...had my exercise equipment all set up...i never thought i would be one of the folks that got hit hard with symptoms.............it went the other way for me...by the end of the second week on triple with incivek i was done...i couldn't stand up for more then 5 to 15 minutes at a time...the drugs worked great on me...saturated my system big time...be ready either way...and go with the flow....i would let the folks at work know your on tx...even tell them about what might come up during tx...you might make some lifetime friends as well as avoid a cover up that most likely won't work...loads of people have hep c...its way easier to explain then it was a few years ago...i think the stigma will be history soon....i told everyone i had it being from a small town...i looked dead and there was no way to cover it...now post tx its great being svr and  as healthy or maybe even healthier then the folks my age...good luck linda...stay on the forum and ask questions before tx..thats what will help a lot...billy

[Sonney12]

I went through treatment 2x the first I advised my manager in case something happened. I ended up taking a buyout after being treated like sh*t. The 2nd time I went through treatment was recently finished about 2 months ago. Based on my first experience I did not tell anyone just that I was sick and management knew I was sick I left my pillcase open as a manager walked by and stared at the pills. I know management knew I was sick from then on and I ended up losing my job. They adv me if I had let them know I was ill they would have taken that into consideration before letting me go. I wish things were different.

[Dawn703]

That is true, people are curious and want to understand. My supervisor actually watched some sort of video on HCV. It made me happy. However, anyone I have ever told, except people at work, was "how did you get it?"

[Idyllic]

"having hep c is not anything people actually feel sorry for you, more like repulsed. sad but true "
___________________________________
I had to laugh out loud when I read this comment. I know exactly what you mean. It is not that I want pity or sympathy or anything like that - it is just manners to make some type of empathetic statement when someone tells you they are sick. But no, with HCV it is so awkward it's funny.

Having said that I have noticed over the years - especially recently that people are genuinely curious and many of them want to understand.

[crossroadsec]

Some of us had to work to keep insurance. ESLD was a problem, but I managed. Teaching hs students, I kept mum. I didn't want sympathy or questions. 'My job was the one place that I could go and pretend everything was normal. It was hard, but I'd do it again. The plan B or C is important though. I hope you can have one.
My sub folder was in place so when I landed in ICU, things ran smoothly.  I had one teacher who knew. She had an envelope w/ all my RX info in case of emergency.
I still lol about trying to explain the wig. Distant memories.
You've gotten good advice and your Dr recommend is vital. I had weekly labs, and my dr.helped me hang in there.. Oh. AND this community was my lifeline.
Good luck! Karen :)

[willbb]

When to treat  HCV should "always" be based on  a number of factors,,in discussion with a physician that has done the proper testing  and the important factor of amount of liver damage (fibrosis) should be paramount in this discussion.

You may or may not be able to work during all or part of the therapy ,however what co-workers may think should never be a deciding factor  in regards to looking after your personal health.

Anyone I knew that progressed to ESLD (End stage Liver Disease)  could  not work as survival is then the only paramount concern.

Best..
Will

[Dawn703]

I am starting my last week of treatment (24 weeks) on Thursday, and have worked full time and in some cases overtime. I have missed some days here and there, but nothing major. It has been challenging, but it has been doable. Most everyone at work knows about my treatment, so that actually does help (no repulsion from my co-workers). If you don't want anyone to know, you can do as pooh said. No one has to know if you don't want them to. And pooh is also right about your Dr being proactive about side effects. flcyclist has also given some good advice

[pooh55811]

Many people on the forum have continued to work. Sometimes it depends on the type of work you do. If you have a sit down office job, that would make it easier to work than if you were a registered nurse working 12 hour shifts in ICU, a roofer climbing ladders and balancing on the roof edges, someone doing skyscraper construction, an electrician climbing poles or even connecting wires (the brain is not all there, LOL), doing any type of precision work. There are many who ave continued to work as teachers, managers, and in many other professions and jobs. You won't know until you start treatment how you will feel. If you have mild side effects, there won't be a problem. However, side effects like vomiting or severe anemia may make it more difficult to work. It will help if you get on top of the side effects right away and treat them before they snowball. Nausea and vomiting can be treated with Zofran.

I think if I was planning to work during treatment (which would be Plan A), I would have a Plan B and a Plan C lined up in case Plan A does not work. Do you have sick time, vacation time, holiday time, short term disability, etc. that you could use as needed? You can get family medical leave. Can you work part time? It would be easier to work 4 hours a day than 8 hours a day. If your job is physically demanding, could you temporarily do a desk job? I don't know your situation, but you need to have a plan or plans in case you find that you cannot work. Maybe your supervisor/employer could work with you on this (if you trust him/her and feel comfortable telling him/her). If you do not want to say you have Hep C, you can always say you have a blood disorder or something like that, and are taking very strong medications. You do not have to go into detail.

Hopefully others will chime in and let you know how they did working. I am retired so I did not have to work. I don't think I could have worked while on Incivek and for 3 months after that. However, that was because I had the Three Stooges for a treatment team and they had no clue how to treat side effects and no desire to do so. Had I been treated for the side effects as soon as they appeared, I probably could have worked, at least part time. So be sure your doc is on board with proactively and aggressively treating side effects.

Here's wishing you the best of luck. Keep us posted.

[uriah1]

Your doctor will help you make an informed decision about whether to treat or not.  Let him know exactly what kind of work you do too.  I was able to work throughout 24weeks of triple therapy.  I didn't tell my coworkers either, just my supervisor, in case something did happen that was strange.
Good luck, keep coming back here for support....

[flcyclist]

Don't get the cart before the horse.  You should first find a qualified hepatologist to help guide you through treatment.  The next step would be to have a biopsy to determine the condition of your liver to help you decide to tx now or wait a bit for better tx options.  Since you are a Geno 1a, and decided to tx now, you would likely do triple tx with one of the PI's which could be a bit more challenging.  I recently finished with Inf/Riba for 48 weeks and worked all the way through, only missing time for doc appointments.  Many others have worked throughout, while others had a very difficult tx and needed time off.  It's very hard to predict how you will manage, so have a plan b ready, just in case.  Good luck to you.