Welcome, sandypsych. It is so nice to see loved ones offering such support and, believe me, it helps the person undergoing tx more than you can imagine.
On the topic of reading, these drugs can mess with your vision a bit, and having someone read to you can be very comforting when you are ill. Audio books are great too. I listened to a number of them during tx.
There are some informative books about hep c that range from hyper-technical to personal stories. A book I liked is called "Healing Hepatitis C: A Patient and a Doctor....Tell You How to Recognize When You Are at Risk, Understand Hep C Tests, and Talk to Your Doctor." It was written by Christopher Kennedy Lawford. It is written in the format of a conversation between Lawford and his doctor so it is a very easy read but with lots of information. (The doc, btw, is this really committed physician who started treating hep c in a free clinic in the San Francisco area back when this was all very new). That book doesn't go into the the triple therapy, but it is inspiring. Forgive me for rambling, but you never know when someone might be helped by this type of info. Maybe you and your husband will find it useful too. Best regards.
sandypsych said
Mar 5, 2012
Thanks for the welcome and the great sites! My husband happens to hate all things technology (won't own a cell phone, computer, etc), so I do all the research and "read" too him. But he likes hearing what I find here. Our Dr. seems good, but we are the first on the triple treatment, so they seem to be learning from us.
And we, thankfully, are learning from all of you. Its so nice to have so many resources and see the support that you offer everyone!
news said
Mar 5, 2012
Sandypsych,
Try to get the ol' man to visit the "On Treatment" area of this site. He has found his way to Week 7 (with your help), but I bet he could use some of the advice, confusion and general banter that can be found there. We alternate between having a ton of experience with an issue to being totally clueless. It's just like real life!
You're a good person to watch out for him like you are doing. It's not easy. My wife of nearly 40 years has stuck with me every step of the way, but I really feel like my side effects were mild compared to some other folks. I never got grumpy with her, I went away to work almost every day, and came home in the evening too tired to argue. She was real worried, and wanted so badly to help me, but other than loving me and saying nice things there was not a whole lot she could do. When I finished the Incivek at the end of Week 12, she was as happy as I was. I felt so much better, and I didn't have to do all those silly 20g fat meals three times a day. We could eat together, the same dishes, and after I got my red blood cells back up to normal our lives became more like the good ol' days. I know for a fact I could not have done it without her (as if I could do anything without her).
So be sure to introduce him to the On Treatment group, even if you have to trick him. And of course, you are allowed to read it too even if he won't. There's some real good stuff in there.
Alan
greenqueen said
Mar 5, 2012
Hi Sandypsych and welcome
It's great that you're there to support him and I can understand the helpless feeling when you're watching the person you love going through this.
We have some folk here who are currently supporting or have supported their partners through treatment, so I'm sure they'd be happy to share.
Has your husband had a look at the forum? There are lots of members undergoing the triple therapy who have posted some good info on dealing with the side effects.
Here's a link that I hope will be of some help to you.
Hopefully I'm doing this right. My husband is almost through week 7 of the triple therapy. The side effects (itching/tired/grumpy) seem to be getting worse and worse. I'm feeling pretty helpless. Glad to see there is a place for support folks. Does it ever get better?
Welcome, sandypsych. It is so nice to see loved ones offering such support and, believe me, it helps the person undergoing tx more than you can imagine.
On the topic of reading, these drugs can mess with your vision a bit, and having someone read to you can be very comforting when you are ill. Audio books are great too. I listened to a number of them during tx.
There are some informative books about hep c that range from hyper-technical to personal stories. A book I liked is called "Healing Hepatitis C: A Patient and a Doctor....Tell You How to Recognize When You Are at Risk, Understand Hep C Tests, and Talk to Your Doctor." It was written by Christopher Kennedy Lawford. It is written in the format of a conversation between Lawford and his doctor so it is a very easy read but with lots of information. (The doc, btw, is this really committed physician who started treating hep c in a free clinic in the San Francisco area back when this was all very new). That book doesn't go into the the triple therapy, but it is inspiring. Forgive me for rambling, but you never know when someone might be helped by this type of info. Maybe you and your husband will find it useful too. Best regards.
Thanks for the welcome and the great sites! My husband happens to hate all things technology (won't own a cell phone, computer, etc), so I do all the research and "read" too him. But he likes hearing what I find here. Our Dr. seems good, but we are the first on the triple treatment, so they seem to be learning from us.
And we, thankfully, are learning from all of you. Its so nice to have so many resources and see the support that you offer everyone!
Sandypsych,
Try to get the ol' man to visit the "On Treatment" area of this site. He has found his way to Week 7 (with your help), but I bet he could use some of the advice, confusion and general banter that can be found there. We alternate between having a ton of experience with an issue to being totally clueless. It's just like real life!
You're a good person to watch out for him like you are doing. It's not easy. My wife of nearly 40 years has stuck with me every step of the way, but I really feel like my side effects were mild compared to some other folks. I never got grumpy with her, I went away to work almost every day, and came home in the evening too tired to argue. She was real worried, and wanted so badly to help me, but other than loving me and saying nice things there was not a whole lot she could do. When I finished the Incivek at the end of Week 12, she was as happy as I was. I felt so much better, and I didn't have to do all those silly 20g fat meals three times a day. We could eat together, the same dishes, and after I got my red blood cells back up to normal our lives became more like the good ol' days. I know for a fact I could not have done it without her (as if I could do anything without her).
So be sure to introduce him to the On Treatment group, even if you have to trick him. And of course, you are allowed to read it too even if he won't. There's some real good stuff in there.
Alan
Hi Sandypsych and welcome
It's great that you're there to support him and I can understand the helpless feeling when you're watching the person you love going through this.
We have some folk here who are currently supporting or have supported their partners through treatment, so I'm sure they'd be happy to share.
Has your husband had a look at the forum? There are lots of members undergoing the triple therapy who have posted some good info on dealing with the side effects.
Here's a link that I hope will be of some help to you.
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/Family%20and%20Friends%20Guide.pdf
Love Steff xx
Hopefully I'm doing this right. My husband is almost through week 7 of the triple therapy. The side effects (itching/tired/grumpy) seem to be getting worse and worse. I'm feeling pretty helpless. Glad to see there is a place for support folks. Does it ever get better?