Don't worry about what your gonna tell people or how you going to feel. Stick to how you feel now, and the heck with other people it none of there biss. If you start worrying about all this Its going to make you spend to much time "in your own head" thats when you start to lose interest in things. Not good. Feel tired? Take a nap. Worry to much? Go out to a place where you can just bs with people you know ( not a bar ). Get sick right after you take your meds? I would expect you to run to the sink close the drain and puke in your hands so you could pick them out and re-take them. Nothing less. GET HARD CORE. If thats what it takes you have to do it. Ok pep talk over who knows I hope you sail through this with no sides.
BTW when the doc gave me my meds he said " ok this combo comes with three sides, two physical and one mental which ones do you want?" I said hmmm how about rash, butt burn and depression. When I went back he asked how the side effects were. I told him I had the rash and my butt burned. He said are you thinking about hurting yourself? I said no I had a list of other people I'd have to get to first so long I would live to 140 before I would hurt myself. He said you must have fed the depression to the dog under the table when no one was watching.
-- Edited by Scruffy on Saturday 28th of September 2013 10:36:06 PM
Tig said
Sep 24, 2013
What you tell people is entirely up to you. If you want to keep your personal health issues private that's your choice and nobody else's. There are any number of things that could cause the side effects we have from this treatment and I have have used a number of them to explain how I was feeling or what I was going through. Most people don't know better anyway and actually why you're feeling like crap is none of their business. Ive used the explanation that my family has a history of diabetes and my doctor is doing tests to find out. That makes you tired and can require lots of testing. You might say you have trouble with your kidneys. I'm just saying if you don't want to tell people what's wrong at this stage or any other, there is always something you can say to give them a reason. Just remember if you're going to say something like that it's good to remember what you said because they will. You have to do what's right for Hilary. If you don't want to talk about it, just tell them your health care is personal and private and you would appreciate it if they respected your request for privacy. What they think of you is their problem. Good friends will remain good friends, the other ones come and go like the weather. Treat them accordingly. Just don't let them bring you down. Stick with the positive crowd and distance yourself from the negative. It takes effort on your part but all good things do!
mallani said
Sep 24, 2013
Hi Hillary,
I did 48 weeks because I have cirrhosis. I was very lucky, as the virus was Undetected after 8 weeks of treatment ( after 4 weeks of Victrelis), and has stayed that way. I'm now 7 months post-treatment and as the virus was still undetected at 6 months after treatment, that's what they call SVR ( which means cure). You will not have cirrhosis, and should only have to do 28 weeks of treatment. The best indicator of how you're doing is the VL after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Treatment was rough on me, as I am old and cirrhotic, but have returned to normal, and am playing golf 3 times a week, working on my boat and going fishing. You should not have the same side effects. We use a lot of abbreviations on the Forum, and, as Bob said, there is a list of Forum Abbreviations in the New Members section. Let us know your Genotype, VL (Viral Load), and ALT blood test result, and we'll help with any questions. You should do very well. Basicly, no alcohol at all, the fewer pills the better (make sure they are approved by your doctor), healthy diet and positive outlook will help with the 4 week results. It's normal to be anxious, so look forward to ridding yourself of this pest! Cheers.
Biggyb said
Sep 24, 2013
Hi and welcome Hilliary, i also did 48 weeks with Victrelis. I was done in June 2013. I used to make excuses to people too. I would get asked to go places and i would have to think real quick what day it was on. because if it was Mon, tues or wed i was in bad shape. The rest of the week i was pretty good.
Malcolm put a good list of abbreviations in a post. Just put "abbreviations" in the search box..Good luck to you. ~Bob~
HilLaryOus said
Sep 24, 2013
Mallani- so you went thru the same treatment right? And did you have to do the 48 weeks? Then what happened? I'm still a little confused with all the numbers and abbreviations did the hep c come back? Anything I can do to help my level for that week 4 blood work, that you know of? Dr said she wants me to take the zoloft- while using I was diagnosed bipolar but I think I was just mixed up... After rehab I had pretty severe depression and I've been on tons of brain mess that I've worked very hard to get off of. But I do feel moody an less interested in a lot of things. Or just don't feel like doing much. I try to say mind over matter come on Hillary just do it, but afterward I'm so exhausted. I don't wanna feel like I'm milking this treatment but on the flip side I almost feel like I make myself do too much. I don't tell my boyfriend how bad I really feel. I'm scared that as time goes by I feel worse and it will just keep getting worse? I just tell some people I don't feel good or I'm sick but will people catch on that I feel this way every weekend for 6 months? It's almost like having a drug problem in some ways still- there's this monkey on my back that I have to hide and I don't like the feeling. Like I'm dirty or something?! I don't know- just venting. I also got my lab results for the week and numbers dropped or rose that I have no idea what they mean? That's scary. But I see my doc tomorrow morning hope she can clarify it all for me.. Thank you everyone for your kind words and reassurance! I'm happy to know I'm not alone! I will BEAT THIS DRAGON!
JoAnneh said
Sep 21, 2013
Hey Hilliary,
Being 24 years old and working part time
will make treatment easier, along with
Having this forum to turn to!
I found a caring group of Godly people
And that helped me too as they encouraged
Me.
I had a lot of time on my hand and I started
Studying the bible by googling questions,
Bible studies Etc.... It brought me closer to God.
I never felt like doing much while on treatment.
We have people on the forum who rode bikes, etc...
Keep your focus on saving your liver
And Taking medicines on time.
Concentrate on what is right in your life
And not what is wrong.
You get Hep C out of your way while
You are young!
We are here for you and understand
All the fears and worries.
Xxoo
2willy said
Sep 21, 2013
g;ad you made it here, this forum helped me understand about Hep C, the treatment and effects, saved my life
Bill and his dogs
mallani said
Sep 21, 2013
Hi again Hilliary,
As you're on the Victrelis triple, it means you are Genotype 1 which is the most common in the USA. You can find out whether it's 1a or 1b. 1a is the commonest over there. You need to make sure you have a Viral Load test after the 4 week leadin, before you start Victrelis. The decrease from your starting Viral Load is important, as it gives a good indicator of treatment progress. I was on the same treatment for 48 weeks, but hopefully you will able to stop after 28 weeks. It's only natural to feel anxious, but at your age, the side effects should be few and your chance of success is excellent. Ask any questions you like. Cheers.
bmhartwd said
Sep 21, 2013
Sorry my Iphone has a mind of its own. I meant you will beat this Dragon!!
bmhartwd said
Sep 21, 2013
Hey Hillary,
Welcome!!! You are in a good spot here. I'm on week 4 of triple therapy with Incivek. I do understand exactly what you are going thru!!! The treatment has been tough at times but you can do it. I'm on Zoloft for the first time in my life because of the anxiety I was having before treatment. I just got my bloodwork back yesterday and luckily the virus I'd undetected in my bloodstream!! Being young really seems to help a lot. Just have faith and no that this will come to pass and you will be this Dragon. Feel free to contact me at any time if I can help!!! Keep the faith!!
Brian
HilLaryOus said
Sep 21, 2013
Hello to all! My name is Hillary I'm 24 years old- diagnosed with hep C about 2 years ago.. Cleaned myself up got prepared and tried to educate myself as much as possible on this illness. I'm not as familiar with my numbers and levels as I see everyone else is on here. I stress a millions things and wonder is watching the numbers will just add to the anxiety I have?! I'm almost positive my genotype is 2. The most common one? I'm going to be on triple treatment therapy with Victrelis at the fifth week hopefully! The incivik induced rash and having to have the grams of fat with each dose pushed this decision. So I changed my call enter job to a part time position. I spend a lot of my time just worried about how I'm gonna feel later or tomorrow or for holidays or Other plans my bf makes. But so far it's honestly been not so bad. I have gotten moody and loss of interest in things. Told my dr and she gave me Zoloft. I took it for just two days and was so nauseous I threw up both days had even less of an appetite I lost 5 lbs! So I stopped it and the last two days I've felt better. I'm just worried bc I've been thru depression in the past and I don't wanna go back there. I'm very excited to be on here, I can't even explain the relief I feel to even talk about this with people that understand it!
Hilary
Don't worry about what your gonna tell people or how you going to feel. Stick to how you feel now, and the heck with other people it none of there biss. If you start worrying about all this Its going to make you spend to much time "in your own head" thats when you start to lose interest in things. Not good. Feel tired? Take a nap. Worry to much? Go out to a place where you can just bs with people you know ( not a bar ). Get sick right after you take your meds? I would expect you to run to the sink close the drain and puke in your hands so you could pick them out and re-take them. Nothing less. GET HARD CORE. If thats what it takes you have to do it. Ok pep talk over who knows I hope you sail through this with no sides.
BTW when the doc gave me my meds he said " ok this combo comes with three sides, two physical and one mental which ones do you want?" I said hmmm how about rash, butt burn and depression. When I went back he asked how the side effects were. I told him I had the rash and my butt burned. He said are you thinking about hurting yourself? I said no I had a list of other people I'd have to get to first so long I would live to 140 before I would hurt myself. He said you must have fed the depression to the dog under the table when no one was watching.
-- Edited by Scruffy on Saturday 28th of September 2013 10:36:06 PM
What you tell people is entirely up to you. If you want to keep your personal health issues private that's your choice and nobody else's. There are any number of things that could cause the side effects we have from this treatment and I have have used a number of them to explain how I was feeling or what I was going through. Most people don't know better anyway and actually why you're feeling like crap is none of their business. Ive used the explanation that my family has a history of diabetes and my doctor is doing tests to find out. That makes you tired and can require lots of testing. You might say you have trouble with your kidneys. I'm just saying if you don't want to tell people what's wrong at this stage or any other, there is always something you can say to give them a reason. Just remember if you're going to say something like that it's good to remember what you said because they will. You have to do what's right for Hilary. If you don't want to talk about it, just tell them your health care is personal and private and you would appreciate it if they respected your request for privacy. What they think of you is their problem. Good friends will remain good friends, the other ones come and go like the weather. Treat them accordingly. Just don't let them bring you down. Stick with the positive crowd and distance yourself from the negative. It takes effort on your part but all good things do!
Hi Hillary,
I did 48 weeks because I have cirrhosis. I was very lucky, as the virus was Undetected after 8 weeks of treatment ( after 4 weeks of Victrelis), and has stayed that way. I'm now 7 months post-treatment and as the virus was still undetected at 6 months after treatment, that's what they call SVR ( which means cure). You will not have cirrhosis, and should only have to do 28 weeks of treatment. The best indicator of how you're doing is the VL after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment. Treatment was rough on me, as I am old and cirrhotic, but have returned to normal, and am playing golf 3 times a week, working on my boat and going fishing. You should not have the same side effects. We use a lot of abbreviations on the Forum, and, as Bob said, there is a list of Forum Abbreviations in the New Members section. Let us know your Genotype, VL (Viral Load), and ALT blood test result, and we'll help with any questions. You should do very well. Basicly, no alcohol at all, the fewer pills the better (make sure they are approved by your doctor), healthy diet and positive outlook will help with the 4 week results. It's normal to be anxious, so look forward to ridding yourself of this pest! Cheers.
Hi and welcome Hilliary, i also did 48 weeks with Victrelis. I was done in June 2013. I used to make excuses to people too. I would get asked to go places and i would have to think real quick what day it was on. because if it was Mon, tues or wed i was in bad shape. The rest of the week i was pretty good.
Malcolm put a good list of abbreviations in a post. Just put "abbreviations" in the search box..Good luck to you. ~Bob~
Mallani- so you went thru the same treatment right? And did you have to do the 48 weeks? Then what happened? I'm still a little confused with all the numbers and abbreviations did the hep c come back? Anything I can do to help my level for that week 4 blood work, that you know of? Dr said she wants me to take the zoloft- while using I was diagnosed bipolar but I think I was just mixed up... After rehab I had pretty severe depression and I've been on tons of brain mess that I've worked very hard to get off of. But I do feel moody an less interested in a lot of things. Or just don't feel like doing much. I try to say mind over matter come on Hillary just do it, but afterward I'm so exhausted. I don't wanna feel like I'm milking this treatment but on the flip side I almost feel like I make myself do too much. I don't tell my boyfriend how bad I really feel. I'm scared that as time goes by I feel worse and it will just keep getting worse? I just tell some people I don't feel good or I'm sick but will people catch on that I feel this way every weekend for 6 months? It's almost like having a drug problem in some ways still- there's this monkey on my back that I have to hide and I don't like the feeling. Like I'm dirty or something?! I don't know- just venting. I also got my lab results for the week and numbers dropped or rose that I have no idea what they mean? That's scary. But I see my doc tomorrow morning hope she can clarify it all for me.. Thank you everyone for your kind words and reassurance! I'm happy to know I'm not alone! I will BEAT THIS DRAGON!
Being 24 years old and working part time
will make treatment easier, along with
Having this forum to turn to!
I found a caring group of Godly people
And that helped me too as they encouraged
Me.
I had a lot of time on my hand and I started
Studying the bible by googling questions,
Bible studies Etc.... It brought me closer to God.
I never felt like doing much while on treatment.
We have people on the forum who rode bikes, etc...
Keep your focus on saving your liver
And Taking medicines on time.
Concentrate on what is right in your life
And not what is wrong.
You get Hep C out of your way while
You are young!
We are here for you and understand
All the fears and worries.
Xxoo
g;ad you made it here, this forum helped me understand about Hep C, the treatment and effects, saved my life
Bill and his dogs
Hi again Hilliary,
As you're on the Victrelis triple, it means you are Genotype 1 which is the most common in the USA. You can find out whether it's 1a or 1b. 1a is the commonest over there. You need to make sure you have a Viral Load test after the 4 week leadin, before you start Victrelis. The decrease from your starting Viral Load is important, as it gives a good indicator of treatment progress. I was on the same treatment for 48 weeks, but hopefully you will able to stop after 28 weeks. It's only natural to feel anxious, but at your age, the side effects should be few and your chance of success is excellent. Ask any questions you like. Cheers.