Thanks Everyone

[hopefulgirl38]

Just a quick thanks to everyone who responded to my post, my boyfriend just started treatment friday and it has been an interesting 2 days, just chills, and aches and were both remaining positive.  Thanks for everyones support.  Does anyone work on treatment he says he is exhauseted and cant imagine as he is so fatigued.

[pkhend]

Treatment is very unpredictable.  My husband is retired and has had bad side effects, but I think he is in the minority.  His reaction to the Pegasys improved greatly after the first shot, but the Riba really hit him hard.  What helped him was finding out that he had obtained RVR at 4 wks and has remained negatiave since (he's now at wk. 15 and has 9 more weeks to go.)  Several times he said he just couldn't make it, but each time he's found the strength to keep going.  He's in a clinical trial and got better when he stopped the trial drugs and contnued with SOC.  He's had to reduce his RBV dose due to low Hgb. and that has made a great improvement in his energy and appetite.  He's been prescribed an antidepressant which has helped and also Zofran for nausea.  His clinical nurse is very helpful in prescribing what he needs to get through this.  Hang in there and just know that you're one of his best sources of support. People here will help you.  They are a great source of information and support.
Pat

[WriteItDown]

Lots of people have the worst experience with the first shot, so maybe that's the case with your boyfriend. Many people can and do work throughout treatment, others can't even get off the couch, and everything in between -- it's totally variable. My husband was lucky and worked throughout, though he did have some days where he was more fatigued than usual and took some time off.  

Also, just because your boyfriend feels one way today, or this week, or even this minute, DOES NOT mean he will feel the same way tomorrow, or next week, or in ten minutes. Treatment is like the weather in New England -- always changing. The treatment is strange!

Since I also had the role of caretaker the advice I would give you is: try to remain calm and keep your sense of humor, and remember your boyfriend will probably require extra patience, and may well become irritable or have mood changes due to the meds. Don't take it personally! If he is experiencing side effects by all means ask the doctor and come here and ask -- people here know and can help you a lot.

[eureka254]

My husband also had the chills and fever in the beginning, but it did get better after the first few shots.  He found taking Tylenol on the not-so-good Saturdays helped him feel a little bit more comfortable.  He works a very physical job (landscaping), and though he can't do all the things and put in all the hours he did before treatment (he doesn't work most weekends anymore), usually he's still able to put in 8-hour days -- he says it energizes him to fight the fatigue when he can rather than give in to it.  There were a number of days during treatment that he wasn't able to do much at all due to anemia but otherwise he's managed.  Best wishes to both of you! ~eureka

[desrt]

I had the chills and aches three days out of the week. I was able to time things so I worked a full 40 hour week on the days I felt best and never missed any work except for doctor's appts. and blood draws. It might take a couple weeks, but he should be able to figure out the best time to do his shot to get the most out of his weekend. I did my shot (Peg-Intron) at lunch on Fri. and was mostly recovered by noon on Mon. If he's doing Pegasys he may have to time it a little differently.
Good Luck!