Aa
about living alone with hepc
I have come to find out that I will be living alone during my hepc treatment! I will be doing the triple tx.I am stage & grade 2,genotypes1a. Have known I'v had it at lease 3yrs.But feel like its longer than that . But for the past couple of monthes I have been in process of getting things together.My boyfriend helped me gain about 20 lbs, I" been seeing all the drs I'm suppose to even got into the head but other the first visit see suggested to my liver Dr. that I should wait. But I dont agree with this because its the tx that is hanging over my head making me depressed. I think that if i was able to get started asap this would help plus still seeing her along the way. So how many of u would start this treatment living alone?? Please somebody give me some advice asap!!!! Thanks for your time boxerbabs
hey congrats on the start of fixing ur liver, i have been alone threw out my treatment and im on week 35 of 48, well i m not totally alone i have a very energetic 5 yr old, and ive worked up to 30hrs a week now im down to 10 hrs, i have the support of my mother who takes my daughter when shes not in school so i can go to work. at first mom took her for the day of my shot and one other nite in the week but lately mom only has her for a few hrs friday afternoon and maybe 2 times a month for the nite, it gets hard especially during the time of the month when i dont want anyone coming nere me or talking but i manage, i was on antidepressants but i got tired of being a test dumby for my phyc and im now off them between last jan and last month i tryed bout 6 differnt meds, some where really not for me, side affects and all. I tried having a relationship at the begining but I didnt need the stress and i had myself and my kid to take care of, first,
Dont give up Its a wonderful feeling knowing that ur getting better for urself
Oh and here a tip dont listen to sad music or music that reminds u of the past, its helped me i only wished that someone would have told me that sooner then i wouldnt of had so many tears.
Good Luck
Dont give up Its a wonderful feeling knowing that ur getting better for urself
Oh and here a tip dont listen to sad music or music that reminds u of the past, its helped me i only wished that someone would have told me that sooner then i wouldnt of had so many tears.
Good Luck
Ceanothus and pooh gave you very good advice regarding the depression and I hope you will take it to heart. Based on what doctors have told me, if you are depressed now, you will not feel better with treatment. It is likely you would crash further down that well. These chemicals are strong. My understanding is that If you get on the ADs now and get it under control they should be able to treat. I am on week 24 and wish i was on ADs. Hopefully you can work something out. Not sure if an all orals trial would be an option but have not heard depression as one of the concerns with orals.
It was easy living alone and being on the meds. Dont get yourself so worried. I am on week 19 and I think like all humans, you do what you have to do. Your going to need the peace and quit. Just make sure you take advantage of the times you do feel good and shop for healthy food.
Good Luck, it goes quick! Remember we are all warriors
Good Luck, it goes quick! Remember we are all warriors
"I liked being alone on tx. No one to argue with.....lol. "
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I have to agree. Most days I really don't feel like dealing with anyone (it is tiring) and, living by myself, I don't have to interact with people unless I choose to. I don't even feel like talking to anyone on many days. As it is, I can just go at my pace and rest if I want to. Still, I wish someone would cook for me and vacuum, and clean the litter boxes, and do the dishes, lol.
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I have to agree. Most days I really don't feel like dealing with anyone (it is tiring) and, living by myself, I don't have to interact with people unless I choose to. I don't even feel like talking to anyone on many days. As it is, I can just go at my pace and rest if I want to. Still, I wish someone would cook for me and vacuum, and clean the litter boxes, and do the dishes, lol.
Thanks to pooh558811 for pointing out to me that I had screwed up the addressing of my message and sent this to her rather than to boxerbabs as I intended. I'm feeling pretty good at week 14, but I guess I still have a bit more brain-fog than I realized!
Pooh55811 gave a wonderful reply and covered nearly all the bases. I just wanted to add a couple of points. I hope you can get to a point where your mood is considered stable and you can start treatment, but it is pretty important to have that stability first. The triple tx is SO hard to manage properly – timing all the meds right, following all the rules about fat intake, managing the minor and the major side effects – and the management really requires a lot of perseverance. If your mood might make you inclined to say “to hell with it” at some point, then it is definitely better to wait until your mood is more stable, because doing tx improperly can be worse than not doing it at all. It can make you sick from side effects while helping your virus to mutate into a drug-resistant form that will be harder to kill off in any future treatments. That’s why it is so important to follow the rules about the timing of the meds and what other meds you can and can’t take at the same time, and what you must eat with the meds, and so on. You can find almost any information you need on this forum if you look hard enough, and you can find an immense amount of emotional support too, but you have to be well enough in your mind to be able to reach out for it. I’ve dealt with clinical depression a lot myself over the years, and I know that when it hits hard it can be too much bother to even get up, much less try to take care of one’s self. That kind of depression can be triggered by tx, and it can really destroy one’s chances of success with the tx.
Another thing to consider is if you are doing triple tx with Incivek, it is mostly the first three months that might be hardest to manage. It is a good idea to try to line up some extra help from friends during that stage, but you probably won’t have to continue leaning on these friends throughout the entire tx. Same with work – IF you get bad sides you might find it hard to work regular hours during the first 3 months, but it is likely to get much easier after that stage. If you can save up some money in advance to cover expenses during any unpaid leave you might have to take, well, that’s an excellent plan. Good luck, and I hope you will be able to start your tx soon!
Pooh55811 gave a wonderful reply and covered nearly all the bases. I just wanted to add a couple of points. I hope you can get to a point where your mood is considered stable and you can start treatment, but it is pretty important to have that stability first. The triple tx is SO hard to manage properly – timing all the meds right, following all the rules about fat intake, managing the minor and the major side effects – and the management really requires a lot of perseverance. If your mood might make you inclined to say “to hell with it” at some point, then it is definitely better to wait until your mood is more stable, because doing tx improperly can be worse than not doing it at all. It can make you sick from side effects while helping your virus to mutate into a drug-resistant form that will be harder to kill off in any future treatments. That’s why it is so important to follow the rules about the timing of the meds and what other meds you can and can’t take at the same time, and what you must eat with the meds, and so on. You can find almost any information you need on this forum if you look hard enough, and you can find an immense amount of emotional support too, but you have to be well enough in your mind to be able to reach out for it. I’ve dealt with clinical depression a lot myself over the years, and I know that when it hits hard it can be too much bother to even get up, much less try to take care of one’s self. That kind of depression can be triggered by tx, and it can really destroy one’s chances of success with the tx.
Another thing to consider is if you are doing triple tx with Incivek, it is mostly the first three months that might be hardest to manage. It is a good idea to try to line up some extra help from friends during that stage, but you probably won’t have to continue leaning on these friends throughout the entire tx. Same with work – IF you get bad sides you might find it hard to work regular hours during the first 3 months, but it is likely to get much easier after that stage. If you can save up some money in advance to cover expenses during any unpaid leave you might have to take, well, that’s an excellent plan. Good luck, and I hope you will be able to start your tx soon!
Boxerbabs gave a wonderful reply and covered nearly all the bases. I just wanted to add a couple of points. I hope you can get to a point where your mood is considered stable and you can start treatment, but it is pretty important to have that stability first. The triple tx is SO hard to manage properly – timing all the meds right, following all the rules about fat intake, managing the minor and the major side effects – and the management really requires a lot of perseverance. If your mood might make you inclined to say “to hell with it” at some point, then it is definitely better to wait until your mood is more stable, because doing tx improperly can be worse than not doing it at all. It can make you sick from side effects while helping your virus to mutate into a drug-resistant form that will be harder to kill off in any future treatments. That’s why it is so important to follow the rules about the timing of the meds and what other meds you can and can’t take at the same time, and what you must eat with the meds, and so on. You can find almost any information you need on this forum if you look hard enough, and you can find an immense amount of emotional support too, but you have to be well enough in your mind to be able to reach out for it. I’ve dealt with clinical depression a lot myself over the years, and I know that when it hits hard it can be too much bother to even get up, much less try to take care of one’s self. That kind of depression can be triggered by tx, and it can really destroy one’s chances of success with the tx.
Another thing to consider is if you are doing triple tx with Incivek, it is mostly the first three months that might be hardest to manage. It is a good idea to try to line up some extra help from friends during that stage, but you probably won’t have to continue leaning on these friends throughout the entire tx. Same with work – IF you get bad sides you might find it hard to work regular hours during the first 3 months, but it is likely to get much easier after that stage. If you can save up some money in advance to cover expenses during any unpaid leave you might have to take, well, that’s an excellent plan. Good luck, and I hope you will be able to start your tx soon!
Another thing to consider is if you are doing triple tx with Incivek, it is mostly the first three months that might be hardest to manage. It is a good idea to try to line up some extra help from friends during that stage, but you probably won’t have to continue leaning on these friends throughout the entire tx. Same with work – IF you get bad sides you might find it hard to work regular hours during the first 3 months, but it is likely to get much easier after that stage. If you can save up some money in advance to cover expenses during any unpaid leave you might have to take, well, that’s an excellent plan. Good luck, and I hope you will be able to start your tx soon!
It is unclear to me why the doc wants to delay your treatment. You are grade 2, stage 2, which is not as bad as stages 3 & 4, but you don't know how fast it will progress. It is my understanding it is better to treat before one gets to stages 3 and 4.
It appears from your post that it may be the psychiatrist that wants to delay your treatment because you are depressed? If that is the case, that is something you will have to work out with the psychiatrist. The interferon can cause or worsen depression in some people. Many people with a history of depression get started on antidepressants before they begin treatment (at least a month or so before starting treatment because it takes the ADs some time to start working and have an effect).
Living alone, per se, should not affect if or when you treat as long as you have the main details taken care of (income, insurance, housing, some support if you need it, etc.). Many of us live alone and go on treatment and do fine. I live alone and I am 66 years old and I am in the middle of triple therapy treatment. I am doing fine. I wish I had someone to cook for me sometimes, lol, and vacuum and do the dishes, but I am fine.
I do have a history of clinical depression and I actually happened to be on antidepressants when I discovered I had Hep C last July. (I had started antidepressants in May because I was clinically depressed.) Both times I have been treated for depresion I have responded well to the medications. I mention this only because some people do not respond well and remain somewhat unstable (in terms of mood) even on meds. I don't know where you fit into this and if your depression is well controlled. If not, that may be why your psychiatrist wants you to wait (until your mood is more stable). However, as you mention, the Hep C hanging over your head can be very troubling too. If the psychiatrist wants you to wait simply because you live by yourself, (and not for some other reasons) that is not a legitimate reason to wait. Many of us live alone and treat and do just fine. Many of us would not be able to treat if we had to be living with someone while treating.
There are several things you can do to prepare for treatment while living alone. I know I did a thorough housecleaning before starting treatment and I stocked up on staples, heavy items (kitty litter), and some foods such as saltines, soup, easy to cook items, etc. I tried to take care of other things such as car maintainance and bills and dentist visits, etc. That way you do not have to worry about those types of things while you are on treatment.
It is good to have a couple of people who can help if you need help. I had a couple people lined up but the only thing I have needed them for was to take me to and from my liver biopsy. Otherwise I have been able to manage by myself.
I go places such as the monthly symphony, food shopping, out to lunch with a friend, etc. but I never plan more than one thing per day and I generally don't plan anything for a couple of days after my injection. So if I have a doctor visit, that is my activity for the day. I don't line anything else up to do. I have found that my best time is between about 11 and 3 or 4. Then I start to fade and need to rest. So think if you pace yourself you will be fine. In fact, you may not have too many side effects. Some do not. But you cannot count on that. You have to be prepared. I did buy some educational DVDs and they are been a wonderful source of passing the time and learning.
I wish you lots of luck and a successful treatment. Keep on this forum as this is a very good support group.
It appears from your post that it may be the psychiatrist that wants to delay your treatment because you are depressed? If that is the case, that is something you will have to work out with the psychiatrist. The interferon can cause or worsen depression in some people. Many people with a history of depression get started on antidepressants before they begin treatment (at least a month or so before starting treatment because it takes the ADs some time to start working and have an effect).
Living alone, per se, should not affect if or when you treat as long as you have the main details taken care of (income, insurance, housing, some support if you need it, etc.). Many of us live alone and go on treatment and do fine. I live alone and I am 66 years old and I am in the middle of triple therapy treatment. I am doing fine. I wish I had someone to cook for me sometimes, lol, and vacuum and do the dishes, but I am fine.
I do have a history of clinical depression and I actually happened to be on antidepressants when I discovered I had Hep C last July. (I had started antidepressants in May because I was clinically depressed.) Both times I have been treated for depresion I have responded well to the medications. I mention this only because some people do not respond well and remain somewhat unstable (in terms of mood) even on meds. I don't know where you fit into this and if your depression is well controlled. If not, that may be why your psychiatrist wants you to wait (until your mood is more stable). However, as you mention, the Hep C hanging over your head can be very troubling too. If the psychiatrist wants you to wait simply because you live by yourself, (and not for some other reasons) that is not a legitimate reason to wait. Many of us live alone and treat and do just fine. Many of us would not be able to treat if we had to be living with someone while treating.
There are several things you can do to prepare for treatment while living alone. I know I did a thorough housecleaning before starting treatment and I stocked up on staples, heavy items (kitty litter), and some foods such as saltines, soup, easy to cook items, etc. I tried to take care of other things such as car maintainance and bills and dentist visits, etc. That way you do not have to worry about those types of things while you are on treatment.
It is good to have a couple of people who can help if you need help. I had a couple people lined up but the only thing I have needed them for was to take me to and from my liver biopsy. Otherwise I have been able to manage by myself.
I go places such as the monthly symphony, food shopping, out to lunch with a friend, etc. but I never plan more than one thing per day and I generally don't plan anything for a couple of days after my injection. So if I have a doctor visit, that is my activity for the day. I don't line anything else up to do. I have found that my best time is between about 11 and 3 or 4. Then I start to fade and need to rest. So think if you pace yourself you will be fine. In fact, you may not have too many side effects. Some do not. But you cannot count on that. You have to be prepared. I did buy some educational DVDs and they are been a wonderful source of passing the time and learning.
I wish you lots of luck and a successful treatment. Keep on this forum as this is a very good support group.
I will be starting tx this year and I live alone too. I have asked the same question, I am scared also, and my biggest fear is income. If I cannot work that is going to be too stressfull financially added to the stress and discomfort of tx.I have been advised to have a back up plan, where does this plan come from? I struggle with this daily . I pray I have an easy tx so I can at least attempt to keep my income.
I think it's doable - you'll find that you'll be glued to this site. Sometimes it's easier on your own without the expectations of family and friends. My partner helped when friends visited that I couldn't speak to for long, and he almost always cooked the evening meal. My liver was not in good shape and I found tx difficult, but I managed to go to the Supermarket every week and the library every other.
The family stayed out of my way unless I needed them, although I do remember bursting into tears because I'd got up from resting to make myself a banana smoothy and while crossing the kitchen both my partner and son asked me questions... my brain wasn't working well and all I could think of was food .. but couldn't get there because of these two big questioning monsters (hehe).
I kept to a strict routine with food, and only joined the family for dinner (and took a paracetamol to make myself comfortable enough to eat, on more than one occasion.
I didn't work, but a friend of mine, living along, managed to work (although found it exhausting).
As long as you have someone to check on you, and as long as you watch America's Funniest Home Videos as often as you can, keep your blood test results on file, and keep the internet going... home alone would be something I'd feel comfortable with....
The family stayed out of my way unless I needed them, although I do remember bursting into tears because I'd got up from resting to make myself a banana smoothy and while crossing the kitchen both my partner and son asked me questions... my brain wasn't working well and all I could think of was food .. but couldn't get there because of these two big questioning monsters (hehe).
I kept to a strict routine with food, and only joined the family for dinner (and took a paracetamol to make myself comfortable enough to eat, on more than one occasion.
I didn't work, but a friend of mine, living along, managed to work (although found it exhausting).
As long as you have someone to check on you, and as long as you watch America's Funniest Home Videos as often as you can, keep your blood test results on file, and keep the internet going... home alone would be something I'd feel comfortable with....
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