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Elementary School Teachers - going through Treatment
I teach 3rd grade and I will be starting Hep C treatment soon, and will be taking Pegintron and Ribavirin. Are there any other elementary school teachers out there willing to share their experience in a similar situation? Have you been able to keep teaching? What has been the hardest thing about teaching while going through tx?
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All I have to offer is as a 3rd grade student I was a handful! Best to be prepared to take a leave of absence for maybe the first month of tx or somewhere in your journey. I'm just thinking on interferon/riba, there were times I didn't feel like being around kids at all. I just didn't feel good.
good luck!!
good luck!!
I am a retired teacher and have been on tx for two weeks. I honestly do not seenhowni would have been able to teach and complete this treatment. I know the day to day challenges you are going to be facing....especially with your darling third graders....and like indy531, suggest that you explore medical leave. You really don't want to be around children because of the potential of catching a cold or virus.
I also know just how deep that sense of responsibility to one's children runs, but you really do need to take this time to devote to yourself and healing. If you are only going to be on riba and interferon, I am also assuming that your tx will run the full 48 weeks. Have you considered one of the new triple tx to possibly shorten your tx time? Or even trying to find one of the new trial drugs that treat without the interferon?
I wish you the best of luck in whatever course you choose to follow with this.
I also know just how deep that sense of responsibility to one's children runs, but you really do need to take this time to devote to yourself and healing. If you are only going to be on riba and interferon, I am also assuming that your tx will run the full 48 weeks. Have you considered one of the new triple tx to possibly shorten your tx time? Or even trying to find one of the new trial drugs that treat without the interferon?
I wish you the best of luck in whatever course you choose to follow with this.
i just wanted to let you know that not everyone gets depressed. i've had depression in the past (about 7 years ago). i went to therapy for a year and got thru it. i was worried about the depression coming back while on tx but so far it hasn't. i'm on my 32nd week and i'm doing fine. we're all different. i wish you luck with your tx and may you have mild sx. belle
Thanks - I am on an AD. I've heard lots of warnings about the moods/depression. This is one of the main reasons I have put off treatment for years! Fortunately I am in a very supportive, small school and only have 12 students this year. I am leaning towards waiting to start treatment until towards the end of the school year...
Thanks for your input. Sounds like you have had a very rough time. So sorry and wishing you the best!
I'm not a teacher but the first thing that comes to mind is the emotional side effects. You might consider going on an AD prior to beginning tx.
Also since we have low immune systems, being around a bunch of kids doesn't sound like ideal circumstances. Also some people simply can not work during tx due to exhaustion and other symptoms. Though you could have an easy time of it~you can't call it.
From the interferon web site:
PEGASYS therapy may cause you to develop mood or behavioral problems, including:
* irritability (getting upset easily)
* depression (feeling low, feeling bad about yourself or feeling hopeless), and anxiety.
* aggressive behavior
Also since we have low immune systems, being around a bunch of kids doesn't sound like ideal circumstances. Also some people simply can not work during tx due to exhaustion and other symptoms. Though you could have an easy time of it~you can't call it.
From the interferon web site:
PEGASYS therapy may cause you to develop mood or behavioral problems, including:
* irritability (getting upset easily)
* depression (feeling low, feeling bad about yourself or feeling hopeless), and anxiety.
* aggressive behavior
I'm a middle school teacher and I've had to take off w/med. leave. Lab levels are so low I have no immune system, so being around kiddos is notpermitted; I'm on house arrest. Hep doc has reduced riba dose, were talking rescue meds/transfusion. I did tx and worked for the first 2 months, and it was hell. My grade partner/s were awesome, helped w/lunch duty, and maintained my privacy until I was ready to leave; administration also knew, but were on the QT. I decided not to share my diagnosis w/administration or other teachers b/c unfortunately, there is a terrible stigma associated w/HCV and I don't have the strength to educate peers, parents and kiddos on HCV. I told no one my DX, only that I was seriously ill. Consider that what you say will be around long after your HCV has been cleared and you are cured ( God willing!). I am applying for additional time under Americans w/Disabilities act-reasonable accomodation to complete 28 wk tx. Learn as much as you can and make thoughtful choices-this is tough on spouses and family as well.
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My specialist said that the worse side effects for the patient goes hand in hand with more advanced liver disease. I had stage 3-4 and found it very hard. My workmate was early stage, so while he didn't find it easy, he was still able to function in his normal world (which during tx, was totally dedicated to work/sleep/see doctors). The neuts/wbc and definitely platelets stay more in range, but the hbg can drop (it didn't drop badly with me) which is the one of the more difficult sytmptoms of the riba.