Now into fourth week of treatment and to put it bluntly, I feel really F**ked.
I wish they had made a point of making me aware of the severity of the side effects at the outset.
I might have prepared my self a bit better.
I can understand why there is a high drop out rate.
This is by way of a warning to anyone who is about under go this treatment.
YOU CAN GET THROUGH IT.
But you have to be prepared and don't try and do it alone.
I am lucky in the respect that I was basically fit before treatment, my liver cancer had not got to the stage where it was affecting my health.
Also I have the support of friends, work colleagues and family.
Alright, I know there is a sigma around Hep C, the junkies disease, but there are so many other ways of catching it. from a simple as sharing a toothbrush or a razor to a tattoo.
Those around you need to know what you are going through or they might think you are going mad and in some ways you are.
Day one
Arrived at the hospital and had the demo of how to do the once weekly injection (interferon), dead easy, didn’t feel a thing and is as simple as pressing a button. Decided to have something to eat before I drove home, might as well take my first tablets of the day (Ribavirin).
Big mistake. About 20 mins into my drive home, which takes an hour. I had pounding headache followed by confusion and drowsiness.
I just about made it home, where I collapsed into a chair with a couple of pain killers and slept for over three hours. The side effects might affect you differently but take precautions, just in case.
I advise you don’t go alone on your first day and don’t drive yourself if possible, especially if you have a long journey home.
On injection days, take a couple of headache tablets just before hand. Plan the times you take your tablets so that they less impact on your daily routine. I am still working and I take mine shortly after driving into work and in the evening. Warn the people around you, about mood swings, shortness of temper, impatience and edginess. I blew my top at my 15 year old daughter for taking to long over deciding what to have for breakfast, half way through the rant, I realised I was wrong, apologised and walked away feeling depressed, sad and tearful. Your weapon here is being self aware, realise that the emotions you are feeling are not yours but the chemicals you are taking.
Personally I feel that people fawning around me, saying “you will be alright” makes me worse.
So I take a few moments to myself, a few deep breaths, gain control and composure.
The fatigue and insomnia can be bad, feeling like you can fall asleep at the drop of a hat but staring at the ceiling all night. We are all different, you might have to find your own way in dealing with things.
In conclusion, I advise you read up on all the side effects, don’t be fooled into thinking that these side effects will not affect you, like I was. Don’t get surprised that you start peeing the colour of mango J2O. The list of side effects is too long to go through here, you might not be affected by most of them but you will be by some, be prepared.
As I stated above, YOU CAN GET THROUGH THIS. If things get real bad, see the hepatic nurse or your GP. Tell these people, tell your family how you feel emotional and physically, just by talking about it, helps.
Feel free to ask questions,
Nurses..Feel free to add comments.
Regards
Harly
Fear is not an option.................
