TOPIC:

Dear All

I would like to know how people who are working have managed treatment - I work on year to year contracts and am the main income earner so I need to keep working.

I am thinking of taking a week off when I first start the medications hopefully at the end of December, but am wondering what other strategies would be useful - any advise of what worked and what didnt work would be useful.

I am just working through it Browny, day 5 and so far so good eh, started saturday and by monday I was used to the meds, I work in a factory doing some heavy work, not much thinking thank goodness, my brain has been fried by this virus,

Hey Browny

Welcome, I think you will do well on tx and working. You may have a few dodgy days here and there but all in all you will have much more energy. Em

I am interested in hearing about coping mechanisms for working while on treatment also. I am the sole income earner for my household. I work in customer service and administration - so together ideally I should present with a cheery welcoming countenance while paying attention to detail. To tell the truth I am struggling with this at the moment as I am waiting to begin treatment. Hopefully I will get through ok.

Hi Browny I started two weeks ago and had the first week off work as I didn't know how the meds would affect me. The only side effect I have had is insomnia. Bit of a shock to the system the first few days as I love my sleep and work in the legal industry so need my wits about me! This second week I am back at work and feel much better. Getting used to waking earlier.

Good luck and I am sure you will be okay to work.

Regards

Lynne

Hey Browny I work a 60+ hours per week in a demanding job doing shiftwork and am finishing week 6, bit buggered today after 14 1/2 hr day but only have 1 more week then I have 4 months off to look forward too . YMMV

Browny wrote: Dear All

I would like to know how people who are working have managed treatment - I work on year to year contracts and am the main income earner so I need to keep working.

I am thinking of taking a week off when I first start the medications hopefully at the end of December, but am wondering what other strategies would be useful - any advise of what worked and what didnt work would be useful.

Usually the first week is flying high on the DAA's , being a female might be different. I don't try and over do it but sometimes it happens.

Hey thanks everyone for your replies - great to get your input.

Yes, I feel that currently, I struggle in the afternoon. I do project management which feels like beating out one grass fire after another and sometimes I wish there was something I could do to turbo charge my brain function to get it working better. So what some people seem to be saying is they arn't having bad cognitive side effects from treatment (except Jimmy6429 who sounds like he might).

But people are talking about insomnia - how are you feeling and working on not enough sleep? Sounds like a nightmare - if I dont get enough sleep I start to physically shake. Can't imagine 3 to 6 months of insomnia.

Any ideas that come up - let us know. And thanks, my doctor is supportive, but all I get from him is 'most people tolerate treatment well' - I don't think there is enough evidence and experience out there about how people go on the new treatments.

Thanks

Hey Browny

For me the thing is even on 5 to 6 hours a night, I don't feel like I need anymore. Occasional power nap after work etc but this need has lessened the further into tx. Any initial brain fog will lift once you get into the tx Em

Hey Browny, Im on my 16th/17th day, im the sole earner too, typically work 50 or more hours a week, job takes a lot of concentration, but no problem as far as side effect, haven't missed any work, the only problem ive had is with the SLEEP, cause when the meds pop my eyes open after only 3 hours of sleep, then I don't fall back asleep until 6AM, and then its time to get up and go at it, so for me, its just the messed up sleep cycle.

Having said that i saw the Dr. yesterday and said 'DOCTOR, I can't sleep, you gotta give me something here", and gave me a bottle of one of those ..razapams, so last night I slept all the way through and the wife therefore got her first good night's sleep too since I started the meds, cause I was keeping her awake all night getting in and out of bed.

If you have the sleep issue, which a lot of people do I hear, dont wait two weeks like I did, get in there and get something, for me it was not getting better, it was consistently 3 hours of sleep then POW, I was UP. . But OTHER than that...ive got nothing to bitch about and even that feels like a pretty whiney, minor thing to bitch about considering all in all.

Hi Browny

My energy levels have improved this week (being the second week on my treatment. I normally don't function well without a good nights' sleep but it certainly doesn't bother me that much this week because I am actually feeling "better" and the fatigue only comes and goes and is manageable. I haven't really read of anyone that has had really awful side effects but from my perspective I count myself incredibly lucky that insomnia is the only significant side effect that I have had so far.

Hope this helps.

I'm 17 days into Sof/ Dac and no sides at all
I sleep well, exercise as normal, and feel no more tired than before
I actually feel no better or worse and apart from the taste of the pills would think they were placebos (joking about the placebos)

I take mine about 6.30 - 7pm
I have them with either turmeric and rice milk, coconut juice, or apple cider vinegar and manuka honey
Apart from killing the strong taste, these are good for you in general and makes me feel like I'm doing something good for my body

I am a big water drinker anyway, but now drink 3L+ per day, so being near a toilet is a necessity
I was out and about yesterday and didn't drink as much water as usual
I felt like my mouth was really dry that evening, so I think drinking lots of water is essential, esp when on this stuff

A consequence of my hep is that I use exercise as a way of warding off bad habits and so now I can't do without it
I made a commitment that I would do all i can to keep up my cardio work in particular so i feel good and tired at night
i try and choose interesting books (paper not screen) to read before bed and soon find myself nodding off

Anyhoo, hope this helps
Good luck, but I think you may be surprised (as I am) at how little the side effect are

Hi Browny,

8th day of Sof/Dac. I actually seem to feel a bit more focused that before and I seem to have a spring in my step for the first time in years. No real sides that I can determine at the moment. I'm sleeping 6-7 hours with one or two wakes through the night but easily drifting off again and waking refreshed in the morning.

Thank you Browny for your post.
All the replies have been so positive and immensely helpful to me as they are first hand accounts of responses and feelings about continuing work while under treatment. It's happening now and all attainable. I can clear the virus and live my life.

I should qualify my statement about cognitive issues with hepc. All of my issues started about ten years back and have become increasingly worse. Now at day 7 sof/dac my mind is very clear. Moods have improved and most anxiety has gone. Not sure if its placebo effect but I feel much better all over.