hi and welcome to the group!

some people have very little side-effects while in treatment for hep c and other people are very sick the entire time. you don't know ahead of time how treatment will effect you?

i don't know if you can get ss while in treatment but i'm sure someone on here will know?

read old posts on here. lots of good information.

Thank you very much. I am very scared and depressed i found out i had hep after being really sick and going to the er my liver enzimes were at 1500 and was in the hospital for 2 weeks my enzimes as of friday were in the 300s still and i still feel like crap

You very well may have little sides from the treat. The sides pretty much consist of fatigue, itchy some hair thinning. Some work through treatment.Don't be afraid, you will be ok. .

Welcome to the best site around!.....Keep reading....Im glad you found us!..you gonna be fine now....we're all in the same boat, so ask away

Did you get the genotype yet
Do you know your viral load yet?
Have you had a liver biopsy?
Your in good hands....read all you can and get as educated as you can..........The more you know about what your dealing with , the better you will feel..........plus its YOU that's taking control of the situation ....

lilg...
1st of all WELCOME
sides depend on which tx you will be tackling and i believe much tolerance of tx depends on personal attitude prior to starting...any way you look at it .its NOT a 'walk in the park' but definately doable...
after all, many of us here are survivors..of tx's.
good luck keep your tips up and keep us possted..you are not alone
jody

I have an appt with my gastro next week i just moved to a new city and i am going in for a biopcy in the next few weeks i am so new to this as i just found out about having hep c in july they tested me 3x for hep when i was admitted in the hospital the first 2 came back neg and then they did a diffrent test and it was confermed that i do have hep c it was a complete shock as being told more than once that i didnt have it. i know that i am not alone but sometimes it sure feels like it i am thankful that i found this site today i hope to get a wealth of info

Welcome to the gang, I was not able to get my short term disability thru work or social security disability. While I am experience alot of side effects, I watched my husband of 24 years suffer from a brain tumor for 29 month. I dont feel that my side effects from this treatment is as severe as what I watched him go thru. Like quasar said read the older posts.

Yeah, it's not like chemo...it is chemo (if you're going to do the interferon/ribo that is). I watched my mother's best friend die from cancer, my aunt go through and beat breast cancer, and a friend with leukemia. I have mixed feelings on this and it is something I struggle with. It is better for me (maybe not everyone) than what I saw the people in my life go through, but WAY longer for us..so I guess it sucks equally. Then on the other hand, if you get cancer most people will call you and support you. This is different for most of us. With the exception of our close family most of us don't tell a lot of people so it;s impossible to get the support we need. Yes, it's nice having this site, but it would be nicer if someone was offering to bring me meals and stuff. There is such a stigma that comes with HCV that even the friends I have told, don't offer to help me. That may be just me though...I really don't show them how bad it's effecting me.

Your best bet is to pray for the best and prepare for the worst. As the others have said, side effects (sx) of treatment vary from person to person. Some are able to work all the way through treatment (tx) and some of us spend most of the time in bed. Hooking up with this group is the BEST thing you can do, cuz we are all going through it, have gone through it, or will go through it!! So we are your cheer-leaders! When you feel like you just can't do ONE MORE DAY...... somebody here will tell you something that'll get you over that hump.

So....... WELCOME to our little family!!

Hi Lillgreen
I think that my anxiety worrying about what treatment would do to me was worse than the treatment has been! Do prepare yourself mentally and physically but don't fret too much. Everyone is different. I was having so much joint pain for so long because the virus had affected my joint spaces. Within 1 week of treatment I could sleep on my side. So yipee a positive side effect! There are some crappy side effects too but it is so doable! I accepted your friend request. And I have 2 months down 4 to go! If you dont mind my asking what genotype are you?

Welcome greeneyes, and welcome cassaundra33 (okay to call you cass33 ?) You are on a good site now.
I did 24 weeks and worked all the way through, nothing to physical, just selling auto parts but mentally tough. Sx's (side effects) weren't too bad. These guys here and this site itself got me through it. Lots of helpful hints from the members to deal with the sx's.
You will be okay. Just jump right in and we'll help get you to the other side.

@Cassaundra33..Way to go. Hope you are getting through this good.
Which tx are you on, peg/riba or one of the triple?

yea, if you report ill effects to your doc ill guarantee you theyll carry on like your the first to ever mention it. i told my doc that i needed help, i was too sick to work. i told her im not trying to play games with you. she said, i know your not. youll have to continue working or go off the meds. i was on infergen, mind you. much worse than peg / riba, but ive never been so dejected in my life. if someone treated an animal like this theyd be in jail..

Cassaundra33--great news with the joint pain! I've been having joint pain in fingers for years now, one finger I cannot bend all the way. Now, some of my toes are beginning to have pain, esp. in the AM.

cass is fine! I am in a blind study with 2/3 possibility of getting Lamda interferon (which I think I am getting). Ribovirin 1200 daily and then 2 cocktail drugs of which 1 or both could be placebo. I am Type1 Stage 2 Grade 2. For some reason my viral load went insane and jumped from 4 Mil to 11 mil in a couple of months. My platelet count dropped and lymphocyte dropped below normal. I decided that I had the opportunity to try the new interferon so here I am! I am so happy I stumbled on this site (like anything is coincidence) I am blessed!