Re: Tx when living alone? (was Re: My first post)

[Guest guest]

Actually Joe,

I take my shot on Monday night so that I can have the whole day alone the day

after shot. I just need the peace and quiet. I prepare the night before by

taking a tylenol so that I don't have the fever and muscle aches as much. My

doctor lets me take tylenol as long as I take the prescribed amount.

I keep some soups at hand " " . Throw those babies in the mircowave and I

got lunch.

Crackers on the bedside table for nausea, or a couple of ginger snaps.

Ensure for breakfast, I like it super cold. I don't have a problem with my

glucose levels so I can drink ensure. But if you have trouble with glucose

levels then they have products out there that will do the job.

I buy out the store on microwaveable one serving meals for those times when I am

all alone.

Come on there is times when I am just too fatiqued to make a sandwich, let alone

a meal. But can pop one of those buggers in the Microwave and we are done.

Last treatment, husband was in the middle east for a while, a couple of months.

So was just me and my 9 year old.

Trust me you learn to adjust.

And look outside of your selected group of friends, get to know your neighbors,

you would be surprised how people will step up to the plate when they find out

you are doing treatment.

And by all means simplify your life, if you have a lot of clutter in the house,

get rid of it. Have a clean sweep. Okay having a messy house is my pet peeve so

maybe not yours. LOL

But I got rid of a lot of stuff this treatment because I just didn't want to

deal with it. And since a clean house is my OCD thing. LOL I mean I am obsessive

about being clean.

And you are not alone you have us here to give you advice and hugs as you need

them.

Love

Janet

and many many hugs to you.

fromyosee@... wrote:

Sounds like great advice, Janet. However, this raises a question I have had

since my diagnosis of HCV three mths ago. Most folks here seem to have

family they can rely on when they are going through the usual year of therapy

(for geno 1). I do not know yet whether I will need treatment (yeah, I am

still

waiting to have the biopsy), but if I do I am wondering how I will be able

to manage it because I live alone. My two close friends are leaving the

state, so I cannot rely on them. If side effects are minimal there won't be a

problem. However, if things get tough what do folks do who live alone? Just

curious.

Joe

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In a message dated 5/8/2005 11:10:52 AM Central Standard Time,

doc_jade@... writes:

Actually ,

This time with the Pegasy, I found that It depends on how I gauged

my activity level,my mental attitude,and so forth, the couple of

days before the shot. If I had a rough weekend, traveling back home

to Broken Arrow,doing chores around the hours in Broken Arrow(We

need extreme home makeover to come and just redo the house there.

LOL)

But really the sides are all how I treat myself,per shot. If I take

it easy the day before,keep my nutrution as healthy as I can, keep

the water intake up,and keeping my mental attitude as up as possible.

A friend gave me some really good advice last treatment, and I

carried it on to this treatment.

If you have a lot of stress in your life, do everything you can

humanly possible to get it out. I made some major changes in my life.

I figured that I had to be prepared for the battle ahead of me.

And when things get too stressful for me, I retreat into my bedroom,

with a large glass of water, put on my soothing cd's, a good book,

and I just veg.

Everyone in my family knows that when Mom is in the bedroom that is

her safe place and they just leave me to my own devices. *smile.

Good Luck and remember we are here for you.

Love

Janet

[Guest guest]

Hi Janet,

Thanks for your helpful suggestions, hugs and support (this is a helpful

list!!). I really do not know what to expect and hearing from you helps. Boy,

you were right on target when you mentioned clutter!! I teach college

courses (psych and anthropology) and have paperwork all over the house. Every

surface is covered with papers. I hope to clean up a lot of it after this

semester, May 20. It can get overwhelming, especially when I feel run down. I

can

only imagine how it will be on the Tx. I probably will be lucky if I get

the grass mowed. (Times like these when I wished I would have bought a condo.)

My primary concern is that I had planned on spending a lot of time this

summer on various remodeling projects. In fact, I had already gutted my

bathroom

during the winter break, before I learned of my diagnosis. The kitchen and

dinning room floors need work also. However, if I need Tx then I cannot

imagine I'd be able to get much done. I also have two certification classes

that

I must take and I usually teach a summer class. Not sure what commitment I

can make now. It seems I am in a perennial holding pattern waiting. I see

the liver specialist this Thursday but have no idea when he will be able to

schedule the biopsy. It could be a couple of weeks and it could be months.

I'm sure I do not have to tell you about all the waiting.

Be well,

Joe

In a message dated 5/8/2005 12:30:06 PM Central Standard Time,

doc_jade@... writes:

Actually Joe,

I take my shot on Monday night so that I can have the whole day alone the

day after shot. I just need the peace and quiet. I prepare the night before by

taking a tylenol so that I don't have the fever and muscle aches as much. My

doctor lets me take tylenol as long as I take the prescribed amount.

I keep some soups at hand " " . Throw those babies in the mircowave and

I got lunch.

Crackers on the bedside table for nausea, or a couple of ginger snaps.

Ensure for breakfast, I like it super cold. I don't have a problem with my

glucose levels so I can drink ensure. But if you have trouble with glucose

levels then they have products out there that will do the job.

I buy out the store on microwaveable one serving meals for those times when

I am all alone.

Come on there is times when I am just too fatiqued to make a sandwich, let

alone a meal. But can pop one of those buggers in the Microwave and we are

done.

Last treatment, husband was in the middle east for a while, a couple of

months. So was just me and my 9 year old.

Trust me you learn to adjust.

And look outside of your selected group of friends, get to know your

neighbors, you would be surprised how people will step up to the plate when

they

find out you are doing treatment.

And by all means simplify your life, if you have a lot of clutter in the

house, get rid of it. Have a clean sweep. Okay having a messy house is my pet

peeve so maybe not yours. LOL

But I got rid of a lot of stuff this treatment because I just didn't want to

deal with it. And since a clean house is my OCD thing. LOL I mean I am

obsessive about being clean.

And you are not alone you have us here to give you advice and hugs as you

need them.

Love

Janet

and many many hugs to you.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for your post. I am getting all kinds of helpful suggestions and

greatly appreciate hearing from folks who have been through the process. I

want

to learn as much as I can before/if I begin Tx. I really can relate to the

guy who wrote in about a week ago on the topic of looking forward to Tx. No

one wants to get sick and have these side effects, but we sure want to be

free of this bug. Thus, the only way is to endure any sides and stay focused

on

the goal. Too bad science has not advanced enough to find a better method

to kill this monster. Something else is on the way but no one seems to know

how long that will be (I recently read at least 5 years).

Take care.

Joe

In a message dated 5/9/2005 6:50:00 PM Central Standard Time,

raynoname@... writes:

Joe,

As you know by now the Tx is different for everyone,

so there is no way of knowing how well you can handle

it. I recommend that you try to avoid all the

commitments that you can, such as teaching the Summer

class. Do what you have to do, such as take your cert

classes. And if you are able and so inclined then

tackle whatever home projects are most important to

you. Don't start something that absolutely must be

finished right away though, like ripping out your only

bathroom!

I'm about 3 months into Tx and I have all sorts of

projects I'd like to be doing, but for the most part I

just spend my weekend resting. I mean, I'll do a few

hours of light work, and that is about it. The first

month I had a lot more energy, but the last few weeks

I've been like Superman on Kryptonite!

I'm lucky my wife has been real supportive and has

cooked most of the meals since I started. However, she

has her own health problems, and lately I've been

helping with cleanup and other things around the

house.

If I had to I could get through this all by myself.

I'd probably eat out more, or rely on those frozen

meals that Janet mentioned. Actually I do eat those

for lunch a lot, just for convenience.

From a clinical point of view I'm doing well, blood

cell counts low but not critically low, no appetite or

weight loss, able to go to work, etc.

Did you ever check for a support group in your area?

That could be helpful, you might meet someone in your

area that has been there, done that!

As far as the biopsy goes, I guess it just depends on

your insurance and how quickly it can be set up. I

only had to wait a week or so to get mine. The

approval process was fairly quick and there were

openings. I actually did 2 of them about one week

apart, last July.

Good luck,

Ray

[Guest guest]

Joe,

As you know by now the Tx is different for everyone,

so there is no way of knowing how well you can handle

it. I recommend that you try to avoid all the

commitments that you can, such as teaching the Summer

class. Do what you have to do, such as take your cert

classes. And if you are able and so inclined then

tackle whatever home projects are most important to

you. Don't start something that absolutely must be

finished right away though, like ripping out your only

bathroom!

I'm about 3 months into Tx and I have all sorts of

projects I'd like to be doing, but for the most part I

just spend my weekend resting. I mean, I'll do a few

hours of light work, and that is about it. The first

month I had a lot more energy, but the last few weeks

I've been like Superman on Kryptonite!

I'm lucky my wife has been real supportive and has

cooked most of the meals since I started. However, she

has her own health problems, and lately I've been

helping with cleanup and other things around the

house.

If I had to I could get through this all by myself.

I'd probably eat out more, or rely on those frozen

meals that Janet mentioned. Actually I do eat those

for lunch a lot, just for convenience.

From a clinical point of view I'm doing well, blood

cell counts low but not critically low, no appetite or

weight loss, able to go to work, etc.

Did you ever check for a support group in your area?

That could be helpful, you might meet someone in your

area that has been there, done that!

As far as the biopsy goes, I guess it just depends on

your insurance and how quickly it can be set up. I

only had to wait a week or so to get mine. The

approval process was fairly quick and there were

openings. I actually did 2 of them about one week

apart, last July.

Good luck,

Ray

--- fromyosee@... wrote:

---------------------------------

Hi Janet,

Thanks for your helpful suggestions, hugs and support

(this is a helpful

list!!). I really do not know what to expect and

hearing from you helps. Boy,

you were right on target when you mentioned clutter!!

I teach college

courses (psych and anthropology) and have paperwork

all over the house. Every

surface is covered with papers. I hope to clean up a

lot of it after this

semester, May 20. It can get overwhelming, especially

when I feel run down. I can

only imagine how it will be on the Tx. I probably

will be lucky if I get

the grass mowed. (Times like these when I wished I

would have bought a condo.)

My primary concern is that I had planned on spending a

lot of time this

summer on various remodeling projects. In fact, I had

already gutted my bathroom

during the winter break, before I learned of my

diagnosis. The kitchen and

dinning room floors need work also. However, if I

need Tx then I cannot

imagine I'd be able to get much done. I also have two

certification classes that

I must take and I usually teach a summer class. Not

sure what commitment I

can make now. It seems I am in a perennial holding

pattern waiting. I see

the liver specialist this Thursday but have no idea

when he will be able to

schedule the biopsy. It could be a couple of weeks

and it could be months.

I'm sure I do not have to tell you about all the

waiting.

Be well,

Joe

In a message dated 5/8/2005 12:30:06 PM Central

Standard Time,

doc_jade@... writes:

Actually Joe,

I take my shot on Monday night so that I can have the

whole day alone the

day after shot. I just need the peace and quiet. I

prepare the night before by

taking a tylenol so that I don't have the fever and

muscle aches as much. My

doctor lets me take tylenol as long as I take the

prescribed amount.

I keep some soups at hand " " . Throw those

babies in the mircowave and

I got lunch.

Crackers on the bedside table for nausea, or a couple

of ginger snaps.

Ensure for breakfast, I like it super cold. I don't

have a problem with my

glucose levels so I can drink ensure. But if you have

trouble with glucose

levels then they have products out there that will do

the job.

I buy out the store on microwaveable one serving meals

for those times when

I am all alone.

Come on there is times when I am just too fatiqued to

make a sandwich, let

alone a meal. But can pop one of those buggers in the

Microwave and we are

done.

Last treatment, husband was in the middle east for a

while, a couple of

months. So was just me and my 9 year old.

Trust me you learn to adjust.

And look outside of your selected group of friends,

get to know your

neighbors, you would be surprised how people will

step up to the plate when they

find out you are doing treatment.

And by all means simplify your life, if you have a

lot of clutter in the

house, get rid of it. Have a clean sweep. Okay having

a messy house is my pet

peeve so maybe not yours. LOL

But I got rid of a lot of stuff this treatment because

I just didn't want to

deal with it. And since a clean house is my OCD thing.

LOL I mean I am

obsessive about being clean.

And you are not alone you have us here to give you

advice and hugs as you

need them.

Love

Janet

and many many hugs to you.