Starting Hepatitis C Treatment

 Starting Hepatitis C Treatment

Two years ago this week I was starting Hepatitis C Treatment. July 15 to be exact. The Protease Inhibitors had just been released. At that time, there was a lot of uncertainty about their use for those with cirrhosis. I was scared of Ribavirin and Interferon shots. I was thrilled to get rid of Hepatitis C. I have talked to you a lot about what to expect while sharing my experiences. Now that a year has passed since my treatment is over – and the drugs are out of my system, I am able to put it in perspective with much more mental clarity. If I were starting Hepatitis C Treatment this week, what would I most need to hear? I am going to pretend that you are with me now. Knee to knee, eye to eye, heart to heart, hand in hand. I have a few things to say to you dear friend. Some helpful can do tips.

Create inner space for yourself. I know that so many things have to be attended to. There are lists upon lists that have doctors notes, lab results, housekeeping chores, and medications to refill and pay for. Your mind will be a flurry of activity trying to deal with everything. You may spend an entire week trying to find the right combination of products to deal with a side effect. All of that thinking takes up space. Make some room in your mind to relax and think about healing.  

Let go of expectations. It is always good to have a plan. I will be the first one to say that an Allied Health Team, some side effect relief products, and a well stocked cabinet are a smart way to begin treatment. You certainly plan on succeeding and getting through. What I am talking about are your personal expectations. Your greatest frustrations may come from falling short of what you expect yourself to be like. Thinking of yourself as being energetic or cheerful can set you up for disappointment when Riba Rage hits and you shout at someone you love. Seeing the reaction of your family when you begin to ramble out the same story of your most recent side effects can create feelings of embarrassment.

If you do not expect to be cheerful and mentally clear all the time, then you can be a little easier on yourself. I tend to set very high expectations and then do my best to live up to them. I let myself down a lot during the 43 weeks. When starting Hepatitis C Treatment, try to set fair expectations. When you fall short, and you will – there will be less guilt and regret.

Rest more than you need to. Those dishes in the sink can wait. This may be the time to forget ecology and buy paper plates. Let someone else do the dirty ones, or just throw them away. I literally threw away dirty wash cloths and socks one day. I just cleared the bed and put it all in a trash bag. I slept better. I am laughing at the time I slept with loads of clean laundry in the bed with me for a couple of weeks. I needed the rest. It is what helped me reach SVR. Give yourself permission to live like a pig. If anyone is bothered by it, they can come clean for you. Which leads to….

Worry less about what other people think. Yes, we have to take care of our important relationships. We are moms, dads, sisters, and brothers to someone. We need nurture and support from our friends and our allied health team. But this is YOUR life. If you are worrying about what others think, then you are at the mercy of the last person you talked to. When it is all said and done and the last shot or pill is taken, you are all that matters. Too much stress about others’ opinions can have a negative impact on your body. Look within and know that YOU are worth the time, money, and effort that it takes starting Hepatitis C treatment. I let fear of how others perceive me grab my heart more times than I can tell you. Worrying about it did not change a thing. Now that I am virus free and learning to live with cirrhosis, the people that I worried about tell me that they understood. And the ones who still don’t understand? Well, I couldn’t tell you because I do not see them. THAT puts it in perspective.

Be still. I sat on the couch or lay on the bed a lot during treatment. I poured over websites and clutched at every hopeful word. I was silent. I went within like a bear in hibernation. That stillness was born of fatigue, but it was also deliberate. I chose to withdraw at times. I have a close Best Friend in the battle who messaged me recently and said she needed to withdraw for a time. What admirable strength it takes to do that. She is conserving her energy by being still. <3

When you shut out the noise, life is less confusing. You can focus your attention on how you feel at that very moment. Listen. Remind yourself during these quiet times that you have everything you need within you to make it through. Find the source of your strength. It may be a good time to pray, repeat the words of a hymn or song, or to meditate on words of comfort.

All of these things are tied together. By creating inner space and allowing yourself to be still, the constant flow of words becomes slower. Your mind is more at ease and worries fade. You hear your own inner voice much more clearly.

The voice that calls you to stand and fight for your life gets stronger.

The voice that continues to hope for a better day begins to drown out the regrets of the past.

The voice that was whispering in the background, telling you that all is not lost suddenly gets the volume turned up.

You are just a human. You are going through a battle that very few understand. The only expectation is to endure and survive. That I have done. You will too. I have had a few phone conversations and email exchanges this week. Some comments on the blog. These interactions with you make me want to look you in the eye right now as you whether you are getting ready to start treatment, or at any stage. In my heart, I am looking at you and telling you: I am stronger today than I was when first starting Hepatitis C Treatment. I am loaning every ounce of strength to you as you begin. xoxoxo.

Yes, I really am this sappy in real life. If we ever meet, I will hug your neck til you can’t stand up straight. Karen:)  

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 Starting Hepatitis C Treatment