Book Description

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne virus in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 3.2 million Americans are chronically infected with the chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Treatment for HCV is long, sometimes lasting a year or more with success rate currently around 50%. And the medications often cause incapacitating side effects. Two new medications introduced in 2011 are showing success rates of 75 to 80%. However these new medications are taken with existing HCV drugs and include and intensify the side effects. Hepatitis C Treatment One Step at a Time provides the practical advice and daily inspiration you need to help you successfully make it through hepatitis C (HCV) treatment. Deciding to undergo hepatitis C treatment is one of the bravest and most important steps toward health youíll ever make. As a former Stanford nurse in the HCV field and a patient who was treated twice for HCV, Lucinda K. Porter understands how physically and emotionally challenging treatment can be. In Hepatitis C One Step at a Time, she provides entries for each day of treatment, offering you a daily dose of relief, encouragement, and tips to help you stay on treatment. From dealing with fatigue and nausea to nosy co-workers and lab results, Porter provides everything you need to know to ease the process, including how to: Prepare for treatment, mentally, physically, and financially Manage side effects Set up a support system Keep your spirits up with daily inspiration and humor Celebrate your strength and acknowledge your milestones Find additional community and up-to-date information with an extensive resources section