Getting Support Before Treatment
In the clinic waiting area at the hospital, I was approached by a young woman who asked if I was a patient and taking the treatment - could she ask me some questions. She is planning to begin treatment in the New Year and was clearly uncertain about taking it all on. What is it like, what did I do to get ready, is it difficult, etc. I could identify with her - I remember my own apprehension about this undertaking. I could answer her questions easily and could hear my own confidence, now that I have crossed that boundary of being ‘in treatment’. But as we talked I knew we weren’t really touching on the difficult issues - whatever these might be for her. I might be mistaken, but I sensed she was very frightened.
As patients we can be given all the information - about the disease, about the side-effects, about being in treatment, and so forth, as well as support - hearing from those who have already done the treatment, what it’s like to live with HepC+, etc. However, I am convinced that people also need the opportunity, in a supportive context, to consider and address their innermost fears and hopes about this undertaking. And to look realistically how this treatment will change their lifestyle considerably.
I know I needed to get down to facing my fears and saying them out loud - my fear that my liver won’t get better, my fear of dying, my fear the treatment won’t work for me, my fear that side-effects could permanently damage me. I also needed to express my anger that I have this disease.
After I had faced these anxious, distracting issues and voiced them I found I could then go on to focus on the hopeful and positive feelings I also have about the treatment.
I did this in the safe environment of counselling and I am certain this is a key part of how I arrived at a positive state of mind before starting the treatment.
There is lots of advice on various hepatitis websites about getting support and getting ready. Unfortunately, the main source of such support is seen to be the local HepC Support Group.
I am not against Support Groups - I attend one myself. Because of the way support groups are structured and from my experience of sitting in them, I would question whether this is the appropriate place to air very personal, intimate and deep emotions. I suppose I wonder why counselling isn’t recommended as a standard part of preparation for this treatment.
I am certain that the woman who approached me in the waiting area was feeling some difficult or deep emotions about the prospect of treatment - but we weren’t talking about these. Unless she finds some place to look at these issues, they will continue to hover in the back of her mind and distract her from the benefits and positives of treatment. They could interfere with her commitment to treatment. A few sessions of counselling support could make the difference between her making a positive and informed commitment to treatment and dropping out part way through as she hasn’t been able to cope with her difficult emotional issues.