Hepatitis C Treatment One Step at a Time by Lucinda K. PorterThe following is from Chapter 2, Preparing for Treatment:

Order is the sanity of the mind, the health of the body, the peace of the city, the security of the state. Like beams in a house or bones to a body, so is order to all things.-Robert Southey

There is quite a lot to keep track of-everything from taking pills on time to juggling medical appointments. Taking your pills on time is hugely important, particularly if you are taking boceprevir, telaprevir,or similar drug(s) classified as HCV Direct Antiviral Agents (DAAs). DAAs are like antibiotics in that each time you miss a dose, there is a risk that the virus will build resistance, making it more difficult to treat.

A reminder system will help you manage your treatment, and here are tools to help you:

  • Use pill organizers. If you have to take pills three times a day, get three organizers or one that has three compartments per day.
  • Devise a system for remembering to take your medication, and stick to it.
  • Use a calendar to write down all your appointments and reminders to get labs and refill prescriptions.
  • Keep a notepad and write everything down, even if you think you will remember it. Jotting down your errands, shopping list, and phone calls to make maximizes your chances of maintaining the structure of your life without the additional frustration that accompanies forgetfulness.
  • Use electronic devices, such as phone, computer, e-mail, or voicemail to remind you to take your medications, attend appointments, and refill prescriptions. If you have a smart phone, reminder apps such as GenieMD are a huge help.
  • Store things such as keys, wallet, purse, checkbook, cellular phone, and other items in the same place each day and you won’t need to look for them.
  • Organize your health records. Ask for copies of lab results and other tests, such as liver biopsy reports. Keep everything in one place, such as a notebook, file cabinet, computer, or a box. If you store information on your computer or mobile device, make sure you back it up.
Lucinda K. PorterLucinda K. Porter, RN is an author, hepatitis C advocate and health educator. You can read more of her work on her Hep Blog. Click here to learn more about her book “Hepatitis C Treatment One Step at a Time.”