Hepatitis C Support Group
Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.
Well, my HGB came back at 9.1, that blood was drawn last tuesday. So, at 8 weeks my HGB was 9.4, at 12 weeks my HGB was 9.3, and now, the 18 week HGB showed 9.1
I am on 40,000 unts Procrit a week, but it doesn't seem to be doing
"the trick" (to raise my HGB above 10). it hasn't raised it, and it is slowly dropping.
Well, I hear a gradual drop is more tolerable. But I actually feel worse this week, than last week, Dizzy when I stand up, tired, cold, and VERY irritable....I am acting like a spoiled brat, to my husband, just because he isn't waiting on me, hand and foot.
My Doctor instructed me (for the second time) to reduce my ribavirin.
I hear 800 is the magic mg reduction #? I only have 9 more shots to go (okay, all summer), and I really dont want to slip below 9, with the anemia. I want to avoid a blood transfusion, of course.
The good news is: I have normal blood pressure, and no chest pain. But I still dont understand why reducing Ribavirin would help, if the Victrelis I am on, is most likely causing it~
I am on 40,000 unts Procrit a week, but it doesn't seem to be doing
"the trick" (to raise my HGB above 10). it hasn't raised it, and it is slowly dropping.
Well, I hear a gradual drop is more tolerable. But I actually feel worse this week, than last week, Dizzy when I stand up, tired, cold, and VERY irritable....I am acting like a spoiled brat, to my husband, just because he isn't waiting on me, hand and foot.
My Doctor instructed me (for the second time) to reduce my ribavirin.
I hear 800 is the magic mg reduction #? I only have 9 more shots to go (okay, all summer), and I really dont want to slip below 9, with the anemia. I want to avoid a blood transfusion, of course.
The good news is: I have normal blood pressure, and no chest pain. But I still dont understand why reducing Ribavirin would help, if the Victrelis I am on, is most likely causing it~
I would love to be pink right now, I really miss my pink cheeks. My face is all one color, and I do look sickly, from the anemia~
My HGB dropped from 10.4 to 9.1 and the doctor reduced my riba from 1000 to 800 mg/day.
And now it's 10.5 (after 3 weeks of reduction).
Maybe the Victrelis is causing your anemia (I don't know anything about it), but Riba is also causing it, and reducing Riba will help you.
I've been on reduced Riba, 400mg daily, and 135mc of Peg. also 40,000mg procrit and either half or full shot of neupogen,, depending on wbc.
Hang in there Cassy, we're here for you. And thank goodness ya'll are here for me.
Enjoy your day, Beth
I have been on procrit for 33 of 36 weeks and it took me months to get out of the 9's.
The anemia is primarily coming from the Riba.
Nothing else. Folks blame the other drugs and Riba just hides its nasty head.... It's the riba on anemia and the inf us what makes us rage and be spoiled brats.
If your Dr has stressed to you to lower your dose, why have you not?
Riba reduction is normal, I went at week 3 grom 1200 mg to 600 mg daily for 6 weeks, with no change in my inf ( 180 mcg)
There is NO magic number. Each person has a different make up and reacts differently to these drugs. That's the enigma here.
Please listen to your Dr. Reduce your Riba,
If your HGB drops below 8.5, you MUST stop the Riba for NO MORE than 14 days........
Do what you can now to be proactive and avoid the worst for later. You are almost there! Let's go grab that ring!!
Best wishes
Janet aka jiblet
I too have been fighting the anemia thing, only I dropped like a rock from 13.5 to 10.4 in a matter of days. Doc reduced my Riba from 1000 to 400 because I was dropping too fast. It's starting to bring my HGB (and the others except for platelets) back up but it took about 10 days to do that. Now I'm at 11.3 as of Monday, with another CBC on Friday this week. I'm wondering why your doc isn't doing more frequent CBC's on you...
My doc said that the Riba and the Incevik that I'm on are both contrbuting to the anemia. One I finish the Incevik, then he's upping my Riba to 600. He said that 600 is the magic number. I think the PI's are the most important drug to keep at full strength and for the total amount of time prescribed.
Anyway, that's where I am. Sure hope you feel better and yes, I agree with Janet, if doc says reduce the Riba, I would definately do it. It sure helped me.
Take care,
Kelly