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.
I began Procrit at week 9, as my 8 wk labs showed my HGB at 9.4
I had a 12 week lab done, and the HGB was at 9.3 Then 18 week labs showed my HGB slipping down to 9.1, and I was feeling terrible.
This was after 9 weeks of weekly Procrit shots (40,000 units)
So, at 19 weeks, my Docotor reduced my ribaviran from 1,200 to 800 mgs. Not unusual these days, from what Ihave read, considering I was Undie at week 4 and 12, on Triple Tx with Victrelis~
My question is: now that I have been riba-reduced for 4 weeks, and feel back to my "old self" (i.e. riding my bike, doing my chores, and gardening, etc), how does my Doctor know that my HGB wont rise above 12, since I am on Procrit AND riba-reduced?
I wont have my next labs until my big 24 wk vl lab, etc. which is next week. But those results wont be ready to read, for another week. I am wary of taking my Procrit shot, now that I feel so great from the riba-reduction.
I am now two days late on my Procrit. I figured if I feel bad, I will take my Procrit, as I am very intuned to my body, and what is going on with it, as I dont take any other medications, and have never had any other health problems, besides the Hep C.
My blood pressure has been normal, thru-out my Tx, and I have 5 more weeks to go. I know some people will tell me to consult with my Doctor, but I am very poor, and go to a clinic that serves poor people, and it is only open two days a week, and just got a budget cut. I am basically running my own Tx at this point.
I realize that many people feel like the Doctors opinion is likened
to a Gods, but in the long run, it's not our Doctors who will end up with a stroke, if they do Procrit when they have a normal HGB, ya know?
I am in the "save my own **s club"here. My Primary Care Doctor never even warned me, when my yearly Physical labs turned up the imfo that my liver enzymes were ten times higher than normal (a bad sign indeed)
I have lost my faith in Doctors, because of things like this. And how does my Doctor expect accurate Procrit dosage, when she only orders my labs every 6 weeks??????
I had a 12 week lab done, and the HGB was at 9.3 Then 18 week labs showed my HGB slipping down to 9.1, and I was feeling terrible.
This was after 9 weeks of weekly Procrit shots (40,000 units)
So, at 19 weeks, my Docotor reduced my ribaviran from 1,200 to 800 mgs. Not unusual these days, from what Ihave read, considering I was Undie at week 4 and 12, on Triple Tx with Victrelis~
My question is: now that I have been riba-reduced for 4 weeks, and feel back to my "old self" (i.e. riding my bike, doing my chores, and gardening, etc), how does my Doctor know that my HGB wont rise above 12, since I am on Procrit AND riba-reduced?
I wont have my next labs until my big 24 wk vl lab, etc. which is next week. But those results wont be ready to read, for another week. I am wary of taking my Procrit shot, now that I feel so great from the riba-reduction.
I am now two days late on my Procrit. I figured if I feel bad, I will take my Procrit, as I am very intuned to my body, and what is going on with it, as I dont take any other medications, and have never had any other health problems, besides the Hep C.
My blood pressure has been normal, thru-out my Tx, and I have 5 more weeks to go. I know some people will tell me to consult with my Doctor, but I am very poor, and go to a clinic that serves poor people, and it is only open two days a week, and just got a budget cut. I am basically running my own Tx at this point.
I realize that many people feel like the Doctors opinion is likened
to a Gods, but in the long run, it's not our Doctors who will end up with a stroke, if they do Procrit when they have a normal HGB, ya know?
I am in the "save my own **s club"here. My Primary Care Doctor never even warned me, when my yearly Physical labs turned up the imfo that my liver enzymes were ten times higher than normal (a bad sign indeed)
I have lost my faith in Doctors, because of things like this. And how does my Doctor expect accurate Procrit dosage, when she only orders my labs every 6 weeks??????
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003645.htm
5 weeks is a long time on tx. Me personally, I wouldn't play around. I had riba redux at week 3 from 1200 to 600, theu week 9, then to 800 thru week 12, then to 1000 mg after 12 week VL. along w 40,000 procrit 1x per week for 30 weeks, only got to 11.3 1x. I'm in the 9's and 10's
The procrit only helps you. Ask if the Dr will give you a lab sooner since the adjusted meds.... Be firm and kind when inquiring. You just may get it.
I have 8 weeks left of 48 triple tx Incivek.
I know you can do it Casey Kate
Hold on girl, you're doing great!
It's gonna be fine, but ease contact your FDr.
Glad to hear you are feeling better..
It sems like I am RLY trying to get out of taking my Procrit shot, without my Doctors permission...sigh
I may take the shot tonight, but that Black Box warninghas always freaked me out. When I felt horrible, form the anemia, I was willing to take the risk. But now that I am riba reduced, and feeling better, I am wondering if I should take that risk