1st shot of procrit Friday

Hello!  I went to MD/Hematology Friday regarding my labs. I take shot 9/24 tonight. He drew my blood and within 30 minutes gave me a shot of procrit and a RX. Labs:  WBC 2.0  RBC 2.69  HGB 9.2  HCT 9.2  PLT 198  I wish my GI would have done this weeks ago but he didn't.  I went to my GP and he sent me to this guy.  I have a RX for the individual single use vials of procrit and am wondering if a 30 G 1cc insulin syringe is what I should be using and if anyone has any suggestions regarding site of injection.  How long will this take to kick in?

[pirates poison]

HCT was 28.2.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Hi,  I was on procrit and for me it took a few weeks to kick in but everyone reacts different.  My shots were given by the doc as I had anemia before starting tx.  She gave it a different arm every week.  As for the needles used I don't know but that should be supplied with the procrit.  Your HGB is not to low so you should feel better soon.

beagle

[pirates poison]

Sorry to hear about your PCR.  I am a 2B also and have just had my Riba reduced to 800.  I am hoping to get it up to 1000.  I did 6 weeks on 1200 and the doc reduced it due to labs.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Thanks, I live to fight another day.  I think it's good that your dr has you on higher riba and should help you get to SVR.  Hang in there


Beagle

[pirates poison]

He lowered the riba on 7/21 after 6 weeks.  It has been at 800 for 3 weeks now.  I have thought about adding 1 in the morning to bring it up to 1000. My weight is 138 and I do not want to do this again.  When I go for my 12 week PCR is there a specific day after the 12th shot I should go or does it even matter?

[FlGuy]

Didn't get to the downtown part but did take the 1 and A1A route.  I'm about a mile away from Pompano right now.  We must have passed each other on 95.  How's Mrs. Beagle dealing with all this stuff now?

[FlGuy]

When do you expect pcr back?  Was in Vero this weekend, what a place!

[Mister beagle bailey]

I would think PCR should be back tomorrow or Wed. but I'm sure it won't change anything.

Did you go on the beach at Vero where all the shops are?  We were down at Pompano Beach for the week end and stayed with friends.  We had a great time as they live on A1A and we were out on the boat all week end, great way to relax and the weather was great.

Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

I would get your 12 week PCR done the day before you do shot 13.  That's a hard call, should you add another riba pill.  Well, if it was me and knowing what I know now I would add it, but that's me.  Let me know what you decided.

Beagle

[Mister beagle bailey]

We must have passed each other on the 95.  LOL  Well, Mrs Beagle is dealing with it much better then before.  How's is Mrs FL dealing with it?  Still haven't heard from Valeant Pharm yet.  According to the site I was on last week the trial is still open.  However my doc said it will be out next year under the name Taribavirin, it's the same co that makes the infergen.  

You start tx again this week, right?

beagle

[sunspot]

I have to agree with Grandoak. The #27X 1/2" seemed to work the best. I always iced up the injection site before hand and made the shot fast.

[GrandOak]

Procrit PI claims 2-6 weeks to become effective.  Each person responds differently.  For me it takes about 3 wks to see efects of any changes in Procrit dosage.  I have noticed that within the first couple of weeks that the rate of my Hgb drop decreases before Procrit kicks in and I see my Hgb increase.  But that too may depend upon how a person reacts to this rescue med.

As for size of needle, a 30 G needle might be a bit small as the serum is kind of thick.  I have used both a 27 and a 25 G needle.  I prefer to use the 27 G 1/2" length as it is similar to my Pegysus, and as I found out this weekend, the pre-loaded Neupogen syringes.  Also, it makes a smaller hole than the 25 G which means when needle is extracted I see less bleeding and/or possibility for serum leakage if I do not get the right angle for a good depth on SQ injection.

[NYgirl]

I take Epogen 40,000K and have to use a 1CC or there just wouldn't be enough room.

While Procrit Can TAKE UP to 6 weeks - most likely you'll feel some relief sooner than that.  Believe it or not when you are down to 9 just going up to 10 is a big deal and helps.

As my doctors don't believe in dose reduction AT ALL I didn't go down to the normal amount of Riba that I should have been on (I asked for one extra and got it).  At week 46 Dr. Jacobson advised I could finally reduce to 800...and within two weeks my hemo went up to 12.

One little pill making such a huge difference.

I'm sure you will feel better soon.

[Mister beagle bailey]

Are you going to up the riba this time around?  How long will you treat, 48 months or 36?


This new drug will allow all to treat longer and keep their HGB in check.  I'm going to do some more research and see where else their doing trials.  This drug is already being used in Japan and Europe.  Wish they would just rush it a bit for those like me.

Beagle

[FlGuy]

The liverhead in Miami says to go 48 if clear at week 4.  If not go for 72. So, instead of 24 weeks at 800 riba, it will be at least 48 weeks at 1200.  But, when the time gets here I'll be taking a long hard look at undetect, plus 36.  Right now, plan to think in terms of 48.

[friole]

Hey Pirate - glad you've finally got the Procrit.  I think a 30 gauge needle would be fine.  I used 28 and 29 gauge needles, 1cc syringe.  Since Procrit is a little thicker, make sure it is warmed up to room temperature inject slowly.  

FL - didn't realize you were so close to the start date.  I bet you will do fine on 1200 Riba - that is what I did for the whole 56 weeks. You sound organized and ready.  Listen to the wife about the AD's.  Sounds like a plan.
kathy

[Mister beagle bailey]

I think 48 weeks should do it for you.

Do you remember Wasabi Pea, she was a 1 and has thalassemia but relapsed the first time.  Then her doc started her on the procrit a month before starting tx for the second time and at max, she was able to treat 48 weeks and is now SVR.  I need to find a dr like that, who will be more creative with treatment.

Beagle

[FlGuy]

I am glad to hear you're doing so well.  Organized? I've got a spreadsheet made up with the beginning and end of each week, pcr dates, cbc dates and columns for hgb and anc reading.  Anal is more like it.  I could be a tax advisor.  Just no need to wait any longer.  Sooner I start, the sooner I finish.  I bet you're feeling better each week, and the good news will keep coming to you.

[FlGuy]

See the endocrine guy tomorrow, tx doc on Wed, hemo in 2 weeks.  Get the rx's for ifn/riba and pcr tomorrow then work the insurance stuff for a week or so. I plan to start 10/13, wife wants me to start as soon as all rx's are filled.  She and the kids are ok with it all but they are urging me to get a supply of ad's too.  They probably have a better view of any depression than I do, I guess.  Still have a lot of around-the-house to-do's to take care of becuase I expect tx to be mostly non-productive time around the house.  More apprehensive the second time around.  Knowledge and experience are good teachers. Hope the Valeant works out. Especially for you, but everyone else too, can benefit if only it works like riba but is less hgb depleting - at least a step in the right direction.

[Pauly Boy]

Well, the important thing is your plugged in now!!! If you've been experiencing sx: tired, fatigued, shortness of breathe, etc. then you will be feeling better. The question is when? What do they say around here: everybody's different!!! In my case I felt a relief from the shortness of breathe in a week. The fatigue and tiredness is with me all the time but it got better than it was before Procrit... That was a strange feeling, never felt that before: I felt like I was going to collapse at any minute. Thank you, Procrit.
Oh, You could use a 30gauge, I use a 27 gauge- 1/2. Whatever you feel good with is the one to go with. I always warm the vial up for a couple of minutes in between my hands, don't shake it as it will bubble up and make drawing it out of the vial more difficult than is needed, draw the 40,000 units and inject it. I inject it slower than the interfeuron. I found that if I inject it fast it will sting a bit. What a Baby, eh!!! Keep the Faith!!!! You'll be feeling chipper before you know it...     Pauly

[Maui lover]

Hubby got first injection of Procrit 40,000 yesterday (we used a 27 1/2 gauge needle).  He's still feeling icky, very tired, very pale and very sick of it all!  I'm hoping the Procrit kicks in SOON, but I know it does take a little while.  He goes for his 4 week PCR on Friday, fingers crossed for a nice drop in VL.  I finally got copies of all of his blood work and his ALT/AST values were nuts!  They peaked at over 300 each, but as of two weeks ago they are back in normal range, so that's a little bit of a relief.