Aa
ANC drop. Again. (or ) Life Sucks then it Sucks More. /Att:: Goofy
The problem with frequent labs seems to be frequent bad news. I thought my ANC had bounced back, but this week it bounced the other way to 472 with WBC at 1.4. My increased Procrit also seems a little slow on the draw and remains in the low 12's in spite of two weeks of increased Procrit.
Goofy...was it you that mentioned your doctor doesn't intervene with Neupogen until ANC is below 400? Really not thrilled about injecting any more drugs into my system. Also wondering if anyone else had similar problems mid-treatment with decreasing ANC. My NP led me to believe that it doesn't happen that often later in treatment and they rarely use the stuff. I guess they might have to dust off a few vials. :)
-- Jim
Goofy...was it you that mentioned your doctor doesn't intervene with Neupogen until ANC is below 400? Really not thrilled about injecting any more drugs into my system. Also wondering if anyone else had similar problems mid-treatment with decreasing ANC. My NP led me to believe that it doesn't happen that often later in treatment and they rarely use the stuff. I guess they might have to dust off a few vials. :)
-- Jim
Understood on what the nurse says. However, what bothers me is this description of neutropenia from another site:
----------------------------------------------------------------
If a patient is severely neutropenic—they may not show the "typical" signs of infection that we are used to looking for. This is because the body is not producing WBC’s. Normally, when we have an infection—the WBC’s increase and this is what causes the redness, pus, and swelling that we are all so familiar with.
--------------------------------------------------------
I mentioned this to my ENT after he read my sinus CAT scan. He confirmed that, yes, the low WBC may be masking symptons. I just hope it all pulls together when tx is finally over. With all the drugs we're taking, it's very hard to figure out what is causing what.
Sorry about your platelets. Mine are still up there around 85. I think the NP says they don't get concerned till they hit 20 or something.
-- Jim
----------------------------------------------------------------
If a patient is severely neutropenic—they may not show the "typical" signs of infection that we are used to looking for. This is because the body is not producing WBC’s. Normally, when we have an infection—the WBC’s increase and this is what causes the redness, pus, and swelling that we are all so familiar with.
--------------------------------------------------------
I mentioned this to my ENT after he read my sinus CAT scan. He confirmed that, yes, the low WBC may be masking symptons. I just hope it all pulls together when tx is finally over. With all the drugs we're taking, it's very hard to figure out what is causing what.
Sorry about your platelets. Mine are still up there around 85. I think the NP says they don't get concerned till they hit 20 or something.
-- Jim
Sorry to hear about the ANC situation - along with the hgb. But, you hold some people together in your trials. I'm in week 15 of 24 and have had neupogen/neulasta 3 times, evenly spaced through the tx. first time it was a series of 3 (neupogen 480 mg each) in a week, next it was two in a week (neupogen) and the 3rd was neulasta (6mg) in one poke. Doc intervenes at 1000, thinking that it will go lower the following week, and there's nothing to cause it to stop lowering. I do a CBC Every Monday). Neupogen was un-noticed for sx. Neulasta (pegylated) brought a sore back and sore leg muscles (what's left of them) for 3 days. Sort of peg sx for the lower body. Cost is outrageous neupogen is $400 a pop (series of 2 and 3 pops). Neulasta is $3500 pop (only 1 pop required). Neulasta shot my anc from about 1,000 to over 9,700 the next Monday. Neupogen is less robust and gets the ANC to about 3000. But, everthing that goes up, comes down.
Hang in there Jim, you've got a lot of folks pulling for you.
Hang in there Jim, you've got a lot of folks pulling for you.
Jim,
I hear you about each new test bringing it's own woes! Plateletes is my issue du jour.
The nurse wrote to me that their ANC guidelines call for introducing Neup at 500-750 for pts with cirrhosis. Other pts they can let go down to 250-300. Over the phone she told me their pts don't get the exotic and opportunistic infections seen in oncology pts. No explaination, "they just don't". She said they see bronchial infections, lingering coughs, sinus, that sort of thing.
I've had no ill affects from the Neup. A little sore around the site, and a tiny bruise. That's it.
One other aside for anyone else who finds this. I spoke with my hip surgeon, and he said not to let my artificial hip influence ANC decisions. Pretend it's not there, unless an infection develps. Then be most agressive.
Best of luck.
I hear you about each new test bringing it's own woes! Plateletes is my issue du jour.
The nurse wrote to me that their ANC guidelines call for introducing Neup at 500-750 for pts with cirrhosis. Other pts they can let go down to 250-300. Over the phone she told me their pts don't get the exotic and opportunistic infections seen in oncology pts. No explaination, "they just don't". She said they see bronchial infections, lingering coughs, sinus, that sort of thing.
I've had no ill affects from the Neup. A little sore around the site, and a tiny bruise. That's it.
One other aside for anyone else who finds this. I spoke with my hip surgeon, and he said not to let my artificial hip influence ANC decisions. Pretend it's not there, unless an infection develps. Then be most agressive.
Best of luck.
Yes I can give you a web site I built to post the progress of my Journey with this Virus.
Here is a link to my Web Site.
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/tzeazas/index.html">My Web Site</a>
http://www.geocities.com/tzeazas/index.html
All let me know what changes I could make. Most of the site was done during TX and I would like to make improvements , so a Visitors would come away with as much information and understanding as possible
God Bless,
TonyZ
Geez, you are having a tough game. Hang in there; my best thoughts for you.
First thanks for all your help. I would go for the Neupagen myself. If you get your wbc up so will your anc. I've been taking Neupagen & Procrit every week since wk 20 and I'm in wk 47 in doing so I have been able to stay on full dosage for most of the time
You are reading content posted in the Hepatitis C Community
Learn about this treatable virus.
Getting tested for this viral infection.
3 key steps to getting on treatment.
4 steps to getting on therapy.
What you need to know about Hep C drugs.
How the drugs might affect you.
These tips may up your chances of a cure.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
