Blood Work,,, Advice TnHepGuy, All

[honey1616]

Hi,,,I didn't want to start a new thread but for some reason I couldn't post a comment on existing thread???  Anyways,,,Just got back from Dr and I'm really upset.  My bloodwork was all acceptable but my hubby's neutrophils dropped to .....0.6.  Dr said he is to stop treatment totally today.  That it is so low at this point that it is dangerous.  Funny thing is,,,he has been doing so good and not having problems so this was such a shock to us both.

I asked about neuopogen and Dr said at this point he would need to stop and redo bloodwork next week. I even tried to get a prescription saying it might take awhile to get filled if pharmacy had to order so I would not be leaving that office without prescription in hand!  Dr. Said  We will see after next week and I'm not familiar with it and will have to do some research by weight etc... I tried to argue saying there was several people that continued with this and we could even do bloodwork in 3 days to monitor.  Then he says,,,Ms,,Your husband could die if this gets lower,,,So Drop it!  Anyways,,I guess I'm really upset because I'm scared if he stops totally,,,that is 6 months down the drain of hard work!  What happens if you stop say for a week or 2,,,,would you all think?  Ending on a positive note,,,,6 months pcr for him,,,,undectable!

[Amerabrit]

I don't know the answers but it seems others do... Just to let you know I'm thinking of you both and hoping for the best possible outcome..... Good luck!

[gonagetbetr]

Honey,
I am so sorry that your hubbys doc is a jerk
is there anyother reason why he wants to stop altogether instead of just reducing dosage? Hopefully you have a different doc than he does and if so do you think that he could get in to see yours asap and get the meds he needs to be able to continue?
please keep us posted

Raheem,
I guess i am a little confussed I thought that the riba made the virus multipy at a fast rate so that the interferon could kill it. Why would you want to continue to take the riba if you didn't have the peg to kill the virus?
I may be way off base here if so please let me know

[honey1616]

Thanks all of you so much for all your responses!  Unfortunately he is a jerk and also he is my dr also!  He says for his office,,,he is having to tell my husband to stop treatment today.  As far as neupogen, we just called office again and said we would like to go against his better judgement and half the dose and start the neupogen right away.  Again,,,his reply,,,Is that he has to do research on neupogen as he has not prescribed it!!  Wow,,,I can't believe this,,, and thinking if anyone going to this office needs procrit or this,,,I guess they just stop treatment! Amazing...huh?  He seems to get irritated with me when I have information I have acquired on hep c and treatment and when I have my folder with me,,,,He won't look at any of it. Its all so frustrating to go to this dr and yes,,,Cuteus I would like to change but a long ways for us to drive to good drs and also wouldn't be able to get in to someone new for a month or so. With my husbands job(work hours) it would be hard for him to have day during week to drive and then to go to hospital for bloodwork in bigger city sooooo,,,I guess at this point,,,our decision to the best I can think of is for him to take riba(regular dose right?)  Shot night was just sunday nite for us so that gives us some time here for this blankety blank dr to read up on neupogen and maybe we could still get a prescription by monday of next week.....Again,,,thanks so much for being there and a sounding board as I think by reading your posts,,,It helped us come to this decision,,,,

[cuteus]

I think he meant full riba with the interferon reduction. some, like me, tend to do short direct answers, as if thinking and typing gets tiring, and might not be clear in the comment.  Read the post again and see if you get what i did after reading a couple of times...lol

[raheem]

I stayed on the full dosage of ribavirin (1000 mg.) and reduced the interferon dosage from 180mcg. down to 135mcg.

[honey1616]

Yes....Lost was correct as he said stop totally all meds.  We looked at him funny but he claims the riba is no good without interferon sooooo I'm going with Raheem's advice on riba..