Blood Work and Cutting Meds

[KAMO]

Genotype 1 Stage 1 - my viral load in the begining was 1.6 million.  By week 12 I was at 571.  I'm on procrit twice a week and 180 mcg pegasys once a week and of course the ribavirin 1,000 per day.  My current blood work shows my red count is ok -I had a 2 unit transfusion about 1 1/2 months ago and have gone from 11 to 9.  My white count and my platelets are very low and now the doctor wants me to cut the pegasys down to 135 and see if the white and platelets come back.  

I'm on my second round of treatment and my dose was cut the first time around too.  I've been told that's the reason the first time didn't work for me.  Is this something I should be concerned about with all that I've heard about cutting the meds??  This really worries me right now since I just watched my aunt die of liver cancer.

[mycoldfeet]

A lot of the other guys know the drugs better than myself, but for the white count there is a drug neurogen,probably spelled wrong, I was pulled off meds for 3 wks last time and relapsed if anyone knows the questions to ask youll find it here, and soon too. That lowerer the dosage and see don't work for me either.

[sfbaygirl]

Your hgb, reds, are low. Can you get procrit? I would ask asap. You didn't get to UND at week 12, which means you may have to tx longer. Some go 36 weeks from undetectable. How low are your platelets and ANC and WBC? You may need some Neupogen. I have to take it every couple of weeks. My dr. wanted to cut me and I refused. Went to a hemotologist who gave me the rescue drugs, so no cutting the meds. My ANC is .8 right now and I need a shot. Hgb is 12, so I am good until it hits 11. Do you have copies of your labs?
My platelets jump around from 70-120, so they can go pretty low.
How much do you weigh?

If at all possible, I would NOT cut the drugs!

[mycoldfeet]

thx from me , I knew I spelled it wrong, but I thought procrit was for red cells being low, and the other for white, girl I am losing it. But I was right about quick response from ya.

[sfbaygirl]

You are welcome. It is such a common thing for dr's to cut meds instead of giving rescue drugs. It makes me furious! It compromises chances for SVR.

Hey, I tried Provigil and it seems to work pretty well. I have been tearing apart my computers and don't feel like I won't remember what I am doing. Have you ever tried it?

What is the test for ammonia that you got? Do you get disability from the state or your work?

[mycoldfeet]

No I've never been on any rescue drugs, but with a 72 wk tx instead of the last 48 wk I probably will, and be sure I'll be talking to you about it. The test for ammonia is a simple blood test added to the others.