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Denied Procrit - "Hello Again Also"
Hi everyone, I haven`t been on line much since May so I have catching up to do. My breathing is not much better but I have noticed it gets worse as my red blood and white blood count go down. I think that I may be due for a reduction of Ribavirin again as my breathing has been very bad in the past few weeks. I find out this Friday. My doctor at Dartmouth, who I trust very much, told me no Procrit. Many reasons - some are - I`m taking too many drugs already, not really proven (at least to her), they don`t like prescribing it, and a few more that I can`t think of right now. I trust my life to Dartmouth, it is an excellent hospital with the best doctors I`ve ever worked with.I follow all of her orders to the "T". Has anyone else been denied Procrit? Oh, yeah, I`m G1A with stage 4 cirrhosis. I`m in week 28 of 48.
I received a shot of Procrit at 10 weeks (3x incevik) and it was a Godsend. (Hemo <10( I am now in week 28 and have had much more energy since. I am checked each week and have been below 10. Of course getting off Incevik at 12 weeks didn't hurt.
Hello I am really glad to see that your numbers look great especially for someone on tx. Bo is right, if you don't need the procrit you really don't want to be on it. It adds more sx.
My best to you, Dee
My best to you, Dee
And a last comment on your levels, all look great, taking into account you are half way through treatment. My riba dose was reduced to just 2 pills a day (400mg) through the first 12 weeks on Incidious, , and I'm now back on 5pd (1000mg). You should be OK to stay on 1000mg for the rest of treatment. It IS weight dependent, but 1000mg is OK to stay on.
Your not even near a reason to give you procrit shots. You don't need them
with a HGB of 13.3. I believe it's the RIBA that has a side effect of breathlessness. So this would be a reason for reducing the dose as you said. Your numbers don't look bad for someone on Hepatitis C treatment. I know procrit sounds like the magic bullet but you really don't want procrit if you don't need it. Sounds like your doctor has you covered.
DWBH
with a HGB of 13.3. I believe it's the RIBA that has a side effect of breathlessness. So this would be a reason for reducing the dose as you said. Your numbers don't look bad for someone on Hepatitis C treatment. I know procrit sounds like the magic bullet but you really don't want procrit if you don't need it. Sounds like your doctor has you covered.
DWBH
hey vermontguy, everything looks much improved. your wbc is normal for someone not on tx. your hgb is high for someone who has been treating for 6 months. in fact it is just about normal(14). hopefully your good to go for a few more months. did your dr take a 24 week v/l ?
Why did your Dr stop the Riba, when the protocol is to reduce it,not stop it all together. The reason being that Pegasys Interferon and Riba work together, in conjunction with each other.
Your HGB looks fine, at 13.3, mine hung out in the 9's, while I was on 10 weeks of Procrit, and when I stopped the Procrit shots, and did a reduction ,from 1,200 mgs Riba, to 800 mgs of Riba, it fell to 8.8, at my 28 wk end-of-tx labs.
The Procrit made it easier for me to breath, and I know Cirhotics who have taken it. I am thinking that Procrit would be a dangerous drug to prescribe to a patient who doesn't have a very strong heart. I felt safe taking it because my general health was good, and I exercise daily.
For someone with high blood pressure, I think it would just be too risky.
Your HGB looks fine, at 13.3, mine hung out in the 9's, while I was on 10 weeks of Procrit, and when I stopped the Procrit shots, and did a reduction ,from 1,200 mgs Riba, to 800 mgs of Riba, it fell to 8.8, at my 28 wk end-of-tx labs.
The Procrit made it easier for me to breath, and I know Cirhotics who have taken it. I am thinking that Procrit would be a dangerous drug to prescribe to a patient who doesn't have a very strong heart. I felt safe taking it because my general health was good, and I exercise daily.
For someone with high blood pressure, I think it would just be too risky.
Here are my new numbers. I went to the doctor today and she said that my numbers have been getting better since she stopped my Ribavirin (week 10) and restarted the Ribavirin (week 12). She still has me at 1000mgs because of my breathing issues. Here gos: WBC 5.7 - RBC 4.23 - HGB 13.3L - HCT 38.8L - MCV 92 - MCH 31.4 - MCHC 34.3 - Platelet 158 - RDW13.4 - %NEU 67.4 - %LYMPH 16.9 - %MONO 14.6 - %EOS 1.1 - %BASO0.0 - ANC 3.8 - IEven I can see that most of these numbers are in range but some are low and my %MONO is high. If anyone has any insight to these numbers, please let me know. I guess that they are good? I`m at week29 0f 48, G1A.
I noticed that you have been treating for 28 weeks of 48. That would mean that you have had quite a few CBC's and PCR's (Checking if the virus is still active.) You only mention that you were UND at week 4. What about week 12, and week 24? Also, most of us have monthly blood tests, and just a test to see if UND at 4,12,24 and 48 weeks.(I know you were on Incevik).
When I began treating, my hemaglobin levels dropped pretty quickly from 146 to 110 in two weeks, and one week later to 89. My Riba was dropped by 400mg, then another 400mg when hmg levels fell further to 75. I had a blood transfusion. No procrit. It's not a rescue med here in Australia. But, I know that if things didn't improve, then Procrit could have been prescribed. It's just the sx were questionable for my health. Also, hgb levels below 80 here is when transfusions get mentioned.
I ate a shitload of oysters, and when I finished the 12 weeks of Incidious, I slowly upped my riba again. Hgb levels are now at 105.
One of the most important things now, once you finally found this site, is to own and control your illness and treatment. It is always good, as ppmguy mentions, that you get copies of all your blood tests. They cannot refuse. You can then monitor your own travels on these meds, and learn about what to watch out for. There are other results in the CBC that become interesting and perhaps important, such as Neutrophil levels.
Anyway, most people here have valuable advice, but need blood test results etc to assist further.
Good luck.
When I began treating, my hemaglobin levels dropped pretty quickly from 146 to 110 in two weeks, and one week later to 89. My Riba was dropped by 400mg, then another 400mg when hmg levels fell further to 75. I had a blood transfusion. No procrit. It's not a rescue med here in Australia. But, I know that if things didn't improve, then Procrit could have been prescribed. It's just the sx were questionable for my health. Also, hgb levels below 80 here is when transfusions get mentioned.
I ate a shitload of oysters, and when I finished the 12 weeks of Incidious, I slowly upped my riba again. Hgb levels are now at 105.
One of the most important things now, once you finally found this site, is to own and control your illness and treatment. It is always good, as ppmguy mentions, that you get copies of all your blood tests. They cannot refuse. You can then monitor your own travels on these meds, and learn about what to watch out for. There are other results in the CBC that become interesting and perhaps important, such as Neutrophil levels.
Anyway, most people here have valuable advice, but need blood test results etc to assist further.
Good luck.
A cbc is a complete blood count. it measures your hemoglobin(red blood cells), white blood cells , and platelets. at your next appt ask your tx nurse or dr to give you copies of your labs. most large tx networks can get you your labs online. please do get back with your numbers. we need your hemoglobin count to respond to your procrit issue. i will keep an eye out for you. many people here will also chime in.
and may i be the 1st to congratulate you for your undetected 4 week v/l. thats huge. its the best predictor of sucessful tx. barry
and may i be the 1st to congratulate you for your undetected 4 week v/l. thats huge. its the best predictor of sucessful tx. barry
Hi there, once you get your numbers you can post, others will answer
I just wanted to say that my hgb went from 14.8 down to 9.3 and I received no reduction or procrit.
Maybe, because I had cirrhosis the doctor did not want to add any rescue drugs, I really don't know. I asked but was told...overall my blood work looked find for someone on tx. I was told to rest if I was tired or out of breath. It was frustrating but I did finish and I am now SVR.
I wish the best for you
Dee
I just wanted to say that my hgb went from 14.8 down to 9.3 and I received no reduction or procrit.
Maybe, because I had cirrhosis the doctor did not want to add any rescue drugs, I really don't know. I asked but was told...overall my blood work looked find for someone on tx. I was told to rest if I was tired or out of breath. It was frustrating but I did finish and I am now SVR.
I wish the best for you
Dee
I went to my Dartmouth on line and figured out what "CBC" is. It`s the results of 11 different tests and I can post the new ones on this Friday. My last published results were on Feb 14th as I thought but those wont help now for sure. I`m not very computer savey so please bare with me guys (and gals). I will get the numbers Friday when I visit my doc and I will post them Friday night. Thank-you, vermontguy53.
Hi ppmguy, I hate to sound ignorant but what is the "cbc values"? I only get written results when I have my blood drawn at Dartmouth as they post them in my Dartmouth Account on line. I have been having my blood drawn in Vermont and the test results are sent to my doctor at Dartmouth - to save time and gas (I live 45 miles away). When blood is drawn here, I don`t get the results, Dartmouth doesn`t post them from my local hospital for some odd reason. I can look those results up for the end of Feb, that is the last time my blood was drawn at Dartmouth. I go to my doc once a month and so far she has said my numbers are low (understandbly), but O.K for now. She has me on only 1000 mgs. of Ribavirin since the end of March. I`m pretty ignorant about my numbers. I go see her on this Friday so I`m going to ask and get back to you, I promise. I may even call tomorrow, but I don`t know how long it will take to return my call with the info. Please answer when you I send you my numbers. Thanks, vermontguy53. I was undetected at week 4.
What is your hemoglobin count? If its not below 10. - the doctor won't prescribe procrit.
DWBH
DWBH
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