HGB from 4.8 to 5.2 WOW!

[mauka]

In a week after two shots of Procrit my HGB went from 4.8 to 5.0.wow :)
I feel much better tho, my doc said it may be psychological (?)

She increased the iron from twice to 3 times a day...
Just an update, since somebody in here wanted to know.

[NYgirl]

I was waiting to see what your results were.  I hate to tell you but a little bump like that...did they increase the PROCRIT TOO?  

You completely need to be taking MORE than you are. You should be gainning to a reasonable number at two weeks and five is most certainly not.  In fact there is no difference pretty much.

I do not understand WHY they would increase iron which we should not be taking really INSTEAD of twice a week Procrit?

Did you ask?

Best best best of luck!

[mauka]

yeah I asked if I should increase the procrit and she said not yet.
Just the iron

[NYgirl]

you really and seriously need a second opinion.  the doctor seems to have completely dropped the ball here (in my opinion).  it makes NO sense to make you suffer this way and stay at a ridiculously low level.

I mean an increase in the procrit sounds so much more sensible to me. Maybe someone else has a more educated thing to say but I just dont' understand why a doctor would keep someone in agony like this at all.

I don't have a GREAT doctor but he wouldn't even do this to me!

5.2 is really like still having a 4.8.  You need to be up to like FOURTEEN to be normal!

[mauka]

she said the body needs plenty iron for the procrit to work properly...
and said..it will work

[mauka]

I stopped theraphy because it didn't work.
I do feel better and that's exactly what she meant...the iron will boost
Procrit...
Thanks :)

[jmjm530]

Glad your hgb is at least going in the right direction. Hard to say how much the Procrit has helped in only one week but keep in mind your off treatment so your hgb may be rising independent of the Procrit. I therefore agree with your doc to hold increasing the Procrit until you give it more time. Generally, Procrit takes 2-4 weeks to fully kick in, in my case closer to 4 weeks.

Regarding the supplemental iron. Has your doctor ordered an iron stores test. If your iron stores are low, then you need supplemental iron for Procrit to work. If your iron stores are normal, it may be counter-productive. The tests you want are Ferritin and Transferrin Saturation (TSAT). I think anything below Ferritin 100 or TSAT 20% requires supplemental iron. Something I would suggest talking to your doctor about. In any event, hopefully you are having at least weekly CBC's to track things.

All the best.

-- Jim

[mauka]

Are the Ferritin and Transferrin Saturation (TSAT) tests automatically included in CBCs? That's what I've been having done all the times CBC

[jmjm530]

Not with my lab (Quest Diagnostics) and I doubt very much with other labs. I would/ask tell your doctor you specifically want those two tests. Why fly in the dark?

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

I've been away for a few weeks.  What did you decide to do with TX? ending or longer? Upping riba?

[jmjm530]

Welcome back and thanks for asking. I'm into week 46 and current plan is to treat for 52-weeks but don't hold me to that :) My riba bravado tempered a bit as my sides increased a few weeks ago with various infections putting me on antibiotics again.  However, I'm still holding riba at 1200 mg/day and probably will finish at that dose unless the bravado returns.

Feeling better the last few days although a little anemic probably because I backed off my 40,000 unit/6-day Procrit schedule to every 7 or 8 days. I was feeling sides from the Procrit so put my head in the sand and pretended I really didn't need the stuff as much.

Hope your "away" was fun and interesting. How are you doing these days? Truthfully, you didn't miss much here lately as you can tell from reading some of the recent threads.


-- Jim

[GoofyDad]

Makau - My doc checks iron stores and feritin as part of the procrit regime. Also checks b12 - you may ask for that too. Are you taking a good multi vitimin? Your body is depleted - give it every chance to get itself caught up. They also have me taking extra Folic Acid, which is another B vitimin, I think B6.

Good luck - feel better.

[2irish]

back to the 52 week plan, huh?  could you tell me what your sx from the procrit are?  thanks

[bobbyullc]

it seems like going from 4.8 to 5.0 is just a difference in tests not a real improvement. mine went from 15 to 13.2 last month and i feel real weak so 5.0 is veeery low. how do you take your iron as i might try it to help mine?

good luck,
bobby

[FlGuy]

Ended TX and went on 3 weeks vacation. One at the beach the rest catching up on little things around home I've ignored for the last 6 months and mostly kicking back. Great to have an appetite again - even put back a couple of lbs. Slowly getting energy back. Haven't taken on tree stump in backyard yet but it's my next challenge. Got 24 wk (3A) back and still ND, all blood and levels back to norm except hgb and plates.  Fog is clearing and no longer dread the weekends. I used to live for weekends, then fear them, now claiming them back.  'The' PCR in May.
Sound like 6 weeks to go for you - end is near.

[mauka]

I take iron pills (Ferrous Sulfate) three times a day now.

[GoofyDad]

Another thing - iron absorbtion requires Vit C. Are you taking it with OJ or something? I took it leading up to surgery years ago and had to take it with a glass of juice.

[missey]

Great forum, its great to see that most of you hang in there which isn't  easy and eventally can see light at the end of the tunnel. Quite new to forum

[mauka]

I do take it with with a glass of apple juice mixed with honey wich I read it's
the best to absorb iron. One thing to avoid with iron is calcium

[NYgirl]

Oh man I forgot you went off the meds.  It should not take you long to get that number to soar.  The Procrit should start working sometime after next week and you should be feeling much better!

One good thing about stopping treatment.

[kayli12]

Sorry to jump in here but again, post is full.  I am about to start treatment.  Doctore is ordering 180 mg of Pegasys and also Copegus 200 mg.  Plese tell me a little about this treatment.  I read where others take different tx.  Is there one with less side effects.  I am a 1B and will probably need 48 weeks.  I am hoping to continue to work through all of this.  I work in Inside Sales so I hpe I will be ok as I really need to work.  All comments will be helpful.

[dyce]

That is some really good info on HGB and iron levels. Will try to remember all this stuff when I get a look at my bloodwork next mnth at my doc appointment! good to hear your doing allright Jim, your a mountain of imformation!

thanks Rick

[sindog]

Some of this information may be incorrect, but this is what I understand. There is only one accepted treatment for Hep C, Interferon and Ribavirin. Pegasys is Interferon and Copegus is Ribavirin. All Ribavirin is the same. There are three types of Interferon, Pegasys, Peg-Intron, and Infergen. The first two are somehow made from the natural interferon from people. Infergen is sythetic. The Peg come from Pegulated which is what they did to it to make it last all week. They used to have to take it more than once a week. There is alot of disagreement on which interferon works the best.

Some people have terrible side effects. One thing for sure you will feel the effects of anemia. Taking iron suppliments will not help, and may cause problems. Your anemia will be caused by reduction in the production of red-blood cells which need iron to carry oxygen. More iron just gets stuck in your liver.

I am on week 9. Other than missing work for dr appts and blood tests, and a few days with a virus, which was horrible, I have worked 8 hr days, 5 days a week. I do less at home, sleep alot more, have other side effects, but they are managable with medication. I also walk three time a day for 20 minutes, cook some dinners, and help with the housework. Your tx takes a commitment from you, your family, and your healthcare provider.
Hope this helps.

[SnoWav]

what I have read pegasas has the least sides.180 interferon/1200 riba. Working has been fine for me. Go into it thinking that it will be fine for you. Best of luck on your journey. Tommorow is the last of the little pink pills for me.48 weeks will fly by. Aloha

[sindog]

Kalio2 is correct, your doctor needs to explain alot about tx. As I've said before, you need to take charge of your illness. This is a long lasting desease and I wouldn't be hasty. Take a few months to educate yourself.