Help! Neupogen urgent

[Believer7777]

I'm in desperate need of help.  I'm on my 15th week of treatment and I'm undetectable, which is great. However, my ANC has dropped to 1.1.

I just took the 2nd shot of neupogen two days ago, and thought I was going to die. I ended up with 101 fever, shaking uncontrollably and could not even walk.  I'm still not well. Here's where I need help. The doctor notified me the morning before a my business trip.  I took the neupogen shot right before I left for the airport and when I landed I started to feel I'll.  What I don't know is if I got the flu traveling since my WBC was so low, or if the nuepogen caused my sx.  

Also the first time I tool neupogen I was ok?  Is it normal to have those severe side effects?
I'm very scared because I don't think I could endure that sickness again.

Any advice would be so very much appreciated.    

[Believer7777]

Everyone, thanks for all the response I have a CBC scheduled this morning and a meeting with the doctor tomorrow afternoon.

Bill, I'm going to find out why prescribes neupogen so early. Also, my job requires me to fly in an airplane.  I'm wonder if it was altitude related or maybe just the flu.

GoofyDad mentioned something that WBC protect only against bacterial infections, Can others help validate that?

Thanks!

[hcvJames]

I take Neup once a week. Interferon on W and Neup on Su. They took me off tx when WBC went below 1.5. I think though, as explained to me by many in here, it was the ANC that really clinched it as it fell well below cutoff. Started back with Neup and have taken it since with no sides. Please give in another chance or two, hopefully it was the flu, or just one of those things. Take care of yourself, rest and fluids.

[GoofyDad]

My money is on a bug. WBCs protect abainst bacterial infections, not influenza, as far as I know. Give it another try and see what happens. You can always try prophylactic Tylenol. I love using that word outside of sex worker threads.

[Junebug812]

I too am a little surprised that you got Neupogen when you were at .9. My ANC is also at .9 but my doctor hasn't even mentioned that the number is low, let alone doing something about it. Of course I had to beg for Procrit, so....

The symptoms you are sharing are exactly what happened to me when I had my first shot of Interferon. I was literally in a fetal position, chills like I've never had before, bad headache, fever, and bone pain. Nothing could make me warm including lots of blankets and a heating pad turned all the way up. I still have fever, bone pain, headaches, and sometimes chills after the Interferon, but other times I don't. Each weekend it seems to be a crap shoot so I don't plan events on weekends that would be hard to cancel. These symptoms, when I have them, usually last 3 full days.

Good luck to you.
June

[Bill1954]

Boy, from what you describe, I don’t blame you for wanting to avoid the Neupogen; however, I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone else in here reporting such profound side effects from it in the past. As I mentioned above, I have no personal experience with it to share with you.

I don’t know why your doctor issued the drug when he did. Does the doctor have much experience with HCV patients? Is this an infectious disease doc, a GI or perhaps a hematologist?

Or do you have an occupation that brings you into close contact with people that might be ill? I knew a gal locally that worked in a hospital cleaning rooms between patients; her doctor was particularly concerned during her treatment when her white cells reduced for obvious reasons. I’m pretty sure Neupogen is usually introduced closer to .50.

Have you discussed this with your doctor yet? And if so, what was their position?

-Bill

[Believer7777]

Bill, I'm sorry for the typos. I'm on my phone.

[Believer7777]

Bill, thanks for your response. You're always helpful.  My ANC was .9 when I had my first shot.  I felt ok after that and my WBC skyrocketed to 10 ANC to 8.  After 2 weeks it dopped down to 1.1.  From what your saying, maybe my Dr. should have waited?

I took the neupogen this Monday ( INF past Friday) so several days apart.  The INF symptoms are not fun, but very tolerable. What I experiences was like the plague!  I was so cold for 3 hours, I had 3 blankets and a layer 3 feet from a burning fireplace.  It took all I had to not shake and then walk up the stairs to bed.

It's Wed and I'm still not 100%.  I'm nervous to even touch the neupogen every again. The fatigue is gruesome - I'm hoping i caught the flu traveling and it's not the neupogen.

What do you think?

[Bill1954]

Sorry to hear you’re feeling poorly. First, I’m not sure why Neupogen was initiated at ANC 1.1; typically, intervention doesn’t need to occur until .50 or so.

Some folks do report side effects from Neupogen, although certainly not all. I never personally required it so I can’t speak from personal experience.

How far was the Neupogen spaced from the IFN injection; what you describe sounds very much like interferon side effects?

Good luck-

-Bill