Aa
Information please
Is it possible to have gotten stuck with a needle from a doctor and the needled reused? A blood work up was done and the test came back that he is in the gray area and has antibodies for hep c. No one is wanting to discuss this with us!
As I sit contemplating my rising and falling chest, I'm reminded of the sidelined football players at milehigh stadium, sucking away on oxygen. Or the kit Scott Peterson's mother hauled around. Any reason these solutions aren't seen in our riba ravaged community?
Yup. I'm right on board with you Jim. We're trying to get the Procrit passed Insurance, but nurse thinks they might balk until I hit 11. I'm able to do some lite walking, so I feel I'm best served by trying to train my body to handle the 11.5 if possible. I'd like to keep the procrit in my back pocket till further down the stretch if I can. By week 3 I was on Aciphex, Ambien, & Neupogen. I don't want to shoot the moon in the first month; there wouldn't be any fun left for later!
Glad to see you seem a little more active. I hope that's a sign that things are imrpoving a bit.
Glad to see you seem a little more active. I hope that's a sign that things are imrpoving a bit.
I've seen helium used to good results at the circus. Though it could make you sound like a chipmunk. So why not oxygen?
Very impressive. Blinds-shut, aerobic sex at Hgb 11.5.
Are you sure you're not taking Ribavagra by mistake?
-- Jim
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PS Sounds like your body is adapting to the lower Hgb levels but good to get the paperwork going on Procrit so it will be there just in case. No reason not to have some in the fridge waiting for when needed.
Are you sure you're not taking Ribavagra by mistake?
-- Jim
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PS Sounds like your body is adapting to the lower Hgb levels but good to get the paperwork going on Procrit so it will be there just in case. No reason not to have some in the fridge waiting for when needed.
I had some strange vision sx in the beginning, then a few weeks in they went away; as far as I can tell all good right now. You loose track of whats normal after a while.
I had my thyroid checked a few weeks ago and all was well, I'm male and I know this does affect females more. Since I was having extreme anemia symptoms and my bloods weren't low enough for procrit; I thought it could have been my thyroid. Doc said sometimes it's just the meds.
With anemia and thyroid you're having a double whammy, just remember do what you can and if the rest doesn't kill you or leave you homeless; screw it.
Guys; when I was just disgusted about not being able to do anything and I was complaining to my doc. He said just do what you can and it's important and up to you to balance what you can and can not do. For many of us to compare ourselves to pre-tx can be very depressing. As much of a struggle as it has been for me to come to terms with it; I have to look at this year as rehab(like in a sports injury) to then get on with the rest of my long HCV free life. Peace
I had my thyroid checked a few weeks ago and all was well, I'm male and I know this does affect females more. Since I was having extreme anemia symptoms and my bloods weren't low enough for procrit; I thought it could have been my thyroid. Doc said sometimes it's just the meds.
With anemia and thyroid you're having a double whammy, just remember do what you can and if the rest doesn't kill you or leave you homeless; screw it.
Guys; when I was just disgusted about not being able to do anything and I was complaining to my doc. He said just do what you can and it's important and up to you to balance what you can and can not do. For many of us to compare ourselves to pre-tx can be very depressing. As much of a struggle as it has been for me to come to terms with it; I have to look at this year as rehab(like in a sports injury) to then get on with the rest of my long HCV free life. Peace
One of the big challenges early in TX was figuring out the pace that you can make. Like you, I attempted to 'stretch' it one day and ended up doing the zombie thing for the next 5. I try to at least walk every day and I'm still working full time. I think I finally got it figured out but sometimes you have to surrender to what you're able to do which is way different than what you want to do. Keeping up with the blood work, talking with the hemotologist staff each week and getting active in the consultation for remedial steps is a great idea.
Hang in there. It's a grind but the expected results will be worth it.
Good news on the harmonic properties of titanium. Will be looking for TI Beanies soon, we have massive numbers of TY Beanies in the house already.
Hang in there. It's a grind but the expected results will be worth it.
Good news on the harmonic properties of titanium. Will be looking for TI Beanies soon, we have massive numbers of TY Beanies in the house already.
Thanks guys. That gives me some background for when I talk with the nurse tomorrow. I actually took a little swim tonight - we'll see if any ill affects tomorrow. I didn't put 2+2 together until reading Coug's post, but last week I swam fairly hard on Wed nite(nothing like pre tx), and it was like Wooooahoooah who just whacked me with the tired stick, on Thursday. Thurs was lab day last week. Hopefully I haven't sabotaged tomorrow's labs with my feeble attempt at exercise tonight.
Cougareyes, it pains me to hear the troubles you're having. Yet you're always upbeat. Friole, you're my inspirational energizer bunny. I'm gonna do three miles yet, even if it's downhill on a gurney!
All we can do is keep marching on - and try to find some fun where we can ;-)
Cougareyes, it pains me to hear the troubles you're having. Yet you're always upbeat. Friole, you're my inspirational energizer bunny. I'm gonna do three miles yet, even if it's downhill on a gurney!
All we can do is keep marching on - and try to find some fun where we can ;-)
We must be independent types! I'm 1b and started with a VL of 122,000. At week 4 I was 45 and at week 12 undetectable, so if I can just live through the sx I'm doing ok. I'm 64 and that's not in my favor, but so far I'm hanging on and plan to make it to #48. Procrit has been my life saver so far. Have you had any vision sx? That's one area that really concerns me - I sure don't want anything to happen to my eyes. Also, my thyroid is now in the hyper range - have you had any change there?
We started tx on the same day; how did your 12 wk pcr turn out. I started out at 1.06mil(3.5mil in oct 04 at diag.) and was undetectable at 12 wk. Let's kick some viral butt. Peace
Low hemoglobin effects everyone diffferently. There's your sex, age, pre-tx levels, cardiac condition/issues, and simply heredity.
A two and half point drop in two weeks early in tx can certainly make you anemic, regardless of the absolute number. Will the body catch up with some time -- probably, maybe, unless of course your rate of drop continues and your body cannot keep up.
My pre-tx Hgb was 14.8 and I ended up in the ER at week 2 with Hgb 11.4. At that point Procrit was prescribed but it took 2-4 weeks to fully kick in, which is typical. If my Hgb drops below 13, which is it now, there is a definite change in function.
The thing about anemia is that it can sneak up on you very fast, especially early in tx when your body gets the biggest hit. If you still feel the way you do, and your next test shows further decline, go for the Procrit. short term aside, I can't believe it's good for your long-term health to be oxygen starved for any great length of time. Not when there's a quick fix.
A two and half point drop in two weeks early in tx can certainly make you anemic, regardless of the absolute number. Will the body catch up with some time -- probably, maybe, unless of course your rate of drop continues and your body cannot keep up.
My pre-tx Hgb was 14.8 and I ended up in the ER at week 2 with Hgb 11.4. At that point Procrit was prescribed but it took 2-4 weeks to fully kick in, which is typical. If my Hgb drops below 13, which is it now, there is a definite change in function.
The thing about anemia is that it can sneak up on you very fast, especially early in tx when your body gets the biggest hit. If you still feel the way you do, and your next test shows further decline, go for the Procrit. short term aside, I can't believe it's good for your long-term health to be oxygen starved for any great length of time. Not when there's a quick fix.
"There's your sex"
Well I wasn't going to go there Jim, but since you raise the question. I've definitely been trying to tone it down some. From an aerobic standpoint anyway. Well at least in the mornings, when I'm just not quite myself. OK, well I HAVE taken to closing the blinds in case someone's looking.
Sheesh, thinking all that just about wore me out!
Seriously, though (c'mon goofy you can do it), as I posted above hgb is 11.5 today. I'm not feeling as bad as I was last week at 13. We're working on procrit through Ins.
Well I wasn't going to go there Jim, but since you raise the question. I've definitely been trying to tone it down some. From an aerobic standpoint anyway. Well at least in the mornings, when I'm just not quite myself. OK, well I HAVE taken to closing the blinds in case someone's looking.
Sheesh, thinking all that just about wore me out!
Seriously, though (c'mon goofy you can do it), as I posted above hgb is 11.5 today. I'm not feeling as bad as I was last week at 13. We're working on procrit through Ins.
I can't say enough about the benefits of Procrit. I was put on it about a month ago when my hgb hit 10 something. At that point a walk to the end of the block with the dogs would leave me gasping for breath and with spots in front of my eyes like I was going to pass out. It took a full 2 weeks for me to feel much of anything, but now I feel more like my "real self" than I have since I started this roller coaster ride on July 4th (my own declaration of independence! :) As for building a tolerance, I don't really know, but I did read on the scary disclaimer info they always send so that you can know just how bad the stuff can be for you, that in rare instances the stuff just stops working and you can have a very "serious form of anemia" which requires immediate attention. Hopefully, in most cases (I hope mine is included) it just keeps on working the way we need it to. So far, Procrit is the best thing that has happened to me.
I'm not sure if you will build up a tolerance, yet I personally would like to limit my drug intake, to when only necessary. Yet I strongly believe we can develop long lasting problems from on going anemia.
I had a 2.4 drop from weeks 2 to 4 then a steady + or - .5 drop every other week until my 12 wk when it was at 11.3; stared at 15.6 baseline.
I've had anemia symptoms since about week 3 or 4, my doctor, like most goes from the blood results. He also said these are symptoms of the sx from the drugs also. I feel like I'm holding and my bloods are scheduled every 4 weeks now, so I have 2 more weeks to go.
I'm a zombie, I'm only working 2 days a week, 7 hrs a day; the last 2 weeks I tried for a 3rd day. That was a mistake, I payed for it by feeling like I was hit by a truck. I spend alot of the time in bed, I'm not getting around much right now.
If I go below 11 I'm going to demand procrit, I believe it would be dangerous to my health to continue at that low of hemo for any length of time. Some of us just have a harder time with the meds, without risking any long term problems; for me I'm going to try and limit other drugs. Yet most docs hold off until Hgb hits around 10. Good Luck Hope You Start Feeling Better Soon
I had a 2.4 drop from weeks 2 to 4 then a steady + or - .5 drop every other week until my 12 wk when it was at 11.3; stared at 15.6 baseline.
I've had anemia symptoms since about week 3 or 4, my doctor, like most goes from the blood results. He also said these are symptoms of the sx from the drugs also. I feel like I'm holding and my bloods are scheduled every 4 weeks now, so I have 2 more weeks to go.
I'm a zombie, I'm only working 2 days a week, 7 hrs a day; the last 2 weeks I tried for a 3rd day. That was a mistake, I payed for it by feeling like I was hit by a truck. I spend alot of the time in bed, I'm not getting around much right now.
If I go below 11 I'm going to demand procrit, I believe it would be dangerous to my health to continue at that low of hemo for any length of time. Some of us just have a harder time with the meds, without risking any long term problems; for me I'm going to try and limit other drugs. Yet most docs hold off until Hgb hits around 10. Good Luck Hope You Start Feeling Better Soon
A 2 point drop is significant but we are all so different. At 13 hgb you are showing classic symptoms of anemia - I bet you are 11 now.I will be really curious to see your labs show tomorrow. Jim has significant problems at a 3 point drop to 11. I have had a 3 point drop to 11.2 and seem to be holding my own. Can't figure out why. I say, if you can get the Procrit, go for it.
I don't know that you develop a tolerance, but I do think we get used to a lower qol. You just end up doing less. If you can take procrit and it will allow you to excercise seems like a good thing.
I don't know that you develop a tolerance, but I do think we get used to a lower qol. You just end up doing less. If you can take procrit and it will allow you to excercise seems like a good thing.
I'll do my 3rd week CBC tomorrow. If the discussion doesn't come up then, I don't think talks about procit will be far off - my docs are pretty agressive on dealing with sides. Last week's CBC showed hgb 13.0, a 2.5 gram drop in 2 weeks. I have shortness of breath, and can walk a few blocks only if I go real slow (and without yacking on the phone, made that mistake already!) I feel I can hold up and function like this just fine if there's benefit to pushing off introduction of procit. On the other hand, having it might allow me to get back to a little excercise, which I can't do now. Is it wise to put it off? Does the body build a tolerance?
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.
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