Labs

Okay I guess I must feel **** for no reason.

Top labs are yesterdays, one underneath is from ten days ago.

WBC about the same

RBC     4.42
        5.30
Hemoglobin       13.9
                 16.7

Hematocrit        41.2
                  49.3

Platelets           284
                    273

Neuts                40.7
                     36.5

Lymphs             48.2
                   52.5

AST                  24
                     41

ALT                  33
                     76

Alk phos           105
                    97

deb

[madbrad]

...It all looks good...Are you even on tx?

[sunspot]

Three point drop in HGB in 9 days. That can make you feel cr@ppy. At 13.9 that is still at a nice level.
I see your AST and ALT is dropping nicely. Keep up the great work.

[debnevada]

okay...yes, i know i have great labs
what i was looking for was a reason not to think i'm crazy for being so tired. I haven't had an H and H below 46 and 16 my entire life, INCLUDING when I had my abdominal surgery. it was still 14.8 or something like that!
So i'm not crazy for sleeping 12 hours yesterday and one at the office this morning?

Deb

[sunspot]

16.7 HGB is on the high side for a female. That being said, yes, a 3.2 drop in 9 days is a big drop. It will make you feel tired. Are you out of breath on a set of stairs? That also comes of a HGB drop. If so, watch out for fainting. A few of us on this board have had that happen.

[jmjm530]

Deb,

You had almost a three point drop in hemoglobin in ten days. Regardless that you still are at hgb 13.9, a drop that fast is enough to bring a horse to its knees and certainly can account for how you're feeling. Given the fast rate of hemoglobin decline, I'd ask your medical team to monitor your hemoglobin at least once a week until it either levels off. If it keeps dropping at this rate, you might be a candidate for Procrit (epo). While some don't need Procrit until hgb falls below 10, others need it sooner, especially if they have a fast decline like yours. I was given Procrit at hgb 11.9 because of close to a three point drop in three weeks. You've had the same drop in only ten days. Something to definitely discuss with your medical team so you can prepare in advance. As a side note, studies suggest that a fast drop in hgb may be associated with high serum ribavirin levels and a better chance of SVR. That seems to be the case with you, given you were non-detectible at week 2. All seems to be going well, just keep on top of the hemoglobin.

Be well,

-- Jim

[jmjm530]

Can't emphasize how important it is for you right now to stay on top of the hemoglobin because given your remarkable non-detectible viral load at week 2, possibly the only thing that can stand in the way of your SVR would be non-complicance to the meds due to having to stop taking the drugs because of severe anemia. I don't know if they will administer Procrit (epo) at hgb 13.9, but again, if it drops in another week, and your're feeling the same or worse, it might be worth discussing getting at least 1-2 shots to slow down the decline.

-- Jim

[debnevada]

I appreciate your feedback. I was starting to feel nuts or like a big complainer. But i slept 12 hours yesterday and also had to sleep an hour in the office this morning. My hematocrit dropped a lot too.

I'm a big strong girl and have never had H&H's like this in my life. Remember, former marathoner.

So if i need to quit complaining, please tell me. I'll listen and I'll even quit complaining!

Deb

[jmjm530]

"Complaining" is what this place is here for. Just make sure you "complain" to your nurse because she's the one who doles out the Procrit (epo) not us. Make sure you get another CBC a week after the last one was taken.

-- Jim

[sunspot]

I never thought of your question as a complaint. Do what Jim suggested and have frequent CBC

[wyntre9]

My HgB has dropped 3 points over the past three months.

I'm now on 18 of 48 week TX.

The ratio between the amount of time I'm awake vs. asleep has been steadily shifting.  I now spend an equal amount of time on both and the sleep is beginning to win out.

I don't know if it's getting worse coz my HgB is lower, my resistance is lower, I don't wanna face reality (correction, I know that's true) - but if this trend keeps up I may be Forum's first Rip Van Winkle.

(That actually sounds pretty good - waking up up when it's over.)

wyntre