Low WBC/Neutorphils

About six or seven weeks ago my doctor started my tx.
After the second injection my wbc and neutrophils dropped to nearly (0)
He took me off treatment immediately and started Neupogen which
of course shot my counts up.  ( he was on a skiing trip when this was happening)

Since then I've been out of my head with fear...after five weeks after stopping treatment and all medication today my white blood count is 2.9 and my neutrophils are 750.  They are inching up every week but very slowly.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with WBC/Neutrophils beging (suppressed)
or are the doctors just guessing now.

The hematologist I am now seeing says we can give it a couple more weeks and then
maybe do a bone marrow biopsy.

I am totally freaked out which is really not helping my situation.

I was diagnosed in Feb. at age 59.  Since then I've developed severe leg pain and dry eyes.
I'm seeing at least two doctors per week about some aspect of my non-treatment situation.  

Rosebud




The doctor sent me to hematologist who says we can do a bone marrow biopsy
or wait a few weeks to see if I come back on my own

I got have gotten with a hepatologist who says it my numbers return
to normal maybe I can try the treatment again.

I really think the doctor who started the treament did not have the expertise
or knowledge for anything but a textbook case.











The hematologist I am now seeing says he can do a bone marrow biopsy and try to
figure out what's going on or we can wait a couple more weeks and see how much progress
I've made.  He seems to think my bone marrow may have been suppressed, but I am not sure!

Has anyone had anything even similar happen?

I am about to go crazy.

Rosebud

[medicmommy]

Hello!
(((((((((((((((((((HUGZ)))))))))))))))) You're going to be okay if the hep C isn't treated immediately.....It's wise to do this one step at a time...A battle can't be won if you don't have enough armies..There is concern for possible autoimmune disease that is messing up your blood values and made you react the way you did...It can be one of the things that hep C causes...Have you seen a hepatologist? (Liver DR)  It does sound like your Dr was caught off-guard...Were I you, I'd wait...having a needle puncture your bone is a huge invitation to infection while your Neuts are low..You didn't say if you'd had other blood test results...Did you have a liver biopsy done? Have they told you your genotype (strain of hep C you have?) Hang in there...

[JennyPenny]

Please don't go crazy. I have dealt with the same exact thing. I had been on 1/2 dose pegasys for maintenance (we didn't know yet that it doesn't work) due to late stagge disease and the fact that I never reached undetected. I got a sinus infection that refused to respond to treatment. My primary care physician sent me for labs and called me in a panic. My ANC (Absolute neutrophil count) was 9 and my wbc was .2. The following week my platelets went down from 160,000 to 80,000 and my hemoglobin went from 11.8 to 7 something. I went on Aranesp and Neulasta. Both are long-acting forms of procrit and neupogen. Everything came up a little bit but not fast enough. And as soon as I stopped the drugs, everything went way down again. I finally had a bone marrow biopsy and it turned out that my bone marrow was just extremely suppressed from the interferon. The doctor said my bone marrow was like an auditorium full of high school students. They are all there, but not quite grown up yet. So, it took about 6 months and I am now fine and off the meds since last summer. I am also back on 1/2 dose. Don't ask me why as I know it doesn't work, and my labs are holding study. Go figure.

So, don't be scared. It took a while but everything came back to normal. And my hematologist told me that when she does a biopsy it really doesn't hurt. And she was right. I felt lots of pressure, but no pain and was out running around the next morning.

[sfwandwow]

mine dropped out and i went on neupogen shots and for about 6 weeks and iamokay now, was never taken off tx

[Rosebud41]

Thank you all so very much . I guess I am about to go crazy because I am so old discovering this problem which means "I'd had ut for years.

I have now seem a hepatologist who siad I could resart treatment when my numbers come back.

I aso have a hematologist who is closly monitoring my blood counts.

Test: HIV-neg, enzymes 100/120 elevated, oncology panel normal ,thyroid normal range,
there has been a lot of tests and basically all come back pretty good.
Genotype 1.

Unfortunately, I started with the wrong primary doctor. I probably should not have followed her referral for a gastro doc.

I had already planned to cancel the marrow biopsy for the exact reason you stated, but thanks for confirming  that decision for me.  I remeber reading in forum once not to have intra muscular injections with a low WBC.
Thanks a million who your encouragement. I've really become paranoid about the situation and that is compicated by the fact  thatmy nerve pain is severe and my dry eyes are a big distraction.
I am not good with this at all.

Thanks, Rosebud

[medicmommy]

Something for the dry eyes...It is OTC drops called Systane..Works excellent! Hang in there! As far as the wrong doctor thing...Well, sometimes you get to kiss a few toads before you find your prince..the same goes with docs..:)  ((((((((((((((((HUGZ))))))))))))

[Rosebud41]

Thanks for the suggestion...I picked some up some.
It is pretty good.

Thanks a million times over for your encouragement and help

[Rosebud41]

I went to a neurologist today for the pain and he's doing some additional tests
related to autoimmune problems.
This latest group of specialist seem reallly dedicated and smart.
I think it's due to having a really good primary care doctor now.

Again,
Thanks so much.
Words can't express how I feel about the suppoprt I receive here from so many wonderful
people.

Rosebud