Neupogen at 5 weeks

[friole]

Had my appointment with the hemotologist this afternoon.  I have been feeling rundown and was expecting her to suggest Procrit pretty soon.  Instead, she said she (and the GI) are more concerned about the ANC (Absolute Nuetrphils Count) going down than the hemoglobin. My ANC was at .8 today.  The range is 2.0 - 8.0.  Pretreatment I was 2.8.  She would like to see it up to 1.5.  I think JmJm said the norm was to rx at .5, but she wants to start Monday.  So now I need to look thru all the archives on WBC and Neupogen.  Have read the Janis7 info already.  Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated.

My Hemoglobin has dropped to 11.2 (pretreatment 14.6) but she is not worried about that yet.  Mainly she wants to get that WBC up to prevent infections.  I liked this doc a lot.  Very caring and informed.  I am glad she is on my team
Kathy

[dodger1]

I am still waiting for my doctor to call me back from Monday when I insisted on Procrit.  When I started treatment my hemoglobin was at a 14.7 then 2 weeks later 12.7 then 4 weeks later I am at a 9.0.  I feel terrible.  She told me when I could not move in the morning to go to work she would prescribe it.  Why dont these doctors want to give this out??  My white blood cells are at a 1.8.  Can you take neupogen and Procrit at the same time????

[What Next]

Thanks for the info about RX help I will ask the doctor a/s/a/p
She did say it was going to be pegius and co pegius

[nyhepc]

have appt with Lauren's dr.  he HAS to be better!!!! let me give you one more example of his philosophy.  i was expressing concern that being off tx this long would affect long-term outcome. his statement to me:  "anybody who can maintain therapeutic dosage will clear at the end. it is up to you to be able to maintain therapeutic dosage."  do you wonder where i found this guy?  he is a highly recommended GI doc. i think hep c just isn't his forte'

[friole]

Well, good luck.  I hope you find somebody better. It is a shame they didn't use the Procrit and Neupogen.  I don't suppose they ordered a PCR either (after they pulled you). Gosh it is hard to find the right people.  Sometimes I wonder if I am the only person in my town treating.  I am trying to avoid going out of town for treatment but that may have to change.
Kathy

[nyhepc]

doc pulled me off tx when hgb was 9.9, hct 28.1, wbc 1.8, anc 936. yes, i was symptomatic for anemia. after 1 week off tx, values were hgb 10.5, hct 31.1, wbc 2.1, anc 798. and there they've stayed since. i would assume he started me on the neupogen because the values didn't rebound as quickly as he would have liked.  if you all remember, i've had nothing but problems with this guy. he is NOT aggressive, his staff doesn't follow thru...and he talks to me like i'm an idiot. little does he know...he's on marked time!!!! :)))  have another cbc on monday followed by an office visit. we shall see what that will bring

[friole]

My brain is full.  I am trying to absorb all of this.  Forgot my Riba last night and remembered at 10:00- took it then.  Forgot my Riba this morning and had to drive back home from work to go get it.  LOL - I have been so conscientious for 5 weeks I haven't missed it, and now two times!  ANd duh, I wish I know how to do a spellcheck on this forum.  Chemotherapy - jeesh!

Lots to think about here, lots to respond to

NYhep - I am most interested in what is happening to you.  Your WBC and ANC stats are almost identical to mine and you were just put on Neupogen.  I have probably read the threads, but can't recall now - did you get pulled from treatment for low RBC and WBC and are trying to get that under control to begin peg-copeg again?  What type doc put you on the Neupogen and does he/she have a lot of hep c knowledge? What was the reasoning?

Snook and Jmjm - you both seem to have top of the line hepatologists.  They all recommend waiting until <.5. Laika, Lynne, Iwillbeat - your docs say the same thing.  <.5.  My doc wants to do the first Neupogen and see what the tests read.  She is hopeful I can take a half dose, maybe once a week.  I am still thinking the more WBCs the better but I am going to discuss it further with the doc.


Jmjm - thanks for the article - I will get that and the info on the Janis7 sight to my doc.  I am wondering this though -- I know you suffer from sinuitis and psoriasis (or other skin problems?) and wonder if Neupogen would build up the WBC to fight some of that. There are so many side effects from treatment, it seems the more WBC the better.  
Laika and others - Laika ,your hbg is identical to mine this week.  I have tired days, but am not weak and overall do not feel beat down yet.  Although this doc did not seem to lean towards Procrit, I think she will work with me on it.  I walk 3 mi most mornings.  I am going to use that as my gauge - if I find myself breathless or tired half way through, I think I need Procrit.  Also, if my hgb hits 10 I will ask for it.

Lvdbygod - you snuck a question in there that hasn't been answered -- hope you see this.  You say your doc wants you to take Procrit but your counts have been stable.  WHat are those counts?  I think it quite possible for this anemia to affect our quality of life slowly, so that we don't realize it could be any different than it is.  Perhaps you should try the Procrit and see how it affects you.

I thank you all for your responses.