Help Shot 1 and Neutraphils are Low! What decision to make

[motheroffour]

Husband took first shot of Peg on Monday and started Riba on Monday.  Went for CBC this morning, doc called and said Neutraphil was at .3  She says husband can take shot again at full does on Sunday night and "see what happens" at blood test on next Thursday AM or he can decrease dose to .3 Peg.
She says he has increased risk of infection but that it is his decision to postpone any lower doosing until next week.  This is his FIRST week, what's up?  Is this normal for it to drop with the first shot then rise again?  Doc says that it may fluctuate  up and down and may rise on it's own as his body adjusts to the second shot??  Help, what to do.  Hubby is early, early stage 4, Geno 1 for over 25 years, low viral count (under 500,000), looking to get rid of the Hep C and help his Liver.  Other than that he's strong, healthy, normal weight, only other illness is psoriassis.

[NYgirl]

Your husband needs to stay on this treatment with early stage 4 and try to beat this disease.

There are medications that he can be put on that we call "rescue drugs" that will help with things do with his bloodwork.

A lot of us have gone through these problems...and the meds that the doctors prescribed have kept us able to do the course of treatment.

My whites have been very low since I started treatment 53 weeks ago but my bigger problem was the reds = and the anemia we get as a result.

After only one week that shouldn't be a problem for him yet...but make sure you have FREQUENT CBCs (the blood tests) to monitor all of the bloodwork.  Call and have them fax you a copy the day the results come back! This can really save you a lot of time and it's totally what we'd all advise.

I put mine all into a little binder so I can see what has gone up and down and sideways over the many months.

Good luck!

[FlGuy]

Given his liver condition, the need to rid, the possible liver improvement just by being on the peg...the decision needs to be to stay on full doses of both peg and riba. Low ANC's are easily and quickly addressed with Neupogen aka filgrastim.  It's an injection, that may be needed in a series of couple/few days which will cause the anc's to rebound.  But, if they go low again, the process will need to be repeated.  Alwys driven by the results of a cbc so he'll need regular cbc's, probably weekly, to stay on top of it.  I did not notice any side effects from Neupogen.  Other have reported so bone pain.  But it's better than reducing the peg.
You mentioned psoriassis.  I think that you read, discussed by Jim and others, about the possibility of some challenegs hubby may have there.  I don't know anything about that, but others he might.