Stop meds till doctor calls tomorrow?

[Buba1962]

Hi all , talked to nurse today about rash y bumps on my face and she talks to doctor and they tell me to go to ER to rule out infection . Go to their affiliated hosp. So Gi fellows from hep clinic can consult ! Well off I go  4 hrs later ER doc tells me he consulted with the docs from Gi upstairs and tells me to hold my meds till I talk to my doctor who is supposed to call me tomorrow . Now they looked at yesterday's labs and I only had a slight decrease in WBC and RBC .plaelets about 44,00 but my norm was ony 50, 000. He told me really not critical as in bleed out till 5,000. So here is my question. Would you hold meds ? Let me say I have no intention of holding meds . So your thoughts will not persuade me . No need to hesitate just honest if you were in my shoes what would you do? Doctor at hospital never even ordered a blood test or swab of area just looked at me like he was afraid to touch me . Really? One fool asked me if my dog had fleas? Yeah right and they only bite the left side of my face . Wanted to scream . Okay what do you all think?

[Sarah1949]

Personally, I would not listen to the residents/fellows and would only hold/stop the meds if my doctor himself told me to.

[hrsepwrguy]

"if you were in my shoes what would you do?"

I would take the meds and talk to your doc tomorrow, see if he can get you in to see a derm doc asap.

[Buba1962]

Already done !

[Buba1962]

Yes took my meds at 8:30

[patra_]

I concur w/your decision.  Since ER dr was not a specialist-andmay have been a resident or intern, I expect s/he does not understand the consequenxpces of interruptingnthese meds.

Good Luck w/your Dr tomorrow!

[Buba1962]

Thank you

[Idyllic]

!

Do you mean since last night it has progressed from acne-like to a rash? If in this period of time it progressed to that degree then I am not sure what to say. (?? Wow sorry it sounded way more subtle and harmless then the way it does now!!)

When I treated with Triple therapy with Incivek I had an annoying skin irritation when I treated that was manageable with Clobetasol (a very potent topical steroid) which subsided shortly after I stopped treatment. It wasn't on my face though.

My Dermatologist has/had a lot of patients with HCV so I trusted his judgement and continued treating. Having said that I probably would have anyway since I had all the meds from the specialty pharmacy. But that is me.

I agree with all that has been said you need to see someone qualified to make the determination based on your medical particulars. If you clicked on the link I sent yesterday the data was recent and not a lot of people had to stop treatment for dermatological reasons. Though some did. This was based on Peg & Riba tho.

[hepc4Sandi]

Yes, get the dermatology consult, ER is not going to know the Sx from the meds you are taking. When I went into the ER when I was on Tx I took all the printouts for all my meds with me for them to see. My guess is you got sun on your face on Sunday and have gotten the Riba rash starting. I am not a doctor, but that is my guess. I know dermatology will have something they can give you. Have you tried Benadryl? I had 2 days off everything about 1/3 the way thru Tx, the 2 days at a reduced Riba dose (200 mg), and it did not effect my outcome. I was reduced because of low red blood cell count and a panic attack. Let us know what happens, but Stay Out of The Sun! Wear a broad rimmed hat, I wore sun sleeves I ordered online when I went into the sun too. You must stay out of it. Take care.

[hepcandme]

def don't stop meds on the advice of the ER team. They do not know enough about your situation or all that you went through to undergo treatment

Apologies for making light of your "pimples" in a former post. I can see that it has developed into something more serious but as Sandi said, it could be a sun reaction

Even when you think you are taking every precaution, just walking around outside in the middle of a sunny day can really cause a serious reaction

Good luck!

[Idyllic]

I keep thinking about a sun reaction as even though you did not mention any of your previous activities. The skin on the hands and face/neck are almost always exposed - and tend to be thinner. Even if you don't normally have problems with the sun.

Be sure to outline all your activities and maybe even products you use because maybe one of them could be a trigger.

I hope it is something along this line and not related to the newer meds you take. Before agreeing being yanked off treatment outright maybe you could see if the reaction is dose related.

I am just spit balling here here since other than the newer med released in the upcoming month I can't think what else if anything is coming down the pike you could treat with if this regimen doesn't pan out.

We are all rooting for you!

[Buba1962]

Thank you All for responding .
I will mention being in th sun on Sunday ,seems that is when all got going .
I did take my meds last night and will continue too until one of my Doctors sees me .
I do take one or two benydryl at night ,for itching and it helps me stay asleep .
Can't wait to express the treatment or lack there of I received last night at ER to my team . Guess what I am not going to do again for any treatment related issues .
No ER for this girl !
Have a great day all ! I will let you know today's outcome when I do ☺️

[nan535]

Buba - it sounds to me like you got a reaction from being in the sun. Given it is "only" a facial rash, I would not stop the meds.  

That said, for anyone reading this, if you notice any new swelling of the legs and feet and/or you suddenly have difficulty breathing, that would likely be a sign of a potentially life threatening  allergic reaction. Totally different scenario. Stop the meds and get to the ER!

My 2 cents...
Nan

[Idyllic]

Hey the Emergency room is great for a lot of things  but their immediate goal is to treat what is in front of them. It does not surprise me that they would deduce if it is the meds causing the skin condition stop taking the meds and the condition will subside. I mean I am not sure what else they could do in a circumstance like that. (Remember that old yarn, "Doctor, Doctor it hurts when I do this" and the doctor responds by saying, "Then don't do that.)

It is just like I said the facial tissue is usually most exposed and thinner. I work outside a lot and if anything is going to happen to me it is going to be on my arms, neck or face. If you don't have those spots anywhere else on your body then it makes sense to think of two conditions present that would cause a reaction. Even if in normal nontreatment circumstances nothing would happen.

I admit I am hoping the cause is something like that. The thing is just based on my own treatment experience even when I discovered what I thought might be the cause the irritation did not go away until after treatment.

It is possible even if you changed your habits what you see now might stay until you are completely off the meds.

I hope you post again and I hope matters have not progressed.
sent from my iPad

[Buba1962]

Yes you make some good points . Still think the doctor could have been a little more thorough , any way nurse ,pharmacist  , both called me today . Both were a little baffled by the doctors orders. Anyway I do have an appointment on Mon. With doc and pharm. seems my platelet count is troubling them . To discuss options . I will let all know  what we decided on Monday

[Idyllic]

I think the longer you treat or the more you learn about Hepatitis C and talk about it to other people it is going to amaze you just how many people in medicine know very little about Hepatitis C. I mean from transmission to interpreting the labs (antibodies & PCR) to the medications and treatment. This includes the good ol' family doctor to the pharmacist to emergency room personal and even established MDs in other fields of medicine and even Gastros who do not routinely treat HCV in their practice.

[Buba1962]

Yes that is becoming very apparent . Guilty myself . New a few people with it and lost a brother in law to liver cancer from it . Still had to do a lot of research just to catch up on basics . The medical community really need to step it up . This is 2014 not 1980 . We really are lucky to have a site like this to help each other spread the knowledge and support

[hepc4Sandi]

By the way, it is normal when taking Interferon to have your platelets fall. My doctor said it always falls on Interferon. It is so much a balancing act.

[Buba1962]

Yes  ,I do know the meds are responsible for falling platelets. Think docs are worried about them .i was informed today we will discuss all possible options on Mondays appointment . Some I did not like the sound of . They think the combo may be to much for me .heard things like lower dose or discontinue peg . Told them wasn't happy with either .also think they will give me another two weeks and check me again as long as I don't get any more rash . Well I am still standing in the battle ring so to speak .one day at a time

[hepc4Sandi]

Hang in there, supposedly blood levels level out the second month. Keep drinking plenty of water, and eating. If they cancel the peg can you do the other 2 for 24 weeks?