Timing of Lab Work

[LindyK]

Hi everyone and Happy New Year!  I haven't posted in a while but have been lurking.  I just finished week 6/24.  I went to the lab yesterday and they were CLOSED the whole week of Christmas!  They hold my standing lab order so I can get my labs done at anytime so there was not another option plus it's LabCorp and only lab allowed by my HMO.

I am concerned about my RBC.  On Dec 8 it was 11.5.  The last 4 days I have been extremely fatigued.  Had been doing fine before that.  My understanding is that it is best to get your labs done the day after injection (which was yesterday).  Since I have this concern about RBC, should I go ahead and get labs done on Tuesday or wait until next Friday?

[ladybug52]

I'm glad you posted this question for me how did you know I was wondering? :)
I have my cbc, hep panel, thyroid function scheduled for the 2nd, hepatimax for the 5th (shot day) I too started at 14 hemoglobin and dropped to 11 after 2 weeks. I don't feel too fatigued so I guess I'm ok. Makes me wonder how fast it can drop anfter listening to some of the others horror stories. I don't faint, I still walk a lot so I guess I'm fine.
Bug

[sfbaygirl]

I think you are talking about your Hgb, correct? Not the RBC. This is how you measure anemia. Mine also plummeted at the beginning and I had to take the Aranesp shots to keep it high enough. NOw at 37 weeks it has leveled to 11 and I don't take them, although I wonder b/c of my energy, breathlessness etc. I too had CBC's once a week while my ANC and HGB were going down each week and I needed the boosters. Now I sorta hide from the Dr and lab, b/c that Neulasta shot was brutal to me.

The best time to take your CBC is the day of your shot or the day before, then the drops aren't so apparent.

[dperry10]

My doctor told me to get the labs the day of the shot as well.  And I have to do that everyweek for a think a month.  Not feeling too bad today.  slight headache, but time for more water.  Really craving a milkshake, but only have icecream bars. LOL  And sugar free at that.

[painterlady13]

Because I had low rbc 3 weeks into TX My doc had me do weekly cbc's till week 20 just to keep and eye on it, once the rbc went back to normal the wbc dropped.  I am finally at a point where I get them everyother week and in 2 weeks I will be able to go to every 4 weeks YEA!!!!!

[SoCal Lady]

I had lab work at weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 16 & 20.  A PCR was included at week 4 and  16...

[Imagine]

Am I misreading this thread? Do some of you get weekly cbc tests? I can understand the precise timing for a pcr but I was unaware cbc labs needed the same preciseness. I only went in for cbc once a month and had pcr @12wks, 6 month and EOT.

[copyman]

i agree with the others, my understanding is to have the bloodwork done the day before or morning of shot day. i know this is especially true for a pcr test. happy new year

[jmjm530]

Viral load tests day before shot or day of shot but before the shot. Never paid much attention what day I did the rest of my labs, cbc, etc.

-- Jim

[SoCal Lady]

I was told to get bloodwork done before the injection so the blood would be seen under the least influence of the interferon.  I inject on Sunday nights, and have been getting lab work done on Fridays.

I hate to tell you this, but your fatigue level is probably something you'll have to get used to.  My hemoglobin count went from 14.5 to 10.3 and I've been plagued extreme fatigue and shortness of breath upon exertion.  Some days are better than others, of course...

Female- 59 years old- Genotype 2b- UND @ 4 weeks- last injection (24/24) tomorrow night (YIPPEE!)

[Myown]

lindy said "My understanding is that it is best to get your labs done the day after injection"


hi lindy! sorry to hear you are fatigued.

I think(?)we are supposed to get the lab BEFORE the shot,,,in other words, labs friday morning= means shot that nite. but maybe i am wrong,,,,,glad you brought up the question, maybe someone else can clarify.

hope you feel better soon.

[LindyK]

Beginning RBC was 14.

[Imagine]

11.5 is not too bad. May I ask what your starting point value was for rbc? During the first few weeks the decrease can be significant. Mine kind of leveled out after a steep decline in the beginning. They still dropped but at a much slower rate. Yes you really notice it as well. Personally I would not be concerned about "having" to get it done on Tuesday as compared to Friday.
Good luck to you and Happy New Year