Transfusion Hamper Treatment?

[alagirl]

You know, I've just developed a new neuroses.  Ok.  So I was UND at week 4.  Then the following Monday I had to get two units of blood, and I missed a couple of doses, one the night of the transfusion (of the riba) and one the next night.  So.  Any chance I have screwed up my UND by both diluting my blood and the riba quotient via the transfusion in general and by missing doses?  Uggh!

Has anyone else had to be transfused besided me?

[jmjm530]

Actually, I don't think you really need the week 6 test now that you're UND. Once a month at this point should be fine as long as no significant dose changes or liver enzyme elevations. But if it makes you feel better....

[jmjm530]

You're not going to have a viral breakthrough. Repeat that 100 times. Then ask for a week 6 (and week 8) test :)

[alagirl]

Cause after all... It IS all about me... ;)

[alagirl]

Yeah true that.  Ok.  Also, am thinking that I could have them run a viral load at week 6 instead of waiting until week 8.  That would reassure me.

[jmjm530]

In the Sweedish high -dose riba study, two of the participants required two tranfusions each. Both of them ended up SVR.  I didn't have a transfusion but was forced off riba completely betweeen weeks 2 and 3 due to anemia. Both are not apple-to-apple examples -- high doses of ribavirin used in both cases -- but the bottom line is that you had no choice in the matter so why look back. Also, as an acute, riba may be far less important to your viral response than to a chronic. Hopefully,. you will get more answers when you consult with some more specialists.

-- Jim