Viral load increasing since off meds

[Easywriter2222]

Hi everyone. Just an update. Because my platletts dropped so low I had to go off Ribivarin on Nov 2nd. My VL after 12 weeks was 289. At the begining of treatment I was 519,000. So I still detected but it was very low and promising as far as I was concerned. My Dr eventually referred me to a hematologist because my Platletts were low (24) and my wbc was also low 1.2. They took me off Rib right away (I was very mad) but I continued to take a reduced dose of Peg Interferon. However when my plattlets didnt come back up they took me off the Peg also. I just got my new PCR and now it is at 1990 So it appears to be climbing back up. I have not had a shot in almost three weeks and before the previous two shots were reduced shots. I also havent had the ribs in a month. I guess I am not going back on treatment for awhile (although I see my dr again this week) My plattlets are moving back up. They are now at 60 and my wbc is at 4.7. Anyway any thoghts anyone

[NYgirl]

Ouch my Lord you must have been SO MISERABLE I can't believe it.  What an absolutely horrible thing.  It's like is the cure worth the treatment in that case?

I forget what stage/grade you are.  Can you wait until perhaps something else comes down the road or are you going to try to need to restart tx with perhaps something else (pegintron to pegasys or some version)

My prayers go out for you.  I hope they figure out something SOON~!

[cougareyes]

My understanding is that interferon causes low platelets, not riba. Alot of us operate just fine at 1.2 wbc, the real concern in when your ANC gets below 750( I've heard some wait until 500 now ). So with your wbc at 1.2 your %neutrophils would have to be around 30 to get concerned. Personnally I would consult another doctor, and get a clear gameplan of how he will handle low blood counts.          Peace

[cougareyes]

Sorry my math isn't that good these days, Your neut% should be around 40-60 not to be concerned. But again your platelets and your wbc has to do with the interferon. If your red blood counts were low they would have addressed the riba. I'm not sure a reduction or procrit should have been ordered before stopping riba all together. A drug called nuemega can boost platelets.
Don't get me wrong I'm not advocating these drugs, nor do I believe in ultra aggressive therapies. I'm just stating these because a good HCV doctor would have knowledge of all of this; and should have some gameplan before simply pulling meds.  Good Luck

[jmjm530]

Sorry your viral load is up. I think it's now time for the second opinion you were considering at the 12-week mark. You should see a hepatologist who treats large numbers of hep c patients and is used to using "rescue" drugs like Procrit and Neupogen. You'll usually find them at the larger, teaching hospitals.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

Unfortunate they stopped TX when you were so close.  You must have had a fairly sensitive PCR.  At Plates of 60 you are out of danger zone.  Many folks here seem to be in the range of 60-100 during TX.  Plates seem to fluctuate anyway but 20's are low. You should get with the hemo (evey week or two)  to stay on the blood labs and get remedial stuff (neupogen for WBA and Ancs, Procrit -EPO for hgb) as needed.  There has been some discussion around the appropriateness of Neumega for Plates.  Check with the hemo and bring a list of questions for intervention levels and drugs to treat them.  Being so close and stopping TX is a tough thing - doc should have been more proactive and should have had a plan - Tx will whack out something sooner or later and you need to stay on the docs and TX.  Good luck.