Aa
blood test results
I am on week 3 of my treatment & everything has gone fine until now. I look ed at my weekly blood tests and compared them. My virus load appears to slowly be coming down (ALT) (AST), thats good. In fact week 3 showed my AST normal for the first time . But my white blood cells are now down to 1.1 and my red blood cells came down slightly, but at the same time my platelets went up? I'm concerned about my treatment because my actual liver doctors on the other side of the world a good part of the year, and he's treating me thru another doctor at my home. And I have have never had "High" bilirubin ever, until my 3rd blood test this last week (1.4). And my white blood cell, I asked about taking Neupogen because 2.4 (1.1LYM) W. blood cells is (LL) very low, but he said I'm still fine. I'm also starting get real jumpy alot when around others for any length of time & ringing in my ears.
Thankyou all for much support. Everything you said goes hand in hand with what I just talked to a pharmacist about over the phone this morning. They called me for reordering om my meds, perfect timing.
Increased bilirubin levels are likely a result of hemolytic anemia; this in turn is due to the ribavirin you are taking:
“...In conditions where the rate of RBC breakdown is increased, the body initially compensates by producing more RBCs; however, breakdown of RBCs can exceed the rate that the body can make RBCs, and so anemia can develop. Bilirubin, a breakdown product of hemoglobin, can accumulate in the blood, causing jaundice, and be excreted in the urine causing the urine to become a dark brown color...”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemolytic_anemia
Your lab values as you describe them above are typical of HCV therapy.
--Bill
“...In conditions where the rate of RBC breakdown is increased, the body initially compensates by producing more RBCs; however, breakdown of RBCs can exceed the rate that the body can make RBCs, and so anemia can develop. Bilirubin, a breakdown product of hemoglobin, can accumulate in the blood, causing jaundice, and be excreted in the urine causing the urine to become a dark brown color...”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemolytic_anemia
Your lab values as you describe them above are typical of HCV therapy.
--Bill
Hi tewewas: My bilirubin is running about 1.4 while on treatment -- I'm not concerned about it.
Treatment produces a spectrum of emotions. These emotions tend to be different from person-to-person. You're experiencing anxiety. Yes, it can be scary. Recommend telling your doctor so he/she can treat it. Regards, GB
Treatment produces a spectrum of emotions. These emotions tend to be different from person-to-person. You're experiencing anxiety. Yes, it can be scary. Recommend telling your doctor so he/she can treat it. Regards, GB
Is this good or bad do you think? I know alot of what everyones telling me right now but I'm also very jittery off & on & it scares me. I was helping a neighbor last night get to their own apt & I almost jumped out of my skin cause I saw someone coming out of my apt. Then I realized I was helping a friend, just one floor below me.
Tewewas: I found this simple bilirubin definition during a Google search, "Bilirubin — Produced when red blood cells break down." Treatment destroys red blood cells. It's likely your elevated bilirubin is caused by the decaying RBCs. Cheers, GB
Well congrats..sorry if I missed your post on it...or maybe you just snuck in a comment here and there. :)
Congrats and hope you recover quickly and look forward to hearing those 3 big letters!!
Best..
Will
Congrats and hope you recover quickly and look forward to hearing those 3 big letters!!
Best..
Will
Yup, did my 24 week lab on Wednesday.
No more shots, no more pills, just me heading up hill !
Actually, I'm relieved, tired and happy :)
No more shots, no more pills, just me heading up hill !
Actually, I'm relieved, tired and happy :)
I am on week 3 of my treatment & everything has gone fine until now
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Actually from what you have posted ,fortunately everything looks like it is still 'going fine"
It is usually the ANC portion of the white blood cell that most doctors would keep a close eye on,however if you overall WBC is 1.1 this is usually not of much concern.
Your Bilirubin level at 1.4 is only slightly above the normal reference range of 1.0 and this is not unusually to have risen slightly during HCV therapy.
Plats ,jump around also quite a bit and actually a slight rise is nothing at all to be concerned with
Right now things look fairly normal for someone treating ,however keeping a close eye on all blood markers is a good idea often so as to intervene if need be before something gets too far out of range.
Good luck moving forward..
Will
----------------------------------
Actually from what you have posted ,fortunately everything looks like it is still 'going fine"
It is usually the ANC portion of the white blood cell that most doctors would keep a close eye on,however if you overall WBC is 1.1 this is usually not of much concern.
Your Bilirubin level at 1.4 is only slightly above the normal reference range of 1.0 and this is not unusually to have risen slightly during HCV therapy.
Plats ,jump around also quite a bit and actually a slight rise is nothing at all to be concerned with
Right now things look fairly normal for someone treating ,however keeping a close eye on all blood markers is a good idea often so as to intervene if need be before something gets too far out of range.
Good luck moving forward..
Will
Your viral load is not your ALT and AST.
Your side effects are from interferon. However as none of us are doctors, you should discuss all of these issues with the medical staff overseeing your care.
You need to educate yourself about hep C.
I suggest looking at this web site:
www.hepcadvocate.org
White blood cell ( wbc) dropping is actually a good sign that tx is working and is very common.
Most heptalogists look at anc not wbc to consider when to begin neupogen.
Anc at .5 is considered the beginning point to take neupogen.
Please see the links included:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Nuepogen/show/1703081
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Some-clarification-if-someone-knows-or-doctor-has-explained/show/1656098?personal_page_id=1837989
Your side effects are from interferon. However as none of us are doctors, you should discuss all of these issues with the medical staff overseeing your care.
You need to educate yourself about hep C.
I suggest looking at this web site:
www.hepcadvocate.org
White blood cell ( wbc) dropping is actually a good sign that tx is working and is very common.
Most heptalogists look at anc not wbc to consider when to begin neupogen.
Anc at .5 is considered the beginning point to take neupogen.
Please see the links included:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Nuepogen/show/1703081
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Hepatitis-C/Some-clarification-if-someone-knows-or-doctor-has-explained/show/1656098?personal_page_id=1837989
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