hemoglobin at 11.5!

guys my 15th week CBC showed an Hgb of 11.5.

This is a 15 week drop from 14.3 pre tx.  is this an emergency? or will it stabilize here?  i'm having trouble walking for considerable distances and feel short of breath.

the 10th week CBC was 12.4.


now does this warrant procrit or a riba dose reduction?

i'm taking 800mg riba/day..i weight 60kg.

i was UND at 4, 7 and 13 weeks.

geno 3a, age 25, infected less than 4 years.

[HCA]

Your Hgb is fine at 11.5.
You'll probably make it to the end of treatment without dose adjustment or procrit
The one precaution is to monitor your blood count every two weeks.

[copyman]

rescue drugs like procrit are not usually dosed unitl hemoglobin drops below 10.

[NYgirl]

You're in pretty good shape after this long. Just continue to make sure you monitor it closely and if it goes under ten  - get the Procrit.

Niceguy don't EVER LET them reduce your meds!!!!!!!!!!!

That is the last thing you EVER want to do as it WILL hurt your chances of getting SVR.

Best of luck.

[theflyjd]

I think you are fine with your HGB @ 11.5. Mine went down well below 9 before they put me on Procrit and that has maintained it at a comfortable 11.2.

[jmjm530]

Everything sounds OK but probably a very good idea to monitor your hgb weekly until it stabalizes. If it continues to drop and/or your shortness of breath gets worse, re-visit the Procrit issue with your doctor which I assume you have already discussed.

Be well,

-- Jim

[friole]

I begged the hemotologist for PRocrit when the hgb dropped below 11.  Looks like youare headed that way.  I am very doubtful that it will increase, although your body may adjust to the 11.5 hgb over time.  Just watch it closely.
frijole

[niceguy2007]

i messed up my riba on only 3 separate days only during my 15 weeks of tx... whereby i took 600mg insteaed of 800mg.  

do u guys think this will have any impact on my treatment?

[ladybug52]

No, I think with your excellent pcr's you are going to continue to do great with curing yourself. My hemo was 11.3 on the 18th and really didn't feel all that good till yesterday. Mine must have come up again because I feel so much better.  I can see how you don't feel so well right now. I ate a pomegranite last night and kept wondering "Is this why I feel so good?" Probably due to the procrit tho.