hemotologist visit tomorrow

anybody have any thoughts on what might happen and any questions i should ask at the hemotologist
tomorrow.  i'm about 8 months in without any rescue drugs yet.  low numbers are:
white cell count 2.7
hemoglobin 10.6
hemocrit 31.0
abs neutrophil 1.3
red blood cells 3.27
any thoughts are really welcomed.  thanks all.

[sfwandwow]

good luck may GOD be with ya

[IAmTheWalrus]

IMO - your blood cell counts look OK. They are really close to the results I have been having since a few months after starting TX in July. From what I am told, your hemoglobin could be lower without rescue.  Mine has been below 11 often.

Two hepatologists have told me that they have let neutrophils go as low as .2 in TX patients without rescue (if they have a competent immune system and are otherwise fairly healthy). Mine have been as low as .8, but usually hang around the area of 1.

As far as questions, I would ask directly how low these levels could go before starting on rescue drugs, although this question would perhaps be better directed to your hepatologist. I   don't know if a hemotologist would be familiar with HepC TX as a hepatologist would be??

Best of luck! Hope you don't need the rescue drugs.

[annekynch]

thanks for the post.  i was thinking things were bad so it's relieving to hear your opinion.  i was also thinking procrit would make me feel better but it sounds like no rescue drugs is my best bet.  who'd a known.  thanks again.

[JennyPenny]

Your labs look great compared to what mine looked like. My wbc was .2, anc 9 (yes plain old 9) and my hemoglobin was around 7.6. It took months for the neulasta and aranesp to work, but it did work. It doesn't appear to me like you need any rescue drugs but I am not the doctor. Good luck.

[Trish77]

I think your numbers look just fine as well, however I agree with Walrus that a good question to ask is how low does your doctor let things go before going to rescue drugs.  I've had it recommended to me that it might be good to ask the doctor at what point you start preparing for rescue drugs because they take awhile to kick in, some of them, and it  takes awhile to get through the approvals to actually receive the drugs.  You might want to ask your doctor about that too.

From what I understand from other people here, they come with their own side effects but do the job required so you don't want to take them unless you truly need them.

However..your labs do look okay.  Your hemo is getting down there but it's tolerable and particularly if it's maintaining there.

Good luck with the doc.

Trish

[xracer1]

My visits to the hematologist are the best part of my treatment. He is much more knowledgeable about the serious sx affecting blood etc. and is up on all the latest rescue drugs. He is much more accessible than my GI doc and he watches my blood more often.

I doubt that he will treat based on the numbers you state. They look great to me. I would recommend to anyone starting treatment to get on board with a hematologist.