low hemoglobin

my hgb is at 10.5. nurse said they will let me get to about 9 before reducing the ribaviron or giving me a weekly shot. Does anyone know what the shot is and is anyone having low hgb?

[can-do-man]

The shot i would guess is procrit, most start it when the HGB gets to 10... Alot of us have low HGB during tx, more so if your taking one of the PI's.

[dixiechicdana]

well, the nurse said most of the time they reduce the riba because the shot is expensive. i would rather do the shot. they should give me the choice.

[can-do-man]

I agree the choice should be yours, dose reducing should be the last choice.

[can-do-man]

Should add procrit usually takes a couple of weeks to start working thats why most start it when your HGB gets to 10........ Good luck

[joemc34606]

My hema dropped to 10.5 last week my doc starts procrit at 10, vie been feel in pretty wore out at 10.5. I got my first shot of procrit Monday, hasn't realty kicked in yet, should get another one this week. I would try for procrit before reducing your dosage, and see if you can get it now because by the time you get to nine your gonna feel like s--- and it will take two weeks for procrit to work. Good luck. Joe

[his3707]

ditto

[pcds]

I reduced riba until the procrit took hold which was 2 weeks.

[toby47]

Pcds--how much did they reduce your riba.I'm at 9.4 as of last tuesday and still won't  see hemo dr. til  thursday.I'll get a blood test t'mmrw but if I'm below 9.0 don't know if I can wait for insurance to clear and procrit to kick in.Unforunately my GI doc is not proactive so I have to be.How much did the reduction boost your hgb.

[working dog]

i would get on procrit at around 10...in the 9s i feel pretty bad but the 8s for me are awful..i went from 8 ti 11.8 in two and a half weeks on procrit...then back to 9s again...maybe high 8s...i wish i had stared procit before i was in the 8s..its funny some folks can work and do ok in the 8s...for me i can only say a few soft words at a time when in the low 8s...i can't pick my head up to walk around...just can't...and am in bed 22 or more hours a day when my hgb is in the low 8s...so maybe try to get on procit..i wish i had sooner when i was in the low 10s...good luck....billy

[crossroadsec]

This conversation makes me sooo mad at the freakn ins company again. I'm hanging around 8.3 since August 17. Dr gave me a free shot. Heck I'd pay cash at this point.. Lol karen

[dixiechicdana]

ugh....will see what the word is on the 4th of oct. Hope it doesnt continue to drop but figure it will. Just tired and get out of breath easy for now.

[nygirl7]

$6,000 for a box of ten - I was using it up in five weeks and was on it for 69 weeks so yes it's very expensive.

You can't just take one shot it has a huge job to do in your bone marrow and it takes time to do that job.  Just remember to have frequent CBCs done because you don't want to over 12 that is a part of the black box warning. Actually once you get lower 10.5 will seem pretty darn good that is what I went up to and it was tolerable. It's worse on the way down...going back up feels marvelous even its not all that much.

[working dog]

in the 10s feels fine to me now...although i don't seem to stay up there...billy

[screaming48]

i just want to croak, went down very fast, started at 13.9 hemoglobin three weeks ago last week went to 9.2 on thursday today 8.1 scared the doctor I am to do nothing until shots get here, not to move, lol cant do that anyway.

[dixiechicdana]

Hope my Medical assistance will pay for it. It is Mn state insurance cause I am on disability. Heck, they may be sick of me taking all the funds lol Maybe I can make it for the next two weeks without it. I am almost done with incivek and that is what is really doing it I think. I was never like this before when just doing riba and interferon. Can Hgb come back up on it's own?