need advice HGB 8.4 & HCT 26.8

I hope you all can give me some advice on anything that I should ask the Dr.  I realize that I need to be the best advocate possible about this treatment.

Last week my HGB dropped from 9.2 to 8.3.  I do my blood tests on Thurs, but nobody looked til Monday cuz the Nurses don't work on Friday where I go.

On Monday the nurse called me and told me to get in asap.  When she saw me she said I looked better than she thought I would.  I generally feel so so, but not too bad.  I'm now on Procrit. OMG - what a big shot.  they also took me off riba til today.

My tests from yesterday just came back and here a few of the results
rdc 16H
monos 16%H
wbc 2.3L
hgb 8.4L
Hct 26.8L
red blood cells count 2.61L
mcv 103

btw I'm on pegasys and riba and just took tx 21/33

Any advice welcome.  Thanks

[alagirl]

If your hgb goes down below 8 it is entirely possible that you may need a transfusion.  Alternately, if you can get an emergency in to a hematologist, they may be able to use some other modalities to stop the hemolysis caused by the riba short of actually pulling the riba.

As Jim is going to jump on here and tell you in about five seconds, or possibly before I finish my post, it sometimes takes three to four weeks for procrit to get your red blood cell lines back under control and that's if you are on a large dose like 40,000 to 60,000 units per week.  What dose are you on btw?

I had a transfusion last week when my hgb dropped down to between 7 and 8.  I got two units of packed rbc's.  I had already started 40,000 units of procrit two weeks prior to that, but it takes a while for it to catch up.  I am now on 80,000 units of procrit a week just til I get caught up.  My hgb is almost at 11 now, and my hct is at a whopping 36.  Hard to believe just ten short days later, but just want to let you know there is hope for managing this without necessarily stopping treatment but you must get with your docs and act quickly and I think its pretty important to get a good hematologist into the mix asap.

[FoggyintheAM]

sorry for a delay there.
40,000 units per week of procrit.  It moved up the hgb from 8.3 to 8.4.  I didnt hear from the Dr today so I guess I need to be careful and hopeful.  Getting blood tests every week isn't the most fun either.

I want to nudge the procrit day to be thursdays - same day as my peg.

How was the transfusion?  Does it take awhile?  HGB of 11 is great.