what do the numbers mean???

[baby T]

my test results on the PCR test was 9850 what does this mean if you can help out on this one please do. a nurse told me that it would take 6 months to a year for me to even get on the waiting list for this. is this true thank you again trisha

[GoofyDad]

Thanks Jim. My nurse emailed that they use the simple calc too. Their guidelines say Neupogen at 500-750 for stage 4; otherwise they'll go down to 250-300. I didn't bother to ask why stage 4 requires earlier intervention; there are certain things I probably don't want to know.

They'll test me for b12 and iron stores next week. I'm really happy with these folks. I'm soooo glad I waited & got into them before starting tx, even if they did sentence me to 48wks instead of 28. No way I would have this access & this care level with the former GI.

Oh, any tips on the nausea from my morning riba? I was eating a cup of good yogurt each morning, but I need to get more. I just started on daily Aciphex, hopefully that will help. I don't know what I'll do if the riba doesn't stay down one time? I don't want to miss a dose of this lovely stuff!

[jmjm530]

I just looked at my labs again and realized besides calculating the ANC, they also give total Neutrohils%. Your ANC calculation appears to be correct then. What threw me off was the fact that your WBC was higher than mine but your ANC was lower. That's probably why a number of docs, including mine, are mostly concerned with ANC and not WBC.

But with the blood roller-coaster you've been riding, you still might want to do a blood draw a few days before the Neupogen arrives. Both times my ANC approached 500, it jumped over 400 points the next week.

Concur with Cougar about the riba. Try and hold onto the higher dose as long as you can. Use Procrit if necessary. Higher riba levels are associated with higher SVR rates.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

For my schedule do the peg Friday evening, CBC Monday AM.  riba has a half life of 44 hrs but with daily AM+PM dropping it's at a constant level.  Peg has a half life of 27 hrs. So, i figure that by Monday am (60 hours) the peg has had it's max effects to the CBC. But with work and kids have to stick the the schedule I have.  Would prefer the CBC later than Monday but gotta do what you can.  Looking forward to not having track marks - again.  With the peg, insulin, glucose reading, neupogen I make 16 holes a week.  Thank goodness platelets are not too low, I'd be leaking like a sieve.

[jmjm530]

The number to be concerned about is ANC (absolute neutrophils) not WBC.

If your ANC is above 500 you don't need Neupogen yet. I believe H. Hoofnagle and maybe others did a study that showed no increase in bacterial infections on HCV treatment with ANC above 500.

In my case, my ANC was in the 1300-1500 range for most of treatment. About six weeks ago it dropped to 800 then the next week back up to 1100. Then two weeks ago it dropped to 600. Then last week up to 900. In other words, unlike with hemoglobin, a decline in ANC is not always linear. My WBC has been as low as 1.4 and my doctors weren't concerned.

-- Jim

[FlGuy]

Both neupogen and neulasta (pegylated version of neupogen) work fast, unlike procrit (EPO) which is more gradual effect for the reds. Didn't notice any sides with neupogen but neulasta gave bone pain (back and legs) for a couple of days.  ANCs decrease fast too.  I get 'pogen or 'lasta every 3 weeks or so now.  Lot of stuff works on your mind, but I think the 'dragged' out feeling is helped by the neu's.  But, then again, I'm in a fog anyway.

[cougareyes]

You may also consider when you draw your blood in relationship to shot nite. They say the interferon may effect(lower) your ANC and WBC up to 72 hours after your shot.   Peace