HGB, HCT dropping like a Mooner's shorts....

Sigh...Here I go...In 2 weeks (just did shot #4), hemoglobin has dropped from 13.2 to 11.2, and hematocrit from 39.3 to 32.6...Dr appt tomorrow...This isn't a rapid enough drop to stop tx, is it?  I know it's not critical low yet, but the trend is concerning...

[FlGuy]

You've got an unattractive trend going there.  A conversation to have with the doc tomorrow is what is his plan to introduce stuff like procrit. Whether it's procrit, epo, Aranesp the stuff takes a while to be effective (couple-few weeks).  You don't want to wait until the elevator is plummeting to the basement.  Your insurance Co. may have something to say about the point of intervention, so that's an important piece of information to know.  In my case I would have had to wait to be prescribed take-home procrit.  But the insurance rules were different (different hgb levels) if the stuff was administed in a clinical setting, which is one of the reasons I used the services of a hematologist.  You do not want to temporarily stop tx or reduce meds.

[charm27]

Im at week 18 at my HGB is at bout 10.5. The insurance company will not take care of rescue drugs till at about 9.7 so I was told. Dr advised me Im ok now (feel horrible)
but not in danger zone.Have to go next week for another CBC. Wonder how they can give it to you in the hepatologists office is that an option? Then after that thru your insurance co. The doc told me the last place to be is in the emergency room for many health reasons and more unless your having a heart attack stay out of the ER!
Strange coming from a doctor..........
If your dizzy and out of breath then I would go to the ER if yu feel likeyou cant handle it.
Feel Better
Charm

[charm27]

Rereading your post I guess you are at the disadvantage after only being in tx 2 weeks. I have brain fog sorry didint realize it first time. Where as I have had a gradual drop the past 5 months from 14.7 down to 10.5 after 5 months.

I have read here where some peoples HGB have gone up sometimes and not always crashed.

Worst comes to worse Procrit .

[zazza]

Want to share my hgb numbers with you, so you have something to compare with.

Baseline: 15.2
Week 1: 14.1
Week 2: 11.1
Week 4: 10.9
Week 9: 10.5
Week 12: 11.5
Week 15: 10.1
Week 20: 11.1
Week 24: 10.7
and so on.

Since week 25 (I am in week 71 of 72) my hgb has been between 10 and 10.5. The lowest I have dropped is 9.4 at 2 occasions. Rescue drugs are not an alternative in my country. But my doc has been content that I stayed around 10. He has never threatened to reduce my dose or take me off tx because of my hgb readings.

[medicmommy]

Thanks all!...Just talked with insurance people...they say, "No problem. It'll be approved with Drs fax."...One less worry...
Thanks for the #s Zazza...Good for comparison...I'm just starting week #4 of tx...Labs started changing over the last 2 weeks...yours appear they stabilized after about 2-3 months...Maybe mine will do the same...Was there anything different you did at that point? Added supplements? Diet change?
Flguy...Take home procrit (or at least a prescription for it) sounds like a good idea...The Dr office is 60 miles from here and driving that far may not be a good idea...I've already been told I'm a menace on the road...LOL
Charm- The doc's right about one thing...ER is a good place for something acute or life threatening...Otherwise, you get better service (and usually faster) at a clinic...When you are already immune compromised from txing, and then get exposed to all manners of nasty cooties in the waiting room of the ER, no telling what your poor body will have to fight off..   Thanks all...

[zazza]

I did nothing different to stabilize my hgb, but I was floored from week 5 through week 16. Barely made it to the bathroom from my bed. After that my body seemed to have gotten used to the low hgb, and I have done better. A lot of resting and sleeping though.

[IAmTheWalrus]

My HGB and HCT dropped drastically in the first few weeks, but hasn't dropped much since. It has been hanging out at about 11 for the last 6 months.

There's always Procrit if it crashes, so don't let worry add to your troubles.

Best of luck!