Hep C and phlebotomy for PCT

[COURSONW]

Has anyone had to have phlebotomy for the control of PCT? I am currently on hep c treatment and really don't want to come off. I am going to suggest that we do phlebotomy while also going through treatment  I don't think I can do the PCT side efects for another 18 weeks without some reief.

[wyntre9]

Sorry you feel like you wasted two months but glad you have some clarity on your situation and have been able to arrive at a decision.

You are so right that patients have to be educated and active in their treatment.

best of luck and keep us posted,

wyntre

[COURSONW]

Well I have made the decission to stop treatment. I talked to another doc today and she said to stop all tx untill we can get the PCT under control. What makes me so angry is that I have spent hundreds of dollors and over two months in living hell when a simple test would have avoided all of this. The doctor knew that my iron levels were high, nail seperation from the nail bed and lots of flaking skin. All sighns of PCT. A person just can't educated himself enough and we must keep active in our treatment. All in all I feel I have a very sorry doctor, and I will be making a change. This stuff is to poweful to play around with.

[wyntre9]

I just googled phlebotomy and it sounds like a lot to go through while on TX.

What about the effect of the procedure on your hgB and RBC?

Sounds like you're going htrough an awful lot, between PCT, phelbotomy . . . . take care,

wyntre

[jmjm530]

It appears that PCT (porphyria cutanea tarda) patients do have higher than normal iron levels in blood. If this is the case, I would think that the appropriate time for phlebotomy would be BEFORE treatment if indicated. I could see a number of very red flags for doing phlebotomy during treatment but this is just personal opinion and not based on anything I've heard or read. I hope whoever you suggest this to is a very knowledgeable liver specialist (hepatologist) so they can give you the best and safest feedback.

-- Jim

[NYCMark]

But what is PCT?

I don't follow why would you want to do phlebotomy if you are currently on hepc treatment? What treatment? Combo therapy? The ribavirin makes you quite anemic enough without phlebotomizing yourself!

Mark