2nd Procrit shote HGB 8.8

[merlino]

Hi All, had my second procrit shot friday. HGB was 8.8. Hematologist was not concerned. Said procrit takes time. Don't know how much more I can take. Can barely walk across the room. Has anyone else gone thru this? Why is relief taking so long? I am sorry for complaining but its so frustrating. I don;t know how I am in work today.

[merlino]

By Christmas you will be feeling wonderful!!! I am very happy you tx is just about over. I am trying to hang in there but as you know sometimes it is very difficult.

[moveabove]

find a source and get Damien Rice   9 crimes.  Its music . since tx is 1/160 of a life, might as well get something for the ride

[returntosender]

move - No, I didn't mean that passing out was a sign of relapse.  I mean't that I almost passed out when I was at 11.   Also, it has been suggested to me that I was probably underdosed on Riba given my weight and the fact that my red cells were not really affected by tx.  That is a theory that has been presented here to me and I probably need to place that in context more rather than just flipping it out there.  I realize that people are treating and are very sensitive to these measurements and statements. I am sorry for the misunderstanding.  

friole, thanks for asking.  I am really trying to sort through this thing.  I am getting another PCR this week and I really am interested in what it will show.  I could confirm the same amount of virions or it could show millions or it could show nothing.  I would think that if the virus is back, then it should be way up there by now.  If it stays below 100,000 - and my counts were never that low - then I dont know what the heck that means.  Along with my very low enzymes I would have to agree with HR that it could be some mutant ninja strain that is wearing condoms.  If its in the millions then I have to figure out if I go right back in and pound it again or wait a while.  I have been having this thought about going in for a straight 24 weeks, same dose of Peg but more Riba initially and seeing what develops and whether I clear quickly or not. If I do, then I stop at 24.  If not, I just stop completely and wait for the new drugs.  I just need a doc who will agree with this.  I have arranged an appt with a BCLD in town who is more cutting edge than my previous doc.  

ny - thanks for interpreting my statement but it was not a position paper.  I threw it out kind of casually.  That theory was presented to me by more than one person here and I probably stretched it out a bit by referencing the anemia.  That said, there is definitely a school of thought on Riba dosing and pushing the envelope on anemia so as to show the correct amount of Riba being absorbed.  I did not develop that theory.  I am not certain I am buying it but I certainly am considering it in my analsyis of why I relapsed and how I will treat again.  Like you, I want the best shot possible and if someone says that hanging a dead chicken over their head helped them to SVR then I will be googling "dead chick hepatitis" for sure.  Nothing personal intended here, I am still reeling from some pretty awful news.

[Pauly Boy]

Like many others, I had to go the procrit route while on tx. Week 6??? I took first shot. The previous week I started getting out of breathe just by walking from room to room. My HMG only went down to 9.4 I think but I was GASSED!!! It took about a week for the drug to stop the real shortness of breathe and a few more to really allow me to feel OK. At week 18 I had to increase to 60,000 units. The good thing though for me is that when I finished tx it only took my body a few weeks to regain a HMGB level that is within range. Hang tuff and please... Keep killin' those little critters!!!    Pauly

[moveabove]

Yes, sensitive but not crushable. Don't worry.  Thank you