Anemia Update

[BoceprevirGal]

Hi Folks, so, my HGB went from 10.0 at 4 weeks, to 9.9. at 6 weeks, and I am feeling progressively more like I cant get a deep breath, a suffocating feeling, very claustrophobic!  My Doc prescribed the Procrit, my specialty pharmacy does carry it ( My Doc had said they didn't...??/), and they will get prior authorization for it, justlike they did, for the other meds, so all should go well, but all this may take until next Tuesday (I go to the Doc every Tuesday, it's a clinic, only open tues, and weds...grrr)
   Soooo...I'mm not real worried, cuz the HGB is dropping gradually, but does anybody have any suggestion, on how to get a DEEP breath, or any other techniques, that help with hemolytic anemia? I also heard that Procrit takes awhile to kick in, so I am trying to stay calm, not panic, etc...

[Idyllic]

Wow. Your progress is encouraging.  11.1 at wk 12 to 16 at week 20 is quite the rebound.  I don't know though. I am not sure I can hang in there for 8 weeks to see if I will have the same experience.

My baseline on 13 Jan 2012 was 13.5. I held steady until week 8 or so and now it is 10.1. I plan to call my doctor on Monday; it's just if the first line of defense with Triple Therapy is to reduce the Riba then I was wondering if I should try that now.

[hrsepwrguy]

Hi, my HGB at screening was 17 was 11.1 at wk 12, held there until 16 at wk 20 was up to 11.7 at wks 24 & 30 holding at 11.9 so for me yes it did rebound some after incivek, I have not had any rescue drugs or dose reductions

[Idyllic]

I didn't know who to address this to.

Do Hgb levels rebound after stopping the 12-week Incivek? My last Incivek was a week ago (06 Apr 2012) and my Hgb was 10.1.

I see some posters who are (or were) taking Incivek start Procrit right away yet some reduce their Riba. Isn't there a protocol for this?

Being that it is Saturday I was wondering if I should reduce my Riba from 1,000 to 800. This is not something I want to do however I simply cannot function as well as others seem to be able to even with lower Hgb levels.

Also, I am certain I have seen a link that address SVR and reduced Ribavarin dosage while on Triple Therapy however I cannot find it - and trust me I have been searching. I even found the MedHelp Archives for the first time.
http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/Hepatitis_C.html

**I wasn't sure to start a new topic or not.

[rockymoe]

My Doc. has me going weekly.

[rockymoe]

My Doc. has me going weekly.

[brianmo]

I did weekly blood draws to watch hgb.  When it got to 9.2 my doctor still felt I was stable....really??  She did not want to do anything but I asked to reduce RIBA from 1000 to 800. She did and within a few days I was feeling better, not great but better.  It stayed at 9.4 the rest of tx. No transfusions, or drugs.  All doctors seem to look at this differently and have different opinions. At first when hgb gets low it's scary to us. Heart beats rapidly, can,t walk across room, etc. it's good to keep in close contact with doctor.  Good luck.