Anyone out there?

[gypsi71]

My white cell count is at 400. I get a second dose of neupogen tomorrow. If it doesn't boost it back up doc says treatment stops. Then what...Still working but im sooo tired. can i get disability? Im also bi-polar. I take over twenty pills a day including supplements...

[SusieS2010]

Ask your doctor if he coould switch you to neulasta. It is a long lasting human growth factor and is taken approximately every 3 weeks.The side effects are about the same as neupogen but happen much less frequently. You can think of it as a pegylated neupogen.

[hcvJames]

My mistake. Personal experience leads to a bit of tunnel vision. Didn't realize people had such adverse reactions to Neupogen.

[Trinity4]

Low ANC may not cause fatigue but for some Neupogen is worse than the treatment drugs.  Fatigue, fevers and bone pain and if your one of the unfortunate ones like myself to get those side effects, good days are few and far between.

Trinity

[spectda]

What day are you having your blood drawn, and what day each week do you take your neupogen and your interferon? Do you mean that your anc is 400 or that your total white blood count is 400?

I would guess that it must be your ANC that you are speaking of (absolute neutrophil count) Anc is usually what is closely monitored and sometimes a problem for those taking interferon. ANC are the white blood cells that fight bacterial infections.

ANC of 400 is low, but aggressive hepatologists will sometimes let a patient go to 300 before they even introduce neupogen assuming you don't have any bacterial infections. Have you had any infections during your treatment?

As cm1958 mentioned your doctor could give you more neupogen or possibly you could split your dose into two injections during the week depending on how high your high point of ANC is after your injection. If you high is very high and low is very low splitting the injection might give you a more consistent level throughout the week.

How long have you been on treatment by the way and what genotype are you?

- Dave

[hcvJames]

Neupogen works within hours. I take one shot a week, prolly should take two. It does what it's supposed too while physical effects have been zero.

Someone correct this if wrong. Neup is used to increase WBC/ANC count. WBC is essentially the immune system. A low WBC count won't cause fatigue. Low RBC and Hemoglobin will since it transports oxygen.

[cm1958]

Hi,that neupogen kicked my butt too.I could sleep for the whole day after a shot,My doctor wanted me to take 2 shots a week but that was very difficult because of having to go to work.As soon as my levels went up a little I cut back to 1 shot a week and then back to 2 a week only when I had to.  good luck to you. I did it for 48 weeks.I only took a multi vitamin,B12  and vitamin E while on the therapy

[nygirl7]

Nobody out here but us chickens  ;)

Good luck with the neup.  Hopefully it kicks right in and you see major improvement.  I don't know if you are entitled to disability it's a very long and arduous process that requires tons and tons of paperwork to prove that you are disabled.  Maybe you should cut down on some supplements and make it a bit easier on yourself - that sounds like an awful lot of pills to have to remember.