BLOOD WORK

[Teufelhunden]

I have a CBC done every Thursday. I noted the Hemoglobin (12.0), WBC (2.6), ANC (1.6), Platelets (179), Hematocrit (35.6) today. Is there anything else I need to look for? My doc has me on Levothyroxine for a thyroid problem now but I don't know if I'm hypo or hyper. I know I need to find my TSH level but what about my ALT and AST? Is that something that is done separately? Also, my riba dosage is 1200 daily, 180 pegasys weekly. How close do the doctors follow the body weight rule for the riba? And if I may ask one more question, someone on the forum mentioned taking the riba with food? There's nothing on my prescription bottle or the drug information sheet about taking with food. Am I suppose to? Jeez, nothing like hindsight. I see my doc Tues. I guess we're due for a chat. My only really good day (today) and I gotta worry about eating with meds or not eating with meds... Tomorrow starts the cycle again and the big decision will be what side of my stomach do I want to stick. I gotta get a life.

[Teufelhunden]

Thanks for the info. I guess I better start putting something in me when I take my meds in the evening. I like the smoothie idea too. I guess if Hercules can tame Cerebus, I better work a little smarter in taming Hep C.

[ladybug52]

Hope I didn't offent you quoting you. You and Jim carry more weight than my voice!
Antman cmp=complete metabolic panel

[antman]

i have to give my first blood at labcorp since starting tx 3 weeks ago. the order lists CBA, CMP and TSH. what is the CMP test? also, is the TSH a thyroid test? thanks. thanks.

[dperry10]

I hear ya on the Anemia, and helping with the diet.  I had originally lost 28 lbs and gained 4 back , now I lost 2 again.  so still at 26 down and just about 2 sizes.  Its getting easier to move myself on those days I feel so drained.. Less weight to drag along.. LOL

I go for my 2 wk CBC today, then to work.. I actully made it all week at work.  

[nygirl7]

JmJm preaches that and so does Nygirl

I learned this from Jim a year and a half ago when I started treatment. It was tough trying to eat in the beginning but - the riba BINDS to the fat...so it doesn't wash straight out of you.  So it makes SENSE to take it with something that has fat. Personally I wasn't able to eat a whole lot but I ALWAYS took it with breakfast and dinner, even if breakfast was a piece of peanut butter toast or yogurt smoothie (if you buy them make sure you don't get "Low Fat")

I never had a problem with nauseau from them and I think that too was result of eating when taking them.

Plus - at 7am and 7pm I might have forgotten to take the pills somehow BUT not with breakfast or dinner...that was my reminder.

Good luck!

[ladybug52]

Glad you made a full week of work! I actually did too this week. I made up a day on Sat last week so I'm on a roll! Godd thing I was unemployed for 10 days, it really helped!
Bug

[wyntre9]

"Jeez, nothing like hindsight."

Mine is real good, too!  hahaha
It's sort of like my 'luck'
You know, if it wasn't for 'bad luck' I wouldn't have any?  

"My only really good day (today) and I gotta worry about eating with meds or not eating with meds... Tomorrow starts the cycle again and the big decision will be what side of my stomach do I want to stick. I gotta get a life."

I know what you man.  Between allergy injections (1 in each arm) pegasys and now neupogen I'm turning into what someone on the forum so aptly described as a human pin-cushion.

But think about your heritage!  TEUFELHUNDEN!  I love that.  It sounds so much more powerful in German than in English.  
(I still like the Cerebus-Hades connection, too.)

[web52]

i was told to eat w/ the riba to avoid nausea, not to promote absorption. not that i can tell if it helps, i am constantly queezy/nauseous, i get a break from the nausea about 1 day every 3 weeks. that day helps keeps me going & i really celebrate the relief.

[ladybug52]

I have been told over and over that you need to take the riba with food with a high fat content to help absorb it. JmJm preaches that and so does Nygirl. I eat some pretty disgusting things in the morning to help absorb the riba. Today started with a yogurt smoothie then had a rib with bar-b-que sauce! Drop in hgb means the riba is being absorbed well. Glad I'm anemic, my disgusting diet is working, I'll just die of coronary artery disease!