Blood transfusion

[ellenc670]

I just finished my 12 weeks of incevic and am undetected stiil. But i had to stop the ribiviran due to low blood counts and needed 2 pints of blood. I wll go back on the ribaveron soon but i am wonering if this will affect my final results. Has anybody had blood transfusions?

[ellenc670]

imy weight is 153 lbs I went off riva for one week and now slowley going back on.

[ptz]

Thanks.

[eureka254]

Would your doc consider increasing your Procrit dose to 2x a week?  My husband had to dose lower twice, from 1200 to 1000 before the first transfusion (week 24) and 1000 to 800mg riba before his 2nd transfusion (week 42) (this was before Bocep approval, though) because he simply didn't respond as well to Procrit as others.  He ended up balancing out at Procrit 2x a week and 800 mg of Riba to stop having to get transfused too often.  Hope you feel better soon!

[ptz]

I weigh 190 lbs. That is why I want to stay at 1200.  I have been on nueprigin 3 times a week.  WBC seems ok.  I wonder if I'm building a tolerance to procrit or my bone marrow is zapped with the triple tx. This is the worse I have felt so far...

[crossroadsec]

You know I'll be watching this w/ my lousy blood work. So you just went to ER and got a transfusion w/o calling Dr.? I'm lmbo. You go girl! Totally lol.
Karen :)

[pcds]

Interesting, I was doing OK with procrit keeping at about 10.2 HGB and also dropped like a stone.  I weigh about 130 and riba is 1000.  I reduced riba many times to 800. I've been off work now 3 weeks, next week I'll stay off and return hopefully on 10/31.  I will call the MD tomorrow and let him know I went to ER this week end. I don't want to drop like a stone again.  I also plan to ask for blood test 2x week.  I am hoping my anemia will improve now off incevik.  But not I'm not so confident.  I have a major issue with my WBC too and will likely need to go to neupogin 2x week.  Another issue to discuss  with doc.

[crossroadsec]

pcds - Soo glad you're getting some relief. Take care of you.. You'll feel it soon.

I DO think weight makes a diff n was less concerned about reducing. I was 113 at first Dr. visit. He urged me up to 130 before tx. I got to 127 now hover around 120.  He warned me if I got lower than 105 he'd discontinue. IDK if that is a statistical guideline, or if he was concerned about malutrition n muscle waste.
Keep us posted. Karen

[jt57]

If you don't mind my asking , what is your weight?  Ribavirin is weight based.  You can probably drop to 1000 safely.  I started at 1000.  was 125lbs.  dropped down to 100 lbs.  and 600 was fine, but chose to stay at 800.  

[pcds]

Just had a blood transfusion yesterday, I couldn't walk, I feel much better.

[ptz]

I'm now in week 17 of triple tx/bocep.  I was cruising along using procrit to manage my low rbc and it was working keeping me between 10.5-11.5. Then last week for some reason I dropped like a stone down to 8.5...boy can I feel it...missed work for the first time...I'm taking 1200 rib. a day and I have been undetectable since week 4....they asked me to consider dropping down to 1000 rib.  I'm reluctant. ..what do u guys to think?

[jt57]

I agree with Crossroadsec.   I had transfusions once a month for the last 6 months of my last tx.  My ribavirin was cut as well, but I was never taken off it completely.  They probably would have tried but knew I would raise cain about it.  The actually decreased me to 600, and with my weight loss, that probably would have been ok, but I cheated and still took the 800.  IM NOT TELLING ANYONE HERE TO NOT LISTEN TO THEIR DRS!!!  Im just telling you what I did.....I am SVR.  9 mos post tx.  Good luck..  The transfusions make you feel alot better, very quickly.  But unfortunately it doesn't last very long.  

Jean

[crossroadsec]

My Dr. didn't stop it totally. I went down to 800 mg. I would pressure to stay on even a small dose. I refused to go lower than 800 mg and actually threatened to take it back up myself if they didn't rescue me.
Find out why they insist on no dose. How low are your labs? I tanked from 8 hmg to 5 in 3 days and they still kept me on a low dose.  I had to get a little noisy and took my research in w/ me. lol. I actually quote medhelp. My Dr. probly lurks on here now.... fight for your right to SVR.
Karen:)

[sandysf]

I think working dog stopped riba for several days too and was still UND..the transfusion should get your HGB up pretty fast which means you should be able to go back on riba... I would be a bit nervous about stopping riba personally.. my doc said she wouldn't take me below 800 mg.  But I think there are plenty of people on the forum who had to skip a few riba doses and still achieved SVR.  

[HectorSF]

crossroadsec can probably help you. She can tell you of her experience. She is also on INCIVEK and gets a transfusion once a month.

Good luck.
Hector