Hemoglobin is sinking!

[brianmo]

Start 9/22/11. Hemo13.8.  Yesterday, 9.8.  WBC 2.3, RBC 3.04, went to local doctor for rapid heart rate and dizziness. He checked thyroid and did CBC. Did EKG, normal.   How much more does it go down before someone thinks it's a concern?  I see my Liver doctor on Monday.  Hope it's not another  "let's wait and see"

Mo

[brianmo]

My doctor is in San Francisco this week at the Liver Convention or I would be bothering her about a shot.  She will be back this week end and  I see her on monday.  

Coeric/flcyclist   Faxed cbc to LIver clinic today and talked with nurse. His hands are tied until doctor gets back.  I am going to call my PCP here in Port Angeles tomorrow and see what he says. He is the one i saw on Monday.

Hititlong....yes, I walk up the stairs and lay on the bed!!  Oh, my, this is such a mental game.

[screaming48]

mine dropped from 13 to 8 the first week scared the doc, reduced the riba and started procrit. Hgb is still around 8 with procrit three times a week and have been on procrit now about 3 weeks or better (brain fart) cant really remember. I am breathless all the time and legs, stomach and back are hurting. Wish he had done one week bloodwork and caught the hgb tanking I think I would have felt better by now but I don't. Just exhausted all the time. Just really wanted to say find out early about the hgb and get going with the procrit before it gets too bad.

[hititlong]

Don't know if this helps, but mine went from 16 down to 10 in a short period of time.

I was exhausted just walking up the stairs holding my son.   Th doctor gave me a shot of something that stimulates hemoglobin production (I am sure someone else knows what it was).

About 7-10 days later I felt much better.  I haven't had a new test yet to know the numbers, but I have resumed normal activity.

[coeric]

agree with flcyclist.  perhaps you can have your local doc fax the cbc to the liver doc and get the ball rolling before your appointment.  i was speaking with my local doc yesterday about procrit, and he advised me to not hesitate to start it once my hgb is less than 10.  you do not want to be passing out.
blessings
eric

[sandysf]

Mo,

I am not surprised, when you mentioned rapid heart rate I figured your HGB dropped.  Mine went to 9.2 before doc #2 freaked and then reduced riba instead of procrit since I was week 14 and UND since week 7.  That helped quite a bit and my hgb is now around 10.2.  In the past 10 weeks (of 22) I have only been on full dose riba for 3 of those.  Went back up today.  Many believe in procrit,  I know it works for many but I chose not to pursue it.  It just depends on you and what your doc is comfortable with.

Sandy

[flcyclist]

Since you'll be on VIC for the remainder of trt, you should be talking to your doc about Procrit now.  Many start when the Hgb goes below 10.0, but it takes a few weeks to work and feel better.  Some can tolerate lower numbers, but I'd be talking Procrit with the doc asap.  Good luck Mo.