I'M DONE!!! Good News and Bad News

Question

Good news is I'M DONE!!!..  Bad news is, I got my latest labs back today and my WBC and Hemoglobin have tanked again, so I may have to do the procrit.  WBC is 2.2 and HGB is 8.3...   I am still waiting on my latest viral load to see if it is still undetectable.  Another strange thing is that my ALT was normal, but my AST was a little high at 58.  I'm hoping that is not a bad sign.  I had other levels that were Low, but the WBC and HGB are what concern me most..

nygirl7 · Answer

After 69 weeks on procrit the day of my last shot I never touched the stuff again. It can take 2 - 6 weeks to work and Cando is right during that time your hemo should come back up on it's own. Procrit has it's own set of risks and should only be taken when absolutely needed.....give your body a few weeks on it's own to start making RBCs in your bone marrow.

It did take a while for mine to get back to normal rates but when you are down that low even getting back up to 10 will feel like great relief.

Good luck on the UND and SVR!

kmatucson · Answer

Thanks again for all of your comments..  Can-do-man, my primary told me flat out that he knows nothing about Hep C and he apparently doesn't know much about the treatment either.. He is the one that recommended I do the procrit..  So, I faxed the results to my gastro and I'm waiting to hear from them before I do anything..  I pretty much agree that it seems like a waste of time, and I'm so done with drugs right now so I just don't want to do it, and based upon some of the comments, Procrit has it's own side effects and I don't want to go there..  Anxiously awaiting to hear the words "still undetectable"..

spectda · Answer

Congrats on your completing tx. I stopped treatment with HGB of 7 and took two more weeks of injections and then stopped which got my HGB to the 8s. 4 weeks post it was around 9 and continued slowly to improve to 15 after 6 months. Procrit is not great to take unless you absolutely need it IMO.
-Dave

Debra100 · Answer

Congrads! Great work to get through treatment. I'm very close now myself and its going to be wonderful not having to take meds daily. Its now time to recovery from all the sides.. So Happy for you! Deb

sandysf · Answer

Congrats!! I agree with can do,  your numbers will come back up pretty fast I think.  My HGB was back up to 12 at 4 weeks and now at 8 weeks all numbers are as good or better than pretx.  Feel better soon!

can-do-man · Answer

Unless your already on procrit starting it now wouldbe a waste of time since it takes a few weeks to even begin to work. Your HGB will now go up on its own... I would be very surprised if any doctor would even consider starting it after treatment......... Hang in the, wishing you the best.

80mecheng · Answer

I am in week 23 of a 28 treatment with Vic & all.  My hmg dropped to 9.2 and I was having a very difficult time doing much of anything so I can't imagine how you feel at 8.3.  Went on Procrit 3 weeks ago and hmg has risen to 9.7, feel a little better but had assumed I would be done with it after the last pill but your experience suggests otherwise.  I am going to ask my doctor today.

For what it's worth, the Procrit shot stings compared to the interferon and at least in my case leaves me feeling nauseated for 2-3 days.  I am UND and looking fwd to getting off all of this stuff.

kmatucson · Answer

Thank you for the kind words and feedback. It has been a bitter sweet week. I was so excited that I was going to be done and then I got my labs and it turned out to be a big ole bummer.. Any thoughts on the procrit? I'm going to call and schedule the appt in a few hours.. Has anyone else had to do the procrit after compling the treatment?

Kristina538 · Answer

My ALT and AST were both in that range on my last couple of months of treatment, it was terrifying..  my specialist explained it happens somtimes and can be related to inflammation of the meds, or thyroid.   They lowered on the subsequent two blood tests.  .   My WBC and HGB took some time to come back to normal.   Congrats on getting through!!!

LookingForward12 · Answer

You're done....finis......the end. Hooray!  Like JasmineT says, now to get on with the matter of healing. Once you start to clear the meds, your blood and enzymes should shift back to normal. Be happy!

JasmineT · Answer

You're done, wahoo!  Done does not stop the side effects right away, that's for sure.  But you are no longer forcing the problem on your body so that will start to help over the next few weeks.  Time to focus on recovery.  Take care and let us know how you progress.