When does the procrit begin working?

[artgal]

Hi Everyone -- I found out on Friday that my hemoglobin is around 9 g/dL so I got my doctor to get me a script for the procrit. It came yesterday and I quickly injected it, thinking I'd feel better today....oh I know -- hopelessly naive. But I did think my doctor said a long time ago when I was questioning all the nasty sides of tx and what to do about them (thanks to info from all of you) that the procrit would bring up the hemoglobin in 24 hours. I just thought I was feeling general tx fatigue but I should have known a week and a half ago when I became out of breath eating a sandwich that something was up!!
Anyway, when can I realistically think the procrit will begin working? Anything else one can do to help raise those levels? I've been walking my 3 -4 miles and really halfway I stop and wonder if I'll make it home, I'm so out of breath. I keep remembering how Layla said she felt exercise really helped her make it through the tx so I keep trying....
Thanks again everyone -- you are my anchors in this sea of hep c treatment!

[artgal]

Thanks for such an informative post. Wow, since males are supposed to have a higher hemoglobin level, I am amazed you are doing so well at the level you are at. Hooray for you getting out on the water -- enjoying nature makes everything a lot easier, doesn't it?
I will be contacting my doctor today about the B vit supplements.
My other sides are o.k. -- not great but who's hoping for that anymore? I still have the nausea pretty regularly (I have bought just about every ginger item made....) but I feel so fortunate that my rash and mouth sores are much, much better.
One thing comes....another goes....

P.S. I have a quote you wrote me at the very beginning that I read over frequently:
"....take the good days/weeks as a gift and enjoy them to their fullest...and when the bad days spring up on you just get through them as best as you can and know it is temporary....this is critical to remind yourself: the bad days will pass."
So thanks again, dutchboy -- you're the greatest!

[dutch_boy]

Artgal, no I don't believe you were too "naive" with expecting quick results from the Procrit as my doctor tended to think this is a quick "fix".  I remember when I was given my prescription I was told to take the shot and "have a great weekend" as I should feel better.  Well not in my case.  I had dipped down to 8.5 Hemoglobin and was hanging onto walls to not fall from dizziness, and the shortness of breath was intense.  Just making the bed or dressing myself became a "chore". My quality of life changed dramatically and I was so worried as I was only at week 4! The Procrit finally started to make a difference about 3 weeks later and I stabalized my Hemoglobin at 9.3 to about 9.5.  It seems that this is where I'll be at for the remaining 32 weeks of treatment as it stays in that range every blood test.  I take 1 shot a week of 1CC.  When the doctor saw it wasn't getting my counts as high as they had hoped I was prescribed Folic Acid 1MG supplements as well as vitamin B-12 2000 mg day which both aid in the formation of new Red Blood Cells.  This seems to help a bit but I am still at +-9.5 Hemo. The doctor told me they had hoped to get me back to about 10+ but it won't go any higher for now. I can live with this however as I feel so much better than at 8.5 which was terribly difficult.  I've become once again my very active self even with this lower number I've leveled off at and enjoyed a 5 mile canoe ride in the wilderness yesterday with my partner! Beautiful! So give it time Artgal....It will help and I hope your numbers get you to where you can get your "quality" of life on track again.  This Procrit was the boost I needed but you have to be patient. Ask about the Folic acid and vit.B-12 ....this can help too.
Glad you are hanging in there. How are your other side effects? I hope not too bad but it is unpredictable.
Best to you, Scott/dutch_boy

[doll face]

I had to give myself weekly injections of procrit almost my entire time on tx. The doctor didn't start me on it till my count was 8.6 so it took about 3 weeks for me to notice a big difference in the way I felt. Hopefully yours will be sooner. Don't worry when it does kick in you will feel Much better. Till then, sorry but No mountains.

[Lulu2005]

The average gain with the use of procrit is .1 every 48 hours. At your level it will take awhile until you notice a difference. Hang on there. Anemia stinks.

[artgal]

Thank you all for the feedback. Gosh, I guess I was a bit too hopeful. Can you believe I thought if I rushed and did the injection on Sat. that I'd be able to climb a mountain (not a huge one -- only 5 miles up) today? It is an amazing place -- leads out to the ocean. I told my family -- "oh I'll be fine by Monday -- we'll do the mountain then...."
Anyway, Cuteus -- now I am feeling like I did not really research the procrit. I just thought it kind of put the hemoglobin back into my body, itself. Is there any negative effect on one's bone marrow? I cannot believe I did not investigate this -- I am usually so careful about these drugs. You know how concerned I was about the tx drugs and now this. Are there natural situations where the bone marrow does this or is this a very weird thing to have the bone marrow do? Worries, worries, worries.

[toocute2tell]

Dear Artgal,
  When I went to my last doctor appointment they told me I was their best success story on the Procrit responding. It only took me 2 weeks (they said that was not usual) so I think it's probably different with each individual. Mush like the HCV treatment it'self it just takes time to find out what works for your body. Meanwhile keep your chin up and don't do too much until you get your red blood cell count back up. We can get dangerously winded if we do. Listen to what your body is telling you. Hope you have a great success story with the Procrit as I did. God bless you and keep your chin up.


toocute2tell

[twotells]

When I got weekly procrit shots during tx, I seem to remember gaining back 0.3Hgb per week.  Men run about 2.0 higher than women, and when mine was around 10.0Hgb I felt very weak, so I know what you're going through.  It will help you but not as fast as you might have hoped.  Hang in there,  Dave

[cuteus]

it is not going to be 24 hrs.  I felt better withing two wks. the drug works by forcing the marrow to  make more red cells. You don't and can't speed up that process any faster. I always worried if it would increase the chances of some bone marrow disease.
I can not believe you were able to walk that much with a 9 hgb!
I was gasping when mine dropped to 10.2. and had some weird chest pains.
be careful