Getting blood and Procrit

[Bovary73]

Hi,

just took a call to the hospital to check if they got the hgb results already (went in earlier this morning to take my 8 weeks blood work). The nurse said that my hgb is down to 8.1. So they want me to come right to the hospital again for blood transfusion + procrit.

I'm scared. Don't want to quit now. But I've been really in bad shape the last couple of weeks and finally I found out why. I have had fever every day the last weeks + a cold that I can't get rid of.

Scared of getting blood (don't want any new deseases in my vains..).

Anyone with experience on this? Will I feel better right away after they give me blood? I hope they won't reduce my meds.

I'm supposed to set my 9th injection of interferon today. Can I still do it?

Bovary

[Bovary73]

Hi,

your story sounds a lot like mine. Like 80mecheng says here, it may cause some illness with the procrit as well so it sounds like you've got a double dose of sides this weekend with both the interferon shot and the procrit shot. I really hope you feel better now and that your hgb gets into more normal levels. You are lucky to be finnished with the incivek. This might also help! Good luck to you and may you all reach SVR soon!
God bless.

[Bovary73]

Thanks. I really hope they can stabilize the hgb.

[Bovary73]

I have a gene mutation (heterozygot) that makes me more predesposed to have blood clots. Hope this doesn't cause any problem for me getting EPO hormones (Procrit). Good to hear that you feel better and that the hgb raised and stabilized.

[80mecheng]

Procrit has been around since the 90's I think and has in certain patients with kidney and other issues can cause blood clots leading to strokes.  For those otherwise healthy, except for Hep C it seems to work reasonably well.  I am 5 weeks, 5 shots in and it has stopped the hmg dropping and raised it from 9.2 to 9.9.  I will say the shot itself kind of hurts and compared to the Interferon shot, leaves me feeling sick and weak for 48 - 72 hrs.  Be glad when this is done.

[rexx73]

i had a transfusion yesterday and became my first epo shot.
i expected that it will feel like night and day but i had yesterday my interferon shot also and sat is normaly my worst day,so i hope the next days the 2 blood units will help me feel better a bit.
iam still dizzy and tired and have no power.but the shortness of breath is better
today is also my first without incivek so i hope the quit of inc and the transfusion will make me feel a little better the next few days.

my very best wishes to you

[Advocate1955]

I'm glad you got the transfusion, and I hope you feel better soon.  If your doctor gives you Procrit, that will help a lot.
Advocate1955

[Bovary73]

I read your last comment here right after I came back home from hospital - and I must admit that I was so touched by your warm and kind words that I cried. You just can't magine how good it is to hear from someone who knows what I'm going through and it touches me deep in the bottom of my heart. These are the reasons why I can do this, because of all you people in this forum. You are almost like my second family through this lonely and bumpy road that I must travel all by myself.
I will keep the prayer in my heart and make it one of my mantras through this jurney! Thanks! All the best to you.

[Bovary73]

The doctor took another blood sample to test the amount of a certain hormone to see how well I will respond to the Procrit. He said he have to have this result before putting me on it. So until Friday I won't start any Procrit. I know I only "buy" some weeks with the blood transfusion but I fell save that my doctor will try and do the best he can to keep me on meds without dropping down that low again. I just have to trust that he has a plan, right? :) As my doc says because I was still detectable at week 4, he will try and push me as hard as I can without any dose reductions to see if I respond positive to the tx before reducing doses.
I will ask again Friday when I can start with Procrit. This is also a matter of money, I suppose. The Procrit is expensive and maybe they will ait and see my 8 weeks result before "investing" any more in my meds? I live in Norway, by the way and our health system isn't based on medical insurance as in the U.S. but with taxes that we all pay to have free medical support to all citiizens. So no insurance company in the picture.
You mentioned that some doctors are reluctant to give Procrit. Why is that?

[rockymoe]

You hang in there girl!!!! You can do it!!! You can't let the dragon win. I know exactly how you feel, I have 2 transfusions so far and the procrit, reduce Riba. I have had a hard time with sxs. It's brutal. Being sick and coughing my abs hurt from coughing on top of the sxs EEEEEK!
I say this prayer alot.
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change
courage to change the things I can
and the Wisdom to know the difference~

[80mecheng]

Did the doctor indicate whether they were going to add Procrit?  If your hmg was at 8.1 at 8 weeks then the blood transfusion just buys you a little time.  Are they planning weekly blood tests to monitor?  I guess I would recommend asking for a plan to complete the treatment without reducing meds.  Some doctors are reluctant to use Procrit.

[Bovary73]

I'm back from hospital and blood transfusion and feel a little better already. They didn't dose reduce me on the meds and did not give me any procrit yet. I have a new appointment next Friday (to get my 8 weeks VL).
I was still detectable at week 4 (lead in before starting Vic) so I'm really happy that they didn't reduce the meds.

I want to fight this as hard as I can and will not quit because of anemia as long as they can give me some help to get control of the hgb.

I really look forward to some better days now with new blood in the veins and take a day at a time.

Thanks for the support and info on this site. Thanks to flcyclist and 80mecheng. Have a nice Friday - time for the 9th shot for me now :)

[80mecheng]

Well the good news is those who see a significant drop in hmg have had a high correlation in achieving a SVR or cure for Hep C.  I understand your concern about a blood transfusion since I believe I got Hep C from a blood transfusion when I was 12 yrs old.  My hmg dropped by week 18 down to 9.2 and I felt lousy.  He indicated that below 10 it's a quality of life issue and below 8.5 it can be a quantitity of life issue so you need to take action and I'm surprised he/she allowed it to get so low.  Bottom line is discuss the tradeoffs with your doctor but there are typically 3-4 actions:
1.  Add Procrit (usually well before you get below 9)
2.  Reduce or stop Ribaviran, which seems to be the bad actor for hmg
3.  Blood transfusion
4.  Stop treatment

Best of luck.

[flcyclist]

Sorry to hear your Hgb is so low.  Has your doctor considered a Riba reduction in addition to procrit?  I believe you are doing Inf/Riba/Vic, so could be an option to discuss with your doctor.  Did you have a UND yet?

Several have had transfusions while on trt and there's a few current threads discussing them.  Don't be so afraid of the transfusion if its needed.  Good luck.