so lighthead,im so concerned

[PRINCESS5122]

hcv type 2,been so lightheaded all day.last wbc 2.0,rbc 3.80.dr has no interest in putting me on any rescue drugs.im on 1 pegasus shot a week and 800 mg ribavirin  a day.have to treat for 6 months,half way done.ive been undected at week 4,and still remain unde cted.had no new blod work in 2 weeks.anyone have an input ? i havent fainted, but im concerned i will, but i havent been eatting right.sippin on gatoraid........lab work not for 2 more weeks he says.i feel like stop treating.cant take the side effects no more........do i need neupogen or procrit you think ? i have been very tired and some shortness of breat at times..anemia ??? just was real sick cause wbc was low i guess.had bronchitus for 20 days ! i couldnt kick it off, but im ok now that way.im just concerned about feeling so lightheaded.............if i am still undected after shot 13, can i stop treatment before the 6 months ? or do i need rescue drugs ?thankyou for any and all replys and hope everyone is hanging in there as well..........

[PRINCESS5122]

thanks.i went today for lab work.will know on friday.trying to drink 2 ensures a day or nutrition for now................im hangin in there.i justhave to tell my self im half way through.i can do it.if it wasnt for some replys from you wonderful people last night i wasnt taking my riba and that was hat.but im glad i tok the lab slip  today instead of waiting 2 more weeks like the dr reccomended.ill post what happens with my results when i get them friday.......good luck all..................

[nygirl7]

ps If you are UND at week 13 for geno 2 you would need to do 24 weeks at least to get the best chance at SVR.

[nygirl7]

Get another cbc if you can - 2 weeks is plenty of time for the riba to kick in and change that 12 to a 10 and then you WOULD need procrit.  If he won't prescribe it you can always try and get it via a different doctor like a hemo doc.  That is what some of the others have had to do.

Personally my hemo dropped SIX full points in just over one week - I kept fainting and was so light headed I kept having to put my head on my desk. If I turned my head to quickly even i would black straight out.

So it does to me remind me of that big time.

I had absolutely no sides from epogen at all - it SAVED treatment for me I could not have done it without it.  I went on it week 3 and stayed on it the rest of the 72 weeks - taking it every five days (twice a week was too much, once a week too little).  It brought me back up to about 10.5 but your bodyDOES acclimate in time and 10.5 while not comfortable was just fine for me to function. I never would have believed that could happen but it was true.

[Bobby1952]

Darla
The hgb depends. My Hgb is about 11.7 but I get light headed episodes because my starting point before treatment was hgb of 17. Normal is between 12.3 and 17.3. Most people start at about 14 or 15. So a drop from 17 to 11.7 was a big drop. 10.2 is pretty low for anyone. Procrit can cause side effects of its own like bone pain etc. I never took it but I would look into it because you are borderline.  

Bobby

[fuzzy1dar]

Thanks for the info. Is there allot of sx from the Procrit? Or is it just a helper?

Darla

[jdwithhcv]

My doctor starts me on procrit as soon as my hgb goes below 10.0  At 10.2 you're probably close enough that you should ask for procrit.  Weakness and dizzyness get bad really fast in that range.

[fuzzy1dar]

I was wondering if you know at what point is the hemo to low. My cbc test last week HMO was10.2. Going tomorrow for another cbc. Don't know what to do if it's down from 10.2. Been feeling real weak and dizzy.

Thanks,
Darla

[ladywhy]

My np has given me a cbc lab slip just in case I'm feelin real bad...i could get over to Quest..and find out what's hapnin.
I agree with jdwithhcv and gauf.

[jdwithhcv]

I agree with both gauf's posts.  Don't abandon tx, you've come such a long way.  Insist on labs when you know something's wrong.  Be your own advocate, you're the only one who really knows how bad it is.  Hang in there.  

[gauf]

No,no. When you know something's not right like this, you need to insist on a lab. Try to get them to give you the results while you are there. Many labs can printout a simple CBC test while you wait.

[PRINCESS5122]

thanks,my husband just went to go get me some Ensure drinks.havent been eatting either,and dr is going by my labs 2 weeks ago.getting labs tomorrow,im taking the script to lab.he wanted me to wait 2 more weeks ! that would be 1 month no labs !

[gauf]

When I was lightheaded on tox., it was anemia. It can drop quickly. Don't drive, relax and stay the course.

[PRINCESS5122]

just got off phone with dr.he did say he looked at my chart and 2 weeks ago my hemoglobin was 12.2,and i dont need ipogen....generic for procrit i guess...............he pleaded with me not to stop too cause i am a good rapid responder.he told me do what ever i have to not to stop tx.whats that mean ? well i am gonna get some Ensure meal replacer drinks.and try to drink 3 a day and eat better.i thank you for helping me.i dont know how you have tolerated being lightheaded.its horrible.how can you stand feeling faint,and what do you do for it ? im taking vitamins...............b super complex,multi vitamin with no iron,rx potassium and rx calcium with folic acid in it.that was prescribed by another dr for good bone health.maybe the folic acid 1 mg in the calcium with vitamin D is helpin me,but im going for blood work tomorrow.i have a script he gave me 2 weeks ag,last time i had blood work........he told me to go mid march,well im going tomorrow for blood work.14th shot is fri.im dreading it so much.thank God i only have to treat for 24 weeks.he told me if i stop tx it will come back and i will regret it later.thanks,you have given me so much encouragement tonight.maybe ensure will help me.....thankyou so much.im really having a hard time...............

[Bobby1952]

I would not stop treatment. I am on week 23 of 24 it is a long time I know no matter if you treat for 24 or 48 weeks. What is your HGB (hemoglobin). That will tell if you are anemic. I have been light headed and slightly anemic for most of treatment. But it doesn't seem to bother me that much. I did have to stop working out though. But it is a small price to pay. I am itching to start again . In a few weeks I guess.

If you stop treatment early even though you reached RVR your chance of SVR will drop by a certain percentage. Don't remember the exact amount. But why chance it. You have a good chance to beat this thing. Please hang in there.

Bobby