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What exatly happens to you when your blood count gets too low?
At week 44 now and have to go and have an extra blood test next week because my blood count(?) levels are too low, this is about the third time this has happened during treatment and each time I pick up again by the next blood test but I never did ask what happens if they fall below the lowest 'safe' level. Can anyone tell me what happens please?
It's truly amazing how having support can lift people's morale and make a hard road ahead seem easier.
Maybe ask him to join the forum, too. He may be surprised at how many helpful people have been, or are, in his boat.
Maybe ask him to join the forum, too. He may be surprised at how many helpful people have been, or are, in his boat.
Thanks for the info. This is a great website that I just literally stumbled on today. I will have to check back frequently. Yes, my husband sleeps most of the day away. He is not working now and frankly I do not see how anyone can hold a job with all the dr. appts and fatique that goes with it. He was diagnosed about 8 years ago and was not responsive to the other interferon, but last summer I got him to go back in and he is taking good care of himself now. He has progressed to cirrhosis now and his symptoms are the itchy skin (just aweful - to the point that he starts bleeding from scratching) and fatigue. His platelet count is down to about 34 or 36. Last week he had his 12 week follow up and there was still a trace of hep c (about 2040) and they wanted him to be negative at this point. They told us that he is non-responsive at this point and his alternatives were to stop everything, keep going with 1 shot/week and 6 riba pills/day or he can start taking the shots every single day and try to get rid of it that way. They are also going to see if there are any clinical trials for him. So he wanted to go one more month with 1 shot/week and see if the numbers go down a little, if not he will have to start daily shots along with blood pressure meds and procrit shots weekly. He is staying very positive, but of course has his bad days. There are so many questions. This website is very helpful. Thanks to all of you for responding!
Hi Mpls,
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad to hear your husband will be starting Procrit this Wednsday.
Do you know his platelet count? Mine has gone as low as 50, and my doctor was not concerned.
The thanks are mine for your having found and brought up this very old and valuable thread from 2005. It cheered me up to read some of the comments.
As it turns out, as of last week my own hgb tanked and can I ever feel it. How the heck is your husband walking around with a HGB of 9? I can barely talk (a good thing) and feel shaky. I asked my phlebotomist at the lab this afternoon to carry me home and she was half-tempted, seeing me so wilted. So your husband is amazing.
My hgb stayed at ten or above without procrit for 43 weeks of treatment but now that it's below ten, it's another world. A walk to the bathroom feels like the early days when my HGB dropped suddenly from 16 to 11. I functioned decently for months at my new low number but it's altogether different down here in the 9's.
I have no hesitation in recommending that your husband start procrit this Wednesday but it can take two or four weeks to kick in.
As for diet, that's a hefty topic around here. And I don't know anything about why he'd be coughing due to treatment.
Welcome to the forum. I'm glad to hear your husband will be starting Procrit this Wednsday.
Do you know his platelet count? Mine has gone as low as 50, and my doctor was not concerned.
The thanks are mine for your having found and brought up this very old and valuable thread from 2005. It cheered me up to read some of the comments.
As it turns out, as of last week my own hgb tanked and can I ever feel it. How the heck is your husband walking around with a HGB of 9? I can barely talk (a good thing) and feel shaky. I asked my phlebotomist at the lab this afternoon to carry me home and she was half-tempted, seeing me so wilted. So your husband is amazing.
My hgb stayed at ten or above without procrit for 43 weeks of treatment but now that it's below ten, it's another world. A walk to the bathroom feels like the early days when my HGB dropped suddenly from 16 to 11. I functioned decently for months at my new low number but it's altogether different down here in the 9's.
I have no hesitation in recommending that your husband start procrit this Wednesday but it can take two or four weeks to kick in.
As for diet, that's a hefty topic around here. And I don't know anything about why he'd be coughing due to treatment.
Yes, there are people who do not clear by week 12 but go on to acheive SVR. Many of them extend treatment to 72 weeks. I am not too knowledgable about extended tx, but there are quite a few on this forum who are and I hope they will chime in.
The daily shot your doctor discussed is probably consensus interferon, which is called Infergen. A couple of people on the forum are taking Infergen. It is a particularly difficult course of treatment, but if it helps him clear the virus that will be a good thing.
Keep posting and reading. This is a great place to get information, or just to vent when you need to.
The daily shot your doctor discussed is probably consensus interferon, which is called Infergen. A couple of people on the forum are taking Infergen. It is a particularly difficult course of treatment, but if it helps him clear the virus that will be a good thing.
Keep posting and reading. This is a great place to get information, or just to vent when you need to.
Thanks for the info! Good to know. It's hard to get answers from the drs. sometimes.
After 12 weeks his counts are still not negative. They were concerned that he still had a trace in his blood and said it may not go away at this point. He is continuing his treatment for a while longer with 1 shot a week and if still no negative results he may have to take a shot everyday. Have you ever heard of anyone getting rid of hcv past the 12 week mark? We are so worried about this. It has ruined his liver to the point that he now has cirrohsis. Can someone live a long life like this? I'm hoping for some good news for him!
After 12 weeks his counts are still not negative. They were concerned that he still had a trace in his blood and said it may not go away at this point. He is continuing his treatment for a while longer with 1 shot a week and if still no negative results he may have to take a shot everyday. Have you ever heard of anyone getting rid of hcv past the 12 week mark? We are so worried about this. It has ruined his liver to the point that he now has cirrohsis. Can someone live a long life like this? I'm hoping for some good news for him!
Yes, procrit will help the low hemoglobin. The shortness of breath and coughing during exertion are related to the anemia (low hemoglobin). The procrit should help but it does take a couple of weeks to see any improvement.
As for diet, I don't know of a particular recommended diet. He should eat healthy food but during treatment many people have problems eating. He should eat whatever he can tolerate. Good luck to you both. This treatment is hard but if he can clear the virus it will be worth it.
jd
As for diet, I don't know of a particular recommended diet. He should eat healthy food but during treatment many people have problems eating. He should eat whatever he can tolerate. Good luck to you both. This treatment is hard but if he can clear the virus it will be worth it.
jd
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