ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Most docs will start Procrit when your Hemoglobin goes below 10; they like the hematocrit at 30 or better, too. What were your blood counts at baseline (before tx)? Most people drop around 3-3.5 points on the hemoglobin. It takes 2-4 weeks to see the effects of Procrit kick in.
It's mostly the ribavirin's fault; it kills off red blood cells too fast (hemolyzes). Normally RBC's live about 120-140 days; riba kills them off after perhaps 80 in many people, and the body needs to produce new ones (from the stem cells) many more new RBC's.
RBC Morphology is about the "forms" of your RBC's. Your body is trying to crank out lots of new RBCs into circulation; macrocytes are one type of somewhat immature cells in circulation, and they don't carry oxygen as efficiently as fully mature RBC's. You said you're extra tired, right? Voi'la. You may get several other funny types under RBC morphology before you're done. Also MCV, MCH and RDW might be a bit high; that's all linked to the same stuff.
Lowering or stopping Riba for a short time might be enough to bring your RBC's back up. However, then you're not taking the therapy meds at the needed doses; that could compromise the whole tx. The docs are trying to balance all that; it's part of the art of medicine.
Low WBC won't make you feel bad, but makes you more vulnerable to infections. Limit close encounters in crowds, etc.; wash your hands frequently. You're not at dangerous levels yet, but keeping the ANC above .750 is desirable; your doc will probably base Neupogen use around that. Many of us have gone lower; research seems to indicate that if HCV-tx lowered your ANC, you are not as vulnerable as if this happened from "natural causes."
In other words, it is not as hazardous for us. Many of us have been down around .500 with no dangerous opportunistic infections; but it is something to take seriously.
Neupogen (G-CSF) works in the bone marrow, increasing the rate of development of blood cells from stem cells. It tends to improve WBC's in one-two weeks.
Thanks for the info. It would be Monday at least before I could get an explanation. This board is a God-send. Stress is one of the main things for me that bring my counts down. More stress, lower counts. Just couldn't see going thru the week-end stressing. Now if I can get the nausea and back-door trots to ease up, I may be able to watch OU and OSU from somewhere other than the bathroom!
Thanks
Bodie
Geez, Indy, you have a way of putting words together. Don't need to clean the floor this weekend, I just did it by rotfl.
I saw a sign at the Agway store for "Badger Balm." I asked where it came from and they said from Indiana... is this a coincidence?
Best,
Maj Neni
Hahahahaha No coincidence there. I spent SO much time and energy trying to find it here that others took and interest. Indiana folks LOVE a challenge. Come to find out that only THAT Badger had a problem with it. Probably cuz of the way I tried to get it from him. Guess he doesn't like being gay now. The females are all happy to give it up when there's money involved.....go figure. Now all the Indiana Badgers live in condos' and have swimming pools and wear shades. So now it's a BIG industry here.
The next big project here may relate to the Woodpeckers. If I can convince them to come back after the 4th of July explosions. I think they may carry an enzyme that could rival Viagra for the impotence drug market. Ever see a "limp" woodpecker?? I figure we'll call it "PeckerWood". Whatcha think? Nothing says Hard like Woodpecker!
Hahahahahaha LAUGH DAMMIT! OUT LOUD!! IT'S GOOD FOR YA!
Hang in there girl. The end is near now and I'm down here at the finish line waiting to cheer you on!
What is happening to this site??? All this talk about big peckers and big gooey poo???? And people assuming incest? I mean REALLY!!! Let's pull it out of the gutter people!