just got 4 week infergen results

[joemc34606]

I just came back from doc and got my 12 weeks results, my viral load started at 4.1million and now its down to 58000. After 2 fail attempts at interferon the daily infergen is working. My only concern is my platlet count, my doc told me my platletes are at 78,000 and if they drop to 50,000 we will have to cut the dose. She also told me there is no resucue drugs for platlets. When I was on my first treatment of interferon my genius gastro decided to cut my dose because my white blood count was low and my viral load came right back. So my concern is that they may want to cut my dose and this will happen again. Does anyone know of anything that can help my platlet count?

[jmjm530]

As the expression sort of goes "what a difference a few weeks make" :)

So a guarded congratulations! That looks like a promising four-week drop, all  things considered.

-- Jim

[joemc34606]

When i stated my results its only been four weeks, I guess Im trying to hurry things along

[jmjm530]

Don't know your history or stats but you failed to make a two-log drop at week 12. Now sure how this translates into infergen re-treatment, but it does not bode well for SOC, even when extending to 72-weeks. Hopefully, you're seeing a liver specialist (hepatologist) who has access to all current study data and will guide you the best way forward.

All the best,

-- Jim

[evangelin]

You might want to search the Life extension foundation site for melatonin and thrombocytopenia (low platelets)  It has been used in high doses by cancer patients with some success.  My husband  tried infergen and like you, it was working but he had a viral breakthrough when they lowered his doses.  
You might also read  at LEF about shark oil and low white count.  
I can't confirm personally that these work but I am giving my husband 6 mg melatonin a night to see if it will help platelets...don't know yet. It makes him groggy in the morning until he drinks some coffee and that snaps him out of it.  I wasn't comfortable with the really high dose that the article mentions.  It might be ok but I was afraid so settled on th 6mg. which he hasn't had problems with and it seems to help him get better sleep too.
If you google search medhelp +shark oil it calls up an old post of a lady whos husband maintained his white cell count during his 2nd tx with norwegian shark oil.  She sounded like an intelligent and reasonable person not flakey or selling something.  I found her post quite interesting .  The medhelp search might pull it up too although I usually don't have an easy time with their search.
Well, those are some ideas I had filed away and I can't say they work first hand but it is something to check out.  LEF has a great website with tons of really good information.
Best Wishes,
Ev

[Magnum]

I just wanted to tell you that I had the same problem with Infergen and much worse, I almost died. Not that this applies to you, but my doctor will NOT treat me again with Infergen. Here's why...

Like you, I dropped from 3,2000,000 to 6000... BUT, he was overdosing me with 24mcg daily instead of 15mcg (the standard dose) and I became jaundiced! Be careful with that stuff.... Have the doctor keep a close eye on it, and by all means do NOT let him overdose you...

I too did not respond to three prior treatments: Interferon and Ribavirin, Pegasys and Ribavirin and again Interferon and Ribavirin before he decided to put me on the more powerful, and in my opinion, the more unpredictable Infergen...

Magnum