1 week R1626 results - help with interpreting pls

[Trish77]

My first week results on the R1626:

Baseline:

VL  2,100,000 IU/ml
ALT  45
AST 31
HGB 132
WBC 6.4
Platelets (which refers to what?)  276
ANC (Neuts?)  4.52  (why is everyone else's in different numbers like thousands?)

1st week
VL 3.06 E5  - what the heck is that?  She said 500,000 IU/ml approx
ALT 27
AST 22
HGB 129
WBC 6.0
Plat  300
ANC 4.10

I'm stunned at the drop in my ALT/AST level - it was never all that bad but .. wow.  

Not much change in my HGB .. which is good in the one sense... and in the other sense.. looking at the low drop in my VL (at least seems low to me compared to others in this trial and others not on this trial) makes me wonder if the Riba is doing it's job.  I'm so sick of peanut butter it isn't funny and it's one of my favourite things.

I'd appreciate some help understanding this, please.  I confess, I'm tired and lacking the patience at the moment but I want to understand.  A long day at the hospital, long day driving through rush hour to get there and rush hour to get back, 8 hours in all ... and I confess....the seeming low drop in my VL has me just a wee bit down at the moment until I can do the necessary attitude adjustment.  I know it's just week one ... was hoping for some of the spectacular drops I've been reading about.

Thanks for your patience.

Trish

[jmjm530]

I was also flat (and detectible)  between weeks 3 and 4, but did clear at week 6 and went on to SVR. Also read similar here. Not a lot of published data on weekly viral load testing, so hopefully it's just part of the UND process.

-- Jim

[Trish77]

Thank you for the encouragement, Willy.  I haven't gone running since the 9K the first weekend I started treatment.  I am pretty much forced to rest, like most people, because when the fatigue hits it really hits.  And then I rest.  When I have a good day I make the most of my energy.  I'm not really doing exercise other than walking and keeping on the move for work and life.  It actually keeps me mentally positive I think and that's a good thing.  

No worries, Willy.  Definitely staying the course and the little buggers are doing down.

Take care and thank you for your thoughts.

Trish

[Willy50]

Trish, just stay the course.  Sometimes the response seems to flatten out and people still can go on to clear.  I would look at your viral load more as a hestiation or stall than as a rebound.  The difference between the 2 weeks is slight; almost negligible.  Next weeks viral load may be more telling but I think that it could go down as easily as it could go up.  Hang in there and keep doing everything to the best of your ability.  

I know that you are busy but don't forget to also rest.

Hang in there,

Willy

[Trish77]

Well, no UND and therefore no RVR.  It did look promising there for a bit, didn't it.  I went from 615 in Week three to 448 in Week 4.  Must be the Scottish ones that are left, they'd be the most stubborn ones.  So .. guess I'm duking it out one-on-one with the remaining virons til I slay the little buggers.  

HGB is either 10.3 or 10.8.  Gawd.  Doc says 10.3 in American units whatever that means and Trial Co-ord tells me 10.8.  So .. ??  ANC is holding nicely in the 2.** range so no issues there.

I actually got to have a conversation with a doctor today, what a novelty.  So back to the Folic Acid discussion.  He tells me to take Folic Acid and I say "well, I did some research and it seems to say that Folic Acid doesn't make a difference in ribavirin-induced anemia" and he says "generally it doesn't but in 10 - 15% of the cases it CAN make a difference and since you don't want a dosage reduction, then ... Folic Acid can't hurt.. might help."

I was pretty satisfied with his response so in light of THAT,  "can't hurt, might help" works for me in this case. I have no worries about B12 deficiency so no worries about Folic Acid masking it.  And I'll take peanut butter cups too just because I like 'em.

Starting to feel nauseous after I eat and just vaguely all the time but nothing serious.  Getting used to the randomness of the fatigue finally, I think.  Still working, still studying, still keeping on with the activities of daily life.  And crashing as necessary.

Hope you're all doing well.

Hoping you get your riba uptake, Emi ... because you want it.

Regards,

Trish

[Trish77]

Emi, that's a really good drop between Week 3 and Week 4.  I'm really pleased for you.  Even with your "bloods" showing minimal impact, look where your VL is at.  This is good.  Keep in mind you still have time.  I'm very hopeful for you, Emi, after seeing that Week 4 result.  Keep it up .. I hope you get the riba increase you want .. don't worry about the INF... "accept the things we cannot change", that sort of thing.  You have other weapons in the arsenal and just hang in there.  I'm going to hang in there a couple weeks more to see if I start getting any sides after the INF shots.. so far not so much .. before I shoot a prediction out there. :)

I get Week 4 results on Thursday morning.  Was supposed to be Friday and they called to change my appt to 7:30am on Thursday.  Means I'm up and out the door just that much earlier .. around 5:45am.  Argh.  But also means I miss less work this way too.  

Will let you know how Week 4 shakes out when I have the info.

Take care, Emi.

Trish

[Trish77]

Thanks fret, I appreciate your thought, it means alot.  Oddly enough I just sent you a message too.  You should have it now.

Trish