LABS,TX,NO Dr

[Boni58]

I wanted to post some labs and see if I can get a reliable answer since my Tx'ing Dr left her practice the end of March and I won't see the other GI until 3 months post tx. I just took my 21st inj last night. pre-tx WBC's 8.3 ref range for this lab will follow each result, this lab uses age and gender to determine range, (3.9-10.3) And all have consistantly dropped and am now3.5. HGB 14.6 to start and now 11.5 (11.7-16.0). Oops RBC's doesn't look like there isn't one until post 5th inj which was 3.96 and is now 3.63 ( 3.80-5.20). HCT start 43.1, now 32.1). PLT's started at 234 and have dropped as low as 101 is now103 ( 172-453). AB neut's start at 3 to as low as 1.3 is now 2 (2.2-4.8). Ab lymphs where 2.5 post 3rd inj and have dropped to 0.9, now 1.3 (1.5-3.5) I've had various highs and lows in my diff with  15%atypical cells and reactive lymphs. LFT's WNL since post -op and prior to tx. I am geno2b with 3 more injections at this point. Never been tx'd or dx'd with bi-polar disorder but have been increasingly symptomatic since week 5. Can't at times complete a sentence but can't stop talking for hours even if 1+1 hardly ever adds up to 2. Go psycho verbaly and become overwhelmed if around or in the middle of conflict. Spend last 2 days crying after my son got in my face screaming and spitting that he would snap my neck if I called the police on him. I have a plate in my neck. Any input would be helpful, and very supportive.
Boni58

[Boni58]

Thanks for the funnies! I started the effexor at 37.5 mg at bedtime and that's 1/2 dose. I do my 2nd to last shot tonight. Yippeeeeeeeeeee! I didn't lose my hair at first but now it's falling out about 5 handfulls at a time. Do you know how long it takes to grow back or when I can color it after it does?

If JMJM reads this I asked my PCP to do a Viral load after my last shot and he wrote the order since I won't see the GI Dr until August 6th. 4 months post tx.

[medicmommy]

No, you don't sound like you're throwing a "pity party" to me...Doing this treatment is a grind...And you're going to be bone weary sometimes..Just having to put up with the endless Dr visits, and getting poked with a gazillion needles is enough to make anybody go a bit "ga-ga"...LOL Are you taking your Effexor with food? It's pretty strong stuff...You may want to talk to your Dr about starting you at 1/2 dose, and then increasing it in a week or two...Remember, it builds to a certain level in your system...Don't suddenly go cold turkey and stop taking it (It'll need to be tapered off)..Hang in there..it just sounds like you're in a low spot...Here's a funny for you...Ask someone to get you a "henway"...
When they say," What's a henway (hen weigh)?", you say,"Oh, about 4-5 lbs..." :)
If that's not good enough, try "dikfor" ("What's a **** for?") LOL Hang in there!(((((HUGZ)))))))))                 ~Melinda

[Boni58]

I'm still out here. I know I probably sound like the biggest crybaby. I applaud all of you who can and have endured this for a longer period of tx than me. I'm glad it will be over soon. My daughter told me last night that she hopes my mind returns. ME TOO!  By the by my PCP started me on effexor 37.5 mg 2 x a day. I have only been able to take one at night so far. Monday will be the end of the first week of that. It makes me feel extremely nauseated even with food. I've dropped to 115#'s from 131. Thanks for asking............this is my alone time and usually my higher energy time but not this week.

Bonita

[medicmommy]

I hadn't seen you post in a few days and was wondering how you're doing...(((((((((((HUGZ))))))))                                     ~Melinda

[Boni58]

Thanks for all your in put, I needed someone to listen and understand. By the way my son is 26 and moved in on my Daughter/ Boyfriend/ and her son with his girlfriend &11 month old baby. He sponged off me til finally I let my home of 14 yrs go just to get away from him. His behavior has been going on for yrs. In and out of juvi. I live in a small town and my only hope of a specialist was the infectious disease guy.  But Just to let you all know I called a local psycho center and will be seeing them Monday. DON'T REALLY WANT ANYMORE PILLS!!!!!!! Esp. since I know they take so long to work and I'm pilled out! I'm such an airhead with a Degree in Nursing. Ha! and my brain is mushhhh.

PS I do feel a little better today! I agree about the boyfriend thing........My Daughter is now working 2 jobs / to pay her debt off and works 7 days a wk.
Thanks guys!!!!!!

[nygirl7]

I agree with JD 100%. As someone who's had definite issues with her own kids in past times (and my son currently a bit) I can only offer you my sympathy. If you can find the magic pill to turn them around all at once please send it over my way!

Your numbers look very good to me - in fact I don't see any problems at all.  However it is crucial that you do find another doctor and get acquainted with them right away.  You don't want to wait until you HAVE to see them to go - you want them to have some background understanding of you first.

You might not get in with the infectious disease guy or a heptologist depending on where you live but there has to at least be some decent GI who knows a thing or two about hep.  Try and find them right away.

Oh and by the way - I started on paxill a month before treatment and it was one of the best things I ever did for myself. It seems on treatment sometimes the littlest problem we have is doing the treatment and life has a way of just exploding on us somehow even without it. It sure helped me.

Good luck.

[jdwithhcv]

Seems like your daughter and son are not too much help to you - I'm so sad for you to hear that.  No son should ever threaten his mother for any reason.  As for waiting on your daughter's boyfriend, why is this your responsibility.  Shouldn't HIS mother (or his girlfriend) be taking of this?

You are very ill, fighting a serious disesase, and have more than you can cope with right now, can't they see that?

Don't let them push you around, and please call the police if anyone makes any physical threats against you.  I know its hard to do but that's unacceptable behavior and maybe it will take a cop to explain that in terms your son can understand.

Good luck.  I'll be keeping a good thought for you.

jd

[medicmommy]

YAYYYY!!! You're almost done! The finish line is in sight! Gauf is right on the antidepressant thing...It sounds like you've got some "life stressors" going on as well that aren't making things any more bearable...How are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?  When docs leave an office, they usually refer their patients top another Dr..Also, I'd be dying to know what your viral load is! I'll bet you are undetectable! Geno type 2's usually respond pretty quickly and very well to treatment...Back to the antidepressants...It takes a few weeks for them to build to their therapeutic levels but, they may be helpful as well while your body readjusts when you come off the treatment...Hang in there...I know you're weary (a large part of it is probably from anemia)...But you're in the final stretch!  Do something just for yourself that makes you feel good...Get outside once a day (even if it's for 30 minutes) and breathe...(((((((((((HUGZ))))))))))                         ~Melinda

[Boni58]

When the GI Dr told me she was leaving I tryed to switch to a infectious desease specialist........and as my good luck goes..........I never got a return call. Don't know about slow response but at the end of wk 4 they did what's called a pcr rna qualitative. The results only come back + or -. Mine was tested 4 times by lab corp and it came back - twice and + twice. They decided i was still boarderline +. My 12wk PCR quantitative came back UND. My Dr didn't do a liver biopsy so I have no clue what stage or grade I was prior to tx?

[gauf]

Your labs look ok. Your hgb is getting close to the point of maybe needing procrit.  You are experiencing bad depression with is typical on tox for many. You need to talk to your doc and have him prescribe you an AD. Hang in there, you will get through. God bless.

[jmjm530]

Hi Boni,

At first glance I see nothing unusual with your labs, but frankly your tx doctor leaving her practice is no reason for you to have any lapse in medical supervision during or even post treatment. I suggest you ask for an immediate appointment both to review your current situation/labs and to maintain continuity. If not available, you might consider switching to another doctor, and preferably a hepatologist (liver specialist).

Don't know your tx history at all -- plus it's quite late in your tx -- but at a minimum make sure you get an end of treatment viral load test, which can be taken six days after your last Peg injection. Also, if you were a slower responder, and especially if you have significant liver damage, treatment length should be re-evaluated -- but this would require an experienced doctor on top of both your case and the HCV landscape.

-- Jim