Shot 12 wen fine, backed off procrit to once a week, hemo up to 10.9, and back up to 1000mg of Riba but staying on 135mcg of interferon.  

Shot 12 Friday July 29,    

Today is Monday August 1,  

I can feel the added Riba effects.  I have been blaming a lot of my symptoms on the incivek, but Im starting to believe, which I have heard before, that the culprit is really the Riba that causes A LOT of sx.  I feel like my hemo might have dropped a point or two.  Friday I added back 400mg back to my riba dose.  Saturday I did really well.  I felt good and had energy.  Then Saturday night I started getting a headache.  Sunday I stayed in bed all day.. ugggh...  I could feel that strain in my neck and nausea set in.    Anyway, I am hanging in there.....   On Friday I did have a little Riba rage I guess you could call it...  I was at a Mcdonals with a patient of mine getting some icecream.  I was watching the employess on the line and there was a lady who was bare handed and touching all the food.  The guy next to her was doing the same thing but had gloves on.   I just said in an loud voice "  Why are you touching all the food with your bare hand?  I want to know why you are touching all the food with your bare hands right Now!"  She said, "I washed my hands" and I said, "Sorry, that is not good enough, I do not want your DNA on my food!"   My patient and the customers were just staring at me.   No one said anything, We got our icecream and sat down.   She did put some gloves on.   Normally I would have at least asked to see a manager and quietly said a complaint if I had one.     Strange....  

July 27 2011.   As of today I only have 9 more days left of incevik!  I am counting down.  I got my CBC today and my hemo is up to 10.9!  I am feeling so much better.  It took almost 5 weeks  of procrit and dose reduction to get the hgb up from 8.5 to 10.9 .  So it is not a over night fix.  I am now taking my regular dose of 1000 mgs of Riba and have been backed off of procrit to once a week. I am still on reduced interferon at 135mgs.  
Best to really stay on top of the blood levels and how fast they change.  I was not aware of that or believe me I would have been calling the doc before they thought about the procrit and asking for intervention.   I also had no Idea how anemia could make you feel so BAD!!!.  I have never felt anything like that in my life!    Im so grateful to be able to take the procrit and would recommend to anyone getting ready to start treatment to get that in line with your insurance company, doctor, financial assistance from procrit, whatever it takes  so if you need intervention, Wham!  you got it!    I also would not do this treatment or similar in a trial if anemia is a concern, if you cannot use rescue drugs!   to risky if you have to stop treatment because of it.  

Shot 11 tonight.  Tried it in the thigh this time.  It didnt hurt like I thought it would but it did leave a bruise.  When I went to have my last cbc done, I dont know what happened but the blood was "oozing" out of the hole after she collected the blood and had put a tape and gauze on it.  I didnt notice until I got in my car and looked down and the bandage was soaked and dripping.  I pulled the thing back and thats when it did this oozing thing.  I ran back in there and they cleaned me up and it seemed like it was ok.   I wonder if I could be damaging my veins in my arms with so many blood draws.  They dont seem to know any other place to take blood other than at the elbow I dont know what that area is called.   I guess Im saying all that because Im not usually a bleeder like that.    my hemo is up to 10.0 but still on dose reduction.  last night I forgot to let out some of the interferon before injecting so I got a full dose last night...  Oh well.....   I have been able to do some things around the house today which is Saturday and Friday night I took my boys to see a movie.    Last week I also took them out to do some school shoe shopping.   So my energy level has improved alot.  I still feel nauseated a lot,  I walk around and just gag, and depressed feeling, unmotivated,  but that is so much better to handle then the anemia.   I think they started me on procrit a little late.  I feel like as soon as they saw my levels dropping so quick they should have gotten me set up.    Anyway today has been a pretty good day so far.  

Well it is Friday July 15.  Im getting ready to start week 10 tonight.  Im still on dose reductions and on procrit.  My hgb is now 9.7 so I am feeling better.  I was actually able to go to the midnight premiere of the last Harry Potter movie with my sons.  didnt get home until 3 am.  woke up to a flooded bathroom because "somebody" didnt giggle the handle and the toilet ran for 3 hours and the power fuze had blown to the septic so the pump wasnt working.   So I have had a busy 24 hours.   I did some things around the house today.   The best news is yesterday I got my HCV QN TMA <5 test results back and it was UNDETECTED!!  I am feeling much confidence for the first time in a few weeks.  I was getting nervous with all the dose reductions..  Tonight when I did my shot I didnt do it all the way down to 135 mcg.  about 160.   tomorrow I am going to start taking another riba also.  Im sure they will up it again by next week anyway.  I'll ease my way back into it.  I just love being my own doc.  Lots of people stay on reg dose with lower numbers than 9.7,   sometimes you gotta take matters into your own hands right????   Praying for a good day tomorrow!   I have 3 total weeks for the incivek!!  so ready for that!!