Low Neutrophils

[Diana66]

Since I started tx with a base of 1.64 I have been flaoting around the 0.56-0.7-0.88-1.05 for the last 14 weeks

Today all of a sudden I bottomed to 0.3. This is on an already reduced Interferon dose of 135. I am waiting to hear from the doctor now of what the plan is but would this sudden drop be just from the Interferon or is it possible to have other reason as well

2 weeks after the Incivek: Hemoglobin at 10.1, Platelets at 58 so only the Neutrophils are the problem

Any ideas, suggestions?

[lisa108]

Wish you the best Diana ! My riba has been reduced to 600mg per day because of the low hemoglobine. Doctor says that it will not comprise the result of tx. I didn't  want to reduce the dose but I have to follow the doctor. I understand that you're not feeling very comfortable about this, I know the feeling. I felt the same when reduced riba. We want so much to get rid of this virus and we have been suffering so much with tx.

I hope all goes well for you. Let us know the lab results. Sending you POSITIVE energy !!! :)

[BoceprevirGal]

  Sending good thoughts your way, Diana~    

[Idyllic]

Hey Diana! I was wondering the outcome of this? Has enough time lapsed for results and all that? I hope you are doing OK♫

[Diana66]

Hey Idyllic

Neutrophils went up to 0.55, platelets at 54 so I restarted interferon shots on my usual day (Thu) but only at 90

So to recap: skipped dose for week 19 but continued with full dose Riba and done week 20 at 90

On Wed I will see the doctor and I will get some answer on why Neupogen was not supported and . Since platelets are not very high I very much doubt that I will ever be back to full 180 even with Neupogen. But maybe I could go back to 135

I also need to hear from him what impact skipping the dose has on the end results and WHY he did not prescribe support although it is available !!!!!

Since when I see him I will be at the end of week 20 maybe they will test my VL again?  I am very low because I am concerned that skipping that dose will make me fail tx and also because I am in lots of pain - stomach, colon and I do not know what it is !!!!

Not sure that is the right time to do an endoscopy/ colonoscopy now with the blood counts I have.

[frijole]

Diane
No I would not do a colonoscopy now either but I do wonder why you are having the pain.  You asked about low neutrophils

"I was at that stage wondering if any other viral infection such as flu or low level bacterial infection such as root canal can be a reason for the drop "

I think other infections actually do the opposite - that is, infection causes the WBC to go up as they are needed to fight infection.

I  hope you get an answer as to why neupogen is not used.

[flcyclist]

I agree with frijole that the wbc count would go up to fight any type of infections, rather than down.  I'd suspect an autoimmune deficiency instead, which you might have already mentioned.  When you go in for your doc's appt try to take as much supportive information about avoiding dose reductions as possible and try to make your case.  I think we as patients should be able to express our desires and the doctors should strongly consider them.  Some doctors are inflexible, but hopefully he will listen and provide you with a good rationale in his dosing protocol.  I was on neupogen for over 40 weeks, most of them 2x per week.  I didn't want to do any dose reductions, nor did my doc, so this was he course of action.  Now that I'm SVR I have no regrets.  Read up and go into your appt prepared to make your case.  Good luck.