Procrit - How did everyone do that ended up using it?

[kmatucson]

After I finished the Incivek after 12 weeks, my gastro indicated I would feel much better.  Not so fast.. Within a couple of weeks I could not walk more than 10 feet, stand for more than a minute and I had to prop my arms up with pillows to type.  I could not convince my gastro to do new labs so I went around her and got them done by my primary.  As soon as my gastro saw that my  HGB was down to 8.8, and my Hematocrit, RBC and WBC were low as well, she immediately reduced my meds, and when I saw her she ordered procrit.  Well, from reducing the meds my Hgb went  up to 9.6, and I started to feel a little better..  So, now I'm hesitating doing the procrit.  I have read that some people have a bad reaction to it.  Please let me know if you have done the procrit and if you feel it was worth it..  Thank you all for being so kind and supportive

[crossroadsec]

I have had great results. Dr gave me 2 shots and reduced RIBA to 800 for a couple of months while I waited on ins. Went from 8 to 9 and up to 11 now w 20 units of procrit. I worried about RIBA reduce, but like you - refused to even think of stopping!
Hang in there. You're Soooo close! Btw- no aide effects for me either.
Screaming- I remember ur struggle. The blood transfusions are nice too, huh? Lol. Never in my dreams could I imagine myself saying that..
Karen :)

[kmatucson]

Thank you all so much.  I think I will wait a bit to see what my new labs come back as.  I can walk a little farther now and stand a little longer, so I'm hopeful that I will not need the procrit.  I only have 6 weeks of this nightmare left, so I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I so badly want to complete the treatment.  
To Indy531, my doc wanted me to stop treatment as well, but we decided to see what happened with the reduction in Ribavirin.  

[nygirl7]

i loved Procrit it saved my course of treatment. I was on it 69 weeks and had no adverse affects just a raised hemo.

[working dog]

reducing my riba was the best way i found to get my hgb up...the procrit seemed to work but still needed to reduce riba....i wish i could have been in the 9s but that wasn't happening ..was 7s and 8s....i think if i was up to 9.6 i would wait a week or two checking blood work every week...why take anything you don't have to..........billy

[indy531]

Yesterday my hgb  dropped a full point to new low of 8.6; hep doc started by saying if hgb dropped more he would stop tx-Oh No, Mr. Bill!! I asked him to consider rescue drugs and he brought up transfusion; I think he was more than interested in my commitment to the tx process-I did explain that getting from 1 room to another left me gasping. He dropped Riba dose by one-third. I'm going to try some frozen what grass juice, which I have read can help hgb and begin B12/Folate suplements today. Rescue drugs are very expensive for ins. co's. and they often drag their feet.

[screaming48]

I didn't have any kind of reaction to the procrit except for the fact it never worked for me, I stayed at 8.1 the majority of the first few months then a week before Christmas I had a transfusion 2 pints and hgb went to above 11 and felt much better. They may start you on a small dose to see how you respond and frequent blood work. good luck