Is it safe to continue treatment with 8.5 hmg?

[Pepela]

I am on my 7th week of triple therapy treatment. My 4th week test showed that my VL was reduced to 0, but my HMG was 10. Nurse informed me about it after 12 days (too late) and ordered to reduce Ribavirin dosage to 600 mg from 1000 mg.
My 6th week test showed that my HMG dropped to 8.5. Doctor ordered to stop Ribavirin and gave me Procrit shot on Friday. I went back to doctor's office on Monday and my HMG was same, 8.5. Doctor put me back on  Ribavirin, reduced dose, after skipping 3 days. I will take my next Procrit shot in a week from the first one.

Is it safe for me to stay on treatment?  I am afraid to collapse, feeling very week. It seams that Procrit didn't work for me, after testing in 3 days. Will it work later?  Did anyone survive this kind or situation?

[Pepela]

You have no idea how happy I was to find these answers this morning. I had my son check on me last night few times to see if I was still breathing:). I can sleep at night now.  I
Idyllic, Thank you for your answer. You gave me a hope.  
Now all I worry is of relapse, since my Riba was stopped for 3 days. But Doctor tells me that I still have 80% chance of recovery.I agree, I wish I didn't stop  Riba.  
Nurse told me to go back for CBC after 4 days from my last one on Monday, but I thought it would be too close. My next visit is due on 11th, 9 days after last test. I should be able to find out if Procrit is working by then.
I hope we will all get through this terrible ordeal and will get get rid of Hep C forever.  

[frijole]

You should be safe to stay on the program, but you might have to get a transfusion if the hgb drops much lower.  Try to rid yourself of all outside activity - probably not a problem because you can't do much, ha ha.  All I do is work and go to sleep.  My hgb is staying in the 9's (barely) on Procrit, 40,000 units every 5 days.  I never thought I would get used to it but I have over time.  In the beginning though, while the hemoglobin is dropping it is miserable.  It will get better.

Procrit takes about a month for me to see increases in HGB.  I don't think you have had enough time to tell if it is working yet.  As idyllic said, get copies of all of your labs.  You will pay more attention than the doctor will and notice trends.

Good luck, and welcome to the forum.
frijole (bean)

[Peter2012]

Continue treatment.

It's not at a dangerous level now, but keep an eye on it. If it goes down below 70, it's more serious.

My hemoglobin was 86 at 16 weeks and now it's 96 at 24 weeks.

[Idyllic]

Sorry if this sounds to brief. I responded in your other post a little while ago.

I imagine you are feeling very sluggish. I know it is frightening. I swear it is like walking through quicksand.

[Idyllic]

It is safe to stay on treatment. If the sequence of events is the way you outline then you should be OK. Your Procrit should kick in within a week or so. That does not mean you will feel a burst of energy though. It may take a little longer for that.

My Hgb dropped to 8.1 and I was able to stay on treatment. You would be amazed on how low Hgb gets with some people on treatment.

I went from 8.1 to 8.9 with a Riba Dose reduction so I do not understand why your doctor stopped your Riba. Be sure to ask your nurse how often they want you to have a CBC - which should be weekly in the beginning when you just start taking Procrit.

Do you receive weekly copies of your labs. You might want to start asking for copies of your labs from now on. That way you can keep track of things. To be honest I carry my labs with me to certain places. I mean if something happens my husband is not going to be able to explain things. We are lucky enough to have very recent labs which shows our medical condition. Also you can post certain values on the forum and people can help you interpret them.