stopped riba for now...(UPDATE)

[working dog]

I did my 4 week blood work and saw my nurse practitioner today....i started procrit....stopped the riba.....i'm still on the telepriver...hopefully in a few days my hgb will go up and i'll go back on riba....billy

[alagirl]

dang it.  I wish I had seen your other thread before.  The same thing happened to me, only earlier in the course of treatment.  If you're under 8 you could have checked into the ER and they would have given you a transfusion and then you could have stayed on the RIBA while amping up on the procrit.  At 8.4 they wouldn't.  That's kind of the dividing line.  You were probably under 8 by three days after that blood was taken considering you're a guy.  If it was me, it only would have taken 24 hours or less.

This is the reason I got a separate hematologist.  I read in the literature in the waiting room where they said they start pulling people and reducing riba if the hemaglobin goes under 10 and I thought, I'm not going to be over 10 on a good day, even with the procrit.  And sure enough, they started talking about reducing my riba early on and then they started talking about pulling me.  But once I got the hematologist it was all different.

[nygirl7]

No actually billy I'm pretty much of a cry baby most of the time........I just refused to let go of double dosing the riba I was pretty insane.  But I wanted to win and I did (even if it took 72 weeks ;)

[Susan_1a_CC]

I sure wish that you weren't having such a tough time with tx, it sounds awful for you.  Sending all good wishes your way.

[working dog]

you must be pretty tough deb...they did a 4 week pcr ..i'll hear about that on friday...i feel better today and hope that with the procrit i will be back on riba very soon...thanks a lot....i'll keep an update....billy

[nygirl7]

Billy mine dropped that much in ten days.........believe me there are plenty of us who had the same reaction but you gotta get back on that riba man or you are never going to see SVR. Did they even bother doing a 4 week PCR to see if you are UND? If you are not I would not be surprised to see your VL go back up - it's that serious that you take the riba.

[Mary4now]

Yow, that is a huge drop in your hgb, I am so sorry it has hit you so hard.  I sure hope you can resume and all will be well.  Make sure you drink a lot of water and well, good luck,,,,time will tell, just take care of yourself.
Mary

[crossroadsec]

Get some rest billy.  I used to lay down and wonder if I would wake up. I said all my I Love You's to my friends n family every day. It's scary stuff man. As you fall asleep, try and think about all the things you'll do when you feel better. You got a lotta living to do..  You'll get there. Karen :)

[working dog]

well this sounds awful but i feel better knowing you were in the same place.....i feel like i/m dying a lot of the time...its so hard to get out of bed....today since i cut the riba i feel a little better...i have a months supply of procrit...i was so sick at the doctors i could't even ask for a copy of my blood work...had to lay down to get an exam...thats bad...too bad to continue tx like this...i still think things will get better soon...we will see....thanks....billy

[exaddict24]

hi, I am on ribavarin 1000 mg and pegasy 180 mircogram.. My first time on treatment. sx managable. I hope i will continue safely to SVR. Everyone's support is important. Thanks.

[his3707]

Mine was down that low and they just reduced riba and interferon until HGB came up with the help of procrit.  My understanding is the incivek will not work without the riba and interferon.   Its ok to stay in bed.  That is what I did for the first 8 weeks.   I know exactly how you feel your not alone.  Mine fell from 15.? to 8.5 or lower in 4 weeks also.  I started all my reductions right into my 5th week.  Believe me,  There is nothing worse that I know of yet than being anemic!  I dont know if there is some other medical reason they are doing such a drastic measure on you.   Wishing you a quick recovery and getting back on track quick!

[crossroadsec]

Sry to hear ur down.  But did you read the posts earlier on riba deduction and success rate? It was amazing! You're still in the game. Fo sho! Karen

[ann61]

Good luck Billy.  I hope you feel better soon and can resume full treatment asap.  I will continue to keep you in my thoughts.

[spectda]

That is a serious change in hgb in a short time. I hope things improve soon and your able to get back on your riba and this tx does the job.
Good luck,
Dave

[zako7]

I just read about good news 4 weeks und. What drug combination did you use?

[working dog]

i was really out of it....had to lay down during the appointment...my doctors office has treated hundreds of hep c folks...this is not the first time they had to stop riba for a short time because of blood work....i think my hgb went down too fast for my body to handle..from 14.5 to 8.5 in less then 4 weeks.....i'm in bed almost all the time..i think my 4 week vl will be fine...we will see later this week...thanks...billy

[nygirl7]

It's almost as if they are completely sabotaging this course of tx for some reason, none of it makes sense.  I just can't see how this is going to work out well.

[guster]

from what i can gather stopping riba is ill advised as mutations will emerge or reemerge quickly    why not dose reduction   was this recommended by someone other than a nurse practitioner

[Anne1717]

I was in mid 8's as well without a dose reduction or Procrit - but also was within 4 weeks of EOT

[spectda]

In my Victrelis trial they would not discontinue ribavirin (and tx completely) unless HGB was below 7.5 and 600 mgs was the lowest dose they were willing to prescribe. I spent many months with hgb in the high 7s and low 8s. jt57 spent a long time with hgb in the 7s and 8s also and had tranfusions at the end so she could complete tx. I think Cando also had his HGB get into the low 8s without dose reduction.

Billy sorry to hear that your doc stopped the ribavirin, Hopefully they will put you back on it ASAP. Did your HGB take a dive even more?

Good luck,
Dave

[nygirl7]

I realy dont understand what is the hold up with the Procrit the telapravir will NOT work without it....

[frijole]

I am really sorry they have done this to you.  Are you treating with a hepatologist who has lots of experience in treating Hep C? What does your HGB have to be before they tell you to continue the ribavivin.
frijole

[exaddict24]

Sorry to hear about your situation. Be strong. Will be praying for you.

[GINGERPAL]

i was curious how low your hemogoblin level is that you had to stop your riba.
i hope you feel better soon......

[James10500]

Good luck Billy, I hope this numbers improve !