gap between epo and pegasys shot

[rexx73]

dear community,

iam in the last 3 weeks of my 48 week treatment with incivek.
as my hgb has gone down the last 2 months my doc has prescribed me epo again.
usualy i make my epo shots wednesday and my pegasys on friday.

my hgb has gone up again from 98 first to 114 and last week to 118.
as i did my epo shot last wednesday i felt very strange for 3 or 4 days with some pain in the legs and a higher hartbeat rate as usual.i dont know if this symtoms are related to the epo or not.
now usualy tonight i have to make the next shot.but i would like to wait till tomorrow morning when they check my hgb and i can talk with my doc about my symptoms i had.

is it a problem when the gap between epo and pegasys is just one day?

my consideration is to look where my hgb stays.if it went above 120 i think my doc would tell me anyway to stopp or take just half of my dosage.
when it is around the level as last time i think i have to make the epo shot tomorrow.

are here some poeple who had epo/procrit and had only a day gap between the two shots?

i apreciate some answers
regards marc

[rk2761]

My hgb was 99 four weeks ago. My nurse recommended dropping a riba pill, but I said no and she was ok with that. She said they usually recommend dropping a pill, or other measures like epo, if someone drops below 100. (Unless, of course, you are feeling really really awful.)

So if your hgb is above 100, I would say don't worry. I'm not worried and I suspect mine has dropped again cause I feel worse and because my pattern has been a small, steady a drop every month. Normal range is 120 to 180 - (or 160, I can't remember. 160 might be for women and 180 for men). You are darned close to normal and you only have three weeks left.

Hang in there. You are almost at the finish line!

rk

[rexx73]

thanks a lot can do man.
I always get quick in panic about things other people don't care.
3 more weeks and iam done with this treatment.

regards Marc

[can-do-man]

Marc don't let your anxiety get the best of you, your doctor is correct. Everything will be fine.... Just hang in there guy.

[rexx73]

maybe I have to add that i live in europe,switzerland,
so if I want to check my hgb next week already I have  ask my family doc to check my hgb.

[rexx73]

I asked him if we can check next week,but he said 2 weeks is o.k.

[Idyllic]

Who knows you may hold steady for the next two weeks; indeed, perhaps even the remainder of treatment.  Actually what might be a better idea is to stick to your once weekly CBSs rather than two weeks. Just knowing you will have labs sooner might allay some of your anxiety. That right there might be a better safety net compared to wondering and worrying.

[rexx73]

Iam scared my hgb is crashing the last 3 weeks without epo.
they checking my hgb in 2 weeks again.

[rexx73]

so today my hgb was 119.it was 118 last time.my doc told me now to stop the epo,as I anyway have just 3 weeks left.
do you think thats o.k ?

[nygirl7]

Better safe than sorry Marc good call it's only a day right?  :)

[rexx73]

thanks for all the answers so far.
yes iam still on the full riba dose.

this the second time i have to take epo,in the first 12 weeks as i had to take incivek my hgb has gone down to 7,i became a transfusion and started the same time with epo.a few weeks later as my hgb was over 120 my doc stopped the epo.
the last few weeks my hgb has started to go down to 98.so i became epo again.
i think i have to wait and see tomorrow were my hgb stays,because maybe its already above 12 so iam on the save side to wait and look were my rhgb is.

best regards marc

[nygirl7]

Yeah at 11.8 it is actually probably dangerous to take Epo because you are NOT supposed to go over 12.  I think it's a bad move. Plus even if you were lower it takes 2 - 6 weeks to work and with only three weeks left........the day I stopped treatment was the last time I ever did Epo.

Have your doctor read the black box warnings. You are way too close to 12 and most docs would never think to even prescribe until you are under 10. There is a reason and not only insurance.

Good luck.

[goater]

Since the majority of your RBC hemolytic issues are from the Ribavirin and not interferon the spacing of the Procrit should not be an issue.  I agree with Idyllic and would postpone todays Procrit until you speak with your doc about these newer sx's.  One more day shouldn't make much difference.

As you noted, with an Hgb of 11.8 your doc may have you skip this dose.

Congrats on getting down to the wire.  Take care, marty

[can-do-man]

I had to take procrit every 5 days so there was times it was on the same day and other times days apart, it makes no difference. I would question your doctor if its really even needed now since your at 11.8 and only have 3 weeks left on treatment. Myself I would think not........ Hang in there.

[Idyllic]

Are you taking your full dose of Riba?

I think the reason we have all these CBCs is to make sure we are at a therapeutic range that is not too high or too low.  I don't think a day or two difference will matter since your Hgb seems a decent level. I sometimes wait until I receive my lab results or the doctor's office calls.The timing usually coincides with when I need to take the shot though.

I know some people who administer their Procrit on the same day as their Peg so I am not sure about the importance of a two day gap. I will let someone else address that.

Your symptoms sound important especially if they just started. I would wait and talk to your doctor. It won't be that long of a wait since your appointment is tomorrow anyway. I have read about the danger of too high an Hgb while on Epo but I am not sure if you are in that range. Plus everyone varies. This seems like something you need answers for so I would wait.
Take care ♫