Hello Everyone,
  I got up at 4:30am and went to the ER.  Although I had to wait for 7 hours, it was worth the wait.  First, I thought it was high blood pressure, but when I was left connected to a machine for 5 out of the 7 hours it wasnt high blood pressure.  The doctor ran some blood work and my white blood cell was off (it was 4.4 and the range is 4.5-11.0) and my red blood cell was off (it was 3.51, the range is 3.80-5.10).  I havent taken any supplements but want some advice on taking B-12.  Also, the doctor prescribed me some hydroxyzine, which is related to my panic attacks.  The reason why I had to go to the ER this am was due to a panic attack.  I didnt take any of the old hydroxyzine because I wasnt sure how the medication would react. Since the doctor prescribed me new hydrozyzine he said there shouldnt be any interaction with the triple treatment.  

Also I'm on both procrit and neupogen for blood counts and neutrophils - happy to answer any questions or take a phone call if anyone needs info

i have heard that some people get put on neutro(phin) or something like that, when the neutrophytes in our blood get too low. mine have been low as well. but not enough for them to do anything about it yet...

Hello All,
  I got the call from the doctor today that the treatment was working.  The doctor said my hep c level came back at 60, which is under the 1000 to demonstrate the treatement is working. The blood was drawn on the 26th day, which wasnt the exact 4 weeks.  Although the treatment is working, I have to see another doctor for my white blood count being low.   Has anybody else had to take any medication or shots for white blood count?

Here's the Victrelis (Boceprevir) stopping rules

Katie,

My original schedule was 12 weeks of triple with Incivek, then 12 more of peg/riba. But that was tied to a UND at week 4 which I did not get. So they told me I will going to 36 weeks total. I'm OK with that, as long as there is no more Incivek.... ever.

Alan

Hi Alan,

12 weeks added, so how many weeks you are on treatment after you are off of Incivek?

My doctor told me that I am continuing Copegus and Pegasys for one more month (4 weeks) after I get off of Incivek because my body responded well. My VL was 0 at week 4. 

Katie

Hi, JE

This is a real tough one. I feel like it is a matter of interpretation for the individual doctors, and (sadly) they don't always agree with one another. Ours is a fairly new treatment protocol, so there is some disagreement on how to act in certain circumstances. My VL at 4 weeks was less than 23 strands, but still detectable. I was allowed to continue, but they added 12 more weeks to the end. That is OK with me, since I am now finished with the triple therapy and am only using pegasys and ribavirin. I am sure there is a cutoff line, or perhaps several of them, at which a doctor would recommend stopping treatment, based on the statistics of actual SVR in cases like that. But you can always look for a second opinion. The general opinion around here is that if you are told to stop treatment, and you decide to pursue treatment with another doctor, don't dawdle. You don't want the virus to come back knowing all about the treament drugs, like bacteria learning about antbiotics.

I hope some of the others will chime in. This is a really difficult subject, but one we see too often.

Alan

Hello Everyone,
  I went to the doctor today, which I thought I was getting my 4 week lab results and he told me he is still waiting on the levels test to determin how much of the virus is in my system.  The doctor said that if test comes back more than  1,000 of Hep C is still in my system, he would recommend I stop treatment.  However, I thought that I would automatically be on the treatment for atleast 12 weeks.  So, next week I have to call and see what the results say about Hep C level.  Also, found out my white blood cells are low and doctor said if I remain on treatment will have to see another doctor for shots to bring up my white blood cells.  I do have a question for the forum, should I get off of the treatment if my hep C level comes back above 1000.  I have only been on the treatment for 1 month on this Friday.    

i had a viral load of 17million. i was told if i did not have a 2 log drop by 3 months. treatment would be stopped. 2 logs, is a couple of zeros of the end. anyway, if it was zero at week 4 i would only have to do 24 weeks pega/riba. well at week 4 it was 1300vl, so that means i stay on, coz its more than a 2 log drop, but i gotta do 48 weeks.

i reached undetected at week 15...

i would make sure you have a good chance of continuing... it obviously can sometimes take a bit of time to work. but it does...

and the fact i was still 1300 at week 4 means i still stay the full 48 weeks, regardless that its und at week 15. i dont care, long as its workin...

good luck