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Hep C Discussion Forum -> On Treatment -> Starting Neupogen now...getting up the nerve
Post Info TOPIC: Starting Neupogen now...getting up the nerve
Margo


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RE: Starting Neupogen now...getting up the nerve
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Judy S wrote:

This is so good to know......I am constantly learning.  Perhaps it's up to the drs, and whatever they prefer to use?  Pegasys was not mentioned with me; I was just given PegIntron and learned that that's how they did it in the trials.  So I wonder............it is possible to change during tx from PegIntron to Pegasys?  Always so many questions, lol.

Questions are good, you learn stuff!!!:) Find out from them, they might tell you there is no difference, it's the same Interferon, but believe me there is. However, not sure if they can switch if you have already started Pegintron, how many weeks ago did you say? But, it would not hurt to ask. Also, read it up online, there might be some info about it, good question...

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Geno 1b, relapsed in 2009 a week before my treatment was to be over. Started triple therapy on April 28th, 2012. UND at week 4,8,12,24,3 months post tx.
Judy S


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This is so good to know......I am constantly learning.  Perhaps it's up to the drs, and whatever they prefer to use?  Pegasys was not mentioned with me; I was just given PegIntron and learned that that's how they did it in the trials.  So I wonder............it is possible to change during tx from PegIntron to Pegasys?  Always so many questions, lol.



__________________

Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
Margo


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Judy S wrote:

Oh, you too, huh Margo?  Thank you for letting me know. 

In the trials, they used Victrelis with PegIntron and Incivek with Pegasys.  Because the first pair are Merck drugs, while Incivek and Pegasys are Roche.

Actually, Victrelis is Merck/Roche and Incivek is Vertex, but they seem to pair them as Vic/Intron and Inci/Pegasys for tx.

Since Incivek is reported as worse sx than Victrelis, I chose Vic so I'm stuck with PegIntron, lol!  Which pair is the lesser of the evils?  Who knows.

LOl Judy, I'm no pegintron fan , but i thought I felt pretty good on it and I did 48 weeks that went down the drain lol. Now with pegasys believe it or not I feel better then before the treatment not a single Tylenol pill, but now i understand I didn't know what was I talking about- feeling pretty well, I felt like crap compare to now lol. All the best!

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Geno 1b, relapsed in 2009 a week before my treatment was to be over. Started triple therapy on April 28th, 2012. UND at week 4,8,12,24,3 months post tx.
Shep


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Yea--me too! I am on Pegasys with the Vic--and it appears to be working.

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Diagnosed 1996 genotype 1b VL alot tx starting 12/23/11 Victrelis UND week 8!!! 28 weeks of tx

Completed tx 7/6/12--still UND!!!!
jrc


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I was on pegasys and vic and not pegintron, who knows why lol. My doc seems to know more than i do cause i did very well. Wishing you the best judy



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Geno 1 A Started Tx w/ Victrelis  8-3-11, Viral Load  21.2 Million,  Und Weeks 4 Through 28 ,End Of Tx 2-15-2012 !SVR
Judy S


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Oh, you too, huh Margo?  Thank you for letting me know. 

In the trials, they used Victrelis with PegIntron and Incivek with Pegasys.  Because the first pair are Merck drugs, while Incivek and Pegasys are Roche.

Actually, Victrelis is Merck/Roche and Incivek is Vertex, but they seem to pair them as Vic/Intron and Inci/Pegasys for tx.

Since Incivek is reported as worse sx than Victrelis, I chose Vic so I'm stuck with PegIntron, lol!  Which pair is the lesser of the evils?  Who knows.



__________________

Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
Margo


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Hi Judy, pegintron is a killer, compare to pegasys. This is my second treatment with pegasys but I still remember that first pegintron injection and its been 3 years.

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Geno 1b, relapsed in 2009 a week before my treatment was to be over. Started triple therapy on April 28th, 2012. UND at week 4,8,12,24,3 months post tx.
Judy S


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Hi Patrick - also thinking of you and always praying for us all!  SO good to know we're not alone, isn't it?

Hi Alan - thank you!!  Yeah, the ever-falling Neutrophils are our theme.  I've noticed that my Lymphocytes are high, now.  I know that Hepatitis will cause high Lymphos.  I've also found that PegIntron increases Lymphocytes in 40% of females and 60% of males.  Highest increase shown in age group 40 - 49, which is where I am, at age 44.

Alan, your Neutrophils have been hanging in there longer than most, from what I've been reading on this forum.  Mine took a nosedive from that very first, weird PegIntron injection; that did it for me, lol.  But that first injection made my Lymphocytes plummet down to only 0.21 (norm 1.50 to 3.50).  And now, they are high. 

I wonder why they didn't start you on the Neupogen at week 20?  I know that different drs have their own protocols; some begin when WBCs go down to 2, some 1.5, some 1, etc..

Brianna is doing great; thank you so much for asking!  At only 10, she is always worried about me and helping with anything she can; she's awesome!  Hehehe...she shared my hospital bed with me that entire night in ER.

If you do start the Neupogen, remember that each week, the Interferon kills the new WBCs the Neupogen is trying to make, so space them out.  I do Neupo twice a week, so my shots are Wed and Sun.  The Fri Pegintron will kill off the Wed Neupo, and Sun Neupo will build more....it's a cycle, lol.

Going to throw my dart and I'll write about my Neupo experience on the Friday Night Darts thread.  Hang in there and SO proud of you, too!!!  

Judy   : )



__________________

Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
pamigo


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Hey Judy

Tinking of you and hoping things go your way...

pamigo

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Geno 1a, 30+ yrs, Non-Responder 3 times intron/ribo TX in 90s and 00s. Triple Incevik on 2/9/12. ~stopped treatment due to side effects. Started Harvoni 11-18-14 VL @ 6.8m reduced to 70 @ wk 2..so far so good. 4 wk Undected! whew! SVR 4, 3/23/15
news


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Judy,

I am so proud of you. I will never forget the rough start you got, and the questions you had about delaying or skipping a dose, and how to keep up with the schedule. You have really gotten into this whole treatment lifestyle and it makes me very happy. I hate that you are having to add another injection to your week, but I think I am headed there, too. My neutrophils were extremely low on the last labs, after week 20. I have labs again this Monday (after week 24) and when I see the nurse practitioner on that Friday I bet she is going to freak. But that's the way it goes.

How is your daughter doing? I still think of her riding shotgun with you on that night in the ER. She seems like a great partner. Very strong.

Take care and stick to it. We are doing so well.

Alan



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Geno 1A  Started Pegasys/Ribavirin/Incivek Nov. 20, 2011 .  Completed July 28, 2012 (36 weeks). For a treatment history, see:  https://jshare.johnshopkins.edu/xythoswfs/webview/_xy-9921874_1

SVR on January 14, 2013!!
Judy S


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Love that answer; inspirational.



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Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
krowdog


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Judy S wrote:

 Brad.......I get scared every time I just look at your picture.  How did you get all the way up there, lol.  I see you have no fear of heights!

 

 I actually do have some fear of heights. That's what makes it fun.

I got there there the same way we all get through Tx...Stay focused on where you're trying to get to, and take it one small step at a time.

Brad



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(Geno 1a, Incivek Triple Tx, 6 month post TX - 9/20/2012 = SVR!!!)
Judy S


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First time putting any new med into my body always scares me, lol.  Wasn't too bad with the Neupogen injection last night.  Much more to inject than PegIntron and it does burn.  Thigh was on fire for a few mins.

OK......so to stay organized, (lol), I'm doing all Neupogen shots in thighs and PegIntron in stomach.  Can't really do my own upper arms so hope won't need Procrit at least til after done with Neupo.....need more body parts, lol.

I admit I'm anal; I chart all of my Labs for past 20 years.  I keep electronic records as well as hard copies in my file cabinet and make tables in Word and Excel spreadsheets. 

Things I've recently learned:  Neupogen causes bone pain 'cause it expands the bone marrow while creating new Neutrophils.  Long bones like arms and legs in particular, and headaches due to lots of bone marrow in bones of skull.  Also, my WBC count of 1.5 means I have about 1,500 WBCs left.  Norm is about 10,000.

 Brad.......I get scared every time I just look at your picture.  How did you get all the way up there, lol.  I see you have no fear of heights!

 



__________________

Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
Shep


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Oh Geesh Judy-sorry you have to add another med--but it will help you get through the tx. And I do rememeber that scary 1st shot so really get your fear. Will be keeping you in my thoughts--it's gonna be fine!!
Shep

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Diagnosed 1996 genotype 1b VL alot tx starting 12/23/11 Victrelis UND week 8!!! 28 weeks of tx

Completed tx 7/6/12--still UND!!!!
chatterbox


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Hi Judy. I think I'm about a month behind you in treatment. Good luck on this road. You're inspiring me to know my numbers!

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Debra

 

Geno type 1a1b

Began Peg/Rib 4/16/2012  

Began Victrelis May 14, 2012            4 week and 8 week labs undectable

12 weeks und. 16 weeks und. Week 17 Cut peg, added Neopogen 5+months und.!
Judy S


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Thanks, Kristy.  Thinking of you all, too!

Brad, thank you.  I've been learning as much as I can, though there's constantly more to learn. 

Oh boy, I've never even noticed that "Search" function; thank you!  I will definitely check that out.   Thanks you guys!   : )



__________________

Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
krowdog


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Hi Judy.

You sound like an old pro on this TX stuff now...love it :))

On that second solid blue bar at the top, in the middle, is the "search" function.

I just used it for the first time myself, and found some posts using "neupogen".

You might check that out, while you wait for the members to reply. 

I'm so glad you were able to hang with this tx, after your rocky start.

Keep it up!

Brad



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(Geno 1a, Incivek Triple Tx, 6 month post TX - 9/20/2012 = SVR!!!)
K2


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Booooo Judy, that is a real nuisance. bleh 

I hope it all goes smoothly. At least you know that the Dr's are being efficient and are taking care of you.

Good luck, good luck, good luck!!!!

Thinking of you.



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genotype 1a. started pegasus and riba on 25/03/2012 added victrelis after 4 weeks, treatment naive. CHC. 4 weeks UND & continue to be so far. Finish tx 6/10/12. Fingers crossed for SVR.
Judy S


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Hi guys, I had labs today and exactly 2 hours after the blood draw, I got a call from my dr's nurse that my WBCs have fallen really low and I have to go immediately to pick up my Neupogen from pharmacy and inject right away.  The call came in Just as I was reading my labs online, looking at my WBCs.  10 mins later I got a call from the cancer dept, telling me same thing.  (Not sure why?)

Well, I went and got the Neupogen and am about to inject.  Now I'm all nervous, again, arrgghhh.  I'm recalling my very first PegIntron injection that sent me to the hospital 5 hours later via ambulance.  B/P fell to 68/40, fever 103*, 4 straight hours of shaking, freezing cold, lots of vomiting, lost my eyesight for 30 seconds. 

I know that many of you are on/have been on Neupogen.  Is it bad, with side effects?  Is the first shot worse than others, as with Interferon?

My WBCs are now 1.5.  (Norm 4 -11)

I don't have my Neutrophil number yet; not all labs are back yet.

Procrit is prob in my future as:

RBCs are 3.51

Hemoglobin is 10.5

Hematocrit is 32.

Platelets are 123.

Dr already lowered my Riba from 1,200 to 800 daily, several weeks ago.

News about anybody's first Neupogen injection would be greatly appreciated.  I'm supposed to do 300 ML twice a week.

Thanks,   Judy  : )

 



__________________

Geno 1a; VL 4.7 million in Feb 2012. Started PegIntron & Ribavirin 3-9-12. Added Victrelis 4-6-12. UND since Week 8. Stopped tx Wk 23. UND 4 Wks post-tx. Relapsed 12-weeks-post.

52 y/o F, started Epclusa 11-10-19, F0/F1.  EOT 2-1-2020. UND. All liver function tests normal.
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