Hep C Support Group

I started the treatment about 3 yrs. ago, interferon and ribavarin. After 5 weeks, my doctor stopped treatment because my platelets dropped. Today my platelets are still low. I hope this new med will not affect my blood platelets. I pray everyday for something to come along and take out this desease.

Do you remember how low your platelets got? Did they start out low?

I was dx'd around same time as you were...was having my gallbladder removed and found it then. I had a biopsy then and said my liver looked ok...did labs yrly, and GI kept saying the trmt is going to make you feel worse than you already do, just hold out.

So when I turned 49, my platelet count was running at 60k-70k....hematologist decided I should do trmt to get virus out and that might cure both issues, I was 50 by time the tx started.

So was sent to ID DR. and have type1, viral load right at a million. Took ribo and peg interfer...they had to do labs every 2 weeks. platelets dropped each time and were down to 30k, and wbc was off.

Finally week 16, I got sick, still not sure what all it was, the meds, the flu, fibromyalgia, that I now know...but they stopped tx....I've been going down hill ever since. And my platelets still run low 50k to 70k.

I don't know if I could ever take this trmt again.just because of the side effects I had and still have.

But to answer your question, yes I did start tx with low platelet count....in stead of doing a biopsy this time he did a lab test called fibroshure (sp). I could not risk the bleeding from the biopsy....ID dr said this test is just as accurate, and many use it. They used it before and after...my results were the same before and after..my cihrosis score was at 2&1/2. and virus came right back. it did go to 0 detection by week 4, during trmt. I just didn't make it thru it.

I hope one day they may have an easier cure....good luck, and let me know what you end up doing.

Lyn~

Thanks for replying. I am on my 4th full dose this wk. She started me at 1/2 then 3/4 dose peg, full riba. My PCR is 'not detected' last wk so I am supposed to be in the 90% group now. My platelets are at 80 & other blood work dropping. Getting checked weekly. Hope all goes well for you.

hey again,~ Did your doctor say he would stop your tmnt. at a certain point, or would he try to give you platelets ?

I'm asking because my ID dr said when I got to 30k, if it got any lower he was going to send me back to hematology and see about getting platlets.....since I got sick and never got there, I was not sure if that means you get a blood transfusion, or you just get platelets.

Another question, are you taking the new drug along with these 2 now? ....

Hope you are feeling ok, or as well as can be expected..and hope you make it through with no relapse... I know at first it was not quiet as bad as I thought, but each week I got to feeling worse. Some get by with few side effects.......water was my best friend, and I cut out all caffiene, and that was a huge relief with nausua for me...I still stay away from it .

If you don't feel like answering that's ok...take care Lyn

Hey, my doc said that a lot of docs stop tx at platelets of 50 but she lets them get to 20. She wasn't clear exactly what would happen then. I am not on the new drug, just the two favs, peg & riba. I'm totall with you on the caffeine - it's history - gives me intense nervous jitters, so we're done.

Side are day to day, or hour to hour. Never know how I will feel when except that I will be tired & achy all morning. I have had a few days with some really good hours.

Sorry you couldn't keep up the tx. Hope the new stuff kicks it in the head. Prayers...Bill