Had the first shot thursday and felt great all weekend. Nice to get a few chores done. Went in this AM for second shot and they said I was at 10.9 and didn't need another shot.
Zlikster said
May 3, 2013
Malcolm, my voice of reason...you were right again ;-( it was just a fluctuation seems so...or AHCC has influence on Lymphocytes numbers only (still high lymphocytes compared to other blood test pre AHCC)
i just got call from lab...
WBCC - 2.4 Lymphocytes - 1.6 Neutrophiles - 0.5!!!! (thats a limit where i should stop with Interferon!)
it was a nice thing hoping/dreaming that just via OTC supplement things could improve. I got 9 shots more to go, seems i might consider obtaining Nupogen on my own again...
best
Biggyb said
May 3, 2013
I didn't ask him, i told him i am stopping and he talked me into 1/2 dose 2x week. I was on the full 480 MCG 3x week. So we will see..He said a little high is way better than very low. I was at 2.0.
mallani said
May 3, 2013
Hi Bob,
Those are seriously high WCC numbers. I would ask my doctor if I could stop the Neupogen. Cheers.
hepcat60 said
May 3, 2013
Took my first shot this AM. No side effects experienced. Of course with all the other sx how would one notice.
Biggyb said
May 3, 2013
A little at first, i am only doing 1/2 shot 2x week. Tylenol takes it away.
Zlikster said
May 3, 2013
wow 13.4! ;-D WBC thru the roof ;-D
u feel any sx from Nupogen? (bone pain?)
Biggyb said
May 2, 2013
you love blood charts, here is mine from yesterday, with neupogen..
i smell it really might have some immunomodulation properties...maybe not as much as marketed by some, but then again it might not be snake oil ;-D
cheers
Zlikster said
May 2, 2013
I love charts too
i am obligated (doc orders) to have blood test every 2 weeks (i did few 3 weeks apart), i only did one week after another last time when neutrophiles dropped to 0.7 (and total WBC to 2.1)...doc said although @ 0.7 neutrophiles i am supposed to get 50% lower dose of interferon, she wanted to wait also for WBC to drop to 1.75 to do it.
please notice lymphocytes levels...pre tx level 1.9 > tx > 1.7 > 1.3 > 1.2 > 1 week of ahcc > 2.0? this kinda makes me think it's not a fluke...if it is i will gladly stop with AHCC and save me 300$ monthly
can't wait for tomorrow's blood check to add to this chart and check how it is correlating. Also soon i will get PCR results (12th week)
i would love to check my vitamin levels (i only did Vit D 2 months ago, it's was high normal range), but each one is 30$ and it take minimum 2 weeks (at least at this private lab i am going to) Would love to know shall i stop or add some as vitamins as supplements. I would definetly do B12/B9, Vit E and Vit A.
as i said, i don't trust any "magical supplements", but seems lots of oncologists are into AHCC supplementation? there must be something in it then...if it really works, i feel it's my duty to share my experience to my fellow hcv friends on this forum, since i know lots of em have issues with wbc and going for Nupogen to help...
again you are my voice of reason
hows your recovery going? you got some new results? (PCR, blood check)? Are you taking some particular diet in those crucial 12-24w EOT?
all the best
mallani said
May 2, 2013
Hi Zlikster,
You know I love looking at blood charts. Just to show normal fluctuations, here are my WCC and Neutrophils from week 24 to week 37.
28.8.12 WCC: 2.7 Neutrophils: 1.16
12.9.12 WCC 2.4 Neut. 0.80
9.10.12 WCC 2.5 Neut. 1.15
28.11.12 WCC: 3.1 Neut. 1.54
I took no supplements at all, and had stopped Vit D at that stage as my blood levels were high-normal.
If you look at your results, you will see that everything was low on 11.04.13, including your Hb. On 19.4.13, they had all gone back up. Such fluctuations are normal, and by having blood tests so often, you'll drive yourself nuts.
Sorry about the AHCC. After reading your post, I saw it in my local Pharmacy, and asked the Chemist to look it up, as I had never heard of it. Quote: 'it induces a feeling of wellbeing and gently massages the immune system'. He said he sells some to young Asian girls who attend the nearby English Language College. If you believe it helps, go for it. Cheers.
Zlikster said
May 2, 2013
Omega3+Vit E capsule, Vitamin C, B12 and Folacin - approved by doc, nada helped raise WBC tho, i started to take B12 on 2nd month of therapy when neutrophiles dropped to 1.2 (first pills 2x500, then one im injection, no raise in WBC, they went lower!)
Vitamin D i am taking cause of my fracture bone issue (i have stopped with calcium citrate tho), i am making a pause with it now (sunny days!)
i know WBC can go up n down on it's own, but looking at my blood test, i never had from start of therapy a raise in WBC, only constant drops and as i said, i am not gonna jump to conclusion from one positive blood test, but in just 1 week of taking AHCC (and folic acid) such a dramatic increase looks strange...please take a look at my blood test chart.
as for AHCC, i am not a "beliver" in it. I am all for scientifically approved supplements and medicines, i do not buy "snake oils",am appaled by homeopathic schenanigans,etc as i mentioned this is a tip from a guy who was recommended ahcc by his oncologist (seems oncologists do tend to recommend ahcc supplement) when his WBC went seriously down from 3xinterferon shots weekly therapy....i was desperate to bring neutrophiles up, since i really didn't wanna stop or lower dosage of interferon half way there and my hepa was about to lower interferon dosage by 1/3 then 1/2 and even considering a pause...as for Nupogena, my hepa said it's not easy to obtain and she is worried about it's sx too (i was about to find it on my own).
Getting blood drawn on Friday, can't wait to see WBC situation. If WBC will be even higher then 2 weeks ago, then i will have to jump to conclusion - AHCC works definetly in raising WBC...and i am more willing to spread this tip to all people that have WBC issues cause of interferon sx, before opting in for Nupogena. Maybe it is individual response to AHCC? not sure, in any way i am really thankful for a guy that gave me this tip (well, and his oncologist)...from what i have seen in articles on AHCC it gives a huge boost to lymphocytes production (take a look and my Lymphocytes numbers please!), which is kinda what i have seen from last blood test.
i am paying 45$ for 30 capsules (500mg) and i am taking daily 3x2, so it is expensive, there are cheaper brands (a LOT cheaper), but guy that gave me this tip told me to go for immunomax one only.
all the best. i am really keen on your opinion Malcolm! please check my blood stats...
mallani said
May 2, 2013
Hi Zikster,
By all means keep taking your AHCC if you want to. Unfortunately it has no effect on WBC production. It's a mushroom extract from Japan which supposedly 'stimulates' your immune system, and you can buy it here, at A$15.99 for 50 capsules ( that has Immunomax on the label). Your Vitamin intake is impressive- has your Doctor approved all of those? Remember your WBC can go up and down on their own- also if you are dehydrated when you have your blood test, your counts will be a bit higher. Cheers.
hepcat60 said
May 1, 2013
I was just informed that I need to start taking shots 2x per week. Not sure for how long though. Thanks for the information.
Zlikster said
Apr 30, 2013
strange, can't find any USA site that sells this particular brand, most of em are in EU. It's an OTC supplement, tho in my local pharmacy they sell 2 kinds: immunomax ahcc and some other with smaller amount of ahcc (apparently with same extract) but 10 times cheaper, tho for that cheaper one guy who told me about this supplements and it's WBC influence, said it's no good. His onccologist recommended it while he was on 3 interferon shots per week for lymph cancer. My doc (hepa) doesn't belives in it at all. To be honest i don't trust supplements marketed with some questionable and sometimes "magical" claims, but if it is the thing that raised my wbc and it's completley safe with no sz, then i don't care what marketing or doctors say
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC1&_nkw=ahcc&_sacat=0&_from=R40 there are plenty of AHCC supplements, but no Immunomax one (maker is from Finland i think)...not sure is it all same or doctors are just pushing expensive cause of manufacturer lobbying em.
can't wait for friday and blood results to be honest, from all supplements (omega3, Vit E, Vit D, Vit C, B12) there was no change in blood cell counts, until this one, tho i did added another supplement with ahcc too, folic acid (B9, one pill daily).
Biggyb said
Apr 30, 2013
They don't sell that here..Just looked it up.
Zlikster said
Apr 30, 2013
i just want to say that i might had a lucky way of recovering neutrohiles/wbc in 7 days from just one supplement. My doc doesn't belives me, but i haven't been taking anything else.
ImmunoMax AHCC (3x2 tabs daily), after a week neutrophiles from 0.7 went to 1.1, wbc from 2.1 to 3.5. Now it might be a fluke (i doubt it's a placebo fx), but it was first raise in wbc since therapy started. I am gonna get another blood test on Fri and see are they up even more (continued to drink ahcc)?
just a thought, before u opt in for Neupogen.
Biggyb said
Apr 29, 2013
I had to start Neupogen also a couple weeks ago, a shot 2x week. No side effects, some people it hurts there bones. But tylenol or ibuprofin takes care of that. Weekly blood test too.
DJ said
Apr 29, 2013
Actually, I guess what I got is called Neupogen. I just got back from getting the injection. So far so good. She said hopefully I only need this one but we will see. I have to get a blood test test week to see if it worked. But she said that most who take Neupogen do not have side effects and that it should help me feel better (which would be nice to have more energy).
Dillo said
Apr 29, 2013
I get a shot of it at the doctors office on the average once every two weeks. It stings lol. I haven't noticed being sick afterwards. Within a few days after the first shot I felt a lot better. Sadly since then I haven't noticed such a substantial difference. I do notice when I need it...though.
Hope it gets better for you!
libgirl07 said
Apr 29, 2013
I have to get it too dj
DJ said
Apr 29, 2013
Well I just got a call to go in the doctor's office this afternoon to get one of these shots. They are hoping I will only need one. I don't want to take it cause I don't really feel too bad and I am afraid it will make me sick. But I guess I have to. Hopefully it won't be too bad.
TeddyTrout said
Apr 2, 2013
Is Eprex the same as procrit? If so the box does say Flu like symptoms. I have been doing the Eprex for 8 weeks now ,1 a week and I find I vomit a lot more if I do anything that uses my energy pool up. I do feel a whole lot better now other than the vomiting.
KLG said
Mar 29, 2013
Btw - no problem with my second procrit shot. Yay!
KLG said
Mar 20, 2013
Congrats Ted on the und!!!
KLG said
Mar 20, 2013
Thanks for the heads up about the insomnia. I will try procrit again in the afternoon and see what happens. For me, the interfuron doesn't seem as bad as all the RIBA problems!
turtles said
Mar 20, 2013
I had to use procrit for six weeks(6 doses) made my joints ache,and did not sleep that good. It did do the job by brining my cell counts up.
No way did I get as sick as enterfuron shots,everyone is different. KLT,after reading some of your posts,it sounds like your treatment is going alot like mine did. My red blood cell count went way down so they transfused me...2 units, then got inemic turned white as a gohst, then platelets droped way down- 8.000,another transfusion.6 units,had every side affect in the book. however after 12 weeks,I went nondetectable,they stoped treatment at week 12, that was 4 months ago and am still nondetec. not concidered healed yet But i feel great, so hang in there,it will be over soon and it will be worth it.
-----TED
Shep said
Mar 20, 2013
Careful about taking it at night--caused me some insomnia and ended up using in the am so I could sleep--made for a really crappy day
joe oil said
Mar 19, 2013
I used it for a month with no ill sx, and felt a lot better in one week. Still have 4 bottles in the cooler, feel like I could use it again at week 36:)
KLG said
Mar 19, 2013
Thanks! I was not expecting that! I only have to take it once a week and next time I will take it at bedtime rather than the afternoon. Ugh...
Shep said
Mar 19, 2013
Procrit made me feel really bad--pain in my feet & ankles and a genrally achiness all over and just sick. Some weeks it was better!
Northern said
Mar 19, 2013
It made me feel very sick. I just came off of it a few weeks ago.
KLG said
Mar 19, 2013
I took my first procrit shot a few hours ago. I am so sick, feel worse than interfuron shot... Is it just coincidental and maybe I just caught the flu?
Had the first shot thursday and felt great all weekend. Nice to get a few chores done. Went in this AM for second shot and they said I was at 10.9 and didn't need another shot.
Malcolm, my voice of reason...you were right again ;-( it was just a fluctuation seems so...or AHCC has influence on Lymphocytes numbers only (still high lymphocytes compared to other blood test pre AHCC)
i just got call from lab...
WBCC - 2.4
Lymphocytes - 1.6
Neutrophiles - 0.5!!!! (thats a limit where i should stop with Interferon!)
it was a nice thing hoping/dreaming that just via OTC supplement things could improve. I got 9 shots more to go, seems i might consider obtaining Nupogen on my own again...
best
I didn't ask him, i told him i am stopping and he talked me into 1/2 dose 2x week. I was on the full 480 MCG 3x week. So we will see..He said a little high is way better than very low. I was at 2.0.
Hi Bob,
Those are seriously high WCC numbers. I would ask my doctor if I could stop the Neupogen. Cheers.
Took my first shot this AM. No side effects experienced. Of course with all the other sx how would one notice.
A little at first, i am only doing 1/2 shot 2x week. Tylenol takes it away.
wow 13.4! ;-D WBC thru the roof ;-D
u feel any sx from Nupogen? (bone pain?)
you love blood charts, here is mine from yesterday, with neupogen..
some interesting publications re AHCC:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23351405
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19827270
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18752476
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18304499
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17555784
i smell it really might have some immunomodulation properties...maybe not as much as marketed by some, but then again it might not be snake oil ;-D
cheers
I love charts too
i am obligated (doc orders) to have blood test every 2 weeks (i did few 3 weeks apart), i only did one week after another last time when neutrophiles dropped to 0.7 (and total WBC to 2.1)...doc said although @ 0.7 neutrophiles i am supposed to get 50% lower dose of interferon, she wanted to wait also for WBC to drop to 1.75 to do it.
please notice lymphocytes levels...pre tx level 1.9 > tx > 1.7 > 1.3 > 1.2 > 1 week of ahcc > 2.0? this kinda makes me think it's not a fluke...if it is i will gladly stop with AHCC and save me 300$ monthly
can't wait for tomorrow's blood check to add to this chart and check how it is correlating. Also soon i will get PCR results (12th week)
i would love to check my vitamin levels (i only did Vit D 2 months ago, it's was high normal range), but each one is 30$ and it take minimum 2 weeks (at least at this private lab i am going to) Would love to know shall i stop or add some as vitamins as supplements. I would definetly do B12/B9, Vit E and Vit A.
as i said, i don't trust any "magical supplements", but seems lots of oncologists are into AHCC supplementation? there must be something in it then...if it really works, i feel it's my duty to share my experience to my fellow hcv friends on this forum, since i know lots of em have issues with wbc and going for Nupogen to help...
again you are my voice of reason
hows your recovery going? you got some new results? (PCR, blood check)? Are you taking some particular diet in those crucial 12-24w EOT?
all the best
Hi Zlikster,
You know I love looking at blood charts. Just to show normal fluctuations, here are my WCC and Neutrophils from week 24 to week 37.
28.8.12 WCC: 2.7 Neutrophils: 1.16
12.9.12 WCC 2.4 Neut. 0.80
9.10.12 WCC 2.5 Neut. 1.15
28.11.12 WCC: 3.1 Neut. 1.54
I took no supplements at all, and had stopped Vit D at that stage as my blood levels were high-normal.
If you look at your results, you will see that everything was low on 11.04.13, including your Hb. On 19.4.13, they had all gone back up. Such fluctuations are normal, and by having blood tests so often, you'll drive yourself nuts.
Sorry about the AHCC. After reading your post, I saw it in my local Pharmacy, and asked the Chemist to look it up, as I had never heard of it. Quote: 'it induces a feeling of wellbeing and gently massages the immune system'. He said he sells some to young Asian girls who attend the nearby English Language College. If you believe it helps, go for it. Cheers.
Omega3+Vit E capsule, Vitamin C, B12 and Folacin - approved by doc, nada helped raise WBC tho, i started to take B12 on 2nd month of therapy when neutrophiles dropped to 1.2 (first pills 2x500, then one im injection, no raise in WBC, they went lower!)
as i mentioned this is a tip from a guy who was recommended ahcc by his oncologist (seems oncologists do tend to recommend ahcc supplement) when his WBC went seriously down from 3xinterferon shots weekly therapy....i was desperate to bring neutrophiles up, since i really didn't wanna stop or lower dosage of interferon half way there 
and my hepa was about to lower interferon dosage by 1/3 then 1/2 and even considering a pause...as for Nupogena, my hepa said it's not easy to obtain and she is worried about it's sx too (i was about to find it on my own).
please check my blood stats...
Vitamin D i am taking cause of my fracture bone issue (i have stopped with calcium citrate tho), i am making a pause with it now (sunny days!)
i know WBC can go up n down on it's own, but looking at my blood test, i never had from start of therapy a raise in WBC, only constant drops and as i said, i am not gonna jump to conclusion from one positive blood test, but in just 1 week of taking AHCC (and folic acid) such a dramatic increase looks strange...please take a look at my blood test chart.
as for AHCC, i am not a "beliver" in it. I am all for scientifically approved supplements and medicines, i do not buy "snake oils",am appaled by homeopathic schenanigans,etc
Getting blood drawn on Friday, can't wait to see WBC situation. If WBC will be even higher then 2 weeks ago, then i will have to jump to conclusion - AHCC works definetly in raising WBC...and i am more willing to spread this tip to all people that have WBC issues cause of interferon sx, before opting in for Nupogena. Maybe it is individual response to AHCC? not sure, in any way i am really thankful for a guy that gave me this tip (well, and his oncologist)...from what i have seen in articles on AHCC it gives a huge boost to lymphocytes production (take a look and my Lymphocytes numbers please!), which is kinda what i have seen from last blood test.
i am paying 45$ for 30 capsules (500mg) and i am taking daily 3x2, so it is expensive, there are cheaper brands (a LOT cheaper), but guy that gave me this tip told me to go for immunomax one only.
all the best. i am really keen on your opinion Malcolm!
Hi Zikster,
By all means keep taking your AHCC if you want to. Unfortunately it has no effect on WBC production. It's a mushroom extract from Japan which supposedly 'stimulates' your immune system, and you can buy it here, at A$15.99 for 50 capsules ( that has Immunomax on the label). Your Vitamin intake is impressive- has your Doctor approved all of those? Remember your WBC can go up and down on their own- also if you are dehydrated when you have your blood test, your counts will be a bit higher. Cheers.
I was just informed that I need to start taking shots 2x per week. Not sure for how long though. Thanks for the information.
strange, can't find any USA site that sells this particular brand, most of em are in EU. It's an OTC supplement, tho in my local pharmacy they sell 2 kinds: immunomax ahcc and some other with smaller amount of ahcc (apparently with same extract) but 10 times cheaper, tho for that cheaper one guy who told me about this supplements and it's WBC influence, said it's no good. His onccologist recommended it while he was on 3 interferon shots per week for lymph cancer. My doc (hepa) doesn't belives in it at all. To be honest i don't trust supplements marketed with some questionable and sometimes "magical" claims, but if it is the thing that raised my wbc and it's completley safe with no sz, then i don't care what marketing or doctors say
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR10.TRC1&_nkw=ahcc&_sacat=0&_from=R40 there are plenty of AHCC supplements, but no Immunomax one (maker is from Finland i think)...not sure is it all same or doctors are just pushing expensive cause of manufacturer lobbying em.
can't wait for friday and blood results to be honest, from all supplements (omega3, Vit E, Vit D, Vit C, B12) there was no change in blood cell counts, until this one, tho i did added another supplement with ahcc too, folic acid (B9, one pill daily).
They don't sell that here..Just looked it up.
i just want to say that i might had a lucky way of recovering neutrohiles/wbc in 7 days from just one supplement. My doc doesn't belives me, but i haven't been taking anything else.
ImmunoMax AHCC (3x2 tabs daily), after a week neutrophiles from 0.7 went to 1.1, wbc from 2.1 to 3.5. Now it might be a fluke (i doubt it's a placebo fx), but it was first raise in wbc since therapy started. I am gonna get another blood test on Fri and see are they up even more (continued to drink ahcc)?
just a thought, before u opt in for Neupogen.
I had to start Neupogen also a couple weeks ago, a shot 2x week. No side effects, some people it hurts there bones. But tylenol or ibuprofin takes care of that. Weekly blood test too.
Within a few days after the first shot I felt a lot better. Sadly since then I haven't noticed such a substantial difference.
I do notice when I need it...though.
Hope it gets better for you!
Is Eprex the same as procrit? If so the box does say Flu like symptoms. I have been doing the Eprex for 8 weeks now ,1 a week and I find I vomit a lot more if I do anything that uses my energy pool up. I do feel a whole lot better now other than the vomiting.
I had to use procrit for six weeks(6 doses) made my joints ache,and did not sleep that good. It did do the job by brining my cell counts up.
No way did I get as sick as enterfuron shots,everyone is different. KLT,after reading some of your posts,it sounds like your treatment is going alot like mine did. My red blood cell count went way down so they transfused me...2 units, then got inemic turned white as a gohst, then platelets droped way down- 8.000,another transfusion.6 units,had every side affect in the book. however after 12 weeks,I went nondetectable,they stoped treatment at week 12, that was 4 months ago and am still nondetec. not concidered healed yet But i feel great, so hang in there,it will be over soon and it will be worth it.
-----TED
I used it for a month with no ill sx, and felt a lot better in one week. Still have 4 bottles in the cooler, feel like I could use it again at week 36:)
It made me feel very sick. I just came off of it a few weeks ago.