Congrats! Regarding the phlebotomy issue, it is often done to help people who have hemochromatosis, or iron overload. This can be a genetic condition running in families and leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Several of my brothers( I had eight) and I have this condition. It was as a result of the blood center rejecting a routine donation of mine that I initially found out I was positive for Hep C. That was 8 years ago, and I am only finishing my six months of treatment now because of my doctor's advice that the original dual therapy for Hep C was not that effective for my genotype. As Incivek and other newer therapies became available he encouraged me to go ahead. Two of my older brothers have passed with hemochromatosis as a complicating factor. When my treatment is finished, I will resume testing for the iron overload,and probably resume the regular phlebotomies. The doctor suspended them for the duration of treatment as blood counts got very low to the point of needing both procrit and neupogen for several weeks. I am fortunate to live in a state where the blood center will do the phebotomy for free, even though the blood must be disposed of as defective. I have directly benefited by their work in lowering my iron level. It is a complicated health care world we live in and I for one am enormously grateful for the skill of people in the know. Knowledge is a beautiful thing; understanding even better. I try to tell everyone I can of my family's experience with hemochromatosis because it is very illustrative of what works and what sometimes doesn't. For Steven and Thomas.
Mark
dustbear said
Jul 21, 2013
Excellent and wonderful news! Hurray!
2willy said
Jul 20, 2013
Way to go Neil, I have 37 days to go and I was undetected for second time last week. Hard go but good news like yours keeps me moving forward
Bill and his girls
Bloomster said
Jul 20, 2013
Hi Neil, congrats on the great news!
Biggyb said
Jul 12, 2013
Tig56 wrote:
mallani wrote:
Hi Neil,
Another Victrelis victory! All the Iron indices are raised in HCV, particularly during Rx, and it's great to see them drop. Recover quickly but at your own pace. Cheers.
It's fantastic to hear about another Victrelis victory!! That's the kind of news that makes us Triple Therapy w/ Vic soldiers smile and cross our fingers ever more tightly!
I totally agree and am smiling. Keep em coming.
Tig said
Jul 12, 2013
mallani wrote:
Hi Neil,
Another Victrelis victory! All the Iron indices are raised in HCV, particularly during Rx, and it's great to see them drop. Recover quickly but at your own pace. Cheers.
It's fantastic to hear about another Victrelis victory!! That's the kind of news that makes us Triple Therapy w/ Vic soldiers smile and cross our fingers ever more tightly!
Karen said
Jul 12, 2013
Congratulations!!!
mallani said
Jul 12, 2013
Hi Neil,
Another Victrelis victory! All the Iron indices are raised in HCV, particularly during Rx, and it's great to see them drop. Recover quickly but at your own pace. Cheers.
Matt Chris said
Jul 10, 2013
Hey Neil
Thanks great news, keep them UND coming.
Matt
Neil_Canuck said
Jul 9, 2013
A phlebotomy is a process where a quantity of blood is removed every 2 weeks
I believe(maybe not) to reduce whatever your blood is saturated with. For me it
was thought to be iron but now it doesn't look like itwas. The hematologist told
me that whenever there is liver problems, in my case Hep C, then the body
produces more ferritin. He wasn't concerned at all when I saw him 6 mths ago.
Biggyb said
Jul 9, 2013
Neil_Canuck wrote:Good news! You were undetected at the end of treatment. So we will do this test again
6 months after treatment, if we get same results, you are considered cured.
Have a great day,
Great news!! so we can wait now, i talked my Doc into 3 month check.
GodsGrl said
Jul 9, 2013
Awesome News!!! Super happy for you enjoy your success!
Tig said
Jul 9, 2013
Very cool!! That's what we all want to hear and will keep our collective fingers crossed that your good fortune continues! I'm curious though, what exactly are you referring to when you mentioned the "phlebotomies"? Never heard that mentioned here before. Thanks and stay positive, you're done! That has to feel great!
Neil_Canuck said
Jul 9, 2013
I finished triple therapy with Victrelis on June 12th.
Received email today from the nurse:
Good news! You were undetected at the end of treatment. So we will do this test again
6 months after treatment, if we get same results, you are considered cured.
Have a great day,
Also went to see my hematologist today and he said my ferritin level had
dropped from 1200 to 800 so I probably won't have to get phlebotomies.
That makes me think of leeches the way they did it or I guess still do in some cultures...lol
Anyway, the arduous journey was worth it and I'm feeling stronger every day.
Good luck to all still doing Tx.
Tig said
Jul 9, 2013
Hey Neil, thanks for that explanation. Your description reminded me of something and I finally figured it out. We have doctors here locally that used the process called "Chelation Therapy" to aid in the reduction of Iron among other things. But it didn't involve removing blood. Instead a chelating agent was infused which aided the removal of the offending agent by the liver and kidneys. Having compromised blood flow through the liver might prevent the use of chelation therapy. It's all very interesting nonetheless, but as you mentioned, it does sound vaguely like Victorian era practices!
I just love this bleeping auto correction!
-- Edited by Tig56 on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 11:22:55 PM
Cinnamon Girl said
Jul 9, 2013
Hi Neil, that`s great news, congrats! Sounds like your recovery is going well!
Yes, it`s not unusual for people with Hep C to develop high iron levels, which is why the general advise is to avoid taking vitamin supplements with iron included. Sometimes phlebotomies are needed to reduce the levels, but it`s good to know you`ve got nothing to worry about there! (and no leeches! )
Neil,
Congrats! Regarding the phlebotomy issue, it is often done to help people who have hemochromatosis, or iron overload. This can be a genetic condition running in families and leading to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Several of my brothers( I had eight) and I have this condition. It was as a result of the blood center rejecting a routine donation of mine that I initially found out I was positive for Hep C. That was 8 years ago, and I am only finishing my six months of treatment now because of my doctor's advice that the original dual therapy for Hep C was not that effective for my genotype. As Incivek and other newer therapies became available he encouraged me to go ahead. Two of my older brothers have passed with hemochromatosis as a complicating factor. When my treatment is finished, I will resume testing for the iron overload,and probably resume the regular phlebotomies. The doctor suspended them for the duration of treatment as blood counts got very low to the point of needing both procrit and neupogen for several weeks. I am fortunate to live in a state where the blood center will do the phebotomy for free, even though the blood must be disposed of as defective. I have directly benefited by their work in lowering my iron level. It is a complicated health care world we live in and I for one am enormously grateful for the skill of people in the know. Knowledge is a beautiful thing; understanding even better. I try to tell everyone I can of my family's experience with hemochromatosis because it is very illustrative of what works and what sometimes doesn't. For Steven and Thomas.
Mark
Excellent and wonderful news! Hurray!
Way to go Neil, I have 37 days to go and I was undetected for second time last week. Hard go but good news like yours keeps me moving forward
Bill and his girls
Hi Neil, congrats on the great news!
I totally agree and am smiling
. Keep em coming.
It's fantastic to hear about another Victrelis victory!! That's the kind of news that makes us Triple Therapy w/ Vic soldiers smile and cross our fingers ever more tightly!
Congratulations!!!
Hi Neil,
Another Victrelis victory! All the Iron indices are raised in HCV, particularly during Rx, and it's great to see them drop. Recover quickly but at your own pace. Cheers.
Hey Neil
Thanks great news, keep them UND coming.
Matt
A phlebotomy is a process where a quantity of blood is removed every 2 weeks
I believe(maybe not) to reduce whatever your blood is saturated with. For me it
was thought to be iron but now it doesn't look like itwas. The hematologist told
me that whenever there is liver problems, in my case Hep C, then the body
produces more ferritin. He wasn't concerned at all when I saw him 6 mths ago.
Great news!! so we can wait now, i talked my Doc into 3 month check.
Very cool!! That's what we all want to hear and will keep our collective fingers crossed that your good fortune continues! I'm curious though, what exactly are you referring to when you mentioned the "phlebotomies"? Never heard that mentioned here before. Thanks and stay positive, you're done! That has to feel great!
I finished triple therapy with Victrelis on June 12th.
Received email today from the nurse:
Good news! You were undetected at the end of treatment. So we will do this test again
6 months after treatment, if we get same results, you are considered cured.
Have a great day,
Also went to see my hematologist today and he said my ferritin level had
dropped from 1200 to 800 so I probably won't have to get phlebotomies.
That makes me think of leeches the way they did it or I guess still do in some cultures...lol
Anyway, the arduous journey was worth it and I'm feeling stronger every day.
Good luck to all still doing Tx.
Hey Neil, thanks for that explanation. Your description reminded me of something and I finally figured it out. We have doctors here locally that used the process called "Chelation Therapy" to aid in the reduction of Iron among other things. But it didn't involve removing blood. Instead a chelating agent was infused which aided the removal of the offending agent by the liver and kidneys. Having compromised blood flow through the liver might prevent the use of chelation therapy. It's all very interesting nonetheless, but as you mentioned, it does sound vaguely like Victorian era practices!
I just love this bleeping auto correction!
-- Edited by Tig56 on Tuesday 9th of July 2013 11:22:55 PM
Hi Neil, that`s great news, congrats! Sounds like your recovery is going well!
Yes, it`s not unusual for people with Hep C to develop high iron levels, which is why the general advise is to avoid taking vitamin supplements with iron included. Sometimes phlebotomies are needed to reduce the levels, but it`s good to know you`ve got nothing to worry about there! (and no leeches!
)
All best wishes for SVR!!