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Author Topic: Epogen  (Read 8149 times)
Atooraya
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« on: May 21, 2012, 06:40:07 PM »
Once the Epo shot is administered,  how long before an individual sees the benefit?
Is it a matter of hours or days?
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cattlekid
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« Reply #1 on: May 21, 2012, 07:25:37 PM »
I was actually told two weeks.
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smcd23
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The patient, the baby and the donor - October 2010

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« Reply #2 on: May 21, 2012, 07:37:31 PM »
1 to 2 weeks. And you have to make sure you're having your levels checked, sometimes you have to adjust the dose to maintain the proper amount in the blood and prevent anemia.
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Caregiver to Husband with ESRD.

1995 - Diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux and had surgery to repair at age 11. Post surgery left side still had Stage I VUR, right side was okay. Both sides were underdeveloped.
2005 - Discovered renal function was declining, causing HBP. Regular monitoring began.

March 2008 - Started transplant evaluation for preemptive transplant due to declining function.

September 16, 2008 - Transplanted with my kidney.
September 18, 2008 - Kidney was removed due to thrombosis in the vessels in and leading to the kidney.

October 2008 - Listed in Region I

May 2009 - Started in Center Hemo
January 2010 - Started CCPD on Liberty Cycler

June 15, 2012 - Kidney transplant from a 43 year old deceased donor
June 22, 2012 - Major acute rejection episode and hospitalization began
June 27, 2012 - Nephrectomy to remove kidney after complete HLA antibody rejection. Possibly not eligible for another transplant, ever again.

Now what?
Joe
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« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2012, 07:24:12 AM »
It does take a couple of weeks to kick in. My center called me yesterday and told me to hold off on any more shots, I guess my Hgb levels are up high enough for them to hold me for a bit. I need to discuss it with my Neph at clinic next week. Oh joy!
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Atooraya
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« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2012, 10:19:42 AM »
Thanks for the feedback, all.
Too bad it takes so long to kick in. I want it to work right away. Lol
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lmunchkin
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« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2012, 06:43:38 PM »
I hear ya, Atooraya!  It would be nice if it were an instant fix, wouldnt it?  Make sure your iron levels are where they should be also!!  If your iron levels are not, then all the EPO in the world will not do you a bit of good without the iron.  Please ask about your iron levels too.  They both work hand in hand. 

God Bless,
lmunchkin :kickstart;
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11/2004 Hubby diag. ESRD, Diabeties, Vascular Disease & High BP
12/2004 to 6/2009 Home PD
6/2009 Peritonitis , PD Cath removed
7/2009 Hemo Dialysis In-Center
2/2010 BKA rt leg & lt foot (all toes) amputated
6/2010 to present.  NxStage at home
Atooraya
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« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2012, 07:02:46 PM »
Yup. My iron levels are always low. So I have to take iron supplements daily. Grrrrr, constipation....
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lmunchkin
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« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2012, 08:23:36 PM »
If they are real low, they should offer IV iron.  It takes about 15min or more to give, depending on the dose recommended.  And if they do offer IV iron, please make sure they give you the whole dose.

lmunchkin
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11/2004 Hubby diag. ESRD, Diabeties, Vascular Disease & High BP
12/2004 to 6/2009 Home PD
6/2009 Peritonitis , PD Cath removed
7/2009 Hemo Dialysis In-Center
2/2010 BKA rt leg & lt foot (all toes) amputated
6/2010 to present.  NxStage at home
Kammie
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« Reply #8 on: May 23, 2012, 08:24:55 AM »
I have had Epogen (Procrit) once a week for over a year now and still occasionally have to have the IV Iron administered over a 4 week period. 

I can tell you when I started on it, it took about 2 weeks for me to really feel the difference.

Best of luck to you Atooraya!
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Kidney Transplant: 2/11/97 
'Rejection'..(Damaged Kidney Resulting in Slow Failure): 2003
Peritoneal Dialysis: 8/2011
Atooraya
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« Reply #9 on: May 23, 2012, 09:45:40 PM »
Thanks for the good wishes Kammie.
My epo dosage is 2000 units/ 2 weeks. Is that similar to yours?
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JLM
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« Reply #10 on: May 24, 2012, 04:38:05 AM »
"15 minutes....." ha, it take them more time than that just to get a needle in me for the iron.  With a little luck they get it on the second try.  Once they called in a guy from the hemo side of the clinic to do me.  Ya, 'm a hard stick!
 :boxing;
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I'm just where God wants me to be, not one step ahead nor one step behind.
Kammie
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« Reply #11 on: May 24, 2012, 08:30:45 AM »
Atooraya..My dosage of Procrit has always been 3000 units until this past week.  Clinic called and said it was low so they wanted me to 'up' dosage to 4000 units!
Also, I do this once a week.   
 
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Kidney Transplant: 2/11/97 
'Rejection'..(Damaged Kidney Resulting in Slow Failure): 2003
Peritoneal Dialysis: 8/2011
Grumpy-1
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« Reply #12 on: May 29, 2012, 03:58:26 AM »
I'm on 1,000 units weekly and also taking iron supplement.  Every so often the clinic will boost the iron with a IV push.
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Joe
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« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2012, 07:45:54 PM »
Saw my Neph for monthly clinic today. My Hgb is up to 12.5 so they want me to hold off on epo for a bit to see what happens. Here's the fun part, I have 2 full vials of epogen in my fridge that I'm not going to use anytime soon...
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Grumpy-1
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« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2012, 04:48:01 AM »
Joe - I'll take them off your hands....
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Make me the person my dog thinks I am
lmunchkin
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« Reply #15 on: May 31, 2012, 05:36:40 PM »
Quote from: Joe on May 30, 2012, 07:45:54 PM
Saw my Neph for monthly clinic today. My Hgb is up to 12.5 so they want me to hold off on epo for a bit to see what happens. Here's the fun part, I have 2 full vials of epogen in my fridge that I'm not going to use anytime soon...

Quote from: Grumpy-1 on May 31, 2012, 04:48:01 AM
Joe - I'll take them off your hands....

Joe those numbers go up & down all the time.  They will have you taking Epo again, trust me.  Love you Grumpy, but no "candy" today! Sorry my friend!  Lol

lmunchkin :kickstart;
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11/2004 Hubby diag. ESRD, Diabeties, Vascular Disease & High BP
12/2004 to 6/2009 Home PD
6/2009 Peritonitis , PD Cath removed
7/2009 Hemo Dialysis In-Center
2/2010 BKA rt leg & lt foot (all toes) amputated
6/2010 to present.  NxStage at home
Atooraya
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« Reply #16 on: June 01, 2012, 11:42:10 AM »
Keeping the Hgb between 11 and 12 is bullshit. For guys normal level is 13. However they wont give me enough epo to bring me to 13 because some cancer patients had a bad reaction to it. Grrrrrrrr
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Joe
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« Reply #17 on: June 01, 2012, 06:49:35 PM »
lilmunch, I'm sure I'll be back on it again but it's good to have numbers back in the semi-normal range for a bit.

Grumpy-1, sorry but they do make me turn in all my vials, empty or not.
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Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Leave the rest to God...
Grumpy-1
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« Reply #18 on: June 04, 2012, 05:25:31 AM »
Atooraya is right for an average size man, 13 is a good number.  BUT because of some Dr and clinic over doing it and prescription more that is needed just to make $...   The FED decided to decrease the norm.   While I didn't have to fight too much with my Dr to get mine up to 12, I did have to put up a good reasoning.    I'm now at 11.8 and I hope it will climb to 12 by the next lab.  Grumpy
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Make me the person my dog thinks I am
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