Has anyone else delt with this?

[Brightsky69]

I am getting a little worried. I've been getting 30cc of EPO for the past few weeks and my blood count keeps going down. They had me on a regular dose of Epo  but my blood count went up to 15. So they took me off it for a few weeks. Then of course my blood count dropped but now we can't get it back up again. I was at an 8 now it's a 7. They want me to come back in and get another 30cc of Epo. it's like no matter how much Epo i get my blood count keeps dropping. It's kind of scary.
I don't know whats going on and my nurse doesn't know what could be causing my drop either. 

[peleroja]

Are they also giving you iron which is supposed to assist the Epo in your system?  Also, I just found out yesterday that Epo given subcutaneously lasts longer in the body than Epo given directly into the catheter/fistula. 

[Brightsky69]

Labs show my iron is good. I've got plenty of it. They give me shots of Epo. Iam starting to feel like a pin cushion. I just want my blood count to go back up ! Everything else is wonderful except that. I get great clearence on PD. I am doing everything I am supposed to be doing.

[KICKSTART]

I really dont think there is an answer , i think its just one of those things. My hemoglobin has been down to 7.1 and i havent been able to have epo or iron because of high b.p. I had my bloods done on friday and got results yesterday and my hemoglobin has gone up to 9 without anything .. which everyone finds hard to believe as it just doesnt (well normally) happen !!  So i wouldnt be suprised if you go up and down !

[BigSky]

Personally from what I have had happen is once its stopped and my blood counts drop it takes several months for me to return to what I consider acceptable levels.

[Brightsky69]

Last time I got really low my doc sent me over to get some blood. That seemed to help.

[Brightsky69]

You know...I don't feel any effects yet. In the past I have been so low that I could have feel asleep standing up. I just hope I don't get that low again.

[David13]

The EPO shots stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells, but it is not an instantaneous process.  Unfortunately, it can take several weeks for the red blood cells to mature and for the resulting increase to show in your lab work.