Pre-D Aranesp treatment and Lab Results

[KarenInWA]

I have been getting Aranesp shots, 100 mcg, every 2 weeks as needed since March 19th.  I am to get a shot if my hematocrit is below 35 and my K is 5.3 or below.  I go in every other week to get my blood drawn to see if it's needed.  At first, I only needed them once a month, after getting the first 2 or 3 visits consistently, then more recently, my blood draws dictated I needed a shot on every visit.  Today, I went in to get my usual labs done, and my hematocrit was 41!  I haven't seen that for literally YEARS!!!  My HGB was 13.  That was as low as 9.2 or 9.x back in March, and had been holding steady between 10.00 and 11ish as of late.  Any ideas why these levels suddenly shot up to a healthy person's level?  Mind you, I'm not complaining!  I did watch the lab tech take my blood and put the stickers w/my info on the tubes, the same stickers she verified my name, etc with.  I'm just curious why this happened?  Can the body take a while to adjust to this kind of therapy, then it just suddenly accepts it and "runs with it" so to speak?

KarenInWA

[paris]

Karen, mine did the same thing.  I was getting shots every two weeks, then every week.   One day my hemoglobin was over 11 and has now stayed there for over a year without more shots.  I guess it took some time for the levels to go up and then stabilize.  It took a long time, and constants Arenesp and iron infusions, but now I have had nothing for a long time.   Yea!  I hope yours stays at a good level, too.

[RichardMEL]

A 100's? that's like the highest dose(I think). I'm on 50, sometimes on 40. wow. 100's are very expensive too..... I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Could explain why yours has risen quite sharply.

[KICKSTART]

Im on a 100 once a week as well. My Hb was 8.2. Now im gettng iron iv as well. I believe it can take months to raise the levels.

[Razman]

   I'm  pre-dialysis as well but I simply pick up about 6 months worth of shots from the hospital and give them to myself.  It makes it a lot easier than going in on a regular basis and then sitting and waiting !    Does everyone have to go in or at some time do they let you do it yourself?  Just curious.

[KICKSTART]

In the UK we get an option .DIY or go for them , but now of course i get them while on hemo (no more nasty stinging jab!)

[RightSide]

Any ideas why these levels suddenly shot up to a healthy person's level?  Mind you, I'm not complaining!  I did watch the lab tech take my blood and put the stickers w/my info on the tubes, the same stickers she verified my name, etc with.  I'm just curious why this happened?  Can the body take a while to adjust to this kind of therapy, then it just suddenly accepts it and "runs with it" so to speak?

Are you also varying your vitamin D (Zemplar, etc.) intake?

There is evidence that vitamin D helps fight anemia too, through another mechanism.

Ever since I started taking heavy doses of vitamin D, I need less Aranesp to maintain my blood count.

[KarenInWA]

Are you also varying your vitamin D (Zemplar, etc.) intake?

There is evidence that vitamin D helps fight anemia too, through another mechanism.

Ever since I started taking heavy doses of vitamin D, I need less Aranesp to maintain my blood count.

I take 2000 iu of Vitamin D3 a day (except for these past 2, because I just realized I forgot to....oops....) and I also take calcitriol 0.25 mcg a day (I think that's the dosage...).  No one has ever prescribed me Zemplar, mainly because I don't think it's been needed.  My primary doc put me on the 2000 iu of Vit D over a year ago, when my blood levels of it was 12.  Now it's around 65!  And that only took a couple of months to achieve that!  My PTH is well within normal levels, so the calcitriol is working as it should.  Isn't Zemplar one of those expensive meds?  I have great insurance, so I am lucky there.  In fact, I was able to take advantage of my mail order Rx plan offering 3 mos of a generic Rx for free, which is how I got my latest round of calcitriol.  Now I'll just have to see if I remember to order the refill in time...

KarenInWA