Blood Tests,anti-depressant and stuff lke that

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anonymousone - 15 Jul 2006 18:21 GMT

I got my 17 week blood tests. On 5/12/2006 my Hemoglobin was 13.1. On
6/9/2006 it was 12.9. My 7/7/2006 blood test hemoglobin was 11.7.
White blood count has been trending down also, now at 3.47.

I talked to the Doc about anti-depressants but decided not to go with
them. One of the common side effects of Prozac is "tiredness". Im
already very tired and listless and dont want to make that worse.

Hope this anemia stabilizes.

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Burke Gilman - 15 Jul 2006 19:56 GMT

> I got my 17 week blood tests. On 5/12/2006 my Hemoglobin was 13.1. On
> 6/9/2006 it was 12.9. My 7/7/2006 blood test hemoglobin was 11.7.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Hope this anemia stabilizes.

Anon,

Your labs are pretty much still within normal reference ranges,
correct? At 17 weeks, that's about as good a "trend" as one could hope
for!

If you feel troubled by labs that are actually quite favorable, then
yes, you might be clinically depressed.

Whatever symptoms you are experiencing, in my opinion they are not
attributable to anemia, because your labs indicate you do not have
anemia. Also please note that as you complain that you are very tired
and listless you also happen to be complaining of symptoms related to
clinical depression.

If your symptoms get worse, please note that adjunct therapy with an
antidepressant medication might relieve your symptoms rather than make
them worse. Also note with your doctor that Prozac is not the only
anti-d recommended as an adjunct therapy for HCV patients. For anxiety
and mild depression there is also Zoloft, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and
Lexapro and one is likely better than the other, depending on the
particular person and situation.

Take care.

- BG

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Burke Gilman - 15 Jul 2006 20:15 GMT

> > I got my 17 week blood tests. On 5/12/2006 my Hemoglobin was 13.1. On
> > 6/9/2006 it was 12.9. My 7/7/2006 blood test hemoglobin was 11.7.
[quoted text clipped - 32 lines]
>
> - BG

Oh, wait, I didn't read your post correctly... I hate it when I do
that... I see now that your HMG is down to 11.7 and WBC is at 3.47.
Those values are still not bad though, even though the HMG surrely does
put you in the territory of anemia that would make you feel tired for
sure. (For what its worth, that's where I'm at, but with lowered WBC
too.)

Anyway, the complaint you state about listlessness still elicits
attention. If by stating listlessness you are describing and encroching
feeling anxiety, then I'd think an anti-d would seem like a favorable
option -- that's my thought.

Now off and into the wild blue, time for me to go to DMV and renew.

-BG

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Ally - 16 Jul 2006 01:44 GMT

> If your symptoms get worse, please note that adjunct therapy with an
> antidepressant medication might relieve your symptoms rather than make
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Lexapro and one is likely better than the other, depending on the
> particular person and situation.

Right, I take Wellbutrin which has the side effect of waking you up
rather then putting you to sleep. I found it has made a huge difference
in handling the depression and bringing relief. I don't know if I would
have made it without it.

Ally

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anonymousone - 16 Jul 2006 19:47 GMT

> > If your symptoms get worse, please note that adjunct therapy with an
> > antidepressant medication might relieve your symptoms rather than make
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Ally

I have good days and bad days. Overall, Im doing ok I told my Doc if I
found myself getting depressed I would ask for medication. She wanted
to give me Prozac but anyway, one day at a time; I can live without
them today.

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