TOPIC:

I am doing the Sofo/Dac + Riba for 24 weeks. Dr Freeman had posted on Face Book about side effects when taking this combo and to be aware. I have been having shortness of breath, plus I live in the mountains 1,200 meters above sea level. I am not under the care of a Gastro, altho he did give me script. Should I have anything to be worried about? Thanks everyone.

For somebody taking riba, my doc does blood tests after the first 2 weeks. He says that if the riba is going to be a problem then it often shows by then. After that he does another test at 6 weeks. The tests are to see if hemo has gone below 10.

I don't know about the effect of your altitude but could you get a blood test for your hemo level? You are already past the 2 week mark, aren't you? Depending on the blood result I expect that the good doc can advise you.

Best wishes,
dt

Just had my 4 week labs done on Monday. Slightly elevated AST, ALT & Bili
Thanks DT

Hey panamajo

Like DT said get your red blood cell indicators checked out, in particular haemoglobin. On a previous tx using riba my haemo went below 9 and I felt like I was living in double gravity with that shortness of breath feeling. If it has tanked you have 2 options, reduce your riba or get a supply of Epogen or procrit. Obviously under doctors supervision as I understand it ( well back a few years ago) those in US and Canada could access these drugs for this purpose? But I understand you may not have access in Panama?. Alternatively you could start hanging around the local gym and getting to know the weight lifters lol, not really funny cause I've done this. Unfortunately in Australia Epogen for low RBC/haemo indicators and Filgastrim for low WBC indicators like neutiiphils are only available to particular cancer patients. Take care and I hope you get this sorted. Let us know how you get on hey. Em

Hey P,

I moved this into tx discussions etc. Think it's a better fit from where it was living. Em

You are probably getting anaemic and your altitude is pointing that out sooner than you would notice at sea level.

At 1200 m there is only 87% as much oxygen as at sea level.

Please get some bloods done - particularly your Hb