26 replies to this topic

[Silvertabby]

My WBC count was 137,000 when I started Gleevec. It was down within normal range within a month. But continued to fall. It is consistently low now. If it is in normal range, I usually find out I have a UTI. I would love to try a dosage reduction, but since I have not had 2 PCRU results in a row it probably would not be a good idea. I am always anemic as well. But very happy to be in my 5th year since being diagnosed. "It's a great life if you don't weaken".

[JohnFromChicago]

My ALT and AST were ALWAYS high 2-3x the upper limit for years before I was diagnosed. My BUN RATIO was also almost always high although I can not recall by how much. After diagnosis I have not had a single ALT, AST or BUN test out of range. I will explain...

I always blamed my high ALT, AST, BUN on weightlifting (muscle tissue damage) since I have lifted weights heavy 5 times a week since I was 18. Doctors always blamed it on protein powder but they were never overly concerned so I never changed anything. When I was diagnosed with CML at 28 my oncologist had told me to stop taking protein powder which I thought was very annoying and unnecessary but I did anyways. I switched over to liquid egg whites which are incredibly more expensive for the quantity I consume (10oz in the Morning, 10oz Post Workout...equivalent to 20 egg whites per day). I was incredibly surprised to see literally my first AST/ALT/BUN in my adult life all to come back all normal in range after making the switch. I have continued to lift weights actually even harder heavier and more squats, deadlifts, ect in the last two years than ever. Also, I have consumed alcohol (probably more than I should) on weeklong vacations and had labs done upon returning Monday and still all in range. The protein powder was certainly to blame. Maybe you don't take protein powder, but if you do or any other supplements like creatine definitely something to consider.


PS. Congrats on .027!!!

Well I guess i jinxed myself...today I had my first ever since being diagnosed with CML high ALT and AST...

ALT: 155 U/L (12-78 U/L)
AST: 98 U/L (15-37 U/L)

...I was on vacation this weekend snowboarding in Colorado and was having drinks Friday-Monday. Usually I only drink 1-2 days out of week max (although on vacations I tend to be a little less strict). Normally if I consume any alcohol I drink lots of gatorade which I did not have any of this weekend.  I'm hoping my 4 day diet of beer, steaks and burgers accompanied with dehydration was to blame for these numbers. I go back monday for a retest.

[xxgirl]

John - I think that's its most likely that you pushed your body skiing/riding all day and got super dehydrated.  If you go as hard as my fiance, then you're burning possibly thousands of calories in a matter of hours, and then drinking alcohol on top of that (I thought I read that you were in Breckenridge, am I crazy?) 

 

So I'd say, what changed between this test and your last? - and I think it's the alcohol.  I'd definitely put more stock in the numbers you get after your retest, taken under more normal circumstances.

[JohnFromChicago]

John - I think that's its most likely that you pushed your body skiing/riding all day and got super dehydrated.  If you go as hard as my fiance, then you're burning possibly thousands of calories in a matter of hours, and then drinking alcohol on top of that (I thought I read that you were in Breckenridge, am I crazy?) 

 

So I'd say, what changed between this test and your last? - and I think it's the alcohol.  I'd definitely put more stock in the numbers you get after your retest, taken under more normal circumstances.

 

I was at Keystone actually this weekend but usually I ride at Breck. I was definitely pushing myself hard all day every day. They have sports drinks at all the food joints at Breck but not at Keystone I searched everywhere I had crazy cottonmouth most of the day. I need to get a camelback for my trip next month. Also, your not crazy...I removed this from my original post because I thought it was too off topic lol

[JohnFromChicago]

Well I guess i jinxed myself...today I had my first ever since being diagnosed with CML high ALT and AST...

ALT: 155 U/L (12-78 U/L)
AST: 98 U/L (15-37 U/L)

...I was on vacation this weekend snowboarding in Colorado and was having drinks Friday-Monday. Usually I only drink 1-2 days out of week max (although on vacations I tend to be a little less strict). Normally if I consume any alcohol I drink lots of gatorade which I did not have any of this weekend.  I'm hoping my 4 day diet of beer, steaks and burgers accompanied with dehydration was to blame for these numbers. I go back monday for a retest.

 

 

5 Days later all back to normal on 50mg Sprycel.

[thatguy]

Nice!

[xxgirl]

Good deal.

 

And you get to test drive a dose reduction, too.  Sounds like things worked out for the best.