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Author Topic: testing every month?  (Read 13148 times)

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Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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testing every month?
« on: May 07, 2007, 04:14:26 am »
Ok so it turns out I am suppose to  be going for blood tests every month I was somehow not informed so i missed 2 tests can alot have  changed in 2 months?
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline xyahka

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #1 on: May 07, 2007, 08:57:47 am »
Hi, i think that is relative... it depends if you have got any illness, or if you are taking or not taking care of yourself. Like some people have mentioned before numbers sometimes get crazy. I think they want to test you to be aware when your cd4 reaches 350 to perhaps start with HAART.... I don't know, here in my country i was told that Haart is optional if you are above 200 (because they lack of medicines... so the later you start... the better for everybody), but if you are under 200 you HAVE to start with it, i think your Dr only wants to know if you are fast or slow progressor.
« Last Edit: December 12, 2009, 05:37:46 pm by Andy Velez »
13/03/07 1er diagnóstico /Peso: 79kg
19/04/07 CD4: 494 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 80kg
19/07/07 CD4: 659 /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79.5kg
06/03/08 CD4: 573 (después de meses muy deprimido) /CViral: ?? /Peso: 79kg
17/09/08 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 84Kg
06/02/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 85Kg /HCV: Neg /HBV: Neg.
07/03/09 CD4: ?? /CViral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg / Gym 3días/semana y Natación 2días/semana.
12/05/09 CD4: 470 /Cviral: ?? /Peso: 87Kg.
08/07/09 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 77Kg.
09/12/09 CD4: 510 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg. No medicinas aún
10/01/10 CD4: ? /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
15/05/10 CD4: 320 /CViral: ? /Peso: 76Kg.
01/02/11 CD4: 291 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
05/05/11 CD4: 366 /CViral: ? /Peso: 78kg.
27/07/11 CD4: 255 /CViral: 138000 /Peso: 78kg.

Disfrutando y aceptando una nueva vida...

Offline milker

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #2 on: May 07, 2007, 10:03:02 am »
Ok so it turns out I am suppose to  be going for blood tests every month I was somehow not informed so i missed 2 tests can alot have  changed in 2 months?
Well what's the purpose of testing every month? Are they testing something specific? I don't know your numbers, but is it testing for CD4/VL or something else?

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline Ann

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2007, 09:07:03 am »
As you are newly infected, my guess would be that the doctor wants to see how quickly your body adjusts and gets the hiv under control. It may be that he will want you to start meds if your numbers don't start showing signs of improvement.

BUT - what I say is pure speculation. The best way to get the correct answer to your question is to ask the doctor himself.

The standard routine is to test at least quarterly, but I was also tested more often than quarterly in the early days of my diagnosis. In my case, it was to get a handle on whether my numbers were trending up or down. Turned out they weren't doing either - they were bouncing all over the place. Still are.

Whenever you are in doubt about what your doctor is doing or wants to do, ASK. Not only is it your right to know, but I'd go as far as to say it's your DUTY to ask. If you don't keep on top of your health issues, no one else can. Your relationship with your doctor needs to be a partnership for optimal results. You need to keep each other informed.

Ann
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"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

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Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2007, 03:43:18 pm »
so i have recieved my 3rd set of tests now and according to the Dr. they are "great"
I am just unsure about the vl.
i was infected this last December and my first set of test on
January 25/07 CD4 480 21% VL >100000
Feb 20/07       CD4 450 28% VL >100000
Apr  30/07       CD4 560 29% VL >100000

So my question is why is the VL not dropping if everything is "great"?
« Last Edit: May 15, 2007, 04:00:55 pm by HIV? poz about being neg »
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline milker

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #5 on: May 15, 2007, 03:48:59 pm »
Well yes there are great from the CD4 point of view!! What does <100000 mean? <100000 could be 0, 1, 10, 100, 10000, 50000 ??? Do you have the exact number?

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #6 on: May 15, 2007, 03:59:34 pm »
I don't know Milker Im not sure if its a Canada thing or what but if its over 100 000 thats all it shows???? sorry that was a typing error on my part its actually > 100 000
« Last Edit: May 15, 2007, 04:01:37 pm by HIV? poz about being neg »
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline milker

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #7 on: May 15, 2007, 04:01:21 pm »
oh so that's >100000, not < Kinda strange ??? I'll let others comments, I'm not sure!

Milker.

mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline LT

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  • Posts: 56
Re: testing every month?
« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2007, 06:44:30 am »
As another Canuck, and a long time survivor (diagnosed over 21 years ago), I can say with some authority monthly testing is not a Canadian thing.

The usual seems to be about every three months.  Sometime every second month when meds are started.  I'm not sure why your doc is recommending monthly tests.

The only things I can think of are that he's being overly cautious.  You don't say if you just started meds or not.  If so, he may be looking at other blood work in the battery of tests, like liver functions.

He may also be looking at the viral load.  I ask for something more specific than "over 100,000" -- the tests are more granular than that.  If it's trending up, he might want to start/change a drug regime.

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2007, 02:22:49 pm »
I am not on any medications yet. I was told I should be getting testing done once a month because I have only become infected with HIV in December of this year and to see a trend. My only confusion now is if my cd4 is going up why is my VL not going down?
I am mostly concerned because I have been told that a VL > 100000 makes me extreemly contagious...so just wondering how long it ussually takes befor the vl starts dropping?
« Last Edit: May 17, 2007, 02:24:47 pm by HIV? poz about being neg »
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline LT

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2007, 06:20:44 am »
Ok, I get that you're newly diagnosed, and not on the meds as of yet.  I suspect that you're missing a few pieces of information, and have misinterpreted some others.

I'm going to go through a few things step by step.  I have no way of knowing how much you already know, where & what you've read.  While I am trying to be basic, and clear, I'm not trying to be condescending.  If you think I am -- well just ignore me, but some others who read this post might fill some holes in their own knowledge

Quote
I was told I should be getting testing done once a month because I have only become infected with HIV in December of this year and to see a trend.
News flash - all of our doctors want to see trends in out blood tests.  But for most medical professionals, testing every two, three, or four months is adequate to see those trends.  The most common testing period seems to be every three months.  Sometimes bi-monthly when newly diagnosed, or just starting meds.  Your monthly testing seems to be a bit extreme and oddly out of line with what most of us have experienced.

I don't believe you've stated if you see the doctor after every set of tests, to get the results.  Possibly your doctor is sensing a high level of stress on your part, and may well be wanting to monitor your anxiety level, and see how you're coping on an emotional level.  Frequent blood test could he his way of getting you back into the office more often.

Quote
what but if its over 100,000 & thats all it shows

Over 100,000 isn't a number, it's a range.  Because it is so unspecific, it is meaningless to us most experienced people.  Is it 100,001 - 150,000 - 300,000 - 750,000?   If you look around you'll see lots of people posting initial results around any of those numbers.  Without something more specific, we can't offer advice that agrees with or contradicts your doctor.  On your next visit, perhaps you could ask your doctor for more exact viral load numbers.

Others around here have better knowledge about specific brands of tests and what exactly they measure.  I'm making a couple of guesses here, so I may be talking out of my butt.  I happily invite those with more scientific knowledge to step in and confirm, or blow holes in what I postulate below.

I know there are different viral load tests.  The one I'm used to has a lower threshold (ie the lowest number it can test) of 40.  Below 40 you're VL is "undetectable".  I've seen others around here for whom the lower threshold is 50.

I suppose that is might be possible that some tests also have a upper threshold.  That is a number above which every result is the same.  That number could well be your 100,000 mark.  It would make a certain amount of logic to me, that a test more sensitive at the lower end, might have problems on the upper.  Understanding that this is all a hypothesis, if there is a test that is more specific at the upper end, but your doctor is ordering the one more sensitive to the lower end but has an upper threshold, it could be that your doctor is ordering the wrong test.

Quote
My only confusion now is if my cd4 is going up why is my VL not going down?

and

so just wondering how long it usually takes before the vl starts dropping?
This is the point where I think you've misinterpreted other things you've read.

A viral load going down, and the CD4 going up is the expected result when using the anti-retroviral drugs.  Without the drugs, it is certainly an encouraging result, showing your body is good at fighting the virus.  But again - minus the meds something you really shouldn't expect.

It is relatively common, for a newly infected person to have a high viral load.  And it may later settle out at a lower level even without the ARV's.   That's usually accompanied by a drop in the CD4 count.

If you understand how the virus duplicates, the reason for this is easy to see.  While an overly simplified explanation, it illustrates the point.

The virus attaches to, and then injects itself into the CD4 cell.  It takes over the "machinery" of the cell, tricking it into making many new copies of the virus and releasing them into the bloodstream.  Eventually the resources of the CD4 cell are exhausted and it dies.  Meanwhile all the copies of the virus that first cell produced, are busy repeating the process with any other CD4 cell they find.

With a new infection there is a veritable cornucopia of CD4 cells for the virus to attack.  More "raw material" means a huge number of copies of the virus are produced. Of course the Viral Load skyrockets.  But as the number of CD4 cells dwindle, fewer copies of the virus can be produced, and the VL number may drop back down.

There are five different points where the viral replication process could be intercepted.  These correspond to the different classes of current and future ARV drugs.

With all that in mind, you can see how, minus the drugs, a raising CD4 count, and a dropping viral load shouldn't normally be expected.

Noting your other posts in the "living a more healthy lifestyle" vein of thought, that could easily explain the increasing CD4 count.

Quote
I am mostly concerned because I have been told that a VL > 100000 makes me extreemly contagious
An interesting comment and worthy of a bit of exploration.

It is quite common when newly diagnosed to feel like a walking plague.  You may be scared of spreading the virus at every turn.  I remember each time I got a paper cut, or clipped myself shaving, I saw spirting death.  I'd scrub everything down and pray I hadn't missed some microscopic splotch some place.  And I couldn't even think of sexual activity without fearing I'd become a modern "Typhoid Marry."

If that's your mind set, calm down and relax.  It may take two or three years, but eventually the bug will become just as much a part of you as the colour of your hair, or the shape of your nose.

Another though came to mind, but I hope it's not the case.  I'm not accusing, just brain storming.

Is your stress bout being "extremely contagious" related to sexual activity.  Are you thinking that with a high viral load you need to abstain, or only do the safest things, but with a lower number you could venture into more risky stuff.

In the sexual arena, I don't think viral load is all that relevant.  You've got to play safe all the time.  Not just to prevent your spreading the bug, but also to prevent you from catching something new.  For example, another slightly differently mutated version of HIV.

I hope what I've said makes sense to you, and gives you a better understanding of HIV.  It may help you pose better questions here on the forums.  Perhaps it'll aid you in dragging more specific answers out of your doctor.

I could also be completely off base, leading you torch me with a flame thower.  But do understand that I cared enough to spend more than a couple of hours crafting this response.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2007, 06:34:45 am by LT »

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2007, 02:35:38 pm »
LT Thank you I do not take your comments in a negative or condescending way at all. I am grateful that you took the time to respond and if some of my questions seemed abit repetitive or silly, its a learning thing and I do much better when i get the stupid questions out of the way first. I have a tendency to forget alot of my questions when i see my DR as it always seems a bit hectic or I get responses I don't understand. So I think I'll have to start writing down my questions befor going to my Dr with them so i don't forget to ask them. But you have truly answered my question and it makes alot more sense the "basic" way you put it.  :)
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline milker

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2007, 03:43:27 pm »
LT Thank you I do not take your comments in a negative or condescending way at all. I am grateful that you took the time to respond and if some of my questions seemed abit repetitive or silly, its a learning thing and I do much better when i get the stupid questions out of the way first. I have a tendency to forget alot of my questions when i see my DR as it always seems a bit hectic or I get responses I don't understand. So I think I'll have to start writing down my questions befor going to my Dr with them so i don't forget to ask them. But you have truly answered my question and it makes alot more sense the "basic" way you put it.  :)
Yes, have a place where you can write your questions, available to you at anytime. Then, before you see your doctor, strike out the questions that have already been answered on here, and give him the list of questions that are left. That's what I do, and it ensures that I don't miss questions.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline water duck

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2007, 04:53:50 pm »
LT you did not post often , but when you do, it is full of wisdom and sound advise, so hi, don't be a stranger here !!

HIV? ...............this is most unusual, my family doctor who draw annually, did a draw and did four tests (which i came to know later , as he did not believe that i could be infected, as i worked side by side of him) , he was so mad when i went to another hospital to do another draw !!

After the storm, i am controlled every three months, LT might be right that your doc wants you to go in more often, so he can be paid more often  !! you need to decide that !! guess we must learn not to always say AMEN to the doctors and learn to say NO !! at the hospital where i controlled, the doctor kept me waiting sometimes half to three quarter of an hour, i blew my top, i told her i am not going to put up with this nonsense, i also learned that she only spent three quarter of an hour with each patient, i told her , you let someone went before me, this is the last time this is going to happen !! your time is worth money so is mine, so now, she is always there on time.  They can call me a bitch all they want , i will just tell them i am born a pure bleed one.

IT IS NOT BECAUSE YOU ARE NEW TO ALL THIS YOU NEED TO PICK UP THE SH--s
Like Milker say, you now have a place to place your questions, and you bet there is always someone AVAILABLE !!

Wd

Offline LT

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #14 on: May 21, 2007, 07:41:02 am »
Quote
LT might be right that your doc wants you to go in more often, so he can be paid more often  !!

While I didn't say that, I will admit to having thought of it as one explanation.  I'd like to believe that his doctor is more altruistic than that.

I don't believe "Poz about being neg" has mentioned whether this is an Infectious Disease/HIV specialist, or just a General Practitioner.  I can imagine that a GP who hasn't seen a lot of cases, might be more cautious, and want to see more test than and ID doc who's seen it all before.

We'll never know until Poz ask his doc the reason for the higher frequency of testing.  Even then, we won't know if the answer is the straight dope, or just the doc covering his posterior.

I guess I can't go back and edit the longer post now, but here's a couple of other points I should have included.

At the part where I mentioned that the drugs interfere with viral replication I should have added:

As fewer copies of the virus are produced, the viral load drops.  Since there are less copies of the virus running around infecting and destroying CD4 cells, the CD4 count begins to rise.  So the increase in CD4's is as a result of the drop in viral load, not the other way around as you seem to have assumed.

When talking about an undetectable Viral Load, I should have said:

Undetectable doesn't mean the virus is gone.  It just means the counts are at a level below which our current tests can measure.  Besides floating freely in the blood, this tenacious little beast can also hide out in other cells in out body, for example the lining of the intestines.  At some point in the future, say when a person stops taking the meds, the virus re-emerges and starts its CD4 gobbling feast all over again.

Also in the part where I discussed Poz's fear of being extremely infectious with a Viral Load over 100,000 I should have added.

While certainly a person with a count over 100,000 is more infectious than another with an undetectable viral load, that isn't all that important as long as you always play safely.

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2007, 12:34:44 am »
Ok...#1 I am seeing an ID Specialist apparently the best in Vancouver.
After my last visit with him on may 22, i went in with all my questions and he is not as excited as my GP was with my test results.
He says that my body is doing very good and making more cd4 but that the VL not going below 100000 is a sign that my cd4 are going to start reducing quickly.
(he drew me a picture with coal being the cd4, and the fire above the coal being the VL...and a shopping bag filled with coal from my last visit to the grocery store.)
Anyways his reasoning to send me for tests every month is because he seems to feel that on my last shopping trip i may not have bought enough coal??? And with the VL staying above the 100000 since my initial tests in January are a sign that my CD4 are going to start dropping soon. and my cd4 at 560 and 29 % is nothing to get to excited about ?

« Last Edit: May 29, 2007, 12:39:16 am by HIV? poz about being neg »
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline LT

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #16 on: May 29, 2007, 08:07:37 am »
The so called "normal" range for CD4 is 500 to 1200, though I've seen the top end quoted as high as 1700.  So a CD4 of 560 is low-normal.  About equivalent to an uninfected person under a lot of stress.

Your doctor's coal analogy is an even more simplified version of my description in the May 18th posting.  The fear is that with a higher viral load, there's a greater likelihood of CD4 cells being infected by the virus, and destroyed by the viral replication process (ie CD4 = Raw material for new copies of the virus = the coal in your doctor's analogy).  He's watching to see if your CD4's start dropping rapidly, perhaps falling into the below 200 "danger zone," where opportunistic infections like PCP pneumonia can occur.  A rapid drop, or falling into the danger zone would lead him to start you on anti-retrovirals, and possibly an anti-biotic as a preventative (medical term prophylaxis) for pneumonia.

If your CD4 count rises, doesn't drop, or only drops slowly, that is an indication that your body is doing a good job of fighting off the virus.  That would mean he probably wouldn't start you on the ARV's until your CD4 count is below 350.

There are two different CD4 percentage numbers - % of total white blood cells and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 cells.  I'm uncertain as to which type is your result.  In either case 29% is quite a good number - much higher than mine, and falls in the normal uninfected person range.

I still curious about that very grey "above 100,000" number.  Most of us are used to a more specific result.  Because it's a big number - people often freak out over it, even when it's relatively low (for example 30,000).  He may sense that you'd get stressed by the specific number, and is therefore protecting you.  Or it could be that "top end of the test used" I speculated about earlier.

Quote
He says that my body is doing very good and making more cd4 but that the VL not going below 100000 is a sign that my cd4 are going to start reducing quickly.

While he could have said "are going to,"  I suspect he probably would have used a more vague term like "could" or "might".   You CD4 count has been trending up, though with only three test results it is hard to call it a trend.  After your next set of test results, he (and we) will have a better picture.

I see that my guess about your first results being analyzed by a GP was correct.  As I speculated, he might not have seen all that many cases of HIV, and be more concerned than the an ID doctor.

It is easy to get hung up on the numbers.  They are the only hard, tangible result we have to grasp onto, and see where out health is headed.  But in time you learn they are just numbers.  One of many different factors doctors use to gauge how you are doing, and what action he/she should take.

You'll note that your ID doctor wasn't overly concerned by your numbers.  The same position myself and others have taken here.  Worth watching, but not worth fretting over.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2007, 09:49:58 am by LT »

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #17 on: May 31, 2007, 10:04:29 pm »
Thx again LT
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline red_Dragon888

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #18 on: June 01, 2007, 11:01:11 pm »
your viral load seems verry high.  maybe at a dangerous level if it is at 100,000.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I3ba3lnFHik

Off Crystal Meth since May 13, 2013.  In recovery with 20 months clean time.

Offline Tempeboy

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #19 on: June 02, 2007, 09:48:20 pm »
Hello HIV poz about being neg,

Your results look great, and worrying is normal.  You ask important quesitons, and have had great responses.  Here's my 2 cents.

Given that you seroconverted recently (dec), your results are showing what you would expect to see. 

During seroconversion vl climbs temporarily to very high levels - often in many 100's of 1000's - even millions.  In response our cd's fall.  Eventually they reach a balance, with the vl dropping and cd's increasing.  It looks like this is the turn around your results are showing.  The vl is high, but not dangerous, and normal for this stage.  It should soon go down, and your cd's should continue to increase.  Its good practice for monthly monitoring at this stage, just to make sure.  As Ann said our results can bounce all over the place, (time of day, tiredness, flu, booze, cigs, stress etc) individual results can show blips so we look at trends over time.  Once your results balance out you should only need 3 monthly checks.

It looks like your doc is taking good care, immunising against hep b is important.  If you need more q and a time with your doc, ask if you can book a longer appointment and maybe email your questions ahead of time.  The clinic might have other staff who can help - they might have more time.  Often they can put you touch with other poz people who have good knowledge, it can make a big difference speaking face to face with another.

Different labs use different tests to measure vl.  The tests don't count each virus, but screen for amounts of the virus. The result you have means that your count is greater than 100 000, but not higher than the next level of screening.  So <100 000, but not 105 000 (depending on the test) and much closer to 100 000.  It's a pathologists way of saying 'approximately' 100 000.

Take care.

 
Roughly roundabout somewhere in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, Sodomite begat Homosexual out of moral, medical and legal models, bequeathing him Identity, who inbred with Nuclear Family and Industrialism to spawn Homophobia.

Dean Kiley

Offline LT

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #20 on: June 03, 2007, 11:53:09 pm »
TempeBoy: Thanks for filling in that gap in my knowledge.  I'd only ever heard a specific number quoted, not the grey "over 100,00" response that Poz was getting.  Though I had noted they the results always seemed to be a nice even 5,000 or 10,000 increment.

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #21 on: June 18, 2007, 05:25:24 pm »
Thank you.

My May 30th test are back and once again they have gone up CD4 590 30% VL remains >100 000.

Pushing for a Cd4 of 630 for next month and 33% would be nice :)
« Last Edit: June 18, 2007, 05:27:29 pm by HIV? poz about being neg »
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline Tempeboy

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #22 on: June 20, 2007, 03:03:14 am »
Well done babe,

Fingers crossed!


Roughly roundabout somewhere in the eighteenth or nineteenth century, Sodomite begat Homosexual out of moral, medical and legal models, bequeathing him Identity, who inbred with Nuclear Family and Industrialism to spawn Homophobia.

Dean Kiley

Offline HIV? poz about being neg

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Re: testing every month?
« Reply #23 on: July 11, 2007, 07:34:11 pm »
Ok so went and got my latest blood work done on July 3rd numbers dropped abit alittle disappointed but positive thinking...latest CD4 dropped to 560 28% I'm still feeling good and I'll reach 630 and 33% i KNOW i WILL :0)
Jan/25/07 VL > 100 000 CD4 480 21%
Apr/13/10     Started Atripla
May/11/10    VL !! 300 !!     CD4 520
Jul/15/10      VL    75          CD4 400   27%
Dec/20/10    VL UD             CD4 390 28%
Jan/10/12    VL UD              CD4 670 28%
Mar/31/14    VL UD              CD4 580 37%
May/27/14    VL UD              CD4 750
29%
Aug/18/14    Chemo HGL
Nov/10/14    VL UD               CD4 750
38%
Nov/25/14  Started Truvada with Tivicay

Offline shadowfluid

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  • Mike
Re: testing every month?
« Reply #24 on: July 13, 2007, 02:15:57 am »
 I was diagnosed in May of this year and I've gotten 3 labs in 2 months. Totally normal.
Jan 08       321/23%  VL 92,000 (very mild shingles)
Feb 1 08    Start Truvada+Viramune
March 08    470/33%  VL 320
mid-May     Start Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada
June 08      571/ 40%     VL   80
August 08   585/ 33%     VL >50
Nov  Lab error!!!!!!!!wah.
Jan 09        535      Undetectable
March 11     756

 


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