How did I lose 300 t-cells in three months?

[leximancer]

Got my cd4 count back today, and it was a little alarming.  I'm a bit shaken, to be honest.  I'd been on a nice upward trend since the beginning of this year, but my last count plummeted.  Here's my cd4 count and viral load over the last eight months:

1.18.06 - 552 / 50,200
3.2.06 - 617 / >100,000
5.1.06 - 849 / 79,900
7.28.06 - 546 / ?

I was under the impression that such a large and sudden drop was not normal.  How could something like this happen?  Could the last figure, sailing high at 849, have been a statistical fluke?  Or is my immune system truly degrading this quickly?  I have a rather high viral load, but I didn't think that could account for such a rapid degradation of my immune system.

[kentb]

more importantly, what is your CD4%?  and what was the previous %?

[allopathicholistic]

did you recently have big ailments e.g. a chest infection etc

[RapidRod]

I got you beat. Mine went from 1400 to 52 in three month and I got an OI on top of that. I've been over a year getting it back up to 200. You hang in there, you'll get it back up.

[leximancer]

more importantly, what is your CD4%?  and what was the previous %?

1.18.06 - 23%
3.2.06 - 22%
5.1.06 - 24%
7.28.06 - 22%

did you recently have big ailments e.g. a chest infection etc

No, I've not been sick.  In fact, I'd say I've been generally haler since being diagnosed.  Oh, also, I'm not on any meds yet.

Wait, strike that.  Since the last test, I've had a bout of gonorrhea, a legacy of my ex.  Took a week's worth of doxy about two months ago and got rid of it.

I got you beat. Mine went from 1400 to 52 in three month and I got an OI on top of that. I've been over a year getting it back up to 200. You hang in there, you'll get it back up.

Thanks. 

[Matty the Damned]

Lex,

Your percentages aren't too bad. You're still above the magic 21% mark. Just. Nevertheless it seems that general trend is downwards. I would view such numbers with concern but not panic.

Are you taking HAART?

MtD

/edited for a small but important typo/

[Oceanbeach]

Labs do make mistakes, I get an error at least once each year, retest and everything is back to normal.  On several cases, that retest was done on the same day.  I would not worry right now, just have the test redone.  It is also not uncommon for a CD4 test to vary by 50 to 100 in the same day.  Have the best day
Michael

www.Commission-on-AIDS.org 

[Ann]

Lexi,

It's quite possible that your bout of gonorrhea caused your dip. Your CD4% stayed relatively stable, so chances are good that this drop doesn't mean much and your number will be back up the next time you test. I've had this kind of thing happen so many time over the years now that I don't worry as long as my % has stayed relatively stable. The only time I did panic was when my % also dipped, but three months later it was business as usual. Oh, and I'm not on meds either, nine years and going strong.

Hang in there.

Ann

[aztecan]

Hey Lex,
Your percentages are holding pretty steady, which is good. I know dropping a few hundred CD4s can be alarming.

The local IDNS (infectious disease nurse specialist) is leaving her post and gave me my old file. After perusing it, I noticed there were many times my CD4s would dip like crazy, 900 down to 500, then up to 700, then back down to 500, etc.

While I wouldn't panic, I believe your numbers bear watching closely. With a viral load above 50,000 and CD4s hovering in the 500 range, you are what my local doc calls someone not yet on treatment who is on the threashold.

What he means is this could be a momentary anomaly and your CD4s could rise and viral load hold steady - or even drop some.

On the other hand, you are at a point when the CD4s could begin to drop and viral load increase - on the threashold of the point where meds may be a consideration.

This is assuming you are not on ARV therapy. If you are, there are other questions.

I would watch my numbers closely and keep monitoring my levels regularly, were it me.(and, at one point, it was.)

HUGS,

Mark

[allopathicholistic]

Bump, i.e., Lexi: Please update

Kisses