POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: purplerain on July 31, 2006, 03:10:48 pm
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I kept going back and forth on where 2 Post this. I feel as if I just tested Poz since it's only been a month but it feels like an eternity that I have been posting, reading and communicating on the Living With forum.
As many of U know, and 4 some strange reason I keep saying, I found out on the 20th of June thru a rapid test that I was Poz then got the results of the Western Blot 10 days later on the 30th. I almost feel like the more I say IT, think IT, type IT, ADMIT IT the pain of IT ALL will go away faster.
Who knows????????????????
I got a call today with some of the results on my first set of labs. I don't meet with my Dr. again till the 24th of Aug but If I qualified I was going 2 be part of a case study and the lady involved with that was actually the person who ran my labs. She was nice enough 2 by-pass the doc and let me know so I didn't have 2 wait 4 another month.
cd4-538
She said my ratio was greater then one (she said that was good but I don't have a clue what she's talking about so any info would be greatly appreciated)
And she expects my viral load results back any day. When she lets me know I will add it 2 this thread 4 any who r interested
It just blows my mind that simply hearing 3 little numbers could have such an impact on me but I could literally feel a change in my body when I got the message. Part of me wanted 2 cry from being happy, part of me wanted 2 cry from being scared about this whole thing and part of me said
"WATCH OUT 4 THAT CAR IN FRONT OF U JACK ASS!!!!!!!!"
"PAY ATTENTION 2 WHERE YOUR DRIVEING" LOL
How I have made it back and forth 2 some of these appointments is baffling. Lord knows most of the time I am in such a daze with so much on my mind that I'm off in my own little world. Not a good place 2 be while driving a motor vehicle LOL and that's how I have been after getting my cd4's this morning.
It's nice that when I am lost in my own little world of HIV that's trapped inside my mind and body, I can come here and know that at one time or another
U GUYS HAVE VISITED MY WORLD :) :)
And
I LOVE U GUYS 4 IT
LOVE AND HUGZ
Jason
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Jason so far those are good numbers..think positive..many people have gone without meds for years when they continue to have good numbers..maybe you are one of them....what kind of study are you entering????
Wishing you the best from someone who has been infected for nearly 20 yrs.....using meds for the last 10..
Nick
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Jason,
So far so good! You are gonna be allright as long as your pay attention to your driving!
Keep us posted!
Love ya!
Hugs JAG
From TAG
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Okay, good, you have a normal immune system. Three tests = a trend and it's the trend that counts (this is why docs are often so non-commital about things on initial consultations, at least in England)
- matt
Now playing: some Mary J remix
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Just looked up in the lessons about the ratio that she was talking about.
Learn something new every day.....
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CONGRATULATIONS JASON
that's a very decent CD4 count! ;D
KEEP US POSTED ON THE REST PLEASE
Peace,
Kelly
(http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g142/angels4kelly/015.jpg)
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I`ve got ONE cd4 more than you! :P
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Jason...
Your a healthy young man boy! Just keep chillin.... ;D
Love
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Hello Jason,
Just going along with everyone here. You have a good CD-4 count. Let us know your other test results when you receive them.
Take Care-----Ray
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Jason, your numbers are great. In 1989 I found out I was + and had cd4 of 350. I have never been sick from HIV. Make plans as if you will live a normal life span.
The pain will go away and so will the haze.
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well jason...
keep your eyes on the road as you're just starting out on long journey.
you'll be fine.
robt
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Hi there, I wish my CD-4 was like yours. I found out that I was HIV+ at the end of February, 2006. When my results came back my CD-4 was 54, and my viral load (VL) was greater than 850,000. It was so high that the machine could not distinguish the actual true amount. My Dr. started me on Epzicom, Lexiva, and Norvir. I started these meds in March of 2006, since then my CD-4 is now as of June was now at 180, with my VL at 180. When I seen my physician a week ago he told me that I more than likely am now undetectable, but am not sure until I get my next tests done towards the end of this month.
I completely understand how you are feeling right now. I have been really depressed but at the same time as I see my numbers get better I'm trying to live life as I normally would have. I am a single father of a 12 year old child and I want to see here become an adult, so I am trying to remain optimistic about my disease. If you or anyone else out here would ever like to chat with me, I would love to do so....
Always and Forever ::)
Rob
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Jason,
I've known for a little over four months now, so I am ohhh-so familiar with that " little world of HIV that's trapped inside your mind and body".
For the first three months, not only did time move sooooo slowly, I took comfort in that numb world as it was my only safe place. I guess we do get used to anything.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have entered a new phase. I woke up a couple of weeks ago and was shocked to see a dear friend that I had missed for such a long time...Even though it was only a glimpse, that dear friend was the Old me..The one who never backed down from a challenge and looked forward to life's unexpected twists and turns. I had completely forgotten about Old me...while feeling too sorry for New me. I realized then and there that this had to stop. I was given a chance to live life to the max and that it could definitely be worse.
I am not saying that I am no longer down about it but I personally could not live every waking moment in total sadness and dispair.
hugz
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Hey everybody....
Quick update.... got the results 4 my Viral Load. It is 15,838
so that's that.
cd4-538
vl-15,838
Will go in and see my ID Dr. on the 24th and get the rest of my labs. So wish me luck (no diabetes)
Hugz Jag
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Jason,
I think you are doing great! You will learn, in time, to be more at ease with your doctor visits. It is no disgrace to take in a notepad and a pen, believe me I do it often. My memory is so short, he will say something and I will understand it, but then later, get home and feel confused about it......so WRITE IT DOWN.
Get on with your life, you are a wonderful young man (and not too hard on the eyes either!) ::) I wish you the best of luck, and let us know how you're doing.
Hugs,
Alan
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Jason,
Not too bad hon!
Love ya
HUGS JAG
FROM TAG
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Thanks Alan. One thing I did learn on here and put into practice when I met with my doc was writing down my questions. Now if I can write myself a note 2 remind me that I have things written down I will be on my way LOL
HUGZ TAG Luv ya !!!!!
The den mother of our little family always making sure everyone Is OK...
U truly are a special gift.
FROM JAG
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Jason! Congrats on the labs. One thing if I may suggest: DO NOT WRITE YOUR LIST FOR THE DR WHILE DRIVING!
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Point well taken Jeff ;D
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You probably have a higher CD4 than your lookalike Robbie Williams.
Be wary of the odd rogue reading. I've been tested about 20 times and a couple of times the CD4 came back very low. I went from 350 to 126 once. Others here in London have had similar experiences. They even lost my VL readings twice. They put these errors down to badly calibrated equipment or even heat exposure to the blood samples. The % is perhaps the most important measure. I was down to 17% but now it's 35%. The range for a healthy person is apparently 30-50%. I asked why no one achieves 90-100%. It has something to do with the immune system fighting other nasties not just HIV.
A 15k VL seems quite low as many have them in the 100s of thousands. You might not need meds for years. It can depend on how long you have had it and your own DNA.
It just goes to show the merits of getting tested as early as possible in order to preserve your existing robust immune system through healthy lifestyle and perhaps meds later.
Good luck Aldous
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Hi everyone!
I tested positive on June 10 2006
My lab results are kinda "unique" or unusual according to my doctor....
yea my doctor actually used the word "unique" and I nearly pee'd in my pants :P
My 1st lab (July 4 2006) results:
CD4 = 152
CD4% = 23%
VL = not available yet
ratio = 0.81
2nd lab (July 27 2006) results:
CD4 = 209
CD4% = 30%
VL = 15,000
ratio = 0.83
The normal ranges are:
CD4 500 - 1500
CD4% 32% - 68%
ratio 0.9 - 6.0
The 2 tests above were done by different labs
I know the CD4 count varies daily, but is it possible for the CD4% to vary (by 7%) in 13 days or is it just a fluke in the test results?
The ratio seems pretty constant (0.81 vs 0.83)
Tested -ve in 2001 and prior, so the longest I could have been +ve is 5 years
Is it normal to see such a drastic drop in CD4 count but yet retain almost normal CD4% and ratio(w/o meds)? and also 15K VL seems quite low compared to most others with CD4 around 200
Does anyone have similar lab results too?
No prior OI (keeping fingers crossed!) and asymptomatic
Took Bactrim (icky) but stopped after 14 days due to a slight rash on body and arms
I am currently treatment naive and enrolled in a 48 weeks Kaletra clinical trial
Will begin my Kaletra/Truvada regime starting tomorrow morning
Wish me luck! :)
Am so NOT looking forward to the side-effects :P
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CD4 of 209 and 30% is a bit weird, but I got used to weird lab results years ago...
Having the test done by different labs could account for the difference. Different people, different assays, different mistakes....
Anyway, your viral load is weedy, which is good
- matt
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yea I was quite surprised to learn that my VL is 15,000, thought it would be much higher.
Now I'm hoping that the medication can quickly knock those pesky suckers down to undetectable level so that my CD4 count can improve. The lab test CD4=152 & 209 scared the shit out of me, its hard enough to deal with finding out that you're +ve and then another bigger blow from the lab results a month later indicating an advance stage of the disease.
Is it true that starting medication with a low CD4 count and low VL will probably have a lower recovery CD4 gain compared to starting medication with a high CD4 and high VL?