My latest labs, plus a look back over 23 years of numbers

[Peter Staley]

Just got my highest CD4 result ever (754!), and posted a cool graph showing 23 years of my lab results on my blog:

http://blogs.poz.com/peter/archives/2008/09/only_took_me_23.html

If you comment here, please cut & paste your comment below this blog entry as well.

Thanks for reading!

Peter

[BT65]

Peter, would you please help me with my microeconomics class to understand the graphs?

And congrats on your new numbers.

[mecch]

Seen over so many years, your experience provokes many emotions. Its sobering and wonderful, scientific and mysterious.  

I guess a lot of us of a certain age know long-term HIV poz people who made it to HAART and then thrived to different degrees, and others who died before HAART, and even others who died after.

I don't know you -- you seem like a fighter and a generous person -- and I'm selfishly glad you have thrived because -- for one -- this site you created really helps me a lot.  And I'm sure the POZ community is happy to see these results because you are an inspiring, positive example of living with HIV.

[newt]

Only Took Me 23 Years...to namedrop (Dr. An)T(h)ony Fauci  in a post about your labs.
(soz I couldn't resist, hmmm...)

Well done, sincerely well done, not on DR F's name but the outcome. You and I know how many passed by on this journey, even with the same drugs.

People new to the game take note of the graph, it's HIV treatment history in real time, 1996 = arrival of PIs, 1194 = arrival of viral load testing. Show it to any denialist acquaintances that pop up.

Maybe Lindt Dark Chocolate is the Reyataz of confectionery....I certainly like both. 

- matt

Now playing: Enough is Enough, Streisand and Summers (Wayne G remix recorded off the sound deck at Heaven, Gay Pride, 1999) (ironically...)

[dixieman]

Peter, Youve seen the ups and downs by looking at your chart... and still here with your health. Its always great to get good news from folks... sincerely, John

[jabez]

You're my hero!

I see that your T-cells got down to 103 in 1988.   Was that your "lowest point" with the CD4s?  As horrible as AZT was, it sure perked you up in a hurry.   I see that your percent has been lower than you'd like over the years, but your CD4s have always looked pretty decent, except for that plunge in the fall of 1988.

I really do admire long-term survivors (and ACTIVISTS) such as you, who have paved the road for the rest of us.     

[Miss Philicia]

I wish I had all of my lab records.  I have my first year's, and the last 3 years -- but none in between.

At any rate my graph would look rather different.

[Peter Staley]

Jabez -- yup, my lowest CD4 count was 103.

Matt -- he'll always be "Tony" to me!    At least that's what all us old T&D farts still call him (T&D = ACT UP New York's Treatment & Data Committee, R.I.P.).  He's just Tony, and there's only one, just like there's only one Barbra or Bette.

[komnaes]

As I am beginning to map my own graph I am so glad to have folks like you to look up to..

Wish you the best and the best of health Peter!

[leatherman]

Kudos on the good numbers.   In the last 10 yrs. my high mark has been 311; and I've been using the AM cool tools (http://www.aidsmeds.com/graphs/) to graph my numbers for years now  Returning from the doc, I plug in my new numbers, create a new graph, and update the pix in my sig line. 

I don't have the numbers from some of my early years; but I've got the last decade graphed out. With it I can see when I was hospitalized with pneumonia on my birthday in 1998 (a second bout; but not PCP like the first time - which was also on my birthday!  ), the five times I went off meds (the side effect of puking from my meds is the bane of my existence ); the date when I committed to my (recently deceased) partner in Dec of 2004 and committed to consistently stay on my meds; even the stress I went through losing my partner is reflected in the slight dip in my tcells earlier this year.

A few months ago my doctor was worried about a blip in my viral load. Using the cool tool and limiting the time to the past 18 months, I found that I had actually had 5 blips in that time, and this one that concerned the doctor was actually the smallest blip of the 5. ROFL I was never worried about any of these recent blips. By looking at my graph, I can easily see the difference between the "bad years" and "the not so bad years". The red line and the green line are still way, way apart, so I'm not doing so bad, no matter what my doc thinks. 

[AndyArrow]

Congratulations on achieving 754!  A great story to inspire people.

I think you should have that chart enlarged and frame it on your wall.

AA

[joemutt]

Thanks for sharing that, Peter.
That's a beautiful chart,like history mapped out.
You inspired me to make my own graph.
And Congrats on the numbers.

[sanitex]

Hi Peter
           
               your number really inspire me,thank God for his compassion towards your health.
            congratulation dear Peter.

[Iggy]

Am I the only one who think's Peter's graph chart looks like the opening of the old Outer Limits show? 

There is nothing wrong with your (body) television set.

It amazing to see 23 years of numbers though and the lows and highs of that chart.   I think your chart should be a link to give out to anyone who starts freaking out about a one test result that shows a dip as a sort of perspective of how tumultuous a ride it can be without necessary indicating that it's a doom scenario.

[Peter Staley]

Thanks, everyone.

Glad to hear folks are using Graph My Labs (I've always liked seeing mIkIE's sig line graph).  If you're not, you should be.  It's a great way to visualize your battle with HIV, and therefor a good adherence tool for those on treatment.

Also, Graph My Labs uses the same login account as Check My Meds, so you can store a list of all the meds and supplements you take for drug interactions reports.  Whenever I add something to the mix, I use Check My Meds for a new report.  Over the years, I've caught quite a few interactions that even my doctor wasn't aware of.