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Author Topic: Frustrated with lab results  (Read 4283 times)

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Offline woodshere

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  • ain't no shame in my game
Frustrated with lab results
« on: April 12, 2007, 09:47:59 am »
I typically don't post lab results, but I am frustrated with my recent CD4 ct. After testing positive and having a CD4 ct of 179, I started Norvir, Truvada and Reyataz immediately.  I have been 98% adherent.  I was indictable in 3 mths and my % has ever so slowly increased.  However, my CD4 ct has improved and now stands at an "impressive" 267.  The doctor said some people's counts just increase more slowly than others and the important fact is that I continue to be indictable.  Rich just posted his lab results.  On the same meds as me he has gone from 50 to 450.  I know people react differently to meds and each of us are different yada, yada, yada.  I just wish I could at least break 300 at least then I could completely drop bactrim.

Woods
"Let us give pubicity to HV/AIDS and not hide it..." "One of the things destroying people with AIDS is the stigma we attach to it."   Nelson Mandela

Offline Life

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  • Member 2005
Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2007, 10:11:43 am »
Woods.....  As long as you are <50, your cd4 is going to go up...  Give it time....

Hugs,

Eric

Offline keyite

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2007, 10:18:58 am »
Totally understand your frustration. It might be slower than you'd like, but at least it's going in the right direction and in the space of a year the CD4 gain you've made doesn't seem bad at all. And as others have reminded me several times, you have to remember CD4 counts are not that precise - different results can emanate even from the same sample. You're not far off 300 so hopefully next time you can drop the Bactrim. Keep on doing what you're doing - it's clearly working! ;)

Offline dixieman

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2007, 10:57:22 am »
Woods... there are all kind of factors to take in account... 1st... your improving... Great! your still walking this earth... Super! next... do like I do... Visualize!!!
sounds easy but, not always... Meditate.... adhere to a healthy positive mind frame work.... stop with the negatives... I know easier said than done... when something negative enters your mind... rethink in a positive way... my cd4's at one time before meds were available... were 127... I increased them without meds.... through diet... herbs... exercise... to over 600 then they faultered again... but, I was lucky to be a guinea pig under clinical trails... and here I am today... cd4 count 1509... non-dectectable viral load... 16 years of being hiv+ ... still here and alive... there is always hope... Never give up and do the best that you can... and LIVE!

Offline jimw

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2007, 11:02:42 am »
I know people react differently to meds and each of us are different yada, yada, yada. 

Woods, see, you already know the answer.  It took me 6 months to got my VL to an undetectable level so I understand the disappointment.  But there is no doubt in my mind that you will reach 300.  We are all in there routing for ya.  Jim

Offline Central79

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2007, 11:42:38 am »
Hey Jim

Just wanted to commiserate. I'm sorry you're not happy with your labs, and frustrated. It may well be that now your immune system has a "base" to it, that your recovery will accelarate here on in. I hope so.

I guess one of the things that's slightly frustrating about this disease is how variable it is - one person does great, another not so much, on the same therapy. It's something that changes all the time. I'm thinking about Joe's friend who recently died - he was a slow progressor, but when he came down to having to take meds a long time after being infected, he reacted badly to them. I bet he was regarded as lucky, up until that point.

I'm trying to learn to take what I've got now. And I know you're much better at that than me from other posts you've written.

Matt.
Diagnosed January 2006
26/1/06 - 860 (22%), VL > 500,000
24/4/06 - 820 (24.6%), VL 158,000
13/7/06 - 840 (22%), VL 268,000
1/11/06 - 680 (21%), VL 93,100
29/1/07 - 1,020 (27.5%), VL 46,500
15/5/07 - 1,140 (22.8%), VL not done.
13/10/07 - 759 (23.2%), VL 170,000
6/11/07 - 630 (25%), VL 19,324
14/1/08 - 650 (21%), VL 16,192
15/4/08 - 590 (21%), VL 40, 832

Offline bravebuddharich

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2007, 12:29:47 pm »
Hi Woods,

Sorry to hear your frustration - has your doctor said anything about why he or she thinks the results are what they are? (and they aren't bad at all). The only things that have probably helped me are diet and meditation, as somebody else has mentioned as well... I seem to have hit a wall in the upper 400's, which is fine, but of course we all greedily want more, don't we?? (;

98% adherence is amazing! Mine is probably about 95% - here's hoping for a big increase for you the next time!!! (:

Metta,
Rich

Offline Blixer

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2007, 12:29:56 pm »
Woods, as others have said there are lots of variables.  There are lots of "general" statements out there about what "may" happen.  You are moving in the right direction.  You have had an increase of nearly 100 CD4s in 3 months.  That is a real movement in the right direction.  So far I haven't found anyone who can really explain why some people have cd4s that plummet after infection and others go for years with good CD4.  The same thing goes for improvement of CD4.  Some people just respond differently.  We are all unique.  I don't believe that just because your count is rising more slowly that some others means anything except just what you see.  I started with a good CD4 count but low percentage.  It took me a year on meds to see an increase of 200.  We all just react so differently.

I hope the comments that everyone has made here helps you see that things are moving along and improving.  If you are feeling good and the VL is <50 then you are making great progress.  Just keep on keeping on and don't get overwhelmed with it.
David
Diagnosed 1/9/06
8/27/2007 CD4 598, 29%, VL 58 (72 wks)
11/19/2007 CD4 609, 30%, VL < 50 (84 wks)
2/11/2008 CD4 439, 27%, VL <50 (96 wks)
5/5/2008 CD4 535, 28%, VL <50 (108 wks)
10/20/2008 CD4 680, 28%, VL <50 (132 wks)
Changed to Atripla in 2012
1/14/2013 CD4 855, 35%, VL <40

Offline Buckmark

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2007, 12:49:30 pm »
Woods,

My doctor has told me that, for some folks, it can take a long time for CD4 counts to
bounce back.  I believe I've read some research on this too.  It is very important that
your VL is under control, as this helps facilitate increases in your CD4 counts.

Take my case:  I started medications over 3 years ago (Susitva/Viread/Emtriva, now
Sustiva/Truvada, soon to be Atripla).  And I waited 15 years before starting meds
(but that's another story).  My CD4 when starting was medication was 275.
After 3 years, it is only up to around 500.  But at least it is heading upwards,
and thankfully my VL has been undetectable.  What folks have said below
is true -- each of us responds differently to medications.

I can completely understand you wanting to be off of Bactrim.  You're CD4s are
heading in the right direction, and you'll get there.

Henry

"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things:
     One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell.
     The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love."
- Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

Offline woodshere

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  • ain't no shame in my game
Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2007, 01:01:50 pm »
Thanks all for the encouraging words.  I think Rich said it best....we are just greedy and want more..... :)  (of course if I had not been so greedy in the past I might not be here today...... :))
"Let us give pubicity to HV/AIDS and not hide it..." "One of the things destroying people with AIDS is the stigma we attach to it."   Nelson Mandela

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2007, 01:06:04 pm »
I think it took me a decade to get above 500 cd4's and 14 years to get an undetectable VL, and I had similar diagnosis numbers as woodshere.  So yeah, you are being greedy :)
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline AustinWesley

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    • HIV Discussion Group on Myspace!
Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2007, 02:42:56 pm »
Hey Woods,

I don't know your history, but the way I see it is that you are having progress in the right direction from what little I know.

I was a bit frustrated my results weren't as dramatically improved as I hoped, but I can't complain.

You might want to consider that 2% adherence factor.   I've been 100% adherant.  Yeah, it's a pain in the ass sometimes, but well worth it I think.   

I have also started taking Selenium some now so it might be something to consider.   

Just keep plugging away!   Not all of us are going to have olympic CD4 counts like some.   Ranges for people without HIV are 400-1600 as I understand it so try and remain optimistic.

Wesley
Diag. 3/06  Infected aprx. 2 mo. Prior
Date        CD4   %      VL
4/6/06     627    32    36,500     NO MEDS YET!
6/7/06     409    27    36,100
8/23/06   408    25     22,300
1/2/07     354    23     28,700
2/9/07     139    30     23,000  Hep A Vaccine same day???
2/21/07   274    26     18,500 
3/3/07    RX of Truvada/Sustiva Started.
4/5/07    321     27      Undectable 1st mo.  
5/16/07  383     28    Undectable 2nd mo.
8/10/07  422     32   UD <48 on new scale!

Offline Blixer

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Re: Frustrated with lab results
« Reply #12 on: April 12, 2007, 03:11:22 pm »
Woods, there is nothing wrong with being greedy when it comes to your CD4s....   Keep the ones you have and get as many more as you can!!!  Onward and upward!
David
Diagnosed 1/9/06
8/27/2007 CD4 598, 29%, VL 58 (72 wks)
11/19/2007 CD4 609, 30%, VL < 50 (84 wks)
2/11/2008 CD4 439, 27%, VL <50 (96 wks)
5/5/2008 CD4 535, 28%, VL <50 (108 wks)
10/20/2008 CD4 680, 28%, VL <50 (132 wks)
Changed to Atripla in 2012
1/14/2013 CD4 855, 35%, VL <40

 


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