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Author Topic: New to all of this...  (Read 5258 times)

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Offline Blueboy2100

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  • Posts: 4
New to all of this...
« on: September 30, 2014, 08:15:56 am »
I tested positive at the end of August. I believe I was infected after unsafe practice when I was using a drug. I'm grateful to be clean for over seventy days. If I was high I'd be ignoring all of this. I have incredible support from friends, but have not told my family yet they will worry sick and  I think I should know more information before doing so. I had my first appointment with an amazing program for HIV positive people and they took plenty of blood. My next appointment is in 11 days from now, but I have had the lab results and frankly they are confusing me. Of course they said don't worry about the numbers until the doctor sees you. Well I have tried not to but I find myself going back and staring at the lab results unable to understand them. They don't say like viral load or just Cd4. maybe someone could help me understand what I'm looking at. I am trying to post them so they can be read. So basically this was me saying hi, I'm new here...

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • Posts: 24,793
  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2014, 12:20:23 pm »
Easiest thing would be to post the lab numbers omitting any personal information of course.

But the most relevant information will read something like:

Absolute CD 4 Helper
% CD 4 Pos. Lymph.

(those are your cd4 count and cd4% numbers unwed clinically to decide when to go on treatment)

for viral load look for:

HIV-1 RNA by PCR

I would not worry about the other numbers right now unless something is wildly out of range.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline drewm

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,248
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2014, 12:40:37 pm »
Welcome to the forums.

Diagnosed in  May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX -  FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS


Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325

Offline Blueboy2100

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2014, 03:54:54 pm »
Thank you for the response.
My Cd4 count is 681 and my viral load is 157000. I haven't started any medicine yet. Once again thanks.

Offline JustSmile01

  • Member
  • Posts: 66
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2014, 08:32:25 pm »
Blueboy2100--ugh, being newly diagnosed as well I know the confusion and overwhelming feeling these various results can manifest. "Don't worry until you see the doctor" YEAH RIGHT! In the larger scheme of things you really don't have anything to worry about, but in reality you will become anxious and even skeptical at times--it's normal. I was a wreck. I analyzed every little number, %, and result and quite honestly drove myself nuts. In the end, I got my numbers via Kaiser's app on my phone and got a call two days later from my pharmacist telling me which medicine they chose for me, why, and to pick it up as soon or as late as I want. Your CD4 actually is pretty good for how high the VL is and I'm sure it will only grow once you begin meds--the medicine causes an inverse relationship between the CD4 and VL when the CD4 rises, the VL decreases. Good luck :)

Offline Blueboy2100

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2014, 12:18:25 am »
Thank you so very much!

Offline tednlou2

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  • Posts: 5,730
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2014, 01:18:54 am »
Welcome to the forums, although I am sorry about you testing poz.  Congrats on being "clean" for over two months.  Waiting to tell family sounds like a good idea.  When and if you decide, it is good to be able to provide comfort with knowledge, as they provide you with love and comfort. 

Ted


Offline wolfter

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,470
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2014, 08:34:04 am »
Welcome to the forums.  Your numbers are OK and you have plenty of time to research your options.  This is a great place to exchange information and receive and give support.

take cake and best wishes.

wolfie
Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline xinyuan

  • Member
  • Posts: 202
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2014, 11:57:50 am »
Sorry about the diagnosis, but welcome.

CD4's are okay. Viral load is high (>100,000 is considered high).

US guidelines recommend considering treatment regardless of CD4 count. More strongly advised with CD4 <500.

However, starting sooner because of high viral load is likely beneficial like in your case. Some data in the US guidelines to suggest increased mortality and morbidity with high viral loads. Independent of CD4 count. Hopefully, your doctor will have genotyping data back soon to help decide therapy.

http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/education-materials/fact-sheets/21/52/when-to-start-antiretroviral-therapy

With viral load that high, some ART's are off the table.

http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/lvguidelines/adultandadolescentgl.pdf

Best.

Offline Blueboy2100

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: New to all of this...
« Reply #9 on: October 04, 2014, 02:17:53 pm »
Thanks for helping me learn more.

 


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