Results !!! I dont know if I should be happy or not!

[makesmewonder]

Hi everybody!
I have been taking Truvada+Viramunde for a month now and have no side effects at all!
Went for my first count: so here are the numbers!

Before meds:
CD4: 250
VL:120.000

After a month:
CD:270
VL: 80


Im happy about the Viral Load but i aint about the CD4, what do you guys think?
Im worried about the CD4 wont go up!!!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh
If someone could give me some advice? is that good or bad those results?

Cheers!

[BT65]

Makes,

The meds are working.  They're doing what they're supposed to be doing-knocking down your viral load.  As for the CD4's, when they're around the 200-300 range, they might take awhile to go up.  However, they did go up some.  Don't expect a rapid increase.  But you seem to be doing well.  What are your percentages?  Those are very important.

[leatherman]

having lots of tcells is a good thing; but it isn't the most important thing. Keeping the VL down is the key, and you seem to have that getting under control quite nicely. Since you've recently started on meds, you probably shouldn't expect an "immediate" recovery  ; it'll take some time. Time for the meds to fight down the virus, and time for you body to recover from the damage already done. (why, there's even a chance as your body recovers, that you might get sick some just because you got better. ROFL it's called "Immune Reconstitution Syndrome")

Not saying that occassionally it doesn't include problems, but there are a few of us around here who have had low tcells counts for a long time and are doing fairly well. For example, my average tcell count over the last 16 yrs is only 167. I've been doing good lately and my tcells have averaged about 235 for the last 10 yrs. In the last 8 yrs, with tcells that low, I've only had 2 colds, 3 fevers and NO flu - and no other OIs since I had PCP. Sure I'd be happy with a higher count, but the ones I have seem to be doing a pretty good job.

Don't forget too, that tcell counts fluctuate. Stress, sickness, etc can take it's toll and some days you just might be running a little low. I think it's always better to judge your health status by the trends over several tests. sometimes back to back results will show "blips" in the viral load, or "dips" in the tcells; but the trends over several tests really show how progress is going.

edited to add:
Be happy! that big of a drop in your VL in a month is great news!

[BlueMoon]

What BT said.

That's a good result.  Go out and celebrate.

After eight and a half months on HAART my CD4 count is only 248, up from a low of 157.  But the numbers are stable, and the percentage is at 40, up from 21.  Give it time.

[Miss Philicia]

Your results are very good.

[ARMANDO]

DUDE ,YOU SHOULD BE VERY HAPPY WITH THOSE NUMBERS!!!IT ALWAYS TAKES LONGER FOR THE  CD4 COUNT TO GO UP

[tag_man08]

true...the cd4 will go up slowly...and from your numbers...everything is in a good direction...congrats....(remember to post your percentages next time...those numbers are important too)

[makesmewonder]

Hi  everybody! thank you very much for your replies!
I saw my doc yesterday and i am happy for the results! but i dont know how to do the %!!
How can i do that? and what does that mean?

Cheers

[BT65]

Makes, you don't have to figure the %.  It should be stated on the labs, by the CD4/CD8 counts.

[makesmewonder]

I will ask my doc!! i dont know, and never head about it!
He just told me that!
CD4: 270
VL: 80

That was it!

[hades01]

Congratulations. I am looking forward to results like that been taking atripla for 10 days with no side effects) so hopefully my vl will decrease as well as my cd4 increase

[Seadickrun]

I've been taking Truvada/Viramune for about three years now.  I spent my first month on Sustiva but I hallucinate on that stuff so my doctor switched me after he found out how crazy it made me. 

I started at vl of 285,000 and CD4 of 283 at 13%.  Now, three years later, vl is undectable (has been since the first month) and CD4 is 553 at 27%.  I have no complaints for this drug combo and highly recommend it for anyone who has issues with Sustiva.  It took about three months for the t-cells to move up much but I had a lot of stress at the time which was counterproductive.  Three months into meds, I joined a gym and started doing protein shakes everyday and quit drinking.  That helped quite a bit.  If you take good care of yourself, I can't imagine any reason why your numbers won't go up just like mine did.