Author Topic: Latest Counts - WTF! (Read 5057 times)

cmhjeff · « **on:** April 04, 2007, 11:35:27 am »

What the fuck! I'm so bummed! I knew it wasn't anything to get excited about when the first thing I'm told is that my cholesterol and triglycerides were good even without fasting. That was like Paula Abdul telling a contestant on Idol that they looked good after they just slaughtered a song.

I feel good, I'm walking and my vision seems to be improving but I still hope for a T-cell count over 200. Well it didn't happen this time around and I don't see my doctor again for 4 months. My CD4 dropped from 182 to 170 and my % dropped to 10.6% from 10.7%.

I need to brush it off but for some reason I'm having a hard time doing that this time. I think it's because the doctor told me if I was even close to 200 she'd take me off the Mepron for the summer.Oh Well

Jeff
(who hopes no eyes roll because of my post)

Ihavehope · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2007, 11:50:32 am »

Hey Jeff

No one will roll their eyes at your thread. I know you want your numbers to climb higher and you want them over 200 already but they will climb up their soon babe, don't get impatient. Your numbers did not decrease by a whole lot, which is good. Don't stress out over this. How's Your VL?

Al

milker · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2007, 12:07:00 pm »

Just kidding, I'm not rolling eyes. If your doctor doesn't want to see you for the next 4 months that's a good sign, no?

Milker.

Central79 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2007, 12:16:06 pm »

Hey Jeff

Sorry to hear that you are unhappy with your results. I'm going to bang the same drum I always do and say that CD4 can vary up to 40% normally - they move in and out of lymph nodes and other bits of the body that are not blood. The fact that your percentage is holding steady is a good thing.

Tapping on my calculator your CD4 dropped 6.5%. It may actually have gone 33.5% in the other direction, just from normal variability! So it could just have easily come back as 229... I guess what I'm saying is don't put too much weight on a single set of numbers.

Bear in mind that building up your immune system from a low point takes more time than it does from 350 or higher. It'll kick in, and as it improves the rate of improvement will accelerate.

Definitely no eye rolling here - I remember how freaked out I was when my CD4 dropped by 200-odd in 3 months to 680...

M.

keyite · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2007, 12:17:07 pm »

No rolling eyes here either - I totally understand your disappointment. Still, you're feeling much better, so things are heading in the right direction. Fingers crossed you'll go on the other side of 200 next time.

Christine · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2007, 03:30:09 pm »

No eyes rolling here. I completely understand wanting to stop Mepron, and wanting those numbers to rise.

Fingers and toes crossed that with the next set of labs you will get those results.

Christine

GSOgymrat · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2007, 03:38:19 pm »

Your viral load is still undetectable, which means the meds are working. As you know your CD4 change is not statistically significant. It took years for my viral load to become undetectable and then years for my CD4 to get over 200. It will climb eventually.

MSPspud · « **Reply #7 on:** April 04, 2007, 03:59:17 pm »

It's possible that the AZT in Trizivir may be holding your CD4s down. Are you on such a combo because of resistance?

Regardless, you're doing well with an undetectable viral load. That is something to be happy about!

koi1 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 04, 2007, 06:27:28 pm »

Have you inquired about dapsone. I know I hated mepron because of the taste and the inconvenience. I am on dapsone now and so far so good.

I hope feel better about your numbers. Remember that your percentage has held, and the cd4 did not drop damatically. I know that labs can bring disappointment from time to time, and I hope your numbers will be better next time. Why will your doctor not see you earlier?

Rob

Nadine · « **Reply #9 on:** April 04, 2007, 08:01:28 pm »

No eyes rolling here either!

Aww Jeff...I was so hoping that you would be able to quit the Mepron for the summer...your numbers really didn't drop that much though, I've learned not to get too bummed about a little drop. As you know, Brian's numbers have dropped the last 2 labs. You'll get there sweetie!

Love ya!

GAMark · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2007, 08:53:58 am »

I have been on meds for about 6 months and my VL has gone way down (3500 from 279990) but my CD4 has not improved very much either (24@10% to 80@24%). My doctor told me that the VL is what I should be most concerned with as the CD4 won't improve until the VL does. She also told me that high levals of stress can cause a low CD4 count. Are you under stress? If so, try to limit what is stressing you, and keep your chin up.

DanielMark · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2007, 08:59:55 am »

Definitely stress and many other factors can influence lab test results, and I have a long history of them to know.

Try to remember what was said here about fluctuations Jeff, and know that having a viral load below 50 is always good news.

Daniel

cmhjeff · « **Reply #12 on:** April 05, 2007, 10:40:51 am »

Hey gang that's exactly what I needed. Guess I just needed a good slap on the head.I've been POZ to long and should no better. It wasn't a huge change at all and I still have an undetectable VL so it's not all bad. I think my mood was totally due to my crushed hopes of stopping Mepron. Maybe next time.

Thanks for the moral boost
Jeff

Quote from: koi1 on April 04, 2007, 06:27:28 pm

Have you inquired about dapsone. I know I hated mepron because of the taste and the inconvenience. I am on dapsone now and so far so good.

Why will your doctor not see you earlier?

Rob

I had a drastic blood pressure drop and rushed to the hospital when on Bactrim and I had similar symptoms after 10 days on Dapsone so my doctor just doesn't want to try those drugs again even through desensitisation.As for my next appt my counts have stayed fairly stable and she knows I'm a freak about taking my meds because of PML so she feels safe to wait 4 months for my next appt.

Quote from: MSPspud on April 04, 2007, 03:59:17 pm

It's possible that the AZT in Trizivir may be holding your CD4s down. Are you on such a combo because of resistance?

I appreciate this, I never knew AZT had could be a factor with my low CD4 count.12 years ago I experienced awful side effects from AZT alone so I only took it a short time so when I got PML and being highly persistent to many meds my doctor added Trizivir to the mix and it has seemed to work without many problems.

Central79 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2007, 01:02:15 pm »

Educate me? How does AZT suppress your CD4 count?

RapidRod · « **Reply #14 on:** April 07, 2007, 07:28:37 am »

Jeff, are you taking you blood draws at the same time of the day each and every time? If not that could be a good reason for your fluctuation in your numbers. I know that my numbers are better in the mornings than in the afternoon. Quit worrying about them and go clean up the dog poop in the back yard.

allopathicholistic · « **Reply #15 on:** April 09, 2007, 11:45:04 am »

Quote from: Matt Mee on April 05, 2007, 01:02:15 pm

Educate me? How does AZT suppress your CD4 count?

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Author Topic: Latest Counts - WTF! (Read 5057 times)