When to start medications?!?!???

[bryan21]

Okay first off I know when and where I became infected with HIV...
So I don't know where I should base getting infected? When I tested positive,or when I contracted the disease? I tested positive on May 11,2010. I first started dating and sleeping with the person who gave me HIV in April of 2009.So have I been positive for about six months...Or a little over one year and six months??
(That always throws me for a loop?)
I have had blood taken two times...I go back on the 18th. of this month (October) to have more blood taken.
The last time I went I didn't have any blood taken.The doctor said there was no need with my levels where they were.Thnk God!
The first visit my CD4 was at (513) and Viral Load was at (240) and I weighed in at 167 lb.
The second visit CD4 was at (568) and Viral Load was at (540) and I weighed in at 175 ib.
So both my CD4 count and Viral Load had risen.There was a four month gap in between the visit's I made to the doctor.
So I am curious as to when would be the best time to start medication's? I have heard that it was best to wait as long as one can before starting the HIV meds. (When the person's CD4 falls below like 250.I think)
Now I am hearing that you should start HIV medication's as soon as possible? So that you won't cause irrecoverable damage to the immune system. That sound's logical to me.

So I was wanting to get some feed back as to what other's think..

BTW...I have seen two people in person who have HIV and they both were on medication's and they BOTH had that whole Lipo. shitt going on!
That is one thing that scared me the most about starting medication's is getting that nasty tire of fatt around my stomach!! I can't do that I will starve myself!! Then I will die!
So what are some of the ways I can not gett that when I start medication's I have always had an amazing boy and I will not let it go to shit just because I have HIV and have to take medication's everyday for the rest of my life!..Won't happen! And if it does then I will just die!  


OH YEA!! I HAVE NO, NOT ONE DRUG RESISTANCE SO THAT IS WONDERFUL AS HELL!
(I forgot to put that in there somewhere)

[pozoz]

Bryan,
Some lighht readdingg forr youu. Hope thiss helpss, and please stopp butcherringg the Englishh Language, it'ss really anooyyingg...LOL 

There's a bunch of information about this subject on these boards, but at the end of the day, it's up to you to decide. Good luck.


http://www.poz.com/articles/hiv_bcell_antibody_761_19181.shtml

[bryan21]

Sorry.English never wass onn of myy stroong subject'ss?

[pozoz]

All good man, I'm glad you have a sense of humour.

   ..   Peace ...

Lots of information out there about when to start, or not to start... some experts can't seem to agree also on some aspects of this debate.

I chose to start early.

It took a long time to make that descision, so take your time, your numbers look pretty good, so you probably have time to make an informed choice.

Good luck, and be well....

[debsd222]

I started late, not by choice but because when I was diagnosed I already had aids. Though I am improving over the last 2 years, my immune system is pretty shot and I get sick at the drop of a hat. The hardest part is not recovering the strength or stamina I had before. Given a choice, Id go for an earlier start. Its hard getting back when you get too sick before you start.

[AaronbytheC]

That's the million dollar question for sure...  It seems most "experts agree no lower that 350 but better if you start at 500.  Over 500 and you get tons of different opinions!  There seems to be a big push about safety of accidental exposure to others if your VL is UD.  That in itself makes the decision to start meds easier for me.

My first labs were low and I sort of paniced and got my ducks in line to start Atripla.  Like you I know exactly when and from whom I got HIV.  Since it was a really new infection my doctor convinced me to hold off on meds for a month to see if my numbers would bounce...  She was right they came up to nearly 500...  Since I was out of the "350 and below club" I agreed to hold off another month and see, one month later they came up to 541.  Next week I'll have another set of labs (6 weeks from my last).  Part of me hopes my CD4's go down so I'll just do it...  (I have 3 bottles of Atripla at home now just waiting for me to start.)   

It would be much easier if there was a set line in the sand that said this is the best thing to do but there isn't...  My BF is Neg, the more I read about this UD think and exposure risk I think I owe it to him to start sooner than later. 

[Jeff G]

Hi Bryan , I see you have been given some advice about meds and thoughts about when to start . I would like to offer some advice you didn't ask for as well .

Your comments about lipo issues are insensitive and insulting to people who have the very issues you claim you would rather starve and die before enduring .

I have lipo issues but thankfully I am comfortable enough with myself that your insensitive remarks don't faze me . You must realize that might not be the case for some people .

I have to ask you how would you feel if you had lipo and were trying to come to terms with it , how would you feel reading what you wrote ?

There are better ways of expressing your fears of something that could happen without insulting people that are already there .

[Miss Philicia]

Your comments about lipo issues are insensitive and insulting to people who have the very issues you claim you would rather starve and die before enduring .

You mean this?

I have seen two people in person who have HIV and they both were on medication's and they BOTH had that whole Lipo. shitt going on!
That is one thing that scared me the most about starting medication's is getting that nasty tire of fatt around my stomach!!

Well, gosh gee -- whoddathunkit?

[bryan21]

Well yes I am srry I have a very rude sense of humor and way of saying things..I am out spoken and  will alway's be that way..
And there is no problem with being fatt..I would just rather starve myself then be that way..fatt don't look good on me..


And if I did already have that problem then It wouldn't bother me Cause I know there isn't that much I could do about.

But thnk all the other's about your information I have no idea what I will do as of right now!??

[bryan21]

I started late, not by choice but because when I was diagnosed I already had aids. Though I am improving over the last 2 years, my immune system is pretty shot and I get sick at the drop of a hat. The hardest part is not recovering the strength or stamina I had before. Given a choice, Id go for an earlier start. Its hard getting back when you get too sick before you start.

OMG! I love No Doubt! I heard they have a new CD coming out soon I sooooo can not wait! It is going to be awesome!..Yea I know sooo off subject...But who cares!??

[Hellraiser]

Well yes I am srry I have a very rude sense of humor and way of saying things..I am out spoken and  will alway's be that way..
And there is no problem with being fatt..I would just rather starve myself then be that way..fatt don't look good on me..


And if I did already have that problem then It wouldn't bother me Cause I know there isn't that much I could do about.

But thnk all the other's about your information I have no idea what I will do as of right now!??

*face palm*

[bryan21]

lmfao..

[Rev. Moon]

lmfao..

[bryan21]

Looong live the People's Republic of China!!!
lol

[mecch]

My dear you shouldn't be worring about lipo - you are not a candidate for that given today's date, today's drugs, and your recent infection.

The controversy about when to treat is something you can calmly educate yourself about and have discussions with your doctor about his/her practices on that point, and the practices in your region/country.