POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: BM on November 05, 2008, 09:57:45 am
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Could someone maybe shed some light on the trend of my results and suggest a course of action? My treatment history is in my signature. I've just received my results for the end of October CD4: 52 (6%), VL 114,851. I have been advised to back on azithromycin. I had two vaccinations a fortnight before the test, might this explain the numbers? I'm slightly worried and would appreciate any advice.
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Seroconversion(?) end of 2005.
Fell ill with PCP and admitted to hospital. Extensive oral thrush. Positive diagnosis 27/06/2008. CD4 78 (7%), VL 190,483.
Started Kivexa (Epzicom) and Viramune on 6/08/2008. CD4 37 (6%), VL 1,108,190.
3/09/2008: CD4 122 (8%), VL 118,484.
1/10/2008: CD4 89 (6%), VL 90,231.
Hey BM,
I am a little confused by your signature information. It states you received a positive diagnosis on June 27, 2008, yet you started ARV therapy on June 8, 2008.
Wait, I figured it out. You are in Europe, and put the month second. So that means you started meds on Aug. 6, 2008, right? Sorry for being so thick. I should have realized it when you wrote Kivexa.
But, moving on from that-, did your doctor do a resistance test before putting you on meds?
Since you state your viral load was 1.1 million at one point, it looks like the meds are working. It may take some time to get the viral load to undetectable.
Based solely on the numbers you included in your post, I would say you probably should still be on zithromax. What's more, I am surprised you aren't on Bactrim as well. With a CD4 that low and a history of PCP, it would seem the prudent thing to do.
Were it me, I would ask your doctor about taking a both zithromax and bactrim. Generally speaking, most of the people I know who are in a similar situation usually stay on at least the bactrim until their CD4s have been comfortably above the 200 mark for a little while.
I certainly would not be shy about speaking up.
HUGS,
Mark
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Hi, aztecan. I was on Bactrim (Septrin) to clear up the PCP, but it emerged that I was allergic to it once I went on the maintenance dose, so I'm now on Dapsone. I was on Zithromax for the first few weeks after getting out of hospital, but I had to stop it because of terrible stomach pains (any suggestions on how to cope with those? I'm starting Zithromax again tomorrow). The doctor did a resistance test before I started therapy and there was none (wild type virus).
Thanks for your reply.
BM
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Bm,
I was also placed on Dapsone,(originaly Bactrim) along with Zithromax, back in October of 2003. I remained on both Dapsone and Zithromax, until My t-cells got up to 200. I was able to stop the Zithromax about August of 2004. I believe I was taking two pills a week of the Zithromax, which was a little tougher to handle. If I had something in my gut, it made it a lot easier to take. I am also on the same regemin as you, except I have Viread added also.
I am not sure if the vaccinnations would have had an effect on your t-cells.
Keep us updated .
Hang in there----Ray
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Forgot to mention...
I was also taking Danactive, and taking extra yogurt products (probiotics)during that period of time. I think it helped to settle my stomach, as the Zithromax, was brutal at times. I still take a daily Danactive and yogurt everyday. You may want to give it a try. But as I mentioned above, if I kept something in my gut, it made it easier for me.
Ray
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Hi. I've just been discharged from hospital after 8 days. I had pains in my chest that the doctors thought was a blood clot in the lungs, but was undetectable in either a VQ scan or CT scan. Heparin injections are painful! In the end, whatever it was cleared itself up with lots of painkillers and a course of levofloxacin. I've been diagnosed with eosinophilic folliculitis.
My resistance test shows I am now completely resistant to my current meds. The M184V mutation is present, as is the E65K (not too sure of this one - it confers resistance to NNRTI class). Apparently I had "archived resistance". I'm now on tenofovir (245mg, one a day), boosted atazanavir (400mg, once a day), and raltegravir (400mg, twice a day). So far, I've had absolutely no problems with this combination (I was imagining explosive diarrhoea with the ritonovir). My consultant says he will look to take me off raltegravir once I'm undetectable, he just wants to hit it hard because my CD4 count has been low for so long. If have no problems with this combination, he may have a fight on his hands!
My consultant was very impressed by how much I have learned in a relatively short space of time. Most of what I know I picked up here, so thanks for all your help, guys!