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Author Topic: Scared about lab results  (Read 4541 times)

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Offline mac_amc

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  • Posts: 8
Scared about lab results
« on: August 26, 2015, 06:44:41 pm »
Hello. In May I was diagnosed and started treatment with truvada,  isentress and Bactrim. My numbers were bad. Cd4 was about 90 (don't recall the exact number tbh) and vl about 90.000 iirc. The next lab results about a month later were better and showed a rise in cd4 to about 120 and vl at about 50.000. Last week's results have me worried.  Cd4 number is still rising and it's at 197, but the vl is at 200.000. How is that even possible? I have taken the meds religiously every day. Even the doctor asked if I'd been skipping doses. I told him I hadn't but I'm not sure he believed me. He had me go and repeat the lab test for the vl count,  but right now I'm scared that the treatment isn't working. :(

Offline Almost2late

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  • Posts: 1,447
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #1 on: August 26, 2015, 08:11:11 pm »
Hi mac, sorry for your dx but welcome.. Your doctor asking if you've been taking your meds makes sense as your vl is going up rather than down.. he has to rule out the possibility that your not adherent.. If you are adherent, it could mean he may need to switch meds.. Has he done a geno test? If not he may have you take one.. Work with your doctor to get this straightened out..

On the bright side your cd4's are improving.. good luck

Offline AusShep

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Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #2 on: August 26, 2015, 08:28:45 pm »
How are you verifying that you take your pills every day?  Do you you use a pill organizer? 

I'm just asking because my husband used to swear he took his non-HIV medicine every day, but I knew by the count when refilling both of our Rxs that he wasn't; he'd be off by as much as a week some months.  I got him a pill organizer and leave it by his sink since I've always used one and now he has only missed one dose I know of this year.

I'm assuming a resistance test was initially done, even if you did, you probably need a new one now.

Offline mac_amc

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  • Posts: 8
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #3 on: August 26, 2015, 08:42:26 pm »
Thanks almost2late. Tomorrow I'll check with the doc to see if the new results have arrived. My partner also started treatment at the same time with the same combo and fortunately he's already undetectable. Hoping I can follow soon, but this rise in vl is stressing me out :(. How can it be worse than  it was when I started treatment in May. And it's a huge increase in number too. Hoping it's just something wrong with the lab results, I dunno.

And AusShep I do have a method to remembering and taking the pills so I know for sure. Also, they only give you enough pills to last you a month here, so it' d be easy to spot if there were any pills left over in the bottles.

Thanks guys,  I'm just a little stressed out about this and needed to vent. Feeling kinda frustrated too because I know I did what I was supposed to do.

Offline Tonny2

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  • Posts: 2,924
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #4 on: August 26, 2015, 08:59:35 pm »


            ojo       Hello mac, welcome...let's wait and see the results, it might even be a mistake when the test was done, cross your fingers...in any event, if your viral load keeps increasing, your doctor will have to switch meds, there are other options, do not worry...I';; be crossing my finger that there was an error in your VL test...keep us posted, you will be fine...big hug for you                    ojo

Offline Almost2late

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  • Posts: 1,447
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #5 on: August 26, 2015, 09:08:42 pm »
Mac don't feel bad, it took me a year and a half to reach UD.. I switched meds 3 times but finally did it ;).. and ausshep is right, your doc will probably order a resistance test too.

Offline mac_amc

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  • Posts: 8
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2015, 09:30:55 pm »
Thanks guys, I really appreciate the kind words and support. I usually read way more than I post but I love you guys and this community.  You've really helped me and my partner to cope with this new situation.

Offline mac_amc

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2015, 06:57:36 pm »
Quick update. Turns out there was some kind of mess up at the lab.  Both me and my partner are undetectable!  So happy right now :)

Offline Tonny2

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,924
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2015, 08:21:46 pm »


       ojo      Congratulations mac...I'm glad for you two...best wishes...hugs     ojo

Offline Wade

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  • Member
  • Posts: 3,447
Re: Scared about lab results
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2015, 08:59:28 pm »
Hi Mac, that's Great News !!
Don't get discouraged about your cd4s everyone's are different,
and they don't know how many you had to start with. Most important is
your viral load is UD !
Be Well ,Wade
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