Recently infected

[UK-HIV]

(Take two - frist message got lost)

Hi,

I’m gay (Its important later when you read) In July I turned 30, a few days following this I was diagnosed with HIV. I was told over the phone whilst at school (I’m a teacher). I begun telling people at school and this really helped me through the first few days, without this I probably wouldn’t have got through the first few days. I went home in the evening waited till the boys went to bed then told my fiancée. He was terrific once he got over the shock.

We both went into the clinic the next day I was retested and my other half was tested - from here I went to tell my parents - I was still not entirely sure what was going on I was on autopilot. We went back to the clinic that day with my mum this time. My results were +ve and my other half’s came back -ve - I was soo relieved at this point and I was terrified what I have done to another human being. I was still concerned as we had unprotected anal sex just before my blood test. He is now showing all the symptoms that I had.

The counsellor at the clinic is amazed at how well we are doing - it has made  our relationship so strong and made us realise how important life is. I do still get moment especially like yesterday I was in the clinic and there was a  guy who had AIDs and did look awful.

I went back to get my counts and other blood test results but was surprised by the numbers. I think I am going through seroconversion as it was infection was quite recent. The consultant I saw said it was the highest he has ever seen. I lead a healthy life drink occasionally and eat healthily, I could do with exercising more which I will start soon.

My other results are all fine cholesterol Vit D etc are all fine. As soon as I got my results I noted that my gums were receding I have been using a chlorohexidine mouthwash and toothpaste but it doesn’t seem to be helping. I’ve seen a dentist and he just said keep your teeth clean - which I do but am worried that my teeth will continue to deteriorate.

My CD4 count was 267 which I was surprised it was so low, however my viral load was over 10 million, they actually stopped counting at this point.

My questions are about my viral load after seroconversion will having such a high VL now affect what my Viral load will be after. How long is this likely to take?

My other big concern is for the kids and my other half, they have already lost their mum the last thing I would want to happen was for them see their dad or me in a bad way.

[mecch]

A couple of weeks to a couple of months to find your set point.
I hope the clinic told you that you are not going to die. 
YOU ARE NOT GOING TO DIE OF THIS.

Well if you are like most folks your viral load will fall after the acute phase and then you'll have regular labs to see the situation vis a vis HAART.    My case was pretty rare and the ID said my viral load was just too high for too long and he put me on HAART a few months after seroconversion, and of course HAART worked.  So either way doesn't seem to matter too much for long term prognosis. 

Welcome to the forums.

Do what you gotta do for disclosure, but as you say you might have been in autopilot the first days, remember not the entire world has to know you are HIV+.  But then again, if that works for you, bravo! 

[hotpuppy]

Welcome to the forums.....

Congrats on moving forward with treatment and building your personal support network.  I'll second what Mecch said, not everyone needs to know everything, but you are probably politically savvy if you teach for a living. 

[phildinftlaudy]

Hey UK - sorry you had to find us this way, but still glad you are here.  Welcome - Look forward to hearing more from you. 

[max123]

hi uk,

welcome aboard. you'll find lots of good info in the lessons and posts...a tremendous humor, as well.

max

[Nestor]

Hi!

 I'm sorry to hear your news, but you do seem to be taking it quite well.  I have no idea about immediate post-seroconversion numbers, since I was only diagnosed a year and a half after initial infection.  But a few months ago I got quite sick with another virus, and apparently HIV took the opportunity to have a party--my viral load at the second week of illness was 799,000--when it had been only 4,000 or so a few months before.  I recovered from the illness, and a month later the VL was down to 31,000--still higher than my usual, but a million times better than a month before!  Since you were tested while still going through the turmoil of sero-conversion, you have every reason to hope that your numbers will similarly return to sanity once the initial crisis is past. 

Happy birthday, belatedly; my birthday is in July as well.  (Seems we both had a lot of drama for our birthdays!)  If it's any consolation, I'm now in my seventh year of living with HIV, and 99% of the time I'm in excellent health--as good as or even better than before I had HIV.  There is no reason why seven years from now you shouldn't be able to say the same thing.  Good luck!

[UK-HIV]

Hi,
Still in good health (One month lol). Although two things I have noticed:

Drinking alot of water, with a very dry throat (Only recently becoming a little sore)

My gums have receded a good few mm in the last month, it doesn't appear to be slowing regardless of what I try, electric toothbrush, flossing, cordisol toothpaste and mouthwash... Any advice I know I sound vain but one thing I don't want to loose is my teeth at 30.

Thanks

[Hellraiser]

Hi,
Still in good health (One month lol). Although two things I have noticed:

Drinking alot of water, with a very dry throat (Only recently becoming a little sore)

My gums have receded a good few mm in the last month, it doesn't appear to be slowing regardless of what I try, electric toothbrush, flossing, cordisol toothpaste and mouthwash... Any advice I know I sound vain but one thing I don't want to loose is my teeth at 30.

Thanks

Do you think perhaps you're being a little bit of a hypochondriac about this and perhaps your gums aren't actually receding you just think they are?  Considering you think you were just infected the disease takes a long time to actually affect you  (Even people who progress quickly are measured in years) so you may want to perhaps confront your anxiety about the disease head on by talking to your doctor about anything you think might be changing.  I'm gonna go out on a limb though and say if your gums are receding then it has nothing to do with HIV.

[Joe K]

My gums have receded a good few mm in the last month, it doesn't appear to be slowing regardless of what I try, electric toothbrush, flossing, cordisol toothpaste and mouthwash... Any advice I know I sound vain but one thing I don't want to loose is my teeth at 30.

There are many gum diseases that affect all people and you should see a dentist immediately. Whether it is HIV related or not, oral diseases can pose significant risks to pozzies and you do not want to take a chance. Hopefully you can find a good dentist and please tell them you are poz, so they have all the information they need, to make a proper diagnosis. I know this may appear hard, but you are poz and you must do what is necessary to protect your health. You can tell the dentist discretely and if they balk, then you need to find another dentist. This really is that important.

[UK-HIV]

Hi,

I am not a hypochondriac. My gums have always been very tight to my teeth, between my teeth they were filled by gums. Since going through Seroconversion my gums did certainly recede leaving large gaps. I told my dentist and have been to see him twice, I have an appointment to see the hygienist.

The reason I say that the gums could be linked is my extremely high VL during seroconversion, in xs of 10million.

I appreciate that gum diseases affect all sorts of people but my teeth have been in excellent condition apart from the last few months.