New Lab Results/Seeking Opinions

[joyluckclub]

Hey Guys!

I went to our AIDS/HIV treatment center today.  I received my labs.  They are:

 CD4:  697  (7/16/06  CD4 657)
 CD4%  34%   (7/16/06   32%)
 Viral Load:   3258

After I received counseling from the early intervention clinic at the county level, I started working out again, eating a little bit better, and taking a multitude of vitamins daily.

I hope its working!

Okay, here is the advice I need,


While I was reading through all the crackpot HIV/AIDS sites, I came upon a site that may offer some help with immunosuppression.  It is http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org  .
I mentioned it to the nurse practitioner.  She just kinda ignored it and said the treatment program they have works.

In my thinking, since I have a good cd4 count and percentage, I want to keep them up for as long as possible.  The information from the website seems to indicate low dose naltrexone might help immunosuppressed individuals.

I going to look around and see if a doctor would prescribe it for me.  If I have to, I'll fly to New York every six months for a checkup and a renewal prescription.  I am very adamant about receiving any treatment that will prolong my life without meds.

What's your opinion?

Be gentle guys and gals...I'm new to this!

Corwyn

[Matty the Damned]

Corwyn,

Those results deserve a

HAPPY DANCE!!!!
oh yeah, baby!!!

As for the naltrexone thingy. I don't know. Sounds like bullshit to this little Australian pervert. Maybe Newt or one of our other medications boffins can help you out.

It's not a denialist site, is it?

MtD

[Eldon]

Hello Corwyn, it is Eldon.

Your numbers look marvelous! Just keep doing what you have been doing, change your diet a little, drink plenty of fluids, get some exercise, and get your proper amount of rest. Glad to see you moving around on the site too.



Have the BEST Day!

[Teresa]

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Your Numbers are GREAT!

Keep up the good work hon.

Hugs
Teresa

[joyluckclub]

Hey Guys!

Thanks for the encouragement.  It helps.

[newt]

Naltrexone is classically used to help with alcohol/drug rehab.

Low dose naltrexone (LDN), where 1/10th the detox dose is used, is being tested, and prescribed "off-label" for some immunological disorders.

The use of LDN for such diseases as cancer was discovered and developed by Ian Zagon, PhD via animal and in vitro research, and LDN’s broader clinical effects in humans were discovered by Bernard Bihari, MD.

The encouraging results of an open-label pilot study at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine were reported to an international gastroenterology conference in May 2006 (Los Angeles). The trial demonstrated the safety and efficacy of LDN in a group of people with Crohn’s disease, a classic autoimmune disorder. The researchers said that "LDN therapy offers an alternative safe, effective, and economic means of treating subjects with active Crohn's disease.” They have since received a substantial NIH grant and will be proceeding with a definitive phase II placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Use for HIV infection is deffo "off-label".  There are no studies.  As usual its prescribers are enthusiastic, however proper and cautious their approach to the science.  That said: (1) LDN isn't gonna do anything bad (2) your immune system is prob. not compromised enough (well, not compromised at all, it's normal right now) to show a big (known) benefit.

The theory of WHY it might work to modify immune response in HIV-positive individuals goes: HIV affects the gut, LDN affects gut opioid biochemistry, therefore LDN has an unknown but clinically beneficial effect that somehow alter the natural history of HIV in the gut and so the body.  But whether it preserves the natural immune response to the virus or keeps CD4 count up for a significant extra length of time - nobody knows.

- matt

Now Playing: Radio 4, "Today" programme

[J.R.E.]

Helllo Corwyn,

Congratulations on the numbers !

I beleive that Naltrexone was originally called "REVIA", which was marketed  by another company

See below :

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/naltrexone_ad.htm


http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/rev1376.htm


Also see this link ;

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a685041.html





Ray

[texasguy]

Wow C -

With numbers like that and recent exposure, you won't even need to think about meds for years!!!!  I'm jealous as hell.....LOL.  Not really, that's good news.  And we're getting rain today ( so they say )  TWO HAPPY DANCES FOR YOU !!!!

[blondbeauty]

You are not suffering from immunosupresion...