POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Beyondstatus on April 16, 2013, 12:02:01 pm
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Hello guys and gals -
So I just went to my doctor last week to get some blood work done after being on meds (Atripla) for a month. I'm a little worried about the results. My CD4 count dropped (-30) to 572 but my CD4% rose to 35% (+9.6%) my viral load dropped from 60,000 to 215 and my doctor found that my hemoglobin and hematocrit were both a little low. Apparently he had a pathologist review some peripheral blood and I have reactive lymphocytes present, which they interpreted this as Leukopenia. I'm getting all of this info from my patient portal and haven't been able to speak with my doctor just yet. Furthermore, it looks like he's requested I come in towards the end of this week to have more blood drawn. For what? Who knows.
Is a CD4 drop and leukopenia something that is normal (moreso okay) after a month of being in meds? If not, what should I be worried about? Is there more information I should try and solicit from my doctor? This is all still so new to me, I just want to be as healthy as possible.
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Sounds to me like you might have/had a viral infection. A virus can cause a low White Blood cell count (leukopenia), as well as reactive lymphs. Did you have a cold or something around this time? I would not worry too much about it. You can talk with your doc at your appt.
Mike
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Sounds to me like you might have/had a viral infection. A virus can cause a low White Blood cell count (leukopenia), as well as reactive lymphs. Did you have a cold or something around this time? I would not worry too much about it. You can talk with your doc at your appt.
Mike
Hello Mike - I wasn't aware of any infection at that point in time to be quite honest. When I went in I felt completely fine, but maybe I had a viral infection and wasn't aware of it. But, they did give me a pneumonia shot a month prior and the next series at the beginning of my appt before getting blood work done. I wonder if this could this have triggered it, you think? My next appt isnt for 3 months, he's just having stop into the lab to draw some more blood. The nurse just said it was to monitor these levels and make sure they don't get any lower. Thanks so much for your response.
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Hey Beyond:
I don't know about leukopenia. But your viral response to Atripla is excellent. The change in CD4+ insignificant, and your overall percentage great!
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Hey Beyond:
I don't know about leukopenia. But your viral response to Atripla is excellent. The change in CD4+ insignificant, and your overall percentage great!
Thanks so much Fisher for your positive words! They are much appreciated.
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Hello Mike - I wasn't aware of any infection at that point in time to be quite honest. When I went in I felt completely fine, but maybe I had a viral infection and wasn't aware of it. But, they did give me a pneumonia shot a month prior and the next series at the beginning of my appt before getting blood work done. I wonder if this could this have triggered it, you think? My next appt isnt for 3 months, he's just having stop into the lab to draw some more blood. The nurse just said it was to monitor these levels and make sure they don't get any lower. Thanks so much for your response.
Honestly, there are so many things that could cause leukopenia, as well as reactive lymphs that it's hard to speculate. The most likely cause is a viral infection -- even one that doesn't seem to cause any outward symptoms. The fact that your doctor wants to repeat them makes sense and should ultimately put you at ease.
Also -- as Fisher pointed out -- great response to your meds. It feels good to knock back that HIV, doesn't it!!
Hugs,
Mike
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Scared me for a minute and I thought you had leukemia.
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Honestly, there are so many things that could cause leukopenia, as well as reactive lymphs that it's hard to speculate. The most likely cause is a viral infection -- even one that doesn't seem to cause any outward symptoms. The fact that your doctor wants to repeat them makes sense and should ultimately put you at ease.
Also -- as Fisher pointed out -- great response to your meds. It feels good to knock back that HIV, doesn't it!!
Hugs,
Mike
Hello Mike -
Thanks, it sure does feel good to knock back that viral load.
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Scared me for a minute and I thought you had leukemia.
When I first saw the test results I had to re-read them. But thank God, that's not what it said. Almost gave myself a heart attack. :o