POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: waisland on September 23, 2013, 08:16:17 pm

Title: Amazing first blood results since starting Stribild
Post by: waisland on September 23, 2013, 08:16:17 pm

I'm definitely going to be real patient with Stribild, even though my body so far doesn't seem to like it... after only 2 weeks i went from 430 CD4/ 235,000 VL (14.5%) to 570 CD4/ 595 VL (24%)!

Now time for me to be real, I don't entirely know what that means, but my doctor looked thrilled.  I mean I understand most of it, but what is the percentage for?  And is a drop that big so quick not that uncommon?  I know Stribild is supposed to work fast but I really wasn't expecting it to work this fast.

Title: Re: Amazing first blood results since starting Stribild
Post by: tednlou2 on September 24, 2013, 12:38:43 am

Congrats!  You've had a terrific response.  I'm not exactly sure how long it is expected to take to reduce your viral load that much, but 2 weeks does seem very fast.  I know everyone is different, and maybe your results are as expected. 

About the CD4%, I posted info from this site about that.  It explains what it is, how they get that number, and why it's important.  I see before you started meds, your CD4 absolute count was in the 400's, but your percentage was at the door step of AIDS-defining.  Regardless of CD4 count, a CD4% of 14 or less is considered AIDS-defining.  A CD4% over 21% is considered to be a fairly functional immune system.  But, when you're on meds, they really look at that viral load as the key measurement.  Of course, seeing those other numbers improve is great.

Again, great to hear you've had a great response.  You mentioned your body not liking Stribild much.  What's going on?

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/TCellTest_4727.shtml

Title: Re: Amazing first blood results since starting Stribild
Post by: waisland on September 24, 2013, 11:58:37 am

Oh wow, I didn't realize that about the percentages.  No wonder my doc had me start up meds so soon.

And re: Stribild, I've always had a bit of insomnia, but the Stribild seemed to have magnified it to the point where for about two weeks I just couldn't fall asleep before 6 AM, so I completely lost those two weeks.  Other than that it's just frequent nausea and trips to the bathroom.  My body in general has always been sensitive to medication and side effects though