POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: johnnyl on June 15, 2012, 07:08:18 pm
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Still waiting for my CD4 count but got the viral load test back and it was 174,000...
Is that bad?? I dont feel sick at all, have a mild case of thrush, doc says not to worry about it though... Its just on the tongue.
I am still trying to grasp this whole thing. My doc wants me to get on treatment right away. At first he prescribed me Atripla, but has changed it to Truvada + Insentress and some other med, not sure what it is called... Anyone on Truvada + Insentress and how are the side effects?? Some feedback would be great.
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Hey Johnny, welcome aboard.
First of all just relax, you are going to be just fine. Really you are.
Kinda hard to comment on since you dont have your CD4 back but 174k is about where my VL was when I started meds, and went to undetectable within a year or so. You will go UD also at some point provided you adhere to your regimin.
I've not been on your exact regimin but have taken the Truvada part of it and found it very tolerable, and extremely effective. I'm sure someone who is taking your regimin will be along shortly to give you some better feedback...
Again, welcome.
-Will
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Welcome Johnny,
Like Willy said, relax. My initial VL was 353,000. I am on Norviar, Truvada, and Prezista. After just two weeks on the meds my VL dropped to 4970. I had a couple of bouts with thrush, but it covered the whole inside of my mouth..The only side effect I seem to have is a bit of the runs once in a while and some gas..but my doc had warned me about them..
Stay here and ask whenever you have any concerns. I have only been here a short while, but I know this is a great group of folks with some fantastic admins...
Welcome...
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thanks for your responses... This forum is awesome and all of you HIVers are such a big help mentally.
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Hey Johnny,
Welcome. I'm on Isentress/Truvada solely. Only regimen to date, started in late 2010. No issues, save for flatulence initially which all calmed down.
I dropped to UD (undetectable) immediately, but my VL was always unusually low since diagnosis. It was the downward trend in CD4 that indicated treatment was due. Slow but sure, my CD4 count has risen and VL has remained UD since.
Em
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Hi Johnny,
Welcome to the forums and I am glad you found us and we found you! My initial VL a year ago was 182,000 and once I started Truvada and Isentress (3 months after diagnosis), I went to undetectable in just over a month on meds.
I spent many a sleepless night worrying about all of the " what if's" of side effects and I can tell you - DON'T because in retrospect it was a huge waste of time! I had zero side effects and have had zero to this day. These are ultra modern, powerful meds that really do work!
These forums are packed with the best information you'll find on the net from the most compassionate and caring people around. Many have lived through decades of hell to finally find stability and wellness in this era; they truly are my heroes.
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100,000K + isn't much to fret about.
A few weeks ago, a new guy came to my support group; when he was diagnosed just a month ago, he had a viral load of 1.5 million and t cells of 150; that's full blown.
Right now, the fear you have is very real and very understandable, but you're addressing it, not ignoring it and that's commendable.