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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: +/- on August 22, 2012, 02:58:19 am

Title: I'm freaking out
Post by: +/- on August 22, 2012, 02:58:19 am
Need your advise on this issues please.

Just received my lab results

CD4 in April dropped from 423 to 380
CD4 in August dropped from 380 to 310

VL in April increased from <20 to 87
VL in August increased from 87 to 123

What is happening? I take my med regularly and it seems that they are failing - could it be so? I'm on Combivir and Sustiva!

Need your advise.

Thanks
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: LiveWithIt on August 22, 2012, 05:09:42 pm
If your doctor didn't say there was a cause for worry, then I wouldn't.  Sometimes a thing such as stress or other illness like a cold coming on can make your numbers change for the worse.  Don't worry if your doctor didn't say anything about changing your meds, worry will only make it worse.
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: phost86 on August 22, 2012, 05:56:51 pm
I agree too early to get worried about it. Numbers fluctuate:) Just think healthy;)
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: newt on August 22, 2012, 06:55:31 pm
Even though this looks like a CD4 decrease and viral load going up and specifically above undetectable, your results are within the margin of error for the tests used so there is basically no real difference between your results here, just a perceptual one. If your viral load goes up (like 500+) on the next test then there might be a difference. 

Why are you on Combivir, if I may ask?

- matt
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: Rockin on August 22, 2012, 08:04:28 pm
Need your advise on this issues please.

Just received my lab results

CD4 in April dropped from 423 to 380
CD4 in August dropped from 380 to 310

VL in April increased from <20 to 87
VL in August increased from 87 to 123

What is happening? I take my med regularly and it seems that they are failing - could it be so? I'm on Combivir and Sustiva!

Need your advise.

Thanks

If you are indeed worried (I might have been as well, even though what post86 said is prob true) maybe you should go to another doctor to get a 2nd opinion on your drug regimen.
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: drewm on August 22, 2012, 08:24:26 pm
Discuss the numbers with your doc. Trends over time are more important than snapshots of labs. As Newt said your results are within the margin of error for the tests used so there is basically no real difference between your results here, just a perceptual one.

CD4 numbers can fluctuate by a hundred or more between morning and afternoon.

Talk to your doc.
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: +/- on August 23, 2012, 06:55:07 am
Thanks for your replies - Today I spoke with my ID doctor and he has there is nothing alarming however rather then taking another test in December 2012 he wants to carry out an earlier test which is due to October.

I was taking antibiotics 2 weeks ago so he said that most probably that was the cause for my CD4 to decrease.

With regards to the Combivir, that is the first line of treatment given where I live - it's either Combivir and Sustiva or Combivir and Kaletra - I decided to go on Sustiva then swicth to PI in case the NNRTI are not working any longer.

Once again I thank you all for your replies!
Title: Re: I'm freaking out
Post by: Tower0724 on August 23, 2012, 05:01:15 pm
You need a new regimen asap. Those fluctuations could be sample-related. While CD4 of >300 and VL undetectable is ideal, what you've reported isn't yet serious. The drugs will bring it back up, but I would act quickly. Just my opinion.

18 year survivor
CD4 929
VL undet as of Aug 2012

(btw, my CD4 has been 300 before, with VL of 45K; VL above 99,999 is when you should worry, but only a little...don't stress as that is the number one offender to your health!)