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Author Topic: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count  (Read 3771 times)

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Offline JamieD

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  • Posts: 259
My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« on: October 07, 2007, 01:14:41 pm »
Hi All!
I have some questions that hopefully can be answered. My doctor has already answered them for me too, but I would like to verify them.

As all of you know, I think, my initial CD4 cell count was 68. The longest I could have been infected was 2 years. My doctor tested my HIV to see if it was one of the types that normally progresses rapidly and he said that it wasn't. I did not ask which type in particular that it was because I know myself and I will spend an obsessive amount of time researching it for the next few years.  :-\ My doctor says that there are some studies to suggest that people with HIV who are under chronic mental stress progress much more rapidly then those who are not under that same chronic stress. Is that true? He said people without HIV who are under chronic mental stress also tend to have much weaker immune systems, and that lack of self care does not account for the difference between the two groups.

Also, my lastest CD4 cell count was 299 and I have only been on meds for less then 4 months. My doctor said that people who lose their CD4 cells the fastest tend to gain them back the fastest. Is this true? From the middle of June to middle of August I went from 68 to 179 and then from middle of August to middle of October (its actually the beginning) I went from 179 to 299. IS this wierd?

Offline Sdgirl

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  • Posts: 247
Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #1 on: October 07, 2007, 01:32:02 pm »
I have NEVER heard of test that tells you whether or not your HIV is fast or slow in progression.  If there is such a test, I want to know about it.  And here I thought I was up on everything..................go figure
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves.."Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?"

Offline chemistry001

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Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #2 on: October 07, 2007, 01:36:40 pm »
Hi Jamie
I'm not up on current research, so cant give you the type of answer that can be given from current studies or publications however my story is quite similar to yours.

I was two years from infection to diagnosis and my CD4 was at 9 last year when diagnosed, i started a new job 3 weeks after my diagnosis as a science teacher and the last 9 months have been more stressful than i could have imagined, in the 9 months my cd4 only went up to 125. After having 6 weeks off over the summer, not doing any work, not even thinking about school or the kids my cd4 has gone to 231.

I put this down to the lack of stress, I don't think i have chronic mental stress but still work in a very stressful job. I'm waiting to find out if my cd4 has started to slow down again now that i am back at school and if it has then i may have to think about if I'm in the right job or not.

This is my take on stress, but as i said at the beginning its not based on any journal, just my observations on me.

All the best
Paul xXx
Diagnosed 01/08/06
CD4-9, VL->500,000, CD4% 1
Started on Sustiva/combivir 22/08/06 changed to kivexa 18/09/06
02/10/06
CD4-50, VL-1496, CD4% 5
04/12/06
CD4-112, VL-125, CD4% 7.5
22/02/07
CD4-121, VL-<50, CD4% 9
29/05/07
CD4-125, VL-71,(re-done 149), CD4% 11
25/09/07
CD4 -231, VL-74, CD4% 15
Cant remember the next few dates
17/01/08  Kaletra and Truvada
CD4 - 281, VL-115
06/03/08
CD4 - 287, VL-178

Offline milker

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Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #3 on: October 07, 2007, 01:45:16 pm »
I have NEVER heard of test that tells you whether or not your HIV is fast or slow in progression.  If there is such a test, I want to know about it.  And here I thought I was up on everything..................go figure
He must be referring to the Virus replicating capacity. Replication capacity (RC) indicates the ability of the virus to replicate in the absence of drugs. It's a test that is usually done along the phenotype tests.

Upon initiation of therapy, RC effects appear to be obscured by the magnitude of the antiviral drug effects.  After onset of treatment failure associated with emergence of drug resistance, the RC often declines precipitously, especially in the setting of protease inhibitor resistance but less so in the face of isolated NRTI or NNRTI resistance; and the RC drop is directly correlated with the magnitude of viral load suppression and CD4 cell increase from the pre-treatment baseline.

During prolonged virologic failure, RC tends to remain relatively stable despite a slow, progressive increase in drug resistance and viral load.  The presence of virus with higher RC is associated with CD4 cell decline, and a lower RC with CD4 increases.

If treatment is interrupted, wild-type virus with higher RC usually re-emerges over 2-12 weeks, in association with abrupt increases in viral load and declines in CD4 cell counts toward pre-treatment baselines.
source

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline JamieD

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  • Posts: 259
Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2007, 03:08:43 pm »
milker,
I don't think thats was it, but then again I didnt ask for specifics. I think he said that there are certain sub types of HIV that are associated with a faster progression.
Again, I did not ask for specifics because I know I am extremely obsessive and will spend hours a day researching my sub type.

Offline milker

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Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2007, 03:13:14 pm »
no worries, Jamie, what is very encouraging is the fast recovery.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline BT65

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  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2007, 07:25:10 pm »
Milkie, as usual, you are a living, breathing encyclopedia of knowledge! :D
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

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Offline newt

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Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #7 on: October 08, 2007, 03:23:00 am »
Quote
My doctor says that there are some studies to suggest that people with HIV who are under chronic mental stress progress much more rapidly then those who are not under that same chronic stress. Is that true?

This may well be true.  Chronic stress results in immune activation, which may promote HIV replication.  It's not quite a done and dusted deal though this, just a well thought out and believable position.

The most important factor affecting different people's HIV progression is how their genes/immune system interact with the virus.  Some people glide gracefully along with slow declining CD4s, very few seem never to progress, and a handful crash after 1-2 years. The whole "10 years before treatment" is a bit of an urban myth.  It varies a lot.

As for the fast CD4 rise, dunno, seen some people in similar situations do the same, some people just get a small rise. But, hey, who's gonna argue about having nearly 300 CD4s after 4 months on treatment?  :)

- matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline IzPoz

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  • Posts: 332
  • God, grant me the serenity...
Re: My extremely fast progression and my current CD4 count
« Reply #8 on: October 08, 2007, 06:20:20 am »
Jamie,

First, I would like to congratulate you on your extremely fast RECOVERY!! To go from 68 to almost 300 CD4 in 4 months is FANTASTIC!! My boyfriend started with 16 CD4 in March, and he's yet to break 100, although he is undetectable now.

Second, stress does add to the problem here. If you are under a lot of stress, you should do your best to eliminate as much as you can. Even if it means learning how to cope with your stress and how to best not be stressed out in stressful situations.

Just relax and go with the flow. What can not be prevented will just come to pass. What can be prevented, you do your best to keep it from happening.
The reason angels can fly is that they take themselves so lightly. ~ Chesterton G. K.

 


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