Waiting for 4.5 month results

[LordBerners]

Well my results at six weeks were up from 190ish CD4s to around 450 CD4s - excellent.  But my VL only went from 100,000 to 2,700. 

I just got blood drawn at my next three month visit, so that's a total of 4.5 months since Truvada/Sustiva began (six weeks plus three months).  Now I'm just waiting for the results - sometime within the next 2 weeks.  If its undetectable for very near, I may be set, but if it isn't it means resistance, alas, and who knows what comes next.  I had two previous episodes of stopping Truvada/Sustiva due to severe side effects caused by an underlying infection (TB), and thus resistance is a very real possibility.  Now I have no side effects, but I'm living in fear of this next result. 

Anyway, I'll post in the next couple weeks to report the result.. just right now I'm worrying though there's nothing I can do about it.  Overall health tip-top now that the TB is gone.

[BT65]

Lord, glad the TB is in remission.  Your CD4's are up, so if you have to switch regimens, at least that's looking good. 

I wouldn't worry too much.  Have you had resistance testing done? 

[LordBerners]

...Have you had resistance testing done? 

No, alas that has not been offered as an option by my doctors here in Thailand.

[komnaes]

Good to hear that your TB is under control..

Is there any way you can push for a genotype, or even pay for it yourself? Much as we are fortunate to have universal/close-to-free health care, the level of care can be somewhat minimal and, like other long term diseases, the doctors here in Hong Kong always expect us to handle and pay any "extras".. otherwise you'd either have to wait forever or just forget about it.

Hugs and Merry Xmas to you!

[LordBerners]

Thanks komnaes.  To be honest I didn't know about the 'genotype test' till recently, and it was never suggested to me by my doctors.  They're well aware I think that money is not a big problem for me, as far as if I had to pay for the test.

Well in any case I suppose there's no need now as within a week or two the result will be in anyway - undectectable or a VL in the low 100s means its working, and anything higher means resistance is extremely likely to be the culprit.