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Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: Achilleslastand on December 04, 2007, 02:30:27 am

Title: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: Achilleslastand on December 04, 2007, 02:30:27 am: Hello everyone,i am a first time poster but a long term survivor{i was diagnosed with 5 t-cells in Jun of 1995}.Since 1998 my VL has been undetactable with my t-cell counts ranging from 200-680....My results back in August were undetectable with 580 t cells.But i was tested last week and my tcells were 650 any my viral load was 8,000.
I am kind of concerned about this,the Dr says he will test me this week to see which meds are still working and which are not.Currently i am on Sustiva and Truvada.I guess my question is,is this jump in VL an emergency or just a bump in the road.Also any info on the test would be appreciated also......Thanks and take care all
Title: Re: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: Ann on December 04, 2007, 08:10:03 am: Hi Achilles, welcome to the forums!

A very low viral load could quite possibly be nothing more than a blip - blips happen all the time for all sorts of reasons, such as lab error. I'm surprised your doctor isn't re-testing the VL before he orders the more expensive tests that look for resistance. Can you speak to him about this and request a new VL?

Good luck, keep us posted.

Ann
Title: Re: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: aztecan on December 04, 2007, 09:32:46 am: Hey Achilles,

Welcome to the forums. Glad you found us.

As Ann said, a very low viral load, like yours of 7,000, could very well just be a blip. I had this happen to me because of a lab error.

I agree, I would ask the doc about running the viral load again to be sure its was something other than a lab error or a problematic phlebotomist.

That said, there is nothing wrong with having a GART done. The genotype will determine if you have any resistance to any of the meds you are on, and even some of those you've never taken. Some folks inherit a virus that is resistant.

Even if this is the beginning of resistance to one of your meds, I would not panic.

There are many other combos out there that work very well.

Let us know what the test results show and what your doc says. Hang in there.

HUGS,

Mark
Title: Re: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: ubotts on December 12, 2007, 01:12:01 pm: HI Newbie.

Glad you found your way to our forums..

Any question you have can be answered..

You also need to talk to your doctor, ask alot of quesions, dont stop keep asking till
you really understand what your doctor is saying..

He should do a panel test and see what working and what isnt before changing
any meds..

Ummmmmmmm..I think its called a panel test..

Sometimes my mind becomes mush, but thats why we have this place to help us
out when we cant remember things or lab testing or whatever..

Hey you will find plenty of back up..So come in more often and ask away..

Btw..nice to met cha ;)
Title: Re: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: Achilleslastand on December 16, 2007, 03:32:09 am: OK everyone here is a quick update.....My Dr decided to run the v/l test again before they did the other test. I got the results back a couple of days ago and my v/l is undetectable,that is great news. I have been on Sustiva the longest out of my cocktail{6 yrs} so i asssumed it might be losing its effectiveness. Anyway this is great news....thanks for all the support!
Title: Re: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: Ann on December 16, 2007, 07:04:40 am: Great news, Achilles! Thanks for the update.

Ann
Title: Re: Hello everyone....i have a question.
Post by: ubotts on December 19, 2007, 10:31:20 am: Hip Hip Hooray...Great news..
Now thats what I am talking about... :-*