new labs and more lost than ever

[yesican]

I just got my latest labs and im more lost than ever. they are as follows.  cd4 ( helper cells ) 25, absolute cd4+ cells 279, cd8 (suppressor t cells ) 49, absolute cd8 + cell 542 and helper?/suppressor ration in 0.51. Can anyone hep me figure this out. I talked with the dr but I seem to be more lost than ever. The only thing I do know is last time I had labs my cd4 was 196 and viral load was about 98. im now undetectable but so confused. I am also having high triglyceride problems and somthing to do with my kidneys called creatinine. Im scared to death. I was diagnosed in mid december and started meds second week of january. im on presista, norvair, and truvada.
  HELP !

[weasel]

Hey yesican ,
                  I hope you are feeling well .

     I personally do NOT follow all those numbers !

  IT IS GREAT  you are undetectable ! very nice !

   If it helps ,I  was like you  5 years ago when i started meds . Sometimes  the doctors give to much
 
   info !   The basic numbers MATTER  big time . The confusing numbers are just that ,confusing !

   I hope with time you become more comfortable with living with HIV . It takes  time and effort

   NOT to let it rule your life !

   Trial  and error seem  to be the rule for getting the meds right !

    I am wishing you the best . Try and be calm and don't worry too much it does get better I

   promise you that . Life will go on ,different yes ,but there are many good years for a you !

                                                     be good , Carl

[webontheweb]

Please do not be lost, doctors throw out a lot of numbers and there is a lot of information in your post.  my suggestion is to find a HIV buddy or mentor who can help you go through all this info to help you better understand.  It would seem you are better- esp. with undetectable!  give the meds time, stay with us/
Get an HIV mentor or buddy,  find one locally or one on here.  I am not educated enough about all of your meds to help you but am happy to talk about anything else with you privately if you need a shoulder to lean on.
Cheers!

[yesican]

Thanks for the shoulder to lean on, at times I need one bad. I feel so alone and lost and few people know of my static. Thanks again for reading and replying. I will keep you in mind and add you as a buddy if thats ok.

[sdguyloveslife]

I just got my latest labs and im more lost than ever. they are as follows.  cd4 ( helper cells ) 25, absolute cd4+ cells 279, cd8 (suppressor t cells ) 49, absolute cd8 + cell 542 and helper?/suppressor ration in 0.51. Can anyone hep me figure this out. I talked with the dr but I seem to be more lost than ever. The only thing I do know is last time I had labs my cd4 was 196 and viral load was about 98. im now undetectable but so confused.

Hi Yesican,

From what you've written, without having your results in front of me, it looks as though your numbers are improving!  It's sometimes hard to tell what's going on without a few data points, so the picture will become clearer for you with each subsequent set of labs. 

Many years ago, I worked in a virology research lab, so I usually understand the HIV "lingo" my doc throws at me.  But with other stuff, in spite of my biology degrees, I sometimes have to stop him and say, "Hey Doc, I need you to put this into elementary school terms for me."  Try that out on your next visit 

I am also having high triglyceride problems and somthing to do with my kidneys called creatinine. Im scared to death. I was diagnosed in mid december and started meds second week of january. im on presista, norvair, and truvada.
  HELP !

Again, it's hard to tell what's going on with one set of data.  What were your triglyceride and kidney function numbers like before you started the meds?  I'm sure you've heard this already, but "what is your diet like?" and "what does your daily water (not soda, coffee, or etc..., but actual water) intake look like?"  Other factors like other meds you take, other conditions you might have, your overall fitness, sleep, etc, etc, etc can influence these numbers as well. 

Just taking the meds and doing nothing else is not always the best way of taking care of ourselves.  It often requires several rounds of lifestyle changes and these take some time and adjustment.  Can you re-check back with the doc and ask (1) if you should be concerned about triglyceride and kidney numbers? and (2) does s/he suggest anything you can do to improve these numbers through diet, exercise, fluid intake, etc?

I'm on the same treatment combo as you are and after my first set of labs came back, my liver function test numbers freaked me out!  I immediately asked him if I could do an herbal cleansing of my liver and my doc gave me an absolute NO WAY because he has had "worrisome" patients like me go into liver failure from "taking matters into their own hands."  Sure enough, it returned to normal levels on my next round of tests. 

I'm pretty new to this too - was just diagnosed in April and started meds in May - and I'm finding my way, sometimes more slowly than I want to, but such is life.  By the way, nice to find a "med combo" buddy 

Hang in there and take good care of yourself! 
Richard