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Author Topic: Starting out with AIDS  (Read 13182 times)

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Offline BigK

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Starting out with AIDS
« on: January 10, 2009, 11:38:00 pm »
Hi, just joined here today. I ended up in the hospital in Oct. with severe flu symptoms 105 fever etc. I found out about 3 weeks later from this bitch from the State Health Dept. I am a straight male, and have no problem with gay or bi people. She really pissed me off because she tried everything she could to get me to say I had Man to Man sex. The only thing that even fits is that I had 3 vaccinations at the County Health Dept. and 2 weeks later is when I ended up in the hospital. Of course noone wants to hear thats how I got this, the odds are so high etc. Anyway I am assuming if you get this by injection, it is more severe or "concentrated." I have read that your life expectancy is 10 years less if you contracted from needle use.  I have NEVER injected anything before. My first viral load was 1.4 million, dont know cd4 count.  December 8 cd4 was 228 at 12%, VL 31000. Second test Jan. 8 cd4 was 192 at 8% dont have load yet. I know the cd4 counts vary, but I thought the % should remain more steady. So this seems very aggresive to me from what I have read so far, as I have only been infected since Oct of 08. Any thoughts?
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2009, 11:48:28 pm »
Hi BigK.  Welcome to the forums, but sorry you've had to pay us a visit under such circumstances.  The beginning of your HIV journey is never an enjoyable phase, but you'll adjust with time.

One question to start off with though -- why have you ruled out that you were infected via Male/Female sexual contact?  If this was your first HIV test, which I will assume is the case, then I would think it's possible you were infected many years ago via sexual contact.  Of course, perhaps there's a reason you've ruled this out and didn't include it in your post, but I'm sure others will wonder the same question.

I can't imagine a vaccination would have done this.  Every time I've gotten one they open up sealed packaging with the needles right in from of me, and have done so as far back as I can remember.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline BigK

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2009, 11:57:16 pm »
The reason I ruled out sexual contact is because they said according to the numbers I was infected after August 2008. The only person I had been with since then is my girlfriend who has tested negative twice since I tested positive. I know, I know about the vaccine excuses, but thats all I have....It happened last year in Las Vegas, did you hear about it?
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline BigK

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2009, 11:59:39 pm »
Also Miss why would you mention Male sexual contact. My first post stated that I am straight, is this something I will always be asked, even on a site like this??
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline BigK

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  • Posts: 12
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #4 on: January 11, 2009, 12:05:03 am »
Oops, disregard last post, I misread, thought you were implying MtoM sex.
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline komnaes

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  • Posts: 1,906
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #5 on: January 11, 2009, 12:23:59 am »
Sorry to hear about the diagnosis and welcome to the forums.

To say that a health care provider infected you with a needle is a very big accusation. If it's true they have incurred themselves an enormous liability. In these days almost all vaccinations are done with disposable needles. Do you remember whether they opened up new needles when your were injected? If your own history suggests that it's the ONLY way you could have been infected you should notify your current health care provider.

I am not sure where you read that getting through injections will give you "higher" concentration of virus that will make you sick quicker. Each of our situation progresses differently but the general assumption is that if you show up in a hospital with already very low CD4 and high viral loads you probably were infected a while ago. I also find it perplexing that they could be so sure that you were infected after Aug 2008 just by looking at your numbers. It doesn't work that way.

That's probably the reason why your current health care provider was asking about your sexual history; you didn't say that how long you've been with your current girlfriend and whether you guys use condoms (for not wanting pregnancy, etc), so no one can say for sure whether she would definitely be infected if you were HIV+ the whole time.

It's inappropriate for the health care provide to "insist" or suggest that you were not telling the truth just because they have their own sets of assumptions (prejudices). It's irrelevance now if you did get it through sexual contacts in the past except for their statistic compilation; but they'd need harder evidences to believe that you got it through vaccinations.
Aug 07 Diagnosed
Oct 07 CD4=446(19%) Feb 08 CD4=421(19%)
Jun 08 CD4=325(22%) Jul 08 CD4=301(18%)
Sep 08 CD4=257/VL=75,000 Oct 08 CD4=347(16%)
Dec 08 CD4=270(16%)
Jan 09 CD4=246(13%)/VL=10,000
Feb 09 CD4=233(15%)/VL=13,000
Started meds Sustiva/Epzicom
May 09 CD4=333(24%)/VL=650
Aug 09 CD4=346(24%)/VL=UD
Nov 09 CD4=437(26%)/VL=UD
Feb 10 CD4=471(31%)/VL=UD
June 10 CD4=517 (28%)/VL=UD
Sept 10 CD4=687 (31%)/VL=UD
Jan 11 CD4=557 (30%)/VL=UD
April 11 CD4=569 (32%)/VL=UD
Switched to Epizcom, Reyataz and Norvir
(Interrupted for 2 months with only Epizcom & Reyataz)
July 11 CD=520 (28%)/VL=UD
Oct 11 CD=771 (31%)/VL=UD(<30)
April 12 CD=609 (28%)/VL=UD(<20)
Aug 12 CD=657 (29%)/VL=UD(<20)
Dec 12 CD=532 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
May 13 CD=567 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
Jan 14 CD=521 (21%)/VL=UD(<50)

Offline BigK

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  • Posts: 12
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #6 on: January 11, 2009, 12:33:32 am »
I have heard twice this week from two differant knowledgeable sources that time of infection is now possible. Not sure of the details I go to the Dr. on Monday.
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline Miss Philicia

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  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #7 on: January 11, 2009, 01:26:08 am »
The reason I ruled out sexual contact is because they said according to the numbers I was infected after August 2008.

Really?  What are they basing this on?  A cd4 of 228 at 12% that soon after diagnosis would indicate an infection of many years.  My numbers were similar when diagnosed and they estimated 5 years.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline RapidRod

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #8 on: January 11, 2009, 02:12:43 am »
Vaccinations are done with disposable syringes and needles so you can take that one off your list. As to tell when one was actually infected to an actual date is a myth. All you need to concern yourself with is that you are poz and you have to move on with your life.

Offline Andy Velez

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2009, 08:47:28 am »
Big, it's very understandable that you want to know how it happened. However, you may never know. And pinpointing exactly when it happened is a very uncertain science. From what you have reported my guess, and it's only a guess of course, is that your infection happened much earlier than was estimated to you. But the most important thing as Rod said is that you get the proper care now and ongoing, to get and keep you as healthy as possible.

That includes having a doctor with whom you can form a good partnership to keep you healthy. And who regularly monitors your health and your numbers. Gradually you will learn what you need to know to stay healthy. It includes good nutrition, exercise, rest and working at avoiding stress as much as possible.

You're welcome here to ask questions and to discuss anything that's on your mind.

You've got this unexpected and challenging new reality to deal with. You'll find support and a lot of experience here that I expect will helpful to you.

Cheers.
Andy Velez

Offline Assurbanipal

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  • Taking a forums break, still see PM's
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2009, 11:00:40 am »
Hi BigK

It sounds like your initial results included some testing using STARHS -- which is designed to measure whether an infection is relatively recent (in the past 4 to 5 months). 

STARHS stands for Serologic Testing Algorithm for Recent HIV Seroconversion.  The CDC discusses STARHS here:  http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/other/timeline.htm.  CDC uses this test to measure how many HIV diagnoses are recent infections and how many represent late diagnoses; it's part of how they measure the (lack of) US progress in dealing with HIV.

The problem is that this test produces errors for some people.  The errors tend to cancel each other out when you look at a large group, so it works well for CDC purposes.  But the results are sometimes wrong for individuals.  (Can't find the paper with the error rate right now but recollect it was relatively high.)  You may just have been one of the people for whom the test erroneously shows a recent infection result.

You also ask if whether you got HIV by a vaccination would somehow make the infection more concentrated, since life expectancy for injection drug users is lower.  Don't worry about that.  There have been some studies that looked at why life expectancy is lower for injection drug users and the results indicated that it is usually due to:
 - greater difficulty sticking with a medication schedule and
 - on average, being poorer with fewer resources to call on when things go wrong.
It's not because they were injected with a concentrated dose.

Finally, all this information about life expectancy and infection is about groups of people.  That's all very well and there's a lot we can learn from it to use in our personal situations.  But at this point you really need to concentrate on learning about how you can stay healthy. 

With a CD4 percent of 8% to 12% its a lot easier for you to get sick.  You need to be doing all the right things for your health.  Like Andy said, most important is a good doctor but also look to make sure you get enough sleep, eat nutritiously and relook at all of those hygiene habits from hand washing to food preparation and storage. 

Best wishes

Assurbanipal






5/06 VL 1M+, CD4 22, 5% , pneumonia, thrush -- O2 support 2 months, 6/06 +Kaletra/Truvada
9/06 VL 3959 CD4 297 13.5% 12/06 VL <400 CD4 350 15.2% +Pravachol
2007 VL<400, 70, 50 CD4 408-729 16.0% -19.7%
2008 VL UD CD4 468 - 538 16.7% - 24.6% Osteoporosis 11/08 doubled Pravachol, +Calcium/D
02/09 VL 100 CD4 616 23.7% 03/09 VL 130 5/09 VL 100 CD4 540 28.4% +Actonel (osteoporosis) 7/09 VL 130
8/09  new regimen Isentress/Epzicom 9/09 VL UD CD4 621 32.7% 11/09 VL UD CD4 607 26.4% swap Isentress for Prezista/Norvir 12/09 (liver and muscle issues) VL 50
2010 VL UD CD4 573-680 26.1% - 30.9% 12/10 VL 20
2011 VL UD-20 CD4 568-673 24.7%-30.6%
2012 VL UD swap Prezista/Norvir for Reyataz drop statin CD4 768-828 26.7%-30.7%
2014 VL UD - 48
2015 VL 130 Moved to Triumeq

Offline BigK

  • Member
  • Posts: 12
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2009, 01:29:56 pm »
One more question about timeline. I understand what you guys are saying dont worry about when, but the treatment now.

But.. If I was infected years ago (actually I would have an easier time with this then) does the seroconversion always happen shortly after infection. Due to my hospital stay in Oct 08 I would think thats when the seroconversion was due to all the classic symptoms. Also in the hospital the first HIV test was negative, the second (with viral load was positive.) So, if I was infected for years should not both tests have been positive???
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline U1195

  • Member
  • Posts: 24
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #12 on: January 11, 2009, 02:59:00 pm »
hallo Big K,
I think you have an important point to argue judicially and it is:
if the first test was negative,then you should have not had die
infection along time ago! So your infection period must be less than
3 months before for the first test or even just about 6 weeks.
In this case the doctor has to prove that the test was wrongly done
and that was why the first test was negative.

But donot  too optimistic. The vaccination you did also causes your
body to produce antibodies and you could as well result in the flu like symptoms.
During seroconversion,antibodies are produced and the same thing
happends with a vaccination

Offline Assurbanipal

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  • Taking a forums break, still see PM's
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #13 on: January 11, 2009, 06:31:06 pm »
Hi BigK

Lots of people seroconvert without symptoms, so what put you in the hospital need not have been seroconversion illness. That could have been a long time ago without your noticing it.  And some vaccines are not safe for poz folks.  If you got a "live vaccine" like the flu mist, it could well have made you seriously ill with the flu.

Don't think you had mentioned the negative HIV test before.  That does seem like a puzzler, especially since your CD4 percents are pretty low for someone who was just infected.   Maybe you should write up what tests you took when, the dates of your girlfriend's last negative test (is it possible she tested in the window period?) and then go over it with your Infectious Diseases doc.  If there is another clinic out there reusing needles the public health folks probably need to figure that out.  But you may just have gotten one of those very rare "false negatives". 

More importantly for you, that might help you focus your attention on moving ahead with how to improve your own health.

Best wishes




5/06 VL 1M+, CD4 22, 5% , pneumonia, thrush -- O2 support 2 months, 6/06 +Kaletra/Truvada
9/06 VL 3959 CD4 297 13.5% 12/06 VL <400 CD4 350 15.2% +Pravachol
2007 VL<400, 70, 50 CD4 408-729 16.0% -19.7%
2008 VL UD CD4 468 - 538 16.7% - 24.6% Osteoporosis 11/08 doubled Pravachol, +Calcium/D
02/09 VL 100 CD4 616 23.7% 03/09 VL 130 5/09 VL 100 CD4 540 28.4% +Actonel (osteoporosis) 7/09 VL 130
8/09  new regimen Isentress/Epzicom 9/09 VL UD CD4 621 32.7% 11/09 VL UD CD4 607 26.4% swap Isentress for Prezista/Norvir 12/09 (liver and muscle issues) VL 50
2010 VL UD CD4 573-680 26.1% - 30.9% 12/10 VL 20
2011 VL UD-20 CD4 568-673 24.7%-30.6%
2012 VL UD swap Prezista/Norvir for Reyataz drop statin CD4 768-828 26.7%-30.7%
2014 VL UD - 48
2015 VL 130 Moved to Triumeq

Offline madbrain

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #14 on: January 12, 2009, 06:46:16 am »
Really?  What are they basing this on?  A cd4 of 228 at 12% that soon after diagnosis would indicate an infection of many years.  My numbers were similar when diagnosed and they estimated 5 years.

That's only a guess based on statistics. My bf had a CD4 of 300 and 13% (AIDS diagnosis) 6 months after his last HIV negative test. The fact is that HIV progresses at different speed in different individuals based largely on genetic makeup, and right now we don't know who progresses at what rate because we just don't have a good enough understanding of the genetic markers that make someone progress fast or slowly. So there is no way to definitely backdate the infection based on the numbers with the current state of science. The only sure thing is having regular HIV tests.

Offline markaj

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  • Posts: 80
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #15 on: February 07, 2009, 08:48:31 am »
Madbrain's definitely right.  At diagnosis I had similar numbers to his partner, my first CD4 was 230 and 9%.  This was only about 4 weeks after last testing negative, so I definitely would take their estimates of infection dates with a pinch of salt.
Infected Jan 08 / diagnosed Feb 08
Feb 08 - CD4 230 (9%) VL 3.5 million
Mar 08 - CD4 440 (6%) VL 660.000
Apr 08 - CD4 420 (11%) VL 3 million
Jun 08 - CD4 200 (7%) VL 3 million
Started Kaletra/Truvada Jul 08
Jul 08  - CD4 250 (14%) VL 23.893
Aug 08 - CD4 410 (15%)  VL 4.313
Switched to Sustiva/Truvada Aug 08
Switched to Reyataz/Norvir/Truvada Sep 08
Diagnosed with Hep C, HIV meds stopped for a bit
Nov 08 - CD4 414 (12%) VL 500.000+
Started Isentress/Truvada Nov 2008
Dec 08 - CD4 381 (17%) VL 1.116
Jan 09 - CD4 534 (20%) VL <50
Started Interferon/Ribavirin Jan 09
Feb 09 - CD4 407 (24%) VL <50
Mar 09 - CD4 360 (28%) VL <50
Apr 09 - CD4 279 (30%) VL <50
Jun 09 - CD4 298 (36%) VL <50
Aug 09 - CD4 303 (35%) VL <50

Offline Inchlingblue

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2009, 06:11:48 pm »
Re: HIV progression, I've always read that soon after initial infection, CD4s go way down and viral load goes way up before those numbers begin to stabilize.....after the numbers stabilize, individuals can usually live with the virus and be asymptomatic for several years.....I know that every individual is different but this is what seems to happen as a general rule (i.e. with most individuals).... I've read this in several respected HIV/AIDS sites, and this is also what I was told by my doctor who has been treating people with HIV since the 1980s.....wouldn't this explain the kind of numbers BigK and others have reported soon after infection?

Offline mpositive

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #17 on: February 12, 2009, 09:25:27 pm »
Gotta tell you, it sounds to me like you had an Acute HIV Infection.  I just recently went through the same thing.  In my case, my VL was 300k Plus, but my CD4 count started real high at 1290.  The doctors were puzzled at first, because normally the CD4 count does drop a lot lower.  Right now I am at 584. 
Anyhow, they were pretty precise about the timeline, so those of you that say it is not possible, well it actually is.  I got this from an ex-girlfriend I had one night with, totally unprotected.  I can see they were accurate about the timeline as I had not any sexual contact for many many months prior to that.  Basically, between when my symptoms started and my encounter was a few weeks and was in line with an Acut HIV Infection. 

Hang in there man, it's a scary road, but I am starting to see the light.
M

Offline madbrain

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2009, 09:57:18 pm »
Re: HIV progression, I've always read that soon after initial infection, CD4s go way down and viral load goes way up before those numbers begin to stabilize.....after the numbers stabilize, individuals can usually live with the virus and be asymptomatic for several years.....I know that every individual is different but this is what seems to happen as a general rule (i.e. with most individuals).... I've read this in several respected HIV/AIDS sites, and this is also what I was told by my doctor who has been treating people with HIV since the 1980s.....wouldn't this explain the kind of numbers BigK and others have reported soon after infection?

It didn't explain it for my bf. His first VL was actually low, only 4000, even though he had 13% and 300 CD4, 6 months after last HIV- test. In a few more months, his % went down to 9. the CD4 to 230, and VL up to 30,000, and he had to start meds before 1 year after his last neg test. It was already dangerous for the doc to have let it go down that low.

Offline madbrain

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #19 on: February 13, 2009, 10:01:39 pm »
m,

Gotta tell you, it sounds to me like you had an Acute HIV Infection.  I just recently went through the same thing.  In my case, my VL was 300k Plus, but my CD4 count started real high at 1290.  The doctors were puzzled at first, because normally the CD4 count does drop a lot lower.  Right now I am at 584. 
Anyhow, they were pretty precise about the timeline, so those of you that say it is not possible, well it actually is.  I got this from an ex-girlfriend I had one night with, totally unprotected.  I can see they were accurate about the timeline as I had not any sexual contact for many many months prior to that.  Basically, between when my symptoms started and my encounter was a few weeks and was in line with an Acut HIV Infection. 

All we are saying is that it's not possible to backdate only from your CD4 and VL numbers, since everybody's progression is different. If you had few sex partners and you know the exact dates and risks you took, then then that's additional information you can use in combination with the numbers to get at the right answer. But the numbers alone often cannot help.



Offline mecch

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #20 on: February 21, 2009, 11:35:23 am »
My HIV Specialist explained that, depending on the tests done, it is sometime very possible to back date an HIV infection. If the patient presents with seroconversion symptoms, or for any reason actually visits a specialist who suspects HIV.  If this patient is HIV antibody negative, and there is a P24 Antigen test done, which shows HIV present, and then a few days or weeks later is HIV antibody positive, that means pretty well sure that the infection was in the last few weeks.

Just saying.  And yes, this has nothing what so ever to with viral loads or percentages.
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline mecch

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #21 on: February 21, 2009, 11:43:22 am »
And now, back to the original poster's situation.

Here is news story in a reputable source about the Las Vegas scare.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123371129728046131.html

If, sir, you were injected at one of those two clinics mentioned, pursue the trail. 

I had thought ambulance chasing lawyers were all over the client lists but perhaps not. 
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline BigK

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #22 on: February 22, 2009, 02:32:50 pm »
Thanks Meech for getting this back on track. I look at this post from time to time, but stopped when all the "experts" here were saying time line and getting infected by a vaccination were impossible. I will leave that to the real "experts." I do know what happened and what my experience has been so far and thats all that matters. After a few weeks on Atripla my CD4 count is up to 250 after dipping to 168, VL is about 250 as well.
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline BigK

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #23 on: February 22, 2009, 05:58:14 pm »
So, I just posted my Numbers. Dr. is pleased, I am too I think. Dr. says should be undetectable by April or May. I was happy with the cell count jump and %. What do you guys think ???
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

Offline mecch

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  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #24 on: February 23, 2009, 12:11:51 pm »
looks good and most important I hope you are feeling better on the medicine!
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline BigK

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Re: Starting out with AIDS
« Reply #25 on: April 08, 2009, 10:00:43 pm »
Got some new numbers and recently moved. When I was in Colorado I would have my CD4 count the next day and the viral load in about 4 days. Well until my insurance kicks in (which is why I moved among other reasons) I went to the local health dept. What a differance, it only took them 3 weeks to get my results back, and noone knows why I didnt get the % with the CD4 count. I was happy I went undetectable in two months but disappointed that my cells went back down. I did and still do have new job stress, long hours and all the things that come from moving 2000 miles. I guess I am hoping thats the reason, I do feel good, so ....
Infected Aug. 2008
Oct. 2008 VL 1,400,000
12/08/2008 VL- 30400  CD4 228 12%
1/07/2009 VL- 23300 CD4 192 8%
1/12/2009 Started Atripla
1/26/2009 VL 248 CD4 168 14%
2/06/09 VL 190 CD4 252 18%
3/17/09 VL <75 CD4 142  % ?
6/15/09 VL <50 CD4 212 26%
10/15/2009 VL<50 CD4 219 25%
2/8/2010 VL 1880 CD4 269 29%
3/8/2010 VL 1140 CD4 224 26%
5/15/2010 Started Truvada, Norvir, Reyataz
5/30/2010 VL 1600 CD4 248
6/15/2010 VL <48 CD4 226
9/13/2010 VL <48 CD4 275 24%
12/02/2010 VL <48 CD4 283 22%
03/01/2011 VL <48 CD4 256 25%

 


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