Latest Labs...

[Blixer]

I realize that eventually getting a set of labs will be second nature and basically a non-event.  But just going on meds 8 weeks ago and having all of the problems I've had I want to see that it has been worth it.  After dropping the abacavir and replacing it with Videx EX my pain has gradually lessened. I'm still having some minor to moderate pain in the hands, ankles, and feet mostly, but for now I can endure it.  My first set of labs after 4 weeks on meds pleased me greatly (actually 18 days on and 10 days off).  But I'm a bit disappointed in my 8 week labs.  At 8 weeks (after 3 weeks of being back on the meds), my CD4 count was 574 down from 640 4 weeks earlier.  The CD4 percentage was 18%, down from 22% 4 weeks earlier.  I had hoped my viral load would be undetectable, but it was 414, down from 606 four weeks before.  I guess my biggest fear is that in stopping the meds like we did the first time that there was a possibility of some resistance developing.  And then I've also read someplace that Videx EC when combined with Sustiva and Epivir has one of the higher rates of virologic failure.  Can't find where I read that now.

[blondbeauty]

I have read it can take 3 months to get an undetectable viral load...Anyway the treatment seems to be working.
Hugs!

[Markmt]

Hi Dave, like Juan said you got to get some more Lab results to know where you are going.. I agure that the new treatment will work better for you, keep us posted,

take care,

mark

[pozniceguy]

Be patient......It took me nearly 2 years to remain undetectable consistently... and there are still occasional spikes ..all sorts of factors come into play..as long as you are not consistently "sick" the numbers will take a while to stabilize....the key indicator  as far as I am concerned is the  CD %..as long as it keeps rising you are doing OK    The undetectable part means <50 in the viral load testing......you may or may not reach that stage.. but if the CD% rises that is what really counts.

[Life]

Hi there David... As the boys above have echoed, "patience"...  I know it was ruff out of the gate and that your worry is genuine given that fact..  This is the part of your novel that may not be as exciting related to figures.   Purhaps back off from the research a tad and trust that the approach is right..

Love You Always!

[HIVworker]

There are several phases to the decrease of viral load on HAART. There is a first rapid phase that is linked to the death of HIV infected cells that have a very short half-life. This rate changes to a second phase of viral load decrease with a longer half-life. This second phase half-life can be 20 days. There is a final decrease that is VERY slow and this is the clearance of the latent pool. We can't measure anything after that because we can't get rid of the latent pool. The half-life of the latent pool is years. So while you can experience a rapid drop of virus in the first few weeks, this rate of decrease will slow as the second pool of HIV cells are killed off...and that is why your numbers continue to come down slowly. So don't worry too much about it. The viral load is going down and that's always good news!

Keep up the good work and keep checking with your doctor!

Best,

R

[newt]

Sustiva/Videx EC/3TC is a perfectly viable combo.

Perhaps you have heard something about Viread/Videx/3TC, or some other 3-nuke combination, which have mostly & rightly got a bad press.

Sustiva is a non-nuke, so your combo meets the tried & tested the rule of thumb  for first-line therapy of 3 drugs from at least 2 classes.

You have effectively been on meds for 3 weeks, and a viral load of 414 at that point is a very good sign.

- matt

[Blixer]

Thanks for the input.  I know a decrease from 66,000 to 414 is a fantastic decrease. I was just hoping to be undetectable after 8 weeks even with the 3 week break in there.  I'll just wait for the next bloodwork 7 weeks away and see what the news is then.