POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: lifechanging2007 on February 13, 2007, 05:08:10 am
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Dear all,
How are you doing? well my first set of LAB tests are here and honestly they don't look really promissing. What do you think? I have a meeting with my Doctor tonight so don't know what he will tell me but I need your feedback too.
VIRAL LOAD 542,000 HIV-1 RNA COPIES/ML
LYMPHOCYTES 29% 1595 CELL/uL
CD4+ T LYMPHOCYTES (CD4+, CD3+) 245 CELL/uL
CD8+ T LYMPHOCYTES (CD8+, CD3+) 1011 CELL/uL
CD4+ = 15.36%
CD8+ = 63.4%
CD4/CD8 = 0.24
What do you think? I mean I am newly infected, is it normal that my CD4 are 245? and my CD4 % is 15.36% please I need your feedback
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Your numbers would suggest starting treatment to me, but others will say wait and see what the trend is. I've read it here often that recently infected people have high viral loads that eventually taper off to some level, so the CD4 would seem to be the one for concern. Below 350, start meds seems to be the new mantra. Good luck!
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My numbers were 17,000/384 and he wants me to start meds. Others have advised me to discuss waiting for another set of labs. Need to discuss that with him
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You're numbers are shaky, are you sure you've been recently infected? Could it not be an older infection? You could wait a month and test again and see if they bounce back. But you're kniocking on trouble's door right now. You may need to start. Is you doctor an HIV specialist? If so and he is experienced, it may pay to listen. Sorry the numbers came up crummy. This disease definitely sucks, and not in a good way.
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Whatever you do dont panic. I know its hard not to but take some deep breaths and wait until you talk to your doctor. ;)
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Hi Life,
Your numbers are totally consistant with primary infection. You need to keep an eye on them in the coming months, when your VL will start to come down and your CD4s will start to go up. There is no need to panic right now. It is very possible that you could go for years without meds, but you'll never know if you jump on the med bandwagon after one set of results, especially in primary infection. Give your body a chance to adjust.
Hang in there...
Ann
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My question too you is how do you know you just became infected with the virus? Have you been tested in the past? prior to these labs, & testing pos. what has the time span been? If you choose not to disclose that's cool. My concern is lots of individuals are becoming sick, prior to being tested, and as a rule of thumb, it's like not becoming infected, and showing signs immediately after exposure. Taking medications is a personal choice / decision. Being honest with ones self is critical in this area. For me
since I've not experienced low cd4 (less then 400) ever, or off the wall viral loads (nothing greater then 100 copies).
For me my current Dr. would perfer that I discontinue all medications and see how my body responds. I'm not their yet, though taking medications for the better part of 20 yrs. certainly has it's disadvantages as well. What I'm hearing from healthcare providers they like too start treatment cd4 < 300, they use to wait till 200 or <less, again for me treatment started long before specific guidelines were placed into affect. Suggestion go to the C.D.C.s website, and see what information they have posted.
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Dear Healthiepoz,
I was tested in March 2006 and the results were negative.
I had a risky situation during may 2006/septembre 2006 so the window time of my infection should be around from 6 to 9 months ago. It is still considered acute infection right?
I agree with Ann (that i really thank by the way) and my doctor told me to wait couple of months before starting the meds i have a test next month so let's hope my numbers will be better.
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Hey there .. I am a service provider in CA ... San Francisco to be exact ... and it sounds to me like you are in Primary Infection ... it is usual to see VL's spike high and CD4's be low .. but it can vary from person to person ... I am not sure that beginning meds now is the right thing .... perhaps your provider will have you wait a month or so and get new labs done to see if there is some leveling off. In the meantime, you are most welcome to contact me at my office ... 415-615-9945 or my cell 415-424-9102 .. I am Ed .. and anything I can do to help/ support you in this some what scary and seemingly alone time I am happy to do .. You are in my thoughts ...
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Hey ED,
well this is exactly why I always wanted a chance to live in the states (and now i blew it) it's because people like you.Here in my country (Lebanon) we barely have two doctors that treat HIV people and there is no such thing as hiv+ group therapy or meeting like in the states. I thank you for giving me your phone number and assistance i would like to stay in touch so if you could provide me with your email address you can send me emails to
lifechanging2007@hotmail.com
newbreath2007@yahoo.com
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Lifechang,
Good morning...
I certainly will keep you in my thoughts... and most certainly do hope to see your numbers increase.. wouldn't want too see anything less!! :-) be kind, loving, and gental with yourself... hugs!!
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Life, now that you've clarified the time frame during which you were infected and it was so relatively recent, I also agree that it's worth getting results for a few months more before making a decision to go on meds.
As for having blown the op to come to the States, there's beginning to be a movement to change that law. It won't happen right away of course, but I do see it as possible we will get that onerous law lifted, especially if the Democrats remain in power after next year's election.
Keep us posted on how you're doing.
Cheers,
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Above all have a doctor you trust and can talk to.