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Author Topic: Stribild and increasing numbers  (Read 4569 times)

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Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Stribild and increasing numbers
« on: October 09, 2013, 08:40:27 pm »
So my partner got his labs back and his CD4 dropped from 288 to 214 and weren't from UD to 53\ml he's freaking out but the positive that came out of this is his percentage went up.

He's in bed refuses to move, he was on atripla before and all he keeps saying is he's going back.

I fear that my numbers will have declined to because I'm sure we have the same strain and its been a rough three months on me. I've had two major surgeries in the last 2 months. Which leads me to think stress will be my factor.

I'm a bit bummed out and I'm trying to be strong for him, but I can't be strong all the time and my doctor gave me anxiety pill and advised to see a mmental health specialist.

I'm loosing it.......
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline jkinatl2

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,007
  • Doo. Dah. Dipp-ity.
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2013, 09:21:15 pm »
First off, remember to breathe.

Secondly, your partner's test results were not bad. Your CD4 count can fluctuate WILDLY from day to day, and even enough on the same day to notice. It is not uncommon to see a variation of 50 or more.

What sometimes helps to mitigate this is making sure that your blood is always drawn under the same conditions. Same food (or lack thereof), same time of day.

As for the viral load, in many places 50 is considered UD. This might be a blip, If it starts to be a common thing, or gets worse over the coming months, then yes, perhaps it' worth loking into changing drugs. But it's not worth stressing over right now. Keeping an eye on? Sure. Stressing? Nope.

As far as having the same strain goes, it matters very little (if at all) at this point. YOUR virus has mutated in ways your partner's has not, to make itself more effective in YOUR system, with your unique immune physiology.

You can't predict your own situation by watching your partners'.

I hope you guys hang in there, and try to work on that anxiety.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2013, 09:56:06 pm »
Jkinatl2,


Thank you for the reply! Its just tough that he's down and I tried to tell him the same that it's not bad. That he's much better off then were he was. I just since having this ive have had nothing but issues.

But I will remember to breathe and take your advice. Thanks so very much!
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline aaware72

  • Member
  • Posts: 226
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2013, 11:40:39 am »
Hi

My partner and I tested positive back in January of this year.  I am on Stirbild and he is on Complera.  I have a resistance to rilpivirine.  My CD4 was 230 when I had my first blood work done and it has been as high of 474 and during my last blood work in August It was 414.  It is my understanding that this can fluctuated by 100 point, according to my ID.  I have been UD since May with a VL of <20.  My last blood work in August my VL came back at 55. My doctor said that it is normal to have these "blimps"

Have you guys spoken to your ID?  I'm sure your doctors will tell you the same thing.  Not to worry as you see I'm having similar experience here as your partner. I understand the fear and wanting to withdraw it will be okay.  Take the advice of our doctor and go talk to a counselor.  Being able to talk to someone in person in most cases helps a lot.   
"Yes, knowledge is power. Self-knowledge brings mastery of one's body."

Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2013, 02:41:17 pm »
Thank you we will take your advice and speak to a counselor. I know blips can happen he was just on a roll. He was previously on atripla and grew tired of the side effects. In 3 months on atripla he went from 94 CD4 to 288 CD4 VL of 218,000 to UD. So he expects those results. I guess we were both naive.
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline wolfthorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 88
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #5 on: October 10, 2013, 11:25:48 pm »
I'm really jealous of those numbers  :)

I am going to have my new bloods drawn on Monday and I am scared because I love stribild. it's great for my digestion, I don't feel any confusion, i feel great on it. i want to continue it for a long time, from a side-effects perspective. i also got it all worked out with my insurance so i only pay 40 bucks a month. i just hope it's not too good to be true.
7/10/13: Oraquick at Home (+)
7/11/13: CD4 <20, VL 286,000
7/26/13: Start Stribild, Bactrim, Azithromycin
8/13/13: CD4 64, VL 1194
9/11/13: CD4 87, VL 511
10/14/13: CD4 164, VL 34
10/15/13: Stop Azithromycin!

Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #6 on: October 10, 2013, 11:30:41 pm »
I'm really jealous of those numbers  :)

I am going to have my new bloods drawn on Monday and I am scared because I love stribild. it's great for my digestion, I don't feel any confusion, i feel great on it. i want to continue it for a long time, from a side-effects perspective. i also got it all worked out with my insurance so i only pay 40 bucks a month. i just hope it's not too good to be true.

Go to Stribild website there is a COPAY ASSIST card that takes care of that co pay for you. I'm using it and that's $480 I save a year toput ttowards mounting medical bills  ;D

I think its gileadcopay(dot)com
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #7 on: October 10, 2013, 11:32:40 pm »
You should be fine, I get my lab results back Monday so I'm nervous and excited at the same time.

Where are you from? If you don't mind me asking
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline wolfthorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 88
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #8 on: October 10, 2013, 11:42:23 pm »
i'm in new york

Yeah, I saw that, I made 58k last year so I am ineligible... granted, after manhattan taxes I should be, but i'm happy the program exists and I might need it in the future. 

the bad news is that i'm spending more on food... the good news is because it's because i'm eating more and i've put on 16 pounds... i want more muscle but i'm happy not to be emaciated.

If stribild works and i stay on it my big plan is to wait for them to start selling it for india for pennies. once my cd4 are high enough (too dangerous to go under 200 IMO) I'm going to go and buy 6 bottles. This way I can bridge myself through any potential change in employment or insurance.

I'm really scared about any sort of job change now because of changes in my insurance. it's such a bad system!
7/10/13: Oraquick at Home (+)
7/11/13: CD4 <20, VL 286,000
7/26/13: Start Stribild, Bactrim, Azithromycin
8/13/13: CD4 64, VL 1194
9/11/13: CD4 87, VL 511
10/14/13: CD4 164, VL 34
10/15/13: Stop Azithromycin!

Offline wolfthorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 88
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2013, 11:45:40 pm »
that's how i feel before my test results. my dr puts them on a website and i am always refreshing it. i even have dreams now about it. once i had a dream that i had 800 cd4. it was pretty sweet.  who knows, maybe some day in the future after lots of iStribildPlus it could happen.
7/10/13: Oraquick at Home (+)
7/11/13: CD4 <20, VL 286,000
7/26/13: Start Stribild, Bactrim, Azithromycin
8/13/13: CD4 64, VL 1194
9/11/13: CD4 87, VL 511
10/14/13: CD4 164, VL 34
10/15/13: Stop Azithromycin!

Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #10 on: October 10, 2013, 11:46:31 pm »
That's my situation right now, my job insurance is awesome and I would hate to lose it but its to stressful for me. But the thought of going to a different company or even some place that doesn't offer benefits scares the hell out of me.

Are you seeing your private doc or going to a clinic?
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline wolfthorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 88
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2013, 11:52:56 pm »
i have a private doc, he's pretty cool, the office is really close to my apartment and I can often run there from work in 10 minutes. his computer puts orders right into CVS and the mail order pharmacy so it's pretty streamlined. how about you?

i know, keeping working through the stress has sucked, though it's good that i've been healthy enough to work, so i should be happy.

2 days after i got the poz result (still in a state of shock with panic attacks etc) i had this psychotic boss grind me down and call me a moron for some thing we work on that's chronically messed up because she's a nutjob. i almost wanted to run right out of there but I held my cool. last week she was like, well you are much more calm the last time this project came up, i'm like, oh...thanks?? (bi*tch if you knew!)

7/10/13: Oraquick at Home (+)
7/11/13: CD4 <20, VL 286,000
7/26/13: Start Stribild, Bactrim, Azithromycin
8/13/13: CD4 64, VL 1194
9/11/13: CD4 87, VL 511
10/14/13: CD4 164, VL 34
10/15/13: Stop Azithromycin!

Offline marcmoral16

  • Member
  • Posts: 101
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #12 on: October 11, 2013, 12:46:18 am »
I actually go to the center for comprehensive care known now as The Spencer Cox Center for Health. They are all ID Doctors and they specialize in HIV/AIDS Patients. Everything under one roof its pretty awesome!

Work I'm a supervisor for a major telecom and its super hard on me. I try to manage stress pretty good but with having three surgeries this year alone and dealing with work has been tough. I reallyshould see a mmental health specialist, but hard to with everything going on.
Tested Positive Jan 16 2013
CD4 119 6% VL 23980
Started Complera Feb 2013
March CD4 199 9% VL 1000
May CD4 255 12% VL 334
June CD4 284 15% VL 172
Switched to Stribild middle June 2013
July CD4 325 22% VL 51
October CD4 341 23% VL UD!!
Jan 2014 CD4 343 20% VL <20
July 2014 CD4 450 26% VL <20
December 2014 491 26% still UD!

Offline wolfthorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 88
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #13 on: October 11, 2013, 08:31:06 am »
I was initially thinking that I just needed to deal with my "physical health" and i would be fine. But now I realize I was making a mistake. My life is more than two numbers. Going to the therapist help me deal with the stress better.  I am sure there's one at the center.
7/10/13: Oraquick at Home (+)
7/11/13: CD4 <20, VL 286,000
7/26/13: Start Stribild, Bactrim, Azithromycin
8/13/13: CD4 64, VL 1194
9/11/13: CD4 87, VL 511
10/14/13: CD4 164, VL 34
10/15/13: Stop Azithromycin!

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Stribild and increasing numbers
« Reply #14 on: October 11, 2013, 05:32:17 pm »
CD4 gain is a long game, and in the meantime you can either mooch around or get on with doing stuff you want to do.

- matt (CD4 181 to 600+ in 9 years) the newt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

 


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