Updates

[arber_B]

a brief background:
I was diagnosed the first week of October and I was on Biktarvy on October 9th.
Initial numbers CD4: 456 and 19%, VL 239.
November 26th: CD4 638 and 28%, VL UD <20.

However, the tests on Nov 26th should high levels of my AST (68) and ALT (166) liver enzymes.

My doctor thought that I should stay on Biktarvy, and to redo the test in a week which I did. Then my numbers were still high. However, ALT dropped to 91 but AST went up to 117.
My doctor told me that these two enzymes usually peak on HIV meds but she's suspected that they will go back to normal. I redid the test last Tuesday and both are within normal ranges (higher than before the treatment, but normal).

Thank you all for your encouraging words and help when I was driving myself crazy!

[Expat1]

I had a spike in these numbers about my 5th month on ARVs.   They spiked for about 6 weeks and returned to normal.  I was worried but doctor said it was common.  He was vigilant about testing for the next few weeks.  Said if it went to 5 times normal he would be very concerned, and if to 10 times normal time for different medicines or switch out the ones that were likely responsible, or go off meds till normal (while under supervision and only brieftly.)

Hang in there.

[Jim Allen]

Glad to hear all was fine.

Best, Jim

[harleymc]

YAY!

Live long enough and you'll accumulate a few test results that are off the scale.

I'm 34 years into this journey, the latest weird one for me, is cholesterol that is unmeasurably high, literally of the scale,  So we'll see next time around as my previous tests have been in healthy range.

It's amazing what a few months will do or a different lab etc etc

[JosephP]

a brief background:
I was diagnosed the first week of October and I was on Biktarvy on October 9th.
Initial numbers CD4: 456 and 19%, VL 239.
November 26th: CD4 638 and 28%, VL UD <20.

However, the tests on Nov 26th should high levels of my AST (68) and ALT (166) liver enzymes.

My doctor thought that I should stay on Biktarvy, and to redo the test in a week which I did. Then my numbers were still high. However, ALT dropped to 91 but AST went up to 117.
My doctor told me that these two enzymes usually peak on HIV meds but she's suspected that they will go back to normal. I redid the test last Tuesday and both are within normal ranges (higher than before the treatment, but normal).

Thank you all for your encouraging words and help when I was driving myself crazy!

Don't worry, mate! These spikes while terrifying seem to be normal occurrence as our bodies deal with the hiv.. I had a spike in my VL about 6 months after initiating treatment, and I panicked. My ID Dr. told me not to worry but you can just imagine how could I do that... I had the tests repeated about a week later and that was the longest week waiting for the results.... Then I got a call from the doctor telling me that everything was just fine... But for added security she had requested the tests to be completed again and by a different lab. All was fine... But talk about stress! Don't drive yourself crazy. It is easy to do..