Genvoya - Question regarding first CD4 on medication

[Rebel41]

Recently diagnosed, likely long-term infection. 

Initial CD4 - 100/13%
Initial Viral load - 1 million

Post 4 weeks genvoya

CD4 - 370/23%
Viral load - 500

My questions -

1. Should I be optimistic with this response?
2. Is this normal on Genvoya?
3. Has anyone noted changes of this nature that can give me an idea of where the CD4 numbers go for the next 6-12 months?

Thanks!!!

Edit - older at 50; no coinfections; in good health otherwise.

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Welcome to the forum, glad to hear your on treatment.

1. Should I be optimistic with this response?

No you should be ecstatic. This is great, mind you the treatment does not increase your CD4 and the goal of the treatment is to suppress the VL (HIV) so you body can focus on "recovering" for lack of better word.

2. Is this normal on Genvoya?

Your VL dropped within 4 weeks from 1 million to 500, its great yes some suppress the VL very fast. My VL was higher that yours and when I started treatment it was UD 8 weeks (could have been 6 weeks I don't remember)

However some people take 6 months to reach undetectable, so your on track.

3. Has anyone noted changes of this nature that can give me an idea of where the CD4 numbers go for the next 6-12 months?

Nobody can predict CD4's and it really does not matter, its above 200 great and the key is your VL. Nothing you do will change your CD4's however you can suppress the HIV allowing the body to recover. CD4 will rise depending on the person and keep in mind CD4 is not a measurement of health it depends on so many factors, male / female / age etc etc including how many CD$ or what level is normal for you (Nobody knows).  The average HIV negative population has been 400 - 1500 +-

Anyhow wishing you all the best, your number are heading the in right direction so keep taking the meds and I hope to hear more from you on the forums.

Jim

Oh and here is some light reading:

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/starting-hiv-treatment
https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/newly-diagnosed

[Mightysure]

That's great.  Your VL plummeted by 5 orders of magnitude in only 4 weeks. That's amazing. 
There's no way to predict what your cd4 will do.  It changes throughout the day.  The percentage is a more reliable number over a long period of time and you're on the right track.  Your cd4 could climb or it could stagnate,  there's no way to know it because there's so many factors involved.

You caught it. You're on treatment and you're almost to UD with no opportunistic infections. So many aren't this fortunate. 

When I began Stribild my cd4 went up by 400 in one month. We're just so different.

[MrThankful]

CD4 counts can vary greatly. I was just diagnosed this past December, like you it is apparent I've had it over a decade. I'm going through chemo right now and my CD4 has been over 200 and, most recently, as low as 25.

Like others have mentioned, I wouldn't stress over the CD4 count...VL is crucial.

[Rebel41]

Thanks everyone for your kind replies.  I'm going to keep this thread going with updates as new labs are performed.

2 month data:

December 30
Initial CD4 - 100/13%
Initial Viral load - 1 million

Post 4 weeks Genvoya - Feb 9

CD4 - 370/23%
Viral load - 500

Post 8 weeks Genvoya - Mar 9

CD4 - 325/22%
Viral load - 225


Observation - happy to see VL going down, but a bit bummed not to see CD4 improve.  I surmise initial CD4 bump reflects massive drop in VL; the current likely variability.  Longer term trend will tell story, but I feel optimistic.

Any thoughts?

[Ptrk3]

Congratulations!  You're doing very well all around.  Your viral load is, essentially, undetectable, and your CD4's are well above 200.  At this point, maintaining an undetectable viral load should be your goal.  Don't worry about the CD4's:  they will take care of themselves.

Keep up the good work and live your life!

[Tonny2]

       OJO        HELLO REBEL41...CONGRATZ...DO NOT NEED TO WORRY, YOUR MED, OMG, JUST ONE PILL A DAY, GRRR!!, AND YOUR VL IS ALMOST UD, I ENVY YOU, GOOD ENVY THO, LOL...JUST KEEP DOING WHAT  YOU HAVE BEEN DOING, TAKING THE PILL, THERE IT IS AGAIN, ONE DAMN PILL A DAY, LOL, I TAKE FOUR TWICE A DAY, GGRRRR!!!, LOL...BEST OF LUCK, KEEP US POSTED PLEASE...HUGS                 OJO

[Bartlett]

Hang in there - you are doing great so far. Also on Genvoya and you can see from my signature that my CD4/% hasn't gone up drastically in 9 months on meds. Don't stress about it and remember that measurement is for one day at one specific time.

[paintedroom]

Hi, also on Genvoya and infrequently have that question come to mind.I went from 50000 to undetectable in one month,cd4 was 50 at diagnosis and 150 after those 4 weeks.I went back for another round of bloods about a month ago and didn`t bother ringing to find out my numbers..that might not be the wisest or bravest approach but i wanted a break from the HiV thinking.The Nurse did say that sometimes you can hit a plateau after a year although you might find many here disagreeing with that.I`m still at 100% adherence which is all important.

Best of luck.

[JosephP]

Hang in there! Numbers are where they need to be! I started on Stribild and when dx'd, in 2013, my cd4 was 198 and vl 78K. Became undetectable 6 weeks into treatment.. CD has going up steadily. ID Doctor is checking my cd4 counts only once a year now. Last check Feb 2017 over 600. For some people cds recover fast, for others slowly... Adhere to those drugs, boy and you will be ok.I switched to Genvoya a year ago... No problems whatsoever!