That feeling something is not going well...

[Kangaroo]

Hey friends.

How are you doing?
Hope you are fine and healthy.

There are almost 4 years since I figured out I am living with HIV. I started the treatment very early and got good results very soon.

For three years I had no health issues.
Also, I started to make my life healthier, I exercise, I care about what I eat, what I drink. I started to date and I am living a 'calm' life, and in 2020, despite this COVID madness, I got a job opportunity and I moved to a new city.

Being in a new job and moving to a new city was a thing that put me under so much pressure, I kept taking the ART every day. I must confess, some days I took the med around the regular time, but not exactly at the same time, but I have never failed. No more unsafe sex practices too.

This December I made my regular exams... My absolute CD4 dropped from 807 to 650, the relative raised to 39%. I read some threads here for not assuming anything from this, as this count can fluctuate (despite the huge drop, I was trying to be ok with it), but the results of my VL count hasn't been sent to me, so I went to the lab and they requested another blood sample, for they couldn't give a conclusive result with the first sample.

Have you ever experienced such a situation?

I feel down and insecure, I feel that I am failing in some part but I am trying to be prepared for whatever comes, including recovery therapy.

Have you ever faced such a situation?

I know I might be overthinking, but I would be very glad if you could share your experiences.

[Jim Allen]

Hiya.

Sorry to hear that you are under pressure and feeling down at the moment.
 
Congrats on the new job though   I've moved for jobs between countries in the past, can recall the stress it caused me sometimes.

My absolute CD4 dropped from 807 to 650, the relative raised to 39%. I read some threads here for not assuming anything from this, as this count can fluctuate (despite the huge drop, I was trying to be ok with it), but the results of my VL count hasn't been sent to me, so I went to the lab and they requested another blood sample, for they couldn't give a conclusive result with the first sample.

Have you ever experienced such a situation?

Yeah, my CD4 counts have dropped with more than 300 between visits and I've had VL results in the past that redone, at least 4 times. Turned out to be fine of course, just lab errors.

BTW 39% is great, that's around average for an HIV negative person.   Anyhow hopefully the VL will come back soon and give you some peace of mind.

Best, Jim

https://i-base.info/ttfa/section-1/9-interpreting-cd4-results-cd4-count-and-cd4-percentage/

[Tonny2]

            ojo            HELLO KANGAROO...I, LIKE JIM AND YOU, HAVE HAD BLOOD WORK REDONE, SO, DO NOT WORRY, YOU ARE GOING TO BE OK...I'M GLAD YOU HAVE A NEW MOVE AND JOB, I GUESS IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO CHANGE THE ROUTINE, I HOPE IT IS FOR THE BEST AND IT IS UNDERSTANABLE YOU ARE FEELING STRESS, THAT MEANS YOU ARE ALIVE AND GOOD.

OH MY FRIEND!, WITH THAT %, I WOULD BE JUMPING OF JOY, IT IS A GTRAT %, SO RELAX AND TRY TO KEEP BUSY, IT IS DECEMNER AND LOTS OF PEOPLE GET THE WINTER BLUES...IN MY CASE, MY % IS 33, CD4 BETWEEN 600 AND 800, AFTER LIVING WITH AIDS FOR FIVE MORE YEARS AFTER MY AIDS DX, CD4 20, THEN ZERO FOR FIVE MORE YEARS, II ALMOST DIED THREE TIMES, THEN, I STARTED A NEW TREATMENT AND FINALLY, MY CD4 WENT UP TO 361, NEVER GOT TO UD, THEN WENT BACK TO TREATMENT FAILURE, I WAS SENT BACK HOME TO WAIT FOR AN OI TO KILL ME, THEN I WAS OFFERED A "SALVAGE TREATMENT" WHICH I STARTED ON JANUARY 2007, CD4 WENT FROM 56 TO 360 AND FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MY DX IN 1994, I GOT TO UD, I HAVE BEEN TAKEN THE SAME TREATMENT FOR 13 YEARS AND I AM STILL UD. MY POINT, I KNOW HOW YOU ARE FEELING, THERE IS HOPE...NO TE APURES PA'QUE DURES (DO MOT WORRY) WAIT FOR THE VL RESULTS AND YOU WILL BE STILL UD....P;EASE KEEP US POSTED....ABRAZOS

[Kangaroo]

Thank you very much for your support guys, it made me feel much better.

I got my results and I am Undetectable.

Next stage will be talking to my doc about the possibility of switching to a 2 drug ART.

Wish you all the best!