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Author Topic: Tested + in August  (Read 8204 times)

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Offline greg_atl

  • Member
  • Posts: 20
Tested + in August
« on: October 18, 2012, 07:20:21 pm »
Newbie here.. I test + back in august and was finally coming to terms of just being HIV +..saw my infectious disease Dr yesterday and was told that with a CD4 of 117 that this is consider AIDS..viral load of 168,2402..one eye opening thing he told me that if this had gone unchecked my mortality rate was roughly 3 yrs...but he reassured me that in time the Complara will get my numbers back in line..he also put me on Bactrim so that no infections will set in...this is a whole new world to adjust too...but I am great full that I ran across this website...
« Last Edit: October 18, 2012, 07:22:47 pm by greg_atl »
Logged
08-27-12 - Results came in as +
09-24-12 - Earliest Dr appt I could get. 7 Test tubes of blood
10-17-12- 2nd Dr visit.. started on Bactrim & Complara - 1 more blood test
CD4 - 117
CD 4 Helper - 10.6%
V/L - 168,240

Offline WindySkies

  • Member
  • Posts: 113
  • Tested + 10/11/12
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2012, 11:02:00 pm »
Take a look at the people that have been here for sometime.  At the bottom of their responses you will see their progression of their numbers after being diagnosed.  To say it's encouraging is an understatement!

Complera is one of the drugs I have been doing a lot of reading about, it will be interesting to see how well you do with it.
Logged
10/11/2012 Journey Started
10/17/2012 First Labs: VL=57,645  CD4+=730  37%
10/31/2012 Started Complera
11/30/2012 Labs: VL=80  CD4+=929 40%
12/24/2012 Started Stribild

Undetectable since 1/15/13 CD4+= Over 1,400 and 49%

Offline Jmarksto

  • Member
  • Posts: 667
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2012, 11:07:04 pm »
Greg; 

As a relative newbie myself, sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but a warm welcome to the forums.  I understand it being a new world - I have found that it is getting easier as time goes on and I take control of my health.

I wish you well, and again, welcome,

JM
Logged
03/15/12 Negative
06/15/12 Positive
07/11/12 CD4 790          VL 4,000
08/06/12 CD4 816/38%   VL 49,300
08/20/12 Started Complera
11/06/12 CD4   819/41% VL 38
02/11/13 CD4   935/41% VL UD
06/06/13 CD4   816/41% VL UD
10/28/13 CD4 1131/45% VL 25
02/25/14 CD4   792/37% VL UD
07/09/14 CD4 1004/39% VL UD
11/03/14 CD4   711/34% VL UD
03/13/15 CD4   833/36% VL UD
04/??/15 Truvada & Tivicay
06/01/15 CD4 1100/50% VL UD
10/16/15 CD4   826/43% VL UD
??/??/2017 Descov & Tivicay
2017 VL UD, CD4 stable around 850
2018 VL UD, CD4 stable around 850

Offline lostinthecorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 35
  • Don't look at me that way, look at me THIS way!
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2012, 11:24:43 pm »
Hi Greg,

As many say here, welcome to the forum... and sorry you've had to seek it out.

I'm a newbie too, diagnosed in September with sort of similar stats (I started with a CD4 count of 49 with a VL of nearly 1.2 Million... might have had a year left in me!)... I was on Bactrim as well, I hope you do ok with it - some people have reactions to it as I'm sure you've been told already... I was one of those so they switched me to Dapsone last week... and may be on it all winter.

I don't have specific advice other than to spend some time checking out the "Lessons" information on this site if you havent already... and do what you can to educate yourself on your new condition;  and of course take your meds and try not to get too stressed out.  You'll be ok.  Once the meds start doing their thing and you've adjusted to any side effects you might encounter you'll probably/hopefully find yourself feeling better than you have in a long time.  I certainly hadn't realized just how crappy I was feeling prior to starting treatment... it's eye-opening for sure.

You've definitely found a great resource in these forums though - there are a lot of very knowledgable, friendly, and supportive folks here.

Hope you're doing well, and welcome to the forums.
Logged
1/2014 - CD4 446 | HIV VL 157 (i was sick that week too!)
11/2013 - changed from Atripla to Complera (not from CD4 drop, because Sustiva makes me crazy!)
10/2013 - CD4 214 VL UD
9/2013 - CD4 276 VL UD
7/2013 - CD4 367 VL UD
4/8/13 - CD4 288/23% | HIV VL UD! | HBV VL 86
1/15/13 - CD4 239/21% | HIV VL 43 | HBV VL 2800
11/15/12 - VL 1,100 :)
10/27/12 - Switch to Atripla
10/15/12 - Changed from Bactrim to Dapsone
9/25/12 - Diag HBV+, CD4 49 CD4% 13.8  VL 1.2Mil
(started Norvir, Prezista, Truvada + Bactrim + Fluconazole)
9/21/12 - Diag HIV+

Offline wolfter

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,470
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2012, 01:00:20 am »
Welcome Greg.  Sorry you need to find us but we're all here to help and support each other.

There are many of us who were down to single digit CD4s and VL's in the millions and are now thriving. 

Take care and best wishes.

Wolfie
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Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline greg_atl

  • Member
  • Posts: 20
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2012, 07:27:36 am »
Thanks to everyone who took time to reply.  3 days of meds so far and no ill side effects or really none at all that I can tell.  Like lostinthecorn I am wondering if how I have felt has just been a new normalcy and I really don't know how crappy I have been feeling.  I really had no indication that I was infected let alone full blown at this point.  I had an instance of dizziness in August and the Dr ran a CBC and when it came back it was all normal except that my white blood cell count was low (3.5) and was told to initially take a vitamin and come back in 2 weeks.  I started to research low WBC count and when I read the causes I knew instantly what was the cause.  I decided to make an appt and they ran the CBC again and the HIV test.  When the Dr's office called me at work and told me the Dr wanted me to come in to talk about my blood work I knew the results instantly.  I have friends who told me they would be pissed off at whoever did this and I am at the point that is a waste of energy and I am not going to be mad at myself or anyone else for something that I did 7-10 yrs ago, that would be wasted energy and would not change anything.  I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Logged
08-27-12 - Results came in as +
09-24-12 - Earliest Dr appt I could get. 7 Test tubes of blood
10-17-12- 2nd Dr visit.. started on Bactrim & Complara - 1 more blood test
CD4 - 117
CD 4 Helper - 10.6%
V/L - 168,240

Offline greg_atl

  • Member
  • Posts: 20
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #6 on: October 22, 2012, 08:43:29 pm »
Well!  Learned a valuable lesson yesterday.  I need sunblock while taking the bactrim ds,  I was out in the sun for a max of 30 minutes and my face is toast.  Appears it will be sunscreen and long sleeves for outdoor activities.
Logged
08-27-12 - Results came in as +
09-24-12 - Earliest Dr appt I could get. 7 Test tubes of blood
10-17-12- 2nd Dr visit.. started on Bactrim & Complara - 1 more blood test
CD4 - 117
CD 4 Helper - 10.6%
V/L - 168,240

Offline jkinatl2

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  • Posts: 6,007
  • Doo. Dah. Dipp-ity.
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2012, 12:32:59 am »
Quote from: greg_atl on October 22, 2012, 08:43:29 pm
Well!  Learned a valuable lesson yesterday.  I need sunblock while taking the bactrim ds,  I was out in the sun for a max of 30 minutes and my face is toast.  Appears it will be sunscreen and long sleeves for outdoor activities.

Yeah, there really should have been a warning sticker on the label for the Bactrim. Sorry you had to find that out the hard (and painful) way. Sunscreen is your friend!

I hope your immune system bounces back quickly. Honestly, people who are undiagnosed often walk around with single-digit CD4 counts more often than you'd think. They might not feel unwell at all, until they develop an opportunistic infection and get dreadfully sick, or die. I sported a cd4 count of 12 at one point. Not the best time, once I managed to pick up an infection.

HIV and the meds used to treat it carry a steep learning curve. This site truly rocks when it comes to researching your meds and treatment. I strongly recommend perusing your meds, even the "complimentary" treatments when you get prescribed stuff. We're so lucky to live in this day and age, where we have meds that will allow us to live normal lives (whatever the hell that means.)


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Welcome Thread

Offline greg_atl

  • Member
  • Posts: 20
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2012, 07:33:24 pm »
OK...I have a question.   I have been on Complara for a week now.  Is it possible to be feeling better this soon?  For quite sometime now I have felt like I was living in a fog and it seems to be lifting and I am getting back to my old self.
Logged
08-27-12 - Results came in as +
09-24-12 - Earliest Dr appt I could get. 7 Test tubes of blood
10-17-12- 2nd Dr visit.. started on Bactrim & Complara - 1 more blood test
CD4 - 117
CD 4 Helper - 10.6%
V/L - 168,240

Offline zach

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  • Posts: 3,586
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2012, 08:13:41 pm »
well greg, lets apply the socratic method here. do you feel better? yes? then it is possible.

all jokes aside, a week is pretty quick. but really who cares, why look in the horses mouth?
Logged

Offline greg_atl

  • Member
  • Posts: 20
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2012, 08:31:40 pm »
Hey Zach!  Thanks for the reply.  I guess a week on meds is better than a week not on them and it has to be an improvement.  No wI have been reading articles on Complara that addresses how effective it is if your viral load is greater than 100,000.  Mine when tested was at 168,000.  I have a Dr Appt on 11-19 so I assume they will do the vampire thing again and draw a lot of blood.  I am really out in Lawrenceville but close enough to the ATL.

Hope you are well.

G
Logged
08-27-12 - Results came in as +
09-24-12 - Earliest Dr appt I could get. 7 Test tubes of blood
10-17-12- 2nd Dr visit.. started on Bactrim & Complara - 1 more blood test
CD4 - 117
CD 4 Helper - 10.6%
V/L - 168,240

Offline Ann

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  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2012, 09:05:53 am »
Quote from: greg_atl on October 23, 2012, 07:33:24 pm

OK...I have a question.   I have been on Complara for a week now.  Is it possible to be feeling better this soon?


Absolutely. When I started meds, I started feeling a whole lot better within a week. For some people it takes more time, but the fact that you're feeling better basically means that your body is heaving a big sigh of relief at not having to battle hiv 24/7 all by itself. Enjoy! :)
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Offline thunter34

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  • Posts: 7,374
  • His name is Carl.
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #12 on: November 03, 2012, 10:31:38 am »
Quote from: greg_atl on October 23, 2012, 08:31:40 pm
Hey Zach!  Thanks for the reply.  I guess a week on meds is better than a week not on them and it has to be an improvement.  No wI have been reading articles on Complara that addresses how effective it is if your viral load is greater than 100,000.  Mine when tested was at 168,000.  I have a Dr Appt on 11-19 so I assume they will do the vampire thing again and draw a lot of blood.  I am really out in Lawrenceville but close enough to the ATL.

Hope you are well.

G


Hello, Greg.  Another GA person here on the forums, just FYI.  I don't know what your medical situation is, but I personally go to the Grady IDP on Ponce and get meds and treatements via ADAP.  If you have any questions regarding that stuff, I can help you. 

For the record...I find all those "roughly 3 year lifespan" type statements a bit off putting because, as stated above, you can go a long time with low counts or happen to be unlucky and tank suddenly and quickly.  To me, it's like when people ask about HIV symptoms in the AM I forum....it's rather speculative, and therefore kinda pointless.

But anyway...welcome.
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AIDS isn't for sissies.

Offline emeraldize

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  • Posts: 3,397
Re: Tested + in August
« Reply #13 on: November 03, 2012, 04:07:37 pm »
Hi Greg,

August is my "anniversary month" so I just want to say welcome and great to read that you're on meds and already starting to feel better. Hoooray for that.

Now, about that sunshine....don't be bragging it up about havin' it so good down there that you're actually able to stand in sunshine. We of the chilly North would love to have a cup of sun.  (Now you have a reason to buy a very sexy sombrero as you now belong to Club Meds!)

Em
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