Viral Load

[Bhall4]

I posted this in my original post, as I did not want to make tons of posts but maybe this is more appropriate for its own.   I’m still new to the diagnosis, Dec 19.  My VL decreased after 1 month, but then increased.  I’m trying not to freak and i suppose just need coaching. 

I have spoke to my provider, he was not freaking out... but understood of course.  Tomorrow I will have another resistance test and VL test. I did have a crazy stomach bug several days before.

December:  VL 78,200 CD4 500+
January: VL 90. CD4 800+
April: VL 180. CD4 900+ 

I’m on Biktarvy. Not missed a dose, take it practically the same time of day give a 15min +/- deviation. There was an hour deviation once.

Thanks for any personal insight.

**sorry I made this a poll somehow**

[Jim Allen]

It's only a slight blip within the first few months of starting treatment. Things can be a bit up and down before reaching stable UD. 

I would not worry about it, the results you have do seem fine to me. Less stress, keep working with your doc, take your meds and retest. 

Jim

**sorry I made this a poll somehow**

NP I removed it 

[leatherman]

December:  VL 78,200
January: VL 90
April: VL 180

1. anything <200 VL is considered "undetectable" by scientific studies
2. after starting treatment, the viral load might not change in a straight-line function. Every count might not just be less. A viral load count can "bounce" around on it's way to undetectable

In only a short 5 months your VL went from 78k to <200. You should be incredibly happy and not stressed at all by these numbers.

(btw I deleted your cd4 counts from what I quoted. Your cd4 count is >200 and that's all that matters.)

[Bhall4]

It's only a slight blip within the first few months of starting treatment. Things can be a bit up and down before reaching stable UD. 

I would not worry about it, the results you have do seem fine to me. Less stress, keep working with your doc, take your meds and retest. 

Jim

NP I removed it 

Hey Jim. Thanks for fixing that .  And thanks for the reassurance.  Deep down I know to not freak out, but my mind is a trickster!!  I guess I go straight to doomsday.

[Bhall4]

1. anything <200 VL is considered "undetectable" by scientific studies
2. after starting treatment, the viral load might not change in a straight-line function. Every count might not just be less. A viral load count can "bounce" around on it's way to undetectable

In only a short 5 months your VL went from 78k to <200. You should be incredibly happy and not stressed at all by these numbers.

(btw I deleted your cd4 counts from what I quoted. Your cd4 count is >200 and that's all that matters.)

Yes. I am super happy with the CD4 and know there is nothing to worry about with my current numbers.  And again i agree i should be stoked about that significant decrease (and I am).  Like i told Jim..... my mind goes to doomsday 🤯

Thanks for your reassurance.

[harleymc]

Your viral load has been reduced by better than 99.7%. That's a roaring success.

Suppressing HIV is an ultra marathon, not a sprint. Whether it takes  a month or a couple of years to get to 'undetectable' makes not a jot.of difference. Just keep taking your meds and in 30+ years you can look back on a life well lived.

Btw if you're a smoker give it up, smoking takes more years off health and life span than treated HIV ever will.

Good luck, keep in touch

[Bhall4]

Your viral load has been reduced by better than 99.7%. That's a roaring success.

Suppressing HIV is an ultra marathon, not a sprint. Whether it takes  a month or a couple of years to get to 'undetectable' makes not a jot.of difference. Just keep taking your meds and in 30+ years you can look back on a life well lived.

Btw if you're a smoker give it up, smoking takes more years off health and life span than treated HIV ever will.

Good luck, keep in touch

Thank you for encouragement!!  Ultimately, i should know all these things y’all say. I just need people to confirm my mind to be put at ease!

I’ve actually never smoked a day in my life.  I have been trying to exercise more. But recently it’s cold or rainy.

[Bhall4]

Thanks for all y’alls positive feedback!  I received my VL this morning post two weeks of the previous:  <20!!

[Mightysure]

I saw your most recent post in someone else's thread about your VL. Is there any reason why resistance test wasn't done when you were diagnosed?  Those tests need at least 1000 copies to be accurate. I'm sorry that your doctor didn't know that because you were done a disservice. 

Do you know what your intial CD4 was?

[Bhall4]

Hi.  On my first appointment. Yes i had a resistance test.  And then when i had the elevated VL. They did another, but the lab said they could not perform it because there was not enough HIV DNA to be found. So I’m thinking yay good news.  Then i had my most recent lab work with a 70 VL. 

I literally followed up today and I’m switching medicines from Biktarvy to Genvoya.

[Bhall4]

Ohhh my initial CD4 was around 550. This last count was over 1,000

[Mightysure]

Hi.  On my first appointment. Yes i had a resistance test.  And then when i had the elevated VL. They did another, but the lab said they could not perform it because there was not enough HIV DNA to be found. So I’m thinking yay good news.  Then i had my most recent lab work with a 70 VL. 

I literally followed up today and I’m switching medicines from Biktarvy to Genvoya.

Your CD4 was good and I'm glad they did initial resistance testing.

Genvoya is an interesting choice. I'm not questioning your docs wisdom or anything, but it seems like an odd choice when it has to be taken with food and it has the drug, cobicistat, in it that increases chances of drug interactions. 

That's just my personal experience.  I had issues with meeting my daily caloric intake and took other meds that stayed in my system longer because I was on Genvoya.

But I hope it works out for you though!

[Bhall4]

Thanks!

I don’t think i should have any issue with food and taking the medicine LOL

He wanted that particular “extra” for the “boost”. I really have no other medication to be concerned of interaction (at this point in my life)

[Bhall4]

A month on the new medicine, received an undetectable VL and CD4 knocking at 1100.  And this was me recently getting over COVID!