POZ Community Forums
Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: southmetro on June 08, 2006, 04:41:42 pm
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Well, I just got back from my Doctor's office. I had high hopes for my last labs taken about a week ago, but they were even better than I hoped for.
I have been pos. for over two years with no meds and a VL that was almost always over 100,00 and just as often over 200,000. My CD4+ was 400 - 600 and fell slowly to 350 - 400 over 2+ years. For some reason, the last three labs I had before starting meds on 04/28/06 were some of my lowest VL at 48K, 18K, & 71K.
only 3 doses of meds were taken before my 5/1 labs (VL 8090) and 33 doses before my 5/31 labs (VL 131)
My doc was very pleased to see that my VL was only 131 and had me give blood today (6/8).
After 41 doses or almost 6 weeks on meds, is it possible to get below VL50 from an average of 100,000+?
That would be great, but am I hoping for too much? I was worried that starting so high, I may never get below VL50, now I want to do it in 6 weeks!
Any thoughts or experiences to share?
Thanks Southmetro
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Hi SM
It's me, Redbluff. And I don't think you have high expectations at all. I went from 500.000+ VL to undetectable in 3 months. I started with a CD4 count of 18. I think I have a good strong immune system that's putting up a good fight. From what you've told us of your past history, it sounds like your immune system is like mine. Strong and hearty. You've just started a new job scaling unimagineable heights and your body is still responding the way it's supposed to. you're feeling fine, right? Not to worry. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
robert
PS... you got your virus from oral sex, right? The reason I ask is someone just mentioned yesterday he also got it from oral sex and I wanted to let him know he wasn't the only one.
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Hehe yes!
The meds do most of their work in the first few days
Good one
- matt
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It's very possible. Good work!
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Hello,
Just want to say, you have had a great response to the meds !! Keep it going...
Yes ,it's possible. I started meds on October 21 or the 24 of 2003. And by December 3rd, of 03 I was under 50 viral load. I bounced around a little after that on a couple occasions, but never went above 166( viral load) since starting on meds.
The Best/ Your doing great !-----Ray
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I went from a viral load of 60,000-plus to undetectable in three months. I didn't test in-between, so it might have been sooner, but I was happy nonetheless.
Sounds like you're on the right track. Great numbers! :D
BIG HUGS,
Mark
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Hey guys:
What meds were all of you taking? My vl is at 60,000 and I started on Fuzeon a month ago. Aptivus and Norvir were also added. My labs are this Thursday 15 of June. My results will be read to me at my docs appointment on the 12 of next month. I'm always feeling tired and sort of dizzy (do to the meds) but I really hope this doesn't mean that my meds aren't working. I feel like a war is going on in my veins and my body is using its energy to ward off the enemy. My cd4s were at 270 the last time they checked. I hope my luck is as good as yours!
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Same here in 3 months, Crixivan and Combid(?not sure)
now Viramune Combid. Good luck to all.
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My baseline was CD4 of 267 and viral burden of 282,234. After starting with Sustiva and Truvada my CD4 went to 293 and viral burden dropped to 680 after one month.
I go in for my lab next monday and then get the report 1 week after that (so end of this month). I'm hoping I will be undetectable by then.
As a side note, does anyone know if 267 means that I was infected years ago or recently.
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Thanks for sharing all the firsthand accounts. I was shocked when I started meds in 1999, I'd been dragging my feet (and ass, due to fatigue) for quite a few months. When I started my first combo my VL was 800,000 and the CD4 was around 40. It took a few months for the CD4 to jump, but after a 6 weeks on meds the VL went down to around 800, then was undetectable a couple of months later.
I can give meds a lot of shit sometimes, but they are amazing and I wouldn't be here if I'd been as sick as I was in 1990 as I got in '99.
Shawn
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Well I didn't make it. As I posted before, my VL was 131 on 5/31/06 after 33 days on meds (4 1/2 weeks) My VL on 6/8/06 after 41 days (about 6 weeks) was 88, not <50.as I had hoped. My VL on 7/5/06 after 68 days on meds (almost 10 weeks or 2 1/2 months) was 55. I'll get labs about 8/3/06.
Close but not there yet!
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southmetro,
With these numbers...you are very close of <50 and pretty much normal to take a few months or so before reaching this level.
Regards,
The Canuck
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I guess it IS possible because my vl went from 60,800 to 79 copies in just six weeks. As I said in another post, I'm on Fuzeon, Aptivus and Norvir. My cd4's went up from 250 to 300, also. I'm probably undetectable by now but I don't do labs until September.
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Great news on your response to meds! Here's hoping your next set shows UD!
I've been trying to get there for 7 months now!!! Started Sustiva/Truvada in Dec. VL has been as high as 98K, in Feb 06, was 539 and Apr o6 was 634. Upon reviewing my resistance test, we found that despite the labs "all OK" result listing, I did have some nuke mutations that showed I got a nuke resistant virus -- so, we added boosted Reyataz last month (no PI or Non-nuke mutations). I"m hoping my lab draw on 7/27 has good news (will get results on 8/9). It's been frustrating as hell, but my CD4's have gone from 288 to 521/499 since November and I feel good, so that is my focus (alright -- I'm TRYING to keep that my focus). I'm hopeful though, because my OHL (oral hairy leukoplakia) is FINALLY clearing up, so I'm taking that is a really good sign.
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Great news on your response to meds! Here's hoping your next set shows UD!
I've been trying to get there for 7 months now!!! Started Sustiva/Truvada in Dec. VL has been as high as 98K, in Feb 06, was 539 and Apr o6 was 634. Upon reviewing my resistance test, we found that despite the labs "all OK" result listing, I did have some nuke mutations that showed I got a nuke resistant virus -- so, we added boosted Reyataz last month (no PI or Non-nuke mutations). I"m hoping my lab draw on 7/27 has good news (will get results on 8/9). It's been frustrating as hell, but my CD4's have gone from 288 to 521/499 since November and I feel good, so that is my focus (alright -- I'm TRYING to keep that my focus). I'm hopeful though, because my OHL (oral hairy leukoplakia) is FINALLY clearing up, so I'm taking that is a really good sign.
Good luck and I hope you get there soon!