Received my latest numbers...It's a struggle...

[J.R.E.]

Welllll.....

I had my last blood tests done on January 11th, 08. Results came in the mail today.


The results are :

CD4-----303,  was  295 on 11/05/07  ( No change)

CD4 %--10 %, a drop from 12%  on 11/05/07 This is the third consecutive percentage drop. No wonder why I am feeling achy, and when that fatigue kicks in, it hits hard.

The highest percentage I have had in just over the past four years was 14% on 4/19/07.  The lowest percentage was 4%, back in 12/03/03

Viral Load <50 ,  was <50 on 11/05/07 That's at least good !!  Except for one blip back in 11/15/05, of 166, and another blip of 288 ( on 5/16/06 )  my viral load has been undetectable, since 3/31/04

CBC, Chemical profile and amylase, are all OK !

Had annual PSA test done. That number was 1.1 ( thats good !!)


Total Cholesterol 205,  was 226 on 11/05/07. Perhaps next test I will have it below 200 !! This is also since starting on Lipitor. I am only taking it four days, off three. I take the 10 mg on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I don't take it on the other days


LDL ( bad cholesterol )--- 125

HDL ( good cholesterol )---50

triglycerides -- 150 , was 216 on 11/05/07



Anyway,....That's the latest-------Ray-------- OK and hanging in there !


EDITED ;(1/27/08--  realised that this is the third consecutive percentage decrease ....




 

[anniebc]

Hi Ray

Numbers are looking pretty good to me, just need to keep an eye on your %..I know it can be a struggle.

Good to hear you have an regular check on your PSA, even your Cholesterol is looking good, just need to get your HDL up a bit and get your Tri's down a little bit more..but all in all your Total is looking good from where you were last year.

Glad to hear you are ok and hanging in there.

Hugs
Jan

[bear60]

Hi Ray
You seem to be doing pretty well and thats a good thing. Thanks for the update.

[BT65]

Hi Ray, even though your percentage is down, your numbers still look pretty good.  I do hope you get to feeling better.  I'm on Lipitor also and it has worked wonders for my cholesterol.  Hang in there buddy!

[RapidRod]

One of these days Ray, I'll catch up with you, God willing.

[achim-martin]

Isn't it normal to have these slight changes, even in percentage? Remember, we got January and in most parts of the northern hemisphere its rather cold. As long as the load is undetectable I don't think it anything to do with the virus. Would not worry about that...

A question that strikes me though, these cholesterol pills... are they allowed to be taken in conjunction with HAART treatment. Lots of pages say most sorts are not recommended cause they would weaken the medicines. Is this particular medicine explicitly fine then?

[sharkdiver]

Hi Ray

I  wanted to say the numbers are an odd thing. My doctor is always baffled with the great fluctuation in mine. It's been over a decade since I've had a % >10 but I have had a year (97')where my CD4 count was almost 2000! I didn't feel good at all that year. For the past ten years my counts have settled around 350 and I'm feeling really healthy.
 gawd I wished I had your cholesterol and triglyceride counts, I'm jealous. I'm super sensitive to HAART meds when it comes to lipids. I just came off a 2 year treatment interruption (long story) my total cholesterol was super low about 90 but my HDL was about 12, triglycerides about 100. I went back on meds in July of this year with Reyataz, truvada and norvir and my cholesterol shot up to 509 and my tris went up to 3000.  I dunno, My doc and I are working to get those down, for obvious reasons because I have limited options with the reyataz. Kinda hoping to stay on this reg because it's been the easiest one for me ever (plus I'm kinda at the end of the road for options) 
So after all of that , for me its about how I feel and not so much the numbers that is more important.  I guess I really wanted to say to you is.... keep it up, be strong, take good care of yourself ...you sound like you are on the right track. 

Peace,
Sharkie

[aztecan]

Hey Ray,

Well, things look pretty stable. I will need to get my labs done sometime. I was supposed to do it this month, but didn't. Toothache and all, I figured I would just wait.

Hang in there. The lipids are looking pretty good. I wish you better luck than I have had getting that HDL up.

HUGS,

Mark

[J.R.E.]

Isn't it normal to have these slight changes, even in percentage? Remember, we got January and in most parts of the northern hemisphere its rather cold. As long as the load is undetectable I don't think it anything to do with the virus. Would not worry about that...

Hello Achim-martin,

I decided to go back and look at the past blood tests results,(As Far as Percentages) since starting on meds. Looking mainly at the winter months. I started on meds October of 2003, which was also 17 plus years into HIV infection.

From December of 2003 to January of 2004, the percentage went from 4% to 6%

From November of 2004 to February of 2005, the percentage dropped from 8% to 7%

From November of 2005 to February of 2006, the percentage went (up) from 8% to to 10%

From October 11, 2006 to January 11th, 2007 the percentage went up from 11% to 12%

And then this last one: 11/05/07 to 1/14/08  12% down to 10%.


So it has bounced around a little bit.


This is all my percentages since starting on meds :

12/03/03----4%

1/7/04-------6%

2/18/04-----5%

3/31/04-----6%

5/17/04---- 7%

6/20/04-----6%

8/30/04-----8%

11/08/04---8%

2/7/05------7%

5/16/05----7%

8/16/05----7%

11/15/05--8%

2/14/06---10%

5/16/06---11%

7/12/06---10%

10/11/06--11%

1/11/07---12%

4/19/07---14%

8/15/07---13%

11/05/07--12%

1/14/08---10%

As far as the Cholesterol pills go, My numbers were always fine in that area until around 5 months or so into therapy. That's when those numbers started making drastic changes. Some of the medications also will effect cholesterol. My parents both had problem with cholesterol and diabetes, when they were in their 50's. I am now in my mid-50's (56) Maybe I inherited !! 


Total Cholesterol has been high as 287, back on 5/17/04. This is also the point at which the doctor had me start on medication. I have had the cholesterol as low as 199, back in February of 06. Cholesterol has always been jumping around, since starting. I've been on this Lipitor now, since about 11/10/07.


I just have to try to watch what I eat, maybe have to go to 7 days a week on the Lipitor. Rerally need to exercise more also !!! ( Don't hardly do enough of that anymore !!)


Take care of yourself/ thanks for asking------Ray


Thanks to everyone else for your thoughts 

[randym431]

Hey Ray
You know the doctors will say ignore or dont put too much into that %.
Thats their comeback, usually. Just as long as the vl undetectable. Thats
their line. We all know it.

I know its so easy to feel that fatigue. And it does hit hard.
I have weeks when I feel like I can climb the highest mountain,
then the next I want to sleep 10 hours a day with naps in between.

I had a long term friend hiv+ that claimed it was not until he
stopped working, that all his good numbers went to great numbers.
After 10 years he had a % of 32 and cd4 of 900. But not till he stopped
working and became "retired" like.

I know you work nights, me too. And that alone is really tough.
Just biting my time, waiting for that magic cure