POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: MiniPozToyota on April 02, 2011, 11:25:06 am
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Hey everyone,
This isn't what I ever thought would happen to me... I'm 26yrs old married and with 2 wonderful little girls, I'm also in the military. My doctors said some people can go awhile without meds depending on your CD4 count and viral loads, well I was hoping that, that would be me, but i found out my counts yesterday. He said I was at 346 CD4 and 46856 viral load. I was speechless, I know its not that bad reading other post on here but he said I would probably be put on Atripla. I have my first appointments coming up (2ND week of April) at Walter Reed Hospital, so if anyone can help me out I would love it. My family is supporting me though this witch is good (Wife and kids when I talk about family) I can stay in the Military and retire, just cant deploy anymore (witch I've been 3 times already). I'm just really new at this and have been reading ALOT of info about this topic I just like seeing it from other people eyes who is positive. Thanks and I'll be fighting with you guys now.
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Hello MPT,
Not the best of news to start out the new spring season with I am sure. When you begin treatment, Atripla should get your VL down relatively quickly. It sounds like the support you are already getting from your family is giving you some added strength to deal with being newly diagnosed.
I dont know much about Walter Reed but would expect you will have access to some good doctors there. Its also great that you are making an effort to educate yourself about the virus, just keep in mind that some of what you read will scare the shit out of you. Not all articles are based on accurate information so always consider the source.
Welcome to the site and know you amongst folks who will provide candid feedback if you ask for it. Keep us updated and sending you my best!
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Thanks there anyone here from South Carolina or North Carolina
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I am in SC.... here on the coastal plain. A few folks on the forums are in these parts as well.
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how long have you been pos. for and are you on any meds?
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The first part of your question is hard for me to answer because I really dont know the exact date when I was initially infected. My ID Specialist seems to think it was between 5 to 10 years ago (when he made that guess in March 2010). I really did not start feeling badly until October of 2009 and got really sick shortly after New Years 2010.
I took my first dose of Atripla on March 22nd 2010.
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Hey Mini,
Welcome to the forums. Sorry about your diagnosis.
The beginning is always the worst part. It will get easier with time. It's good that your family is supportive though, that will be tremendously helpful.
Do you have any idea when you became infected?
P.S. You stole my avatar, knock it off. ;D
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No clue when I became infected with hiv, last neg. test was April 2010 when I got home from a deployment, and now almost a year later I'm testing positive. by the way nice avatar. Thanks for the comments and advice guys.
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No clue when I became infected with hiv, last neg. test was April 2010 when I got home from a deployment, and now almost a year later I'm testing positive. by the way nice avatar. Thanks for the comments and advice guys.
OK, since you can pinpoint your infection down to a window of 12 months, and going by what your current numbers are, personally I'd have at least two more sets of lab numbers before making a decision to go on HIV meds. I'm also not sure, assuming your doctor also has seen your last HIV negative results, he is rushing you onto meds. Generally speaking your cd4s will tank, then rise after initial exposure and in the absence of treatment. Thus your next results could, hypothetically, be 450 and then 550 and you'd be in a zone where you could stay off meds a bit longer.
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I hate to welcome folks here, but glad you found us!
When i first found out, my numbers were lower than yours, but i was sick in seroconversion at the time the labs were drawn. Some doctors feel its best to start early while others are ok for you to wait, my doc thought it was a good idea to go ahead and start, but gave me the option. For me, I didnt have to think about it I wanted my VL UD as soon as i could get it.
I started on Atripla about 2 weeks after my first labs and havent had any bad side-effects to drug so far. If you have any questions i've been on it for almost 5 months so ask away
mike
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The reason I asked about your infection date was touched on by Miss P above.
It might be worthwhile to have a couple of sets of labs done, over a couple of months, to get a better sense of what your numbers are. One set of labs is not necessarily indicative of your actual immune system health.
Do they have an Infectious Disease specialist at W.R. ?
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Welcome to the forums!
Sorry that you have to be here, but then "here" is a pretty good place to be if you need it. I would echo the Advice of Miss Phillicia, and let some time pass with more labs along the way before starting. Its well known that your cd4 counts drop, and your VL goes high right after infection. After your body gets a handle on the virus, the cd4s will rise and VL will drop. My experience was that I had high cd4 counts for quite a few years, and didn't drop below the 500 mark until about 8 years ago. During this time I was on and off meds from time to time because the docs at that time were in the "Hit Hard and hit early" mindset, which I disagreed with, so I never stuck with any regimen for any length of time. When I would go off meds, my cd4 counts stayed the same. Ultimately, I was positive for about 15 years or so before going on meds for keeps, and even then, my adherence was crappy for the first few years.
I want to wish you much luck in your journey with this. The road of life will resemble a roller=coaster from here on out, but hang tough, and you'll do okay. The adjustments come with time, and you seem very calm about everything which is good. The plus of having a supportive family will help tremendously, and you are very lucky there. Keep coming back and we'll help you learn your way through this.
And remember on eof th emost important things you can do for yourself, is to keep a sense of humor about all of this. It really helps......
CaptCarl
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Thanks there anyone here from South Carolina or North Carolina
Though I'm in SC, NC is only a few hundred feet away ;)
(living just outside of Charlotte, near Carowinds)
Welcome to the forums, but as always, sorry that you ended up needing to come here. With people who have been poz for decades and through it all to those who have just recently joined, it's almost guaranteed that someone here will have an answer or a suggestion about anything you need to know. ;)
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Hey thanks alot for the support everything is going good so far and continue to eat good and sleep well I hate going on runs though is working out good?
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Just chiming in and welcoming you too. It's always less than auspicious circumstances but the sentiments are good. Best of luck to you on Atripla. It seems to work extremely well for just about everyone. I've been on it for less than a month and keepking a diary of my intake for what it's worth to people.
It's good you have a good support system. Love goes a very very long way I've found.
all the best to you
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Welcome to the forums...
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Just wondering about atripla meds and can someone resists them? And another question I have is about cmv virus I'm going to my first apt next monday to get all vaccines I don't have already and get further checked out. I heard that cmv doesn't effect you untill you have dropped past a certain point cd4. Is this true?? My first cd4 was 346 vl 46856 but I could've been effected April 2010 bc that's the last time I tested negative untill march 2011 so I don't know how long I've had it for or when I got it. Any advice or help and information would be awesome thanks everyone.
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Just wondering about atripla meds and can someone resists them?
resistance is something that happens when you don't keep enough of the medication in your system (falling under 95% adherence according to many studies) and the virus is able to mutate against the medication and become resistant to the effects of the medication. If you stay about 95% adherent theoritically, you will never develope resistance and can stay on Atripla for the rest of your life.
However, the strain of HIV that you were infected could have come from someone who had developed resistance to Atripla and you could start off unable to use that medication. Before prescribing medications, your doctor should do a genotype test to determine which meds will work, and which meds won't work.
I heard that cmv doesn't effect you untill you have dropped past a certain point cd4. Is this true?? My first cd4 was 346 vl 46856
are you having symptoms of CMV? If not, then don't go looking for trouble LOL ;) :D
your cd4 count is pretty good and your viral load is fairly low so you should not be having many health issues in general. (Matter of fact if your next counts show a higher cd4 and stable VL, you might not need meds for some time yet) Dropping below 200 cd4 count is the point at which your immune system is usually not working enough and you could have an opportunistic infection (like CMV, PCP, and a host of other infections. both the <200 count and having an OI is what makes up an AIDS diagnosis).
also I agree with what others have said. a cd4 count is VERY flexible (it can change by 100 pts in just one day from morning to evening), and you need several tests to see what the trend of your cd4 count before using that number to make any health care decisions - like deciding whether you need meds yet or not.
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WElcome MiniPoz, Glad you are here, sorry there is a need for you to be.
I'm with MissP on this one, since your infection is rather recent perhaps you can bounce the idea off your doctor about waiting a couple tests to see what your numbers do.
However if you decide to start Atripla soon know that it is an amazing drug, and the once daily dosing is the bomb.
-Will
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Yeah thanks, how long have you been pos will? and I'll ask the dr and see what he thinks i kinda want to get on meds so just ill start building my cd4 up and vl down. Thanks and what about rest, is sleeping good like going to bed at a decent time or does it really not matter, overall im pretty healthy, i'm about 6' i weigh about 170lbs I used to run all the time but kinda slowed down since the unit im in doesnt to pt in the mornings, By the way I'm in the military if you guys didnt already know.. thanks everyone night
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Welcome to the forums.
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Thanks I'm glad there are forums and a huge support group here to help people it make a difference.
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Thanks I'm glad there are forums and a huge support group here to help people it make a difference.
No prob. These forums are heaven sent, you will be just fine. :)