POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: bmancanfly on December 09, 2010, 02:49:14 pm
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My lates labs came back kind of disappointing.
My VL which has been UD for 3 years came back at 1237. Ironically my CD4 was 532 and a % of 33, which is much higher on both counts than ever before. It almost feels like I got someone else's blood work back, even though I know that's not possible. Anyway, this VL seems way too high to just be a blip.
I haven't missed a single dose in three years and have always been <50 on every test. My doc asked me three different times if I had missed any doses or had unprotected sex with anyone - none of which had happened.
I feel like I'm just getting over last months KS scare and now this. I'm worn out.
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Hey bman. Does seem high for a blip though I suppose anything is possible. I've had two blips and they were both ~100 and I think that's a more normal number. Did your doctor not recommend immediately retesting to rule out a lab error, and then if it's still elevated of course getting a geno/phenotype test?
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It almost feels like I got someone else's blood work back, even though I know that's not possible.
This happened to me...
Up to 2,000-2,500 is reasonable margin for considering a one-off viral load test result over 50 to be a blip.
Naturally, as a good clinic, they did a retest straight away, right?
- matt
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Thanks Philly and Newt for your replies.
I did go have another blood draw done after I got these results today. One for VL and if there is a high enough VL they will do a genotype.
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When I was filing away my recent labs paperwork I found a medical receipt that I had forgotten about. On Nov. 24 I stepped on a rusty nail and went to go get a tetanus shot. The wound was pretty deep but did not, by all appearances, get infected. I had my blood drawn on Nov 30 for the blood work that came back with the 1237 VL.
I may be grasping at straws, but could a tetanus shot have caused my VL increase?
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When I was filing away my recent labs paperwork I found a medical receipt that I had forgotten about. On Nov. 24 I stepped on a rusty nail and went to go get a tetanus shot. The wound was pretty deep but did not, by all appearances, get infected. I had my blood drawn on Nov 30 for the blood work that came back with the 1237 VL.
I may be grasping at straws, but could a tetanus shot have caused my VL increase?
Thats very interesting you mention that. I tested positive after a huge motorcycle accident in which I was the passenger and fell down the side of a mountain. Unfortunately I was on a very remote island in Thailand at the time. There was no hospital within several hours of me. I had to wait 2 hours to get a ferry boat off the island and other 1 hour in a taxi before getting arriving at a big city with a hospital. All time time I was bleading profousely with skin and muscle torn and hanging off of my arm, legs and face all mixed together with dirt and gravel. When I got the the hospital the Doctor asked my 3 times if I had recently had a tenanus booster. I said I couldn't remember and he gave me one (Tetanus toxoid). Later on I found out that I did indeed have one 2 years before and that I shouldn't have that shot at that time. Two or three weeks later I tested positive. That incident was a pretty big shock to my system and I always wondered what affect it had on me. Anyway, that was NOT a good month...
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When I was filing away my recent labs paperwork I found a medical receipt that I had forgotten about. On Nov. 24 I stepped on a rusty nail and went to go get a tetanus shot. The wound was pretty deep but did not, by all appearances, get infected. I had my blood drawn on Nov 30 for the blood work that came back with the 1237 VL.
I may be grasping at straws, but could a tetanus shot have caused my VL increase?
bman,
Yes, it's possible. See this:
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/adult-services/hiv/hiv-living-with/hiv-vaccinations.htm
Another test should sort it out.
v
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I had another blood draw on 12/9 and the VL rusults were 129. I'm happy that it went down but concerned that I'm still not UD. They drew blood for a genotype test (no results yet) but I would imagine that with a VL of only 129 they won't be able to do a genotype.
My next blood draw isn't scheduled for another three months. That seems like a long time to wait if my VL is not UD.
I'd appreciate any suggestions on what I should do now.
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Two tests above 50 in a row is, by definition, not a blip.
Of course, a viral load of 129 is certainly not anything to panic over and you do have this issue of the nail you stepped on that could be a possible explanation.
But, still, it would seem appropriate to monitor more frequently than every three months. Why not follow up with the clinic to see if the genotype worked and to schedule a new test?
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My understanding is that a genotype can't reliably be done with a VL below 1000. So that's not going to work.
My concern is now is I'm on a cocktail where all of the components may not be working, which is increasing my chances for resistance. Should I stop taking what I'm on?
My doctor is gone until the begininng of January and the nurses don't know how to, or want to, answer my questions.
I'm concerned but not sure what to do. I hate to just wait, especially if waiting is potentially making the situation worse.
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I'd be happy with 129. A few weeks isn't going to make any difference resistance wise with that level of virus.
A genotype can be done fairly well with a viral load of about 400-500, even though the test makers don't officially say so.
Better to stay on the meds til Jan, I think personally. I don't know what combo you're on, but if it's the efavirenz/FTC/tenofovir one that comes as Atripla, then stopping short term is deffo a bad idea. When you stop efavirenz you generally replace it with a PI/continue on FTC/tenofovir (Truvada) for 2-3 weeks to prevent resistance as efavirenz takes a long time to leave the body completely.
Have a good Christmas
- matt
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Jan. 15 labs showed back to UD
Must have been the tetanus vaccination. ;D
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Yep...
same as with the flue vaccine... My doc said that while under VL monitoring, do the blood draw first and then the vaccine
He said vaccines screw (up) VL
Eric
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I had my blood work yesterday. The results are not impressive and I was not expecting this to happen. My I have first blip in two years, VL is 72 IU/ml, I was UD six months back, My CD4 is also reduced from 600 to 493. My cholesterol level which was normal six months back has risen, Total Cholesterol at 202 mg/dl, Triglycerides at 183 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol at 139 mg dl. I have not missed a dose, couple of times I have taken medication few hours late.This is causing discomfort & bothering me. I will be meeting my Doctor soon with the reports. Not sure what he plans to advise.
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i'm not sure why the doctor would ask you if you had unprotected sex. Why would that increase your VL.
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You could, theoretically, maybe, get "re-infected" with another strain that might be resistant to your current meds. I imagine this is why the doc asked about unprotected sex.
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I think there is some confusion here.
Hope4love posted to a thread that I started a long time ago.
Hope4love, not that I mind you posting your question here, but it is usually best to start a new thread . Less confusing that way.
To your question, discuss this with your doc, but I wouldn't worry about such a low viral load. The the difference in CD4 also is not so significant.
My "blip" resolved inself in a few weeks. Mine was probably caused by a tetnus vaccination.
I know it is hard but try not to worry too much.
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thanks Bman for your reassurance. I Will be consulting my doctor soon. Hope its not going to be concern.