Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 03:47:22 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772946
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 424
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 392
Total: 392

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: From negative to AIDS  (Read 8038 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline bobsmth

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
From negative to AIDS
« on: November 05, 2012, 03:08:24 pm »
Hi, I'm new here so hope I'm in the right place. Just need to vent I guess.
I've just recently tested positive. I have had regular hiv testing about every three months. the most recent negative test was on the 2nd of October.
I can't believe what my first hiv labs were. I was confirmed positive on the 19th of October and on the 29th of October my CD4s are 206, 12.2%, with VL at 57,000.
Anyone else go from testing negative to Aids that fast?
Bobsmth
« Last Edit: November 05, 2012, 06:34:26 pm by bobsmth »
Bobsmth

Offline lincoln6echo

  • Member
  • Posts: 110
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #1 on: November 05, 2012, 07:57:12 pm »
Hi there.
Sorry about your diagnosis and hope you are doing ok.  You'll get some great info and advice here.

Being diagnosed with HIV doesn't mean you automatically have AIDS.  HIV is the virus that can lead to AIDS.   

I'm new as well and have a similar story as you.

I was neg June 25, but tested Positive on Aug 31. 
My CD4 was mid 300's, 5% and VL about 6 million. 
Technically though I didn't have AIDS. 

You have a CD4 of 206.  From what I've been told and read, technically an AIDS diagnosis would include a CD4 of 200 or below plus an opportunistic infection. I know that's only 6 points off so does that technically mean it's not an AIDS diagnosis?

From a strict data perspective maybe not but i'm curious as well.
Maybe some of the more experienced folks on here can comment.
Glad you found the forum.

Offline Mrmojorisin

  • Member
  • Posts: 222
    • My Blog
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #2 on: November 05, 2012, 10:49:27 pm »
Actually your viral load isn't all that high. As for your cd4 count, well that would depend on your count prior to infection and since nobody has that count done until they are diagnosed you do not know what normal is for you...you doc can give you answers.

 Btw-Welcome to the forums..
Started Meds On 5/1/2012 Norvair, Truvada, Prezista, and Bactrim

4/17/2012--CD4 83/ VL 353,000  7.0%
5/15/2012--CD4 218/ VL 4,970    14.1%
6/27/2012--CD4 146/ VL 420      6.1%
10/11/2012-CD4-223/ VL-62       9.5%
2/14/2013--CD4-215/ VL-119      13.6%
7/3/2013---CD4-256/ VL-UD       18.0%
10/18/2013 CD4-223/ VL-UD       22.2%
01/23/2014-CD4-381/VL-UD       25.3%--Dropped the Bactrim
05/01/2014 CD4-370/VL-UD       23.5%
01/08/2015 CD4-455/VL-UD       28.7%
06/18/2015 CD4-422/VL-UD       31.9%
01/07/2016 CD4-275/VL-UD       31.3%
02/10/2016 Switch meds to Tivicay and Truvada
04/25/2016 CD4-426/VL-UD        34.1%
07/14/2016 CD4-414/VL-UD        38.0%

"arrrrhhhhh ahhrrhhhhh aaaarrhhh"- Chewbacca

Offline bobsmth

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2012, 02:13:51 pm »
Okay thanks for the support and info.
Bobsmth

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #4 on: November 06, 2012, 03:36:58 pm »
Welcome here.  Sorry you seroconverted.
Did some one tell you that, that you have AIDS?  Who?
What does that mean to you?
It seems far too early for a doctor to tell you you have AIDS!  You are in acute infection if you tested NEGATIVE just a few weeks ago.

It is 2012.  If you need drugs quick, so be it. If in a few months, your system resets all right, you won't need drugs.... Until you need them.

As long as you have medical care, and access to meds when you need them, there is NO REASON to think you are going to have AIDS, in some dated "understanding" or "definition" of what that means. 

If you have a momentary low point of CD4, during acute infection, this does NOT mean you have AIDS.   
« Last Edit: November 06, 2012, 03:38:35 pm by mecch »
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline thunter34

  • Member
  • Posts: 7,374
  • His name is Carl.
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #5 on: November 06, 2012, 04:01:40 pm »
Hi, I'm new here so hope I'm in the right place. Just need to vent I guess.
I've just recently tested positive. I have had regular hiv testing about every three months. the most recent negative test was on the 2nd of October.
I can't believe what my first hiv labs were. I was confirmed positive on the 19th of October and on the 29th of October my CD4s are 206, 12.2%, with VL at 57,000.
Anyone else go from testing negative to Aids that fast?
Bobsmth

Hi, Bob.  Very curious about a few things here.  You had a negative result on the 2nd of last month, but a positive confirmation on the 19th?  That's only 17 days in between.  You said that you were getting tested every three months (which is more frequent than most), but here you were tested less than 3 weeks apart.  Wondering how you came to get tested again so fast. 

And to go from a positive result to not only having a Western Blot confirmation, but a complete set of labs within 10 days of that first result...well, that's pretty remarkable turn around.

AIDS isn't for sissies.

Offline bobsmth

  • Member
  • Posts: 8
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #6 on: November 06, 2012, 05:36:29 pm »
I had gone to my family Dr. for flu like symptoms (possibly primary infection) about the first of September. When it didn't clear up right away the dr. ordered a cbc lab which had some abnormalities: low sodium and something else that didn't mean anything to me. Meanwhile I was feeling back to normal and the Dr. scheduled a follow up labs for the first of October. His labs didn't include HIV, I got that test independently(was negative).However his tests showed a very low platelet count. Two weeks or so passed and he suggested I test for Leukemia and HIV. Thats when I tested positive.
Bobsmth

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #7 on: November 06, 2012, 05:47:39 pm »
And this family doctor told you that you have "AIDS"? 

OK thanks for your PM! 

I think you're dealing with a heavy, and frankly depressing diagnosis, pretty much like a lot of people do.  So try not to burden yourself too much with the worst case scenarios, or dated scenarios, which really don't apply.  As I said in my reply, via PM.

It is what it is.  But probably it's not AIDS...   

Anyway, welcome to forum and sorry you had to get an HIV diagnosis, of course!
« Last Edit: November 06, 2012, 05:54:29 pm by mecch »
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline NY2011

  • Member
  • Posts: 173
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #8 on: November 22, 2012, 07:50:22 am »
Going from negative to AIDS in a month or so may not be completely accurate. The disclaimer for an AIDS diagnosis is usually that you have to have low numbers AND a corresponding opportunistic infection.  Lab results during seroconversion are generally pretty bad, but it has been widely observed that people begin to regulate months later, known as homeostasis. It seems as if the virus aggressively attacks the immune system in the beginning, while wildly replicating, and then retreats after some time has passed.  Your body also begins to produce antibodies, which obviously can't destroy the virus, but may help in controlling it to some degree. Either way, the body generally adapts, and a new baseline is established after the acute phase.

The silver lining in all of this is that you found out early. If you maintain medical treatment and initiate a drug regimen that you can stick to for life (or at least, for now), you are likely giving your immune system an excellent opportunity to fight this infection. 

I went through this crap last year. My numbers were atrocious (see below), and I couldn't understand how I had progressed to AIDS within two weeks of being infected. But, the more I read and talked with my doctor, the more it made sense about how the virus comes on strong in the acute phase and during seroconversion.

Four things I suggest doing:
1) Seek out an HIV specialist or infectious diseases doctor.
2) Seriously contemplate starting on medication.
3) Ask about prophylaxis, such as Bactrim, to prevent infections while your numbers are still low. The prophylaxis drugs are dropped once the numbers improve.
4) Read about it. A lot. Ask questions. And, check the dates of the information posted online. I find that nothing pertaining to HIV treatment written before 2005 or 2006 is really relevant anymore. thebody.com has a section called "ask the experts." I've run many questions past the doctors on that site, and if it's a question they can answer, I usually get an answer within a day or two.

Be well, and take good care of your self.




« Last Edit: November 22, 2012, 10:25:40 pm by NY2011 »
10/26/2011 - SEROCONVERSION (fever+rash, 104 degrees F)
10/31/2011 - CD4= 154  VL>500,000 
10/31/2011 - started on Truvada+Prezista+Norvir
12/14/2011 - CD4= 750 VL=6412 (45%)
01/27/2012 - switched to Atripla
04/23/2012 - CD4=1,221 VL= 140  (47%)
06/22/2012 - CD4=1,224 VL= ud    (49%)
12/18/2012 - CD4=1,031 VL= ud    (51%)
09/16/2013 - CD4=1,151 VL= ud   (49%)
03/26/2014 - CD4=1,050 VL= ud
11/25/2014 - CD4=1,335 VL= ud
12/01/2015 - CD4=1,115 VL= ud (55%)
11/22/2016 - CD4=1,071 VL= ud (52%)
06/01/2017 - CD4=1,014 VL= ud (53%)
switched to Biktarvy in 2018
04/23/2019 - CD4=1,072 VL= ud (52%)
01/15/2020 - CD4=  925  VL= ud (50%)

Offline Common_ground

  • Member
  • Posts: 292
Re: From negative to AIDS
« Reply #9 on: November 22, 2012, 08:12:05 am »
I had a somewhat similar experience, you can see my numbers below.

Even thou I can not say for sure when I was infected and a itty bitty small chance of false negative in 2011 my guess is that I seroconverted in November 2011 given I spent a nite in the hospital for stomach ache and throwing up 24/7.

Given my viral load when i tested poz I was not in acute phase.

Im doing well now, I was also never sick and havent feel bad aside from adjusting to the meds (which took me a good 2 months), my other labs are normal and I urge you to chill out , take a deep breath and believe that things will be ok.   
2011 May - Neg.
2012 June CD4:205, 16% VL:2676 Start Truvada/Stocrin
2012 July  CD4:234, 18% VL:88
2012 Sep  CD4:238, 17% VL:UD
2013 Feb  CD4:257, 24% VL:UD -viramune/truvada
2013 May CD4:276, 26% VL:UD

2015 CD4: 240 , 28% VL:UD - Triumeq
2015 March CD4: 350 VL: UD

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.