POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: +/- on May 05, 2012, 02:06:57 am
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Hi everyone,
I have been on meds for a year and on December 2011 I was undetectable for the first time, viral load less than 20 copies. Performing the usual blood test in April 2012, I was informed that my CD4 count dropped from 425 to 394 and also had an increase in my viral load, that is 84 copies.
Could this increase in the viral load be a blip or is it more a matter a treatment failure?
Thanks
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A VL of 87 after being UD is most likely a blip. It was only a few years ago that anything under 500 was UD, so don't sweat it.
Your CD4 drop isn't anything to worry about either - CD4s can vary by as much as (or more than) 100 in the course of a single day. You're doing ok.
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to really call something a blip, it needs to be a jump of 100s at least or even 1000s. Why only a few yrs ago anything <200 was called "undetectable", and a few yrs before that it was anything <400. You're simply having some viral load fluctuation. ;) Of course as you've only been on meds a yr, and UD just barely 1/2 yr, some fluctuation like this isn't entirely uncommon. Since undetectable does not mean "cured" or "eradicated", I don't think anyone should ever be surprised to get an occasional VL spike <100.
and never forget, it's never about just a one-off test. It's always about the trend that's happening over at least 3 tests. (for example with your previous UD results, when the next 2 come back UD, you'll realize that this wasn't even a blip ;) ;D )
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Ann .. Letherman - Thanks for your immediate reply! I will try not to sweat it out as Ann stated. Things is my wife and I felt a bit down after getting the results. We were planning for a baby, doing it the natural way and as one is aware the studies state that the positive partner need to have an undetectable VL for at least six months.
Therefore it seems like know we have to wait again until I am undetectable once again, wait for another 6 months and then we will have to make the move from there on ... and I ask myself ... and what if I will have another blip or spike or fluctuation?
Damn!!
Once again, thanks for the reply, very much appreciated.
S.
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You might want to talk to your doctor about the possibility of your wife using what's called PrEP while you try to conceive. It's like PEP only in reverse - she would take meds before you have sex, rather than after. That's a simplistic way of putting it, but I'm sure you can do some research on it on your own - and talk to your doctor about it.
Good luck with the baby-making! :)
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I had my viral go up to 70 after I had been <20 for over a year. It really bummed me out because my T's dropped too - and this brought on a discussion of switching meds with my Dr. The viral went back down again though soon after, but I did changes meds anyway because I felt like a zombie on Atripla.
As for having kids, I'm so happy to know that you can be poz and do that. Is it known to be safe? I've always wanted kids and just assumed that was not an option anymore and it's had me upset for a long time.
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Ann: Thanks for the info. very much appreciated - Today I will see my ID doctor and see what he has to say! Will keep you informed.
Plus30: Yes, I have have that it's still possible for sero-discordant couple to have kids. The safest was when the male partner is positive is to perform the sperm washing procedure were the virus will be washed out from the semen. The negative side of this procedure is that it's expensive, not always works and it is not performed everywhere.
Then I have heard that there are couples who have conceived naturally. You can read more about this issued on the Swiss Study here:
http://www.aidsmap.com/Swiss-experts-say-individuals-with-undetectable-viral-load-and-no-STI-cannot-transmit-HIV-during-sex/page/1429357/ (http://www.aidsmap.com/Swiss-experts-say-individuals-with-undetectable-viral-load-and-no-STI-cannot-transmit-HIV-during-sex/page/1429357/)
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Now I can't help but picture a sperm in the shower wearing a cap and holding a brush and soaping itself up - ahh my imagination. :-X
That's great to know though. I really hope this works for you guys. You'll have to let us know!