Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 12:58:05 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772947
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 388
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 359
Total: 359

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: Worried about my last lab results  (Read 5653 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline +/-

  • Member
  • Posts: 45
Worried about my last lab results
« on: May 05, 2012, 02:06:57 am »
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

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2012, 07:11:28 am »
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.
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline leatherman

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 8,593
  • Google and HIV meds are Your Friends
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2012, 08:03:03 am »
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 )
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline +/-

  • Member
  • Posts: 45
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2012, 08:23:12 am »
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.

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2012, 08:31:06 am »
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! :)
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #5 on: May 07, 2012, 01:32:40 pm »
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.
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

Offline +/-

  • Member
  • Posts: 45
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2012, 02:16:40 am »
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/

Offline Plus30

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
Re: Worried about my last lab results
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2012, 07:36:25 pm »
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!
...............CD4   %    VL
05/04/07   Tested Positive
10/24/07   343   18   141,000
03/12/08   327   17   120,000
05/08/08   286   13   16,529  Started Atripla
07/16/08   325   14   282 
10/14/08   317   19   72
06/10/09   392   21   <48
04/15/10   385   23   <48 New Dr
09/10/10   430   33   <48
11/29/10   540   28   <20
04/11/11   580   29   <20
06/24/11   465   31   70
01/06/12   427   26   <20
04/12/12   378   23   <20 Change to Truvada/Viramune
05/15/12   461   30   <20
10/02/12   678   28   <20
02/22/13   720   27   <20

 


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.