Jaz7days:
Thanks for the link looking now. I am trying to educate myself about hiv, for ways to support Charles and to understand the disease myself. I am thankful that Hiv is no longer a death sentence. I am sure in the 90’s it was tough the drugs now are amazing cant wait for him to get undetected and feeling like himself. Is there a timeline on how long it takes before you go undetected?
leatherman:
--- Quote from: Jaz7days on May 29, 2023, 11:01:07 am ---Is there a timeline on how long it takes before you go undetected?
--- End quote --- unfortunately, no. It's all a process while the meds block HIV from replicating, HIV is also dying off. Because everybody's body (including the immune system) is different, the timeline for everyone is different too. More than likely with the meds working, the viral load should drop pretty fast. Although don't expect it to necessarily go like 1 million, 1 thousand, 10, undetectable. Sometimes the path down can have small ups and downs as it declines. The cd4 count can do the same unsteady, or steady, path up, though the cd4 count will probably be a slower change.
The best way to consider either the VL or CD4 is to judge the trend over at least 3 tests over several months. If the VL trend is down, that's great. If the CD4 trend is up, that's great. VL results like 1million, 1 thousand, 2thousand, 100, 10, 50, UD are the same results as 1million, 1 thousand, 100, UD. In both cases the trend is down. BTW I think I mentioned before that it takes time, like when I mentioned "over several months" above. Getting the VL down with meds happens but not overnight. LOL And the good part to keep in mind is that even though he might still feel crappy, once he started meds he really are on the right path - even if the path takes a while. ;)
I'm probably blowing up your brain when info; but before you ask here's some info about CD4s that I posted in another thread:
--- Quote ---1. the best way to view cd4 counts is by at least 3 tests over at least 6 months of more 2. cd4s can change by up to 100 points a day 3. cd4 count is a measure of quantity not a measure of quality. some people with high cd4 counts get sick. some people with lower cd4s are very healthy. 4. without knowing your cd4 count prior to HIV, you actually don't know your "normal" count. your normal is based the genetics you got from your parents, and since that makes everyone's immune system unique, the normal range is a wide range from 400 to 1200. 5. there is nothing that specifically raises cd4. Nothing except ARVs, which stop HIV from destroying cd4s and allow them to recover to whatever might be "normal" for you 6. cd4s are only a part of the immune system not the whole thing. --- End quote ---
While CD4s are certainly important (otherwise HIV wouldn't use them up), having a count >200 is the most important thing to know about them.
Jaz7days:
No, never too much information. I appreciate everyone. My head is spinning this morning. He is back in the hospital called the ambulance couldn’t get him to the car. His breathing is shallow again. The diarrhea is back, low grade fever of 100.4. Why does the PCP keep reoccurring. This is the second relapse, this is the third relapse second time in the hospital been sick since March. I don’t understand why he gets better than declines. Good thing this time he was in CT with me. I don’t understand it. He keeps relapsing. Anyone ever went through a similar situation. I was already scared now i am terrified. What is going on? Why can’t he shake this? I’m loosing it. 🥺
Jaz7days:
They ran blood yesterday don’t know the CD4 level yet.
Jim Allen:
I'm sorry to hear he is still unwell and in hospital again; I'm glad he has access to healthcare, though, and I hope he feels better soon.
--- Quote ---I don’t understand it. He keeps relapsing. Anyone ever went through a similar situation. I was already scared now i am terrified. What is going on? Why can’t he shake this? I’m loosing it. 🥺
--- End quote ---
We could play guessing games all day, but we're just the people living with HIV and we don't have firsthand information from your son, end of the day, guessing isn't helpful and its best left to his doctor to work on. Talk to them, find out what their plan is to treat and support him and I wish you and your son the best.
I will add one thought I had from the start of this thread, you said he acquired HIV recently, but for argument's sake, let's say he didn't and has actually had HIV untreated for a few years and now has AIDS (Late-stage HIV.
Well, then " immune reconstitution syndrome" could be a factor. This means you may get worse after starting treatment to suppress the virus as your immune system starts to "heal", for lack of a better phrase and starts fighting illnesses and issues it had previously ignored or was too weak to fight. Again that would only apply if he has had HIV for longer than is being said.
--- Quote ---They ran blood yesterday don’t know the CD4 level yet. --- End quote ---
This doesn't make much sense at all.
They should already have these results from his previous lab work. It only takes a few days, and it's the basics they run when first diagnosed, particularly if the person is sick and, you already mentioned they ran a VL, so CD4 is usually done simultaneously at the start, even if the person isn't sick.
Talk to your son directly if possible because something isn't adding up. End of the day, he is a grown man, and he doesn't need to share with you, but either he has results already and hasn't shared them, or the hospital has results already and hasn't shared them.