Do doctors really know what they are doing- confused about my labs?

[batttyy]

Hi

I hope you might remember me. I posted few months ago for advise as I din't disclose to my partner about ,my HIV status. I started medication (Atripla)in May 2011 and my labs were cd- 62 000 and vl- 151.  On 5th July  I went to see my doctor re my udated labswhich were taken early June My labs were cd 247 and virial load 494.

On 28th June , me and my partner went to a different doctor for the test so he can know about my HIV STATUS. Mypartner tested negative ( 2 tests carried out and were all clear. Although I knew he might be negetive because we always used a condom, I was so relieved to get the result. He is still with me, very supportive.

They then did my test which obviously was positive. They contacted me on the 01 July to give me the lab results which were totally different from my usual doctor. My viral load 52 000 and cd 429 and they say I dont need treatment.

Can anyone please advise!

thanks

I am just so confused with my labs

[emeraldize]

Hi Battyy,

Congrats that your partner's still with you, been tested and is negative.

I see a couple of things which may be typos on your part or the way something was stated to you. Your first results are switched around. Your CD4 count would have been 151 and VL - 62,000. Your June labs seem to be in the right order and a swift response. As to the second lab's results---labs often vary from one to another.

If I were you, I would just rely upon the results your doc is conveying as he/his office is likely using the same lab every time they send samples out. And, you've initiated treatment so you want to continue that. There are different views as to when to initiate treatment. Your doc is giving you good advice.

Was it just curiousity that caused you to have the second test done? Especially after initiating your care and starting a regimen with another doctor. It's none of my business, but did your insurance actually pay for this? I'd be surprised. Anyhoo, make your life easier and stick with one doc/one lab and one translator of your status and progression.

Continued good luck to you.
Em

[Ann]

Am I reading this correctly?

Before you started meds, your results were CD4 151, VL 62,000

Your labs from early June, after starting meds in May, were CD4 247, VL 494. That is a very respectable response to the meds.

You re-tested for hiv in late June with your partner (presumably as a way to tell him your hiv status without admitting that you already knew and didn't tell him right away?). When they ran more labs due to your positive status, your results came back as CD4 429, VL 52,000. They told you that you don't need treatment, so is it safe to also assume that you did not inform them that you already knew your hiv status and also did not tell them that you already started treatment in May?

Your VL should have kept going down, as it did after you started meds. Have you been totally compliant with your meds or have you been missing doses? If you have been missing doses, that increase in your VL could mean that you have developed resistance - probably to the Sustiva component of the Atripla. It sounds like you need to go to your regular doctor and have more labs drawn (specifically VL) to find out if you've become resistant to one or more of the meds in Atripla - or if the VL result from the new doctor was a lab error. It happens sometimes.