viral load... how long until undetectable?

[robmacedo]

hey guys: i´ve already wrote two different posts (attached at the end of my messgae) to this forum and once again can´t thank you all enough for all the useful iformation and kind and encouraging words from all of you...

not sure if with my next question now i´m looking for a real answer or some sort of validation for my insecurities regarding the treatment...

to make it short, is started on combivir and sustiva (my first regimen ever) on february and my status before was:
viral load: 639,000
CD4: 146 / 12%

a month later (march) i was really happy to learn about a sharp vl drop and that my CD4 was also going in the right direction:
viral load: 1,244
CD4: 243 / 18%

so i was really hoping that by the time i get my third set of results (april), my vl would be undetectable... it was not... it was actually a little higher than before:
viral load: 2,400
CD4: 431 / 19%

my doctor told me that my treatment number are to be considered a successful story so far, but i guess i was hoping so much to be undetectable that i was not feeling really happy when i left his office... he asked me if i had a cold or something when i took my last test (that could have affected the results) but i told him i was not sick at the time at all...

my concern is that the virus i have might be resistant to the medication (since there is always a chance to get infected from someone who´s already in treatment)... the thing is that, with that sharp vl drop on my first set of numbers after starting treatment i didn´t even considered that possibility anymore... is it still possible the bug ip´ve got is that tricky?

also, since i don´t have much people to compare numbers with, am i really at a point where i can say my treatemnt is succesfull? true, my CD4 is going in the right direction but at a very slow pace...

sorry if my doubts seem pretty stupid; after all things are not that bad, since i still had no side effects at all and i´ve never had any hiv-related complication ever (learned about my positive status in 2005)...

i also understand that each individual phisiology responds at his/her own pace, but i guess i was just trying to hear different thoughts and points of view from more experienced people until i get my next set of results (which will happen in a couple of weeks)...

thanks again in advance to all you guys and again i´m really sorry if my questions are just to silly...

take care you all,
rob

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Main Forums / Questions About Treatment & Side Effects / Re: Starting Treatment  on: April 08, 2007, 11:20:32 AM

hey guys: first of all i want to thank all the posts and the useful information,,, you guys rock!

also a quick update: ive been on combivir and sustiva for more than a month now and had no side effects at all (at least the short term stuff)...

lipodistrophy is still a ghost in my thoughts, but my doctor says is very unllikely to occur... plus, since i have constant follow up consultations because of the study (biweekly now, then monthly) we will have time to stop more serious damage to occur... he says its just so good that im not having any side effects at all that is worth the small risk of the lipoistrophy...

next week ill have my first set of results after i started the treatment, im keeping my fingers crossed...

thanks again to all of you, specially the ones that wrote me directly (to whom i sent private messages)...

take care, roberto

Main Forums / Questions About Treatment & Side Effects / Starting Treatment  on: December 10, 2006, 01:02:36 AM

Hi guys:

First of all I´d like to thank you for all useful information I found in the forums.

I´m a 41 y.o. Brazilian guy from Rio de Janeiro and know I´m HIV poz for the last couple of years.

Up to last September my CD4 count was in the 300/400 range and I had no symptoms of any kind. So all I was doing was following it up closely (I´ve got a great contact at Fundação Osvaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), a research institution well-known in Brazil and all over the world).

And so my CD4 numbers started to drop. 280 in October and 178 November.  It´s time for meds.

My doubt is very simple. I have been offered to participate in a study at FIOCRUZ which is sponsored by the US National Institute of Health. It is basically a study to compare how different classes of drugs reduce viral load of people in different parts of the planet.

There are three arms: 1) AZT/3TC + EFV; 2) FTC + ATV + ddl-EC; 3) FTC/TDF + EFV. If I chose to participate, I will be assigned to one of those regimens (randomly).

As many HIV poz guys, I am afraid that one of the combinations above might be more likely to cause lipoatrophy.
I also don´t want to skip any steps, since I never took any medication (if my virus don´t show any sign of resistance I pretty much have all the options).

On the flip side I know that the medical professionals at FIOCRUZ are great and I won´t ´ be submitted to any crazy test (it´s a phase IV study). Plus, participating on the study I will have an extra support to maintain adherence to my regimen and will have an even closer monitoring.

I know it sounds like a win/win situation but it is a important step and I just wanted to hear different opinions.

Thanks in advance and congratulations on this great website!

Abraços,
Roberto Macedo

[thunter34]

Hey there, Rob!

No, your doubts don't seem silly.  I wouldn't worry too much about it.  My VL took a long time to come down to undetectable.  Your CD4's are rebounding nicely!  You stated that was a slow rebound, but it actually looks pretty fast to me.  Most people I have known have taken a long time to get back in the 400 range if they have been down well below 200.  Breathe easy for now and wait and see how it goes.  I imagine you will get down to undetectable pretty soon.

[J.R.E.]

Hello Rob,

Unless things have changed, it is accepted by doctors that it is best to get the viral load to undetetectable within 6 months. For some it can happen within 12 weeks, others can take up to 6 months, and it is still possible to go beyond 6 months and not have an undetectable viral load.




Ray

[robmacedo]

thanks, guys...
rob

[aztecan]

Hey Rob,

It varies a lot between people, as Ray said. Some go undetectable very quickly, others take longer.  I know a few people who never have made to undetectable - guess they have a stubborn virus.

Your numbers look very good and are heading the right direction. Also keep in mind that CD4 counts can bounce up and down a lot. so don't let that make you crazy.

Now, let's see, you're 41, Brazilian and seem very nice. (((((SIGH))))), all the nice guys live far, far away. 

HUGS,

Mark

[Miss Philicia]

I took 13 years