Tested Positive on Jan 16 2024

[Joebilly73]

Good Morning,

I have alot of questions.

So I was admitted to a hospital for Acute Respatory failure and diagnosed with Pneumonia. They drew labs and discovered I was HIV 1 +. My CD4 was 27 and CD4% 2 , Viral Load was 300,000.

I was given a series of antibiotics and had my first appointment with a infectious disease doctor about 1.5 weeks after my release. I was then started on Biktarvy.

Everyone is saying I will be fine but I know that those numbers meant I had full blown AIDS.

Am I going to be ok?
Will I be able to get to a undetectable leave and a healthily CD4?
I honestly feel a lot better today then I did before entering the hospital.

Im guessing I have been positive for at least a decade, I am married and never cheated on my wife, she thankfully has tested Negative and her 3 month follow up is soon. Its believed that I contracted this through my job, I must have had an exposure that I just never realized. Is it safe for us to be intimate? Using protection and such? Or should we be waiting for my numbers to improve?

Thanks
Scared to Death

[daveR]

Hi

Welcome to the forum, always seems strange to say that as none of us want to be here.

Short answer, as long as you take your medication daily, and follow up with the Doctors appointments you will be fine. Your numbers are not good but if you look through this forum there are many people who started with worse and they are OK.

Biktarvy is an excellent treatment, I would expect that viral load to be dramatically reduced very quickly. Your CD4 count will increase as and when it does. Some people bounce back quicker than others.

For sex with your wife, use condoms until you have been undetectable for at least 6 months, possibly consider your wife taking PrEP.

I am sure one of the more experienced positive members will be along with more reassurance than I have to offer. I myself have been positive for only 8 years or so. Some on here for decades.

Once again, take the one pill as instructed. Avoid drugs that may cause interactions, including minerals with Biktarvy and live your life.

All the best
Dave

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis and how sick you had become but glad you have access to healthcare and are now starting to feel better.

Will I be able to get to a undetectable leave

Sure, you should see a suppressed VL (below 200 copies) within a few months. Some people get there within a few months and others take 6 months but you will get there.

a healthily CD4?

Your CD4 count will likely improve but it's not as important as suppressing the viral load, it may also take time and keep in mind it's not a measurement of overall health.

Its believed that I contracted this through my job, I must have had an exposure that I just never realized.

Unlike some viruses, HIV is fragile and extremely limited in the ways it is transmitted, it also doesn't matter what happened, you are living with it and we are here to support you and the focus is getting back to health and living your life.

Is it safe for us to be intimate? Using protection and such? Or should we be waiting for my numbers to improve?

In short, if you do decide to have sex you should be using condoms correctly and consistently, with no exceptions and your wife could also consider PrEP, a combination of medications taken usually in a single pill daily by HIV-negative people to reduce the chance of getting HIV from having sex.

However, once you have achieved a suppressed viral load for at least 6 months, you can't sexually pass on HIV.

If you have more questions or concerns about the sex part, you can post them in this section: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?board=28.0 Thanks.

[Grasshopper]

Hi, sorry to have to welcome you to the Forums.

With those lab results....YES you have full blown AIDS.

Good thing is that you started with antiretroviral therapy.

Biktarvy is an excellent option.

Take your medications diligently as prescribed by your doctor.

First thing you'll notice is a steady if not a drastically drop in the viral load. And that is the sole purpose of the hiv medications....is to halt the viral replication in your body.

Next thing you'll notice....but you will have to muster some patience...is a slow and steady recovery of your CD4 count. The primary goal is to reach at least a count of 200.
A very important thing to remember is that you started therapy with a low (Nadir) CD4 count....and this could mean a slow recovery of the CD4 count.

CD4 count is by no means an absolute measure of Health. A count above 200 means that you are relatively safe from acquiring opportunistic infections.

So hang in there, maintain your sanity and eventually things will work out fine.

(I tested positive in 1992....been to hell and back from AIDS, and I am now thriving)

Best wishes

[Tonny2]

          ojo.            Hello there!


Welcome to the forums
We are here for you. You are going to be fine as long as you take your medication as prescribed. About your sex life, I suppose you have been having sex with your wife before your TX and she is negative, I wonder if that means that she’s one of those persons who can’t Acquired HIV, I think it’s a good topic for your doctor to talk about, meanwhile, use condoms… you are not alone, we are here for you. Please keep us posted….hugeps

[Jim Allen]

I wonder if that means that she’s one of those persons who can’t Acquired HIV,

Tony! 😂 That's only a step better than "Super AIDS" topics in the just tested positive section . In general HIV is just incredible difficult to pass on sexually even when all conditions are perfect and individual factors play a role such as relatively low viral load etc and safer to presume the OP partner is susceptible.

[Tonny2]

           ‘ojo.           What I meant is that if the. OP it’s already living with aids, and he’s asking if he can have sex with his wife, if she is HIV negative after having sex with her husband, it’s most likely, I think, as she’s not going to get the virus. But now that he knows that he has the virus, he has to use condoms during his sex activities… I remember one case on the Spanish forum when the girlfriend of a member of the forum had the same situation. She couldn’t understand why she was still shaving negative even though he was having sex with her boyfriend before he got his aids diagnosis. Then, after she found out about her boyfriend’s Diagnosis. They started having safer sex until they had a problem with the condom and she was so scared that she might have gotten the virus. She went to the clinic to see the doctor to get some pep but the doctor told her I have to giving her the medication, that he thought she was going to be OK. So she didn’t want to take the medication and she still heavy negative… i’m not sure he say explain myself. Remember that English is my second language. ..OP Please keep us posted.

[Jim Allen]

           ‘ojo.           What I meant is that if the. OP it’s already living with aids, and he’s asking if he can have sex with his wife, if she is HIV negative after having sex with her husband, it’s most likely, I think, as she’s not going to get the virus. But now that he knows that he has the virus, he has to use condoms during his sex activities… I remember one case on the Spanish forum when the girlfriend of a member of the forum had the same situation. She couldn’t understand why she was still shaving negative even though he was having sex with her boyfriend before he got his aids diagnosis. Then, after she found out about her boyfriend’s Diagnosis. They started having safer sex until they had a problem with the condom and she was so scared that she might have gotten the virus. She went to the clinic to see the doctor to get some pep but the doctor told her I have to giving her the medication, that he thought she was going to be OK. So she didn’t want to take the medication and she still heavy negative… i’m not sure he say explain myself. Remember that English is my second language. ..OP Please keep us posted.

  were getting our wires crossed. Will text you later 😘

[Tonny2]

        ojo.         @jimallen, oops!!, somebody’s going to get some spanking…lol

[kentfrat1783]

So I was admitted to a hospital for Acute Respatory failure and diagnosed with Pneumonia. They drew labs and discovered I was HIV 1 +. My CD4 was 27 and CD4% 2 , Viral Load was 300,000.

.....

Everyone is saying I will be fine but I know that those numbers meant I had full blown AIDS.

I am sorry to hear your Dx but the big question is, How are you doing?  I hope you’re doing well. 

Now, onto your question.  We started at about the same point.  I was initially hospitalized with pneumonia that was actually PCP, found out I was HIV+, CD4 count of 2 and a high VL.  I thought my life was over in 2017 and worried as I saw myself as having AIDS.  It did take me a while to get comfortable and realize I would be OK but sure glad I made it through and living my life again. 

I'm still here in 2024, CD4 count is over 200, and no other opportunistic infections since. 

I'm unsure where you live, but I learned that the definition of AIDS changed in 2017 that you needed to have 2 opportunistic infections in a 12 month period and a CD4 count under 200.  Well this was at least how it was described to me as my specialists kept saying I have “Advanced HIV”. 

Just remember to ask questions, take your medication, and wondering if you are on Bactrim.  I was on that for just over 3 years to help until my CD4 count got over 200. 

We also have a bi-weekly Peer Support call if you would like to join and ask questions or just learn from our experiences.  https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77329.0

I’m wishing you all the best

[Joebilly73]

Honestly I have no idea how I’m doing. Just taking it day by day. Cry a lot . I thank god every day that my wife tested negative and pray that she is still that way in 3 and 6 months.
She told her parents and brother, her mother is a Nurse Practitioner and knows all about HIV but since telling her brother he has basically shut us out. I personally don’t give a fuck but feel bad for my wife. Sometimes wish I would have just died.

[kentfrat1783]

Honestly I have no idea how I’m doing. Just taking it day by day.

This is an honest answer.  It does take time to digest everything and it isn't a bad thing to talk to somoene if you need that.  Don't think less of youself if you do.  It sure helped me a lot. 

Something that helped me for some time was to write my thoughts down.  Some times I didn't save what I wrote but just felt good to get my thoughts out. Just a thought. 

For me, I did my best to not tell many others but I know it got out to others.  I am sorry the reaction you got from your brother-in-law but we all take this differently.  I am sure she is also worried about his sister so hopefully over time things will improve.

[Jim Allen]

in 3 and 6 months.

 

She told her parents and brother, her mother is a Nurse Practitioner and knows all about HIV but since telling her brother he has basically shut us out. I personally don’t give a fuck but feel bad for my wife.

Sorry to hear that her brother has shut you out.

The thing is you can't control how people are going to react and sometimes they just need time to digest the news as well and become more informed about HIV. Must be hard for your wife at the moment, give the brother some time.

Regarding disclosure of your HIV status, keep in mind that once you tell people they can pass on that information to others, and I certainly would urge people new to living with HIV to consider asking themselves the question, why are you disclosing? Does this person need to know and what are you hoping to get from disclosing? If there is no need to disclose and you are not going to gain from it then I wouldn't recommend it.

Honestly I have no idea how I’m doing. Just taking it day by day. Cry a lot .

Yeah, an HIV diagnosis can be a lot to get your head around. Bit like a grieving process, so my thoughts are to give yourself time to digest the diagnosis and seek out peer support, you have us here but also face-to-face peer support if that's a possibility in your area and finally consider talking to a therapist.

You are not alone. Hugs.

[Loa111]

Sorry to hear that you found out you are positive & with an advanced diagnosis (aids).

You are going to fine! It is good news going forward for you as everyone else on here said already.

I found out I was poz that exact way you did. Violent coughing, hospital for pneumonia. then found out the bad news. CD4 22, VL 270,000. It scared me that I was so advanced & in aids stage.  That was in May 2018. I was on antibiotics for at least 2+ years until I got CD4 over 200.

Roll on to 2024, and aside from then I take my two pills every morning, I usually forget that I even have HIV! It's really just about taking the pills, go to the clinic 3 times a year & try to live healthy, fitness etc.


You will get there too. It might take a while though & you will probably go through some sort of a mourning period, which I did too, & that bit of mourning & down feeling used to hit me now & then in the first few years. It's normal.

Sorry to hear your wife told all her family. That is a headache you could do without for now. I told no one, no point. My wife knew of course, as she had to be tested & was negative thank God. She was often a real bitch about me being poz, beating me up mentally about how I got poz & using it as a psychological stick to beat me at times. I really could have done without the extra stress & lack of empathy from her but hey ho, that is life sometimes.

My advice is to tell no one else for now, and maybe for ever keep it that way.

Also the people on this forum gave me excellent support in my year years, and still do. I would have been lost without the help I got on here. So keep coming back & keep asking questions & updating us on how you are getting on. Then later be here for other new comers.

[Tonny2]

Sorry to hear that her brother has shut you out.

The thing is you can't control how people are going to react and sometimes they just need time to digest the news as well and become more informed about HIV. Must be hard for your wife at the moment, give the brother some time.

Regarding disclosure of your HIV status, keep in mind that once you tell people they can pass on that information to others, and I certainly would urge people new to living with HIV to consider asking themselves the question, why are you disclosing? Does this person need to know and what are you hoping to get from disclosing? If there is no need to disclose and you are not going to gain from it then I wouldn't recommend it.

Yeah, an HIV diagnosis can be a lot to get your head around. Bit like a grieving process, so my thoughts are to give yourself time to digest the diagnosis and seek out peer support, you have us here but also face-to-face peer support if that's a possibility in your area and finally consider talking to a therapist.

You are not alone. Hugs.

[Joebilly73]

Received part of my labs today

CD4 - 141 up from 27 when I was in the hospital.
CD4% - 4 up from 2%

When I was in the hospital my Hep B was negative however today it should to be positive. Can Biktarvy cause a fake positive? I don’t see my doctor till Friday and a little concerned.

Thanks in advance

[Jim Allen]

CD4 - 141 up from 27 when I was in the hospital.
CD4% - 4 up from 2%

No viral load update yet?

When I was in the hospital my Hep B was negative however today it should to be positive. Can Biktarvy cause a fake positive? I don’t see my doctor till Friday and a little concerned.

Biktarvy itself would not cause a false Heb B result.

I don't know what type of Heb B test they used in the hospital vs the clinic. Anyhow, no need to panic or overthink things, just see the doctor on Friday.


How are you otherwise feeling/doing?

[Joebilly73]

Need assistance please
What does HIV 1 RNA, QN PCR 54H / HIV 1 RNA, QN PCR 1.73 H mean?

[Jim Allen]

It's just your viral load results. Presuming the first line you mentioned is the counts, it's a VL of 54, meaning the viral load is suppressed.

Mine would read like this:

HIV 1 RNA, QN PCR XXH Reference range: <20 copies/mL and HIV 1 RNA, QN PCR X H Reference range: < X Log copies/mL

Did the results you shared also include a reference range behind them like my example?

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/understanding-lab-work-blood-tests

[Tonny2]

         Ojo.           Hello there!… Your treatment is working. You about to be and detective clinically speaking. <20 and little by little  your soldiers. (Cd4) will increase. Keep doing what you have been doing since you started treatment, don’t miss any  dosage and keep a good attitude.… Please keep us posted, we are here for you.… Hugs

[Jim Allen]

@Joebilly73

How are you feeling/doing?

[Joebilly73]

Hey Jim,

Thanks for checking in. I am doing good.

[Jim Allen]

👍 Glad to hear it, keep us posted.

[Joebilly73]

Good Morning,

Just wanted to drop a line. Currently been feeling good. Emotionally I am feeling better as well. I have been on treatment since end of January. I think it is going well.

Original Numbers January 14, 2024
CD4 - 27
CD4% - 2
VL - 300,106

Labs March 1, 2024
CD4 - 141
CD4% - 4
VL - 54

I will be going tomorrow for labs and a follow up next week.

Thanks for everyone's wisdom and kind words.

With any luck CD4 will be above 200 and I can stop the Bactrim.

[Joebilly73]

Labs March 1, 2024
CD4 - 141
CD4% - 4
VL - 54

April 8, 2024
CD4 - 89
CD4 % -4
VL- 33

I know CD 4 can vary is this something I should be concerned wit? The 50 point drop? Been taking Bactrim and Biktarvy everyday have not missed a dose. About to travel and worried I could get sick again with the low CD4 numbers

[Jim Allen]

Travelling somewhere nice I hope. 

I know CD 4 can vary is this something I should be concerned wit? The 50 point drop? Been taking Bactrim and Biktarvy everyday have not missed a dose. About to travel and worried I could get sick again with the low CD4 numbers

No, as being concerned will not improve or change anything. Look don't go crazy and lick any cat's backside as you might get toxoplasmosis but live your life otherwise as normal.

CD4 counts are pretty useless, you could retest the same day and get different results, the CD% is more reliable and your CD4% is stable, increased from 2% to 4% and you are taking the Bactrim.

[Jim Allen]

A far more important topic is how are you feeling and doing?

[Tonny2]

                  Ojo.             Hello there!… I wouldn’t worry about getting sick again because your biktarvy is suppressing the virus so Your immune system is fighting less enemy now. Yes, keep taking  your Bactrim  and your antiretroviral as prescribed and keep having a good attitude. You are on your way to full recovery, slowly, but surely … please keep us posted and hang in there, like I said, don’t worry, be happy because your virus is suppressed…abrazos

[leatherman]

Cd4s can change by 100 pts in a single day. As evidenced by the zero change in the percentage the 141 is basically equal to the 89.

[Joebilly73]

Got great news this weekend, my wife tested negative for her three month follow up from when I was diagnosed in January. I know based on my numbers I had been HIV positive for quite awhile and we have been intimate that whole time. So this is a great relief to our family. Would it be a good idea for her to have another text in three months?

[Jim Allen]

Glad to hear the result was negative.

Would it be a good idea for her to have another text in three months?

There was no need to test at 3 months, let alone another 3 months making it 6 months. Your wife doesn't have HIV unless she has been sexually active within the window period.


How are you getting on and feeling?

[Tonny2]

              ojo.         Hello there!…Happy to read that your wife is hiv negative, keep her that wsy and practice safer sex, just in case…please keep us postef…hugs