CD4 decreasing

[lusopt]

Hi

Im worried about my cd4, i started meds 2 years ago when they were 370, then they grew to 600, and my last results they were 470, i dont get it, doctor says that im ok, that those are good results because my %% is growing since i started meds.

I just dont understand why my cd4 dont grow to 1000, if the meds keep the virus in a cell reservatory and he cant get out of it, shouldnt the cells be spawning like mushrooms?

Other than that, i feel sick all the time, i had feber twice this winter(cold), and had feber again yesterday, because i went to a morning byke runing, weather was cold and i wasnt capable of dealing with it, the 2 guys that were with me are ok. I feel weak, like a fuc..ing flower or thin glass or whatever.

[Jeff G]

Hi Lusopt . Your doctor is correct , your percentages are going up and your cd4 count is stable and decent in numbers . 600 - 470 inst really a big deal and is the range of acceptable variations from one blood draw to another .

I have been in treatment for over 15 years and although I have been undetectable , it took me years to break the 400 range and have only seen 500 in the lasts year .

Achieving undetectable is the first short term goal , then it takes time to see the slow rise in cd4 numbers . You seem to be doing great and and should consider your labs as proof that your treatment has been successful .

[mecch]

I just dont understand why my cd4 dont grow to 1000, if the meds keep the virus in a cell reservatory and he cant get out of it, shouldnt the cells be spawning like mushrooms?

You cannot presume what your "normal" level of CD4 was, before your HIV+ infection.  Did you ever have a CD4 test before.  Very few people have... 
Don't set up artificial goals and be disappointed when you don't reach them.  Not the way to live well with HIV.

Whatever your CD4s were before infections, you may have already reached it, again.  Or, it may take quite a long time.  Or, you might never recover to the same level, which you DO NOT KNOW anyway. 

Also you should be aware that the HIV virus can wipe out certain varieties of CD4s, forever!  In certain people.  So don't be thinking you are going to recreate some "pre-existing" "edenic" immune system of pre-infection. 

HAART treatment allows the immune system to multiply whatever varieties of CD4s survived.  So, even a CD4 level of 1000, on HAART, may not be the same kind of immune system that existed if the "pre-infection level" was also about 1000.

Science and medical practice have clearly identified general patterns as to what CD4 levels are generally protective of good health in a HIV+ person...  You are in that range!  There are more important things to do now then worry about this issue.