Taking 6 months off blood tests

[gemini20]

After another stressful week waiting for results the new numbers are in and to be honest there really is not much to report; another month on meds and absolutely nothing has really changed.

T-cells went from 245 to 250 (% from 17.8 to 19.3) and viral load remained undetectable.

It feels like a poor return after another 4 weeks of taking the bloody pills, or maybe I shouldn't expect huge increases given my starting point and lack of 100% compliance. Oh well I guess I should be thankful that the meds are doing something.

The big decision from today, which thankfully my doctor has supported, is that I am taking a 6 month break from getting bloods done as I'm not prepared to go through that stress so frequently. Obviously if I feel unwell or feel that something is not right in that time I will get checked out earlier but I am happy to be back doing things 'my way'.

I will stay on my current meds for the next few months as I figured stopping them now would not be too sensible given the numbers, so perhaps a bit of commonsense from me.

Emma

[Matty the Damned]

Hey Emma,

You know I think a rise in your % from 17.8 to 19.3 is a pretty good sign, all things considered. What's more you get 6 vampire free months.



MtD

[Iggy]

I agree that your % increase is encouraging and is only the first part of a general resurgence in your %.

Good news about not needing to get the labs done so frequently.

[BT65]

Hi sweetie, a good little jump in the %, can't make you feel too bad.  And no needles for six months!  Hang in there-

[cflas]

Sorry to be the "Nay Sayer" but I'm pretty much convinced that the three month regimen is the norm.  I've  close friend who is a physician and has done HIV work nationally and when I told him my dr suggested the 6  month routine he assured me that the norm for testing is every three months (or quarterly). I'd prefer to take my friend's advice.

Since I don't know your whole story (how long you've been poz, what your initial numbers were, etc) I know I'm probably swimming upstream on this one. 

It does concern me when you say, "It seems like a poor return after four weeks of  taking the bloody pills..."  along with "...or maybe I shouldn't expect huge increases given my starting point and lack of 100% compliance." 

I guess it would help if I had an inkling of what your expectations are.  For me, I've been poz for 14 yrs and started out with a t-cell ct of 200 and undetectable viral load.  My t-cells went as low as 84 and are now up to 388.  My viral load has always been undetectable.

Anyway, my point is not to upset you but just to offer a differing opinion.

[Iggy]

Cflas,

I think your advice is well intended, but I advise you to spend sometime reading Emma's history (you can do that by clicking on her profile and then on her last posts)  She has seen quite a lot and knows a great deal about living with HIV.

Hope you don't take this as a reproach as I know you mean well, just as an advisement to you and any other, that Emma has her full wits about her and her medical choices.

[Jeffreyj]

Emma,
You are doing the right thing here. Sometimes the numbers go slower then we want. I am so happy (OK, and relieved) that you are staying with the meds. I am pretty darn certain that there will be allot better results in the future. Great going Em. Love ya xoxo

[minismom]

Emma,
We do 6mth bloodwork for Mini, too.  It's worked out well for us and allowed her veins to "rest".  You know your body and if you feel like you need to go in before then, you'll know it.  Doc isn't real happy about us waiting 6mths, but I'm with ya, Emma, gotta fight this your way.  Mental health is just as important, if not more important, than physical health.  Glad to see your %'s improving.  Here's to more upward and onward ##s.

Mum

[leatherman]

I will stay on my current meds for the next few months

'Lo Em 

I, for one, am glad to hear you'll stick with the meds for a while longer
(especially if you've managed to make it through any side effects  )

in another thread, there's chatter about stressing over waiting for lab results. It's usually not a bad wait if you're numbers have been good; but if things have been bad, or if you're really hoping to see some improvement, well, then that wait sure is nerve-wracking.

but you did get Good News, so all Jim and I want to say is:
WooHoo! 

  from us and the kidz

[aztecan]

Hey Em,

I think the increase in CD4 percentage and the fact you are undetectable, which is all we can as from the meds, is certainly cause for a brief happy dance. 

I know you and the meds have had your ups and downs. I am glad you are hanging in there.

HUGS,

Mark