POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: wjaxon on October 07, 2011, 12:25:01 am
-
Hey all, I have been here on the site for about 3 weeks. I was infected in Mid-August 2011. I started seroconverting on September 7, 2011. It was the most awful experience I had. Migraine, fever, night sweats, chills, throat irritation.
I went to the ER at the urging of my newly reconnected partner (who is neg) and they did a spinal tap to rule out meningitis. 8 hours later I was released with a Z-pack and throat numbing med. I slept literally for 4 days till I had my follow up appt with my own doc. I honestly thought I was dying.
He told me my HIV test was negative but wanted to do a VL test. (what ever that was). Four days later, he called me in to the office to let me know I was positive. My VL was over 10 million and my CD4's were at 258. I had no reaction to his information and he was concerned. I asked him what was I supposed to do, fall out, cry, get angry or jump out the window.
That being said, he recommended treatment. So I am 3 weeks on treatment of Prezista 800 mg, Norvir 100 mg and Truvada. I have cool insurance and with the assistance of the co-pay assistance program...I don't pay for anything for my meds. I am blessed beyond measure. So 4 pills once a day. I take them as I am leaving work in the afternoon with food. I am pleased to say that I have had not side effects since starting treatment. I have my next appt on 10/17/11. More test and needles and hopefully all my numbers are moving in the right direction. VL down and CD4 up. I do have a question though, what is the % thing I am seeing on some of these posts?
I have lost about 30 lbs in about 5 weeks. I am liking how I am looking. I was at 255 when I sero-converted. Today this morning I was 224. During my sero-conversion, I lost 14lbs in 4 days when I did nothing but sleep. I am going back to the gym starting Monday and try to stay healthy. I dance, play softball and do Jiu Jitsu so that should be enough to keep me active and healthy.
-
Hi there wjaxon,
welcome to the forums....you sound like you're handling your new status as a HIV positive individual really well.
I serocoverted at about the same time as you....not that its significant, but sometimes it help knowing that you're not alone and that someone on the otherside of the world is experiencing the same thing as you.
The drugs you're taking will definitely start moving your numbers in the right direction. I am also on Truvada coupled with another drug (isentress) and in the 2 weeks that I have been on them, my viral load went down from 586483 to 619....so they will work, trust me!
as for the percentages...perhaps get your doctor to explain this to you better, but from my understanding it is the ratio between your CD4 cells and CD8 cells. when you contract HIV the process is reversed (this is the part that I get confused on) so the ratio between these 2 types is flipped. You should take note of the percentage as opposed to your actual count as the percentage is a more accurate reflection of where they (The CD4 cells) are at....
Hopefully this makes sense. I am sure other people on the forums will be able to provide you with a further understanding of the numbers.
As for your fitness - sounds great!
You'll have your ups and downs adjusting to this change in your life, but if you keep the same outlook - i reckon you'll be fine.
Peace
-
Hi wjaxon,
I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis but welcome to the forums.
Seems you're coming to grips with your new reality fairly well and quickly too, which is great. :)
The CD4 percentage that is stated on your blood tests results is the percentage of white blood cells that are CD4 cells. While the absolute CD4 count can bounce around quite a bit with each blood draw the CD4 percentage is usually more stable and is thus considered a more reliable indicator of the state of your immune system.
Here is a useful link: http://i-base.info/qa/18
Best
-
Hi Wjaxon,
welcome to the forums.
Like you i am relatively recently Dx. You sound like you are handling things extreemly well. I look forward to hearning that your numbers are moving in the right direction. one of the main ways that i have got reassurance and hope from these forums is from hearing about the impact of meds on other people's numbers. It is ACE that you are not having any side effects.
Keep your spirits up
sam
-
I also want to applaud your attitude, especially the lack of hand-wringing. Best of luck with your treatment-
Brent
(Who's been poz since 1984)
-
Today is the day to test where I am at after starting treatment. Kind of excited about getting the results later this week. I will keep you all posted on the results.
-
Hi Wjaxon,
Good luck with the tests, look forward to hearing some good news from you ;-)
I'm at a similar stage as you, go for my tests a week today to see how the drugs are working.
Kinda wanna know now ;)
-
Well the results came in and I am pleased! VL from >10 million down to only 2890! CD4 from 258 up to 706! I feel great from the numbers and feel that I am going to be UD next time! Hopefully my CD4's will continually rise.
I am taking Prezista, Truvada and Norvir. Working great for me with no sides.
Thank you all for your support and I look forward to more good numbers!
-
Great stats and great that you are reacting to the meds so well.
keep enjoying life mister
-
Thanks for the encouragement Married! I am happy that I am normalizing now. I really thought I was not going to make it through this because I had such a bad time seroconverting. Glad everything is coming back to where it should be. Thank God I have no side effects.
-
Okay I am very confused now...I called the Dr. office today for the results of my labs last week. I was informed that my VL was 1300 which was good down from 2900 before. The CD4s were 778 up from 706 last month however my cholesterol was 245 from 202. Okay I have to do some walking and cardio.
The thing that confuses me now is that she told me that my HIV test was NEGATIVE! How do I test Negative after 3 months and also have a Viral Load of 1300. Is there a way that the VL test is not accurate? So far I have never tested Positive so what am I to think about this turn of events?
Confused
-
Okay I am very confused now...I called the Dr. office today for the results of my labs last week. I was informed that my VL was 1300 which was good down from 2900 before. The CD4s were 778 up from 706 last month however my cholesterol was 245 from 202. Okay I have to do some walking and cardio.
The thing that confuses me now is that she told me that my HIV test was NEGATIVE! How do I test Negative after 3 months and also have a Viral Load of 1300. Is there a way that the VL test is not accurate? So far I have never tested Positive so what am I to think about this turn of events?
Confused
What kind of HIV test was it. Was it an Elisa or Western Blot? All positive HIV tests need to be confirmed by a western blot test. What does your ID Doc say about this?
Make sure you are going to an HIV specialist.
-
I will call again tomorrow to see what kind of test was performed. I am under the impression that I had the ELISA test and the confirmation was a VL test. I am not sure. what a way to start a week.