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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: todd123 on December 11, 2008, 05:34:27 pm

Title: Can VL go up without "resistance" ?
Post by: todd123 on December 11, 2008, 05:34:27 pm
Hey all.

Well new labs.  After a scare the last time of the CD4 drop down to 105 from 135,
I'm happy that after 5 weeks it's up to 161.  That's the good news.

The "ambiguous" news I guess is that my VL  also rose to 400 from around 167.
The trend is that it was constantly going down.

Is this just the way it is with Numbers.  It's such a schizophrenic roller coaster ride.
I'll go back in 6 weeks.

I'd truly love perspective and feedback.

thanks,
Scott
Title: Can VL go up without "resistance" ?
Post by: todd123 on December 11, 2008, 11:02:20 pm
Hey I'll try asking this another way.

Can VL move down and then up without it necessarily being med resistance.
I'm a little concerned that my new labs showed a VL increase to 400 from something
like 157.

CD4's increased, so that's good.
Does anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,

Scott


P.S.  How do you delete a previous "new topic post".  I don't seem to be getting any response and thought
I'd rephrase the question. ;)


Title: Re: Can VL go up without "resistance" ?
Post by: aztecan on December 12, 2008, 12:46:44 am
Hey Scott,

There can be blips involving the viral load without developing resistance per se.

I had one about a year ago when a blood sample apparently wasn't frozen and shipped early enough, which threw off the numbers.

The key here is to look for patterns. OK,  your CD4s went up to 400 from 150. Is it a blip? Very possibly, but the only way to be sure is to regularly monitor your number's, which I assume your doctor is doing.

In my case, my next set of labs showed I was back to normal.

If your next labs show a further increase in the viral load, then I would have a chat with your doc and see what he/she thinks.

Hope this helps somewhat.

HUGS,

Mark

P.S. Regarding deleting a thread, you should send a private message to a moderator. They are the only people able to delete threads.


Title: Re: New labs with mixed signals. Is this normal?
Post by: weasel on December 12, 2008, 10:14:09 am
Hey Scott ,
                Don't get too caught up in the numbers .

            They tend to float around , It is very hard not to keep close track of the

            numbers , but they will drive you nuts , and unless your  care provider tells you

           something is up , try not to dwell on them .

       This was very hard for me when eye  started  meds in 2004 , i watched like a hawk ,

       and did that for two years !

       now i  get my blood work done   three times a year and my Veterans Association Doctor

        lets me know that  things are good  or if she thinks I should eat less  :o


             i wish you the best of fiquering this out for yourself ,
            it gets easier , day by day .

                                                                           Karl  :-*
Title: Re: Can VL go up without "resistance" ?
Post by: Ann on December 12, 2008, 08:01:07 pm
Hi Todd,

Your first thread had already been posted to by the time I read the second one - so I couldn't delete it. I've merged the two and kept your second title.

I don't really have anything to add to what's already been said. Good luck though, and let us know what happens when you get your next set in six weeks. Hang in there!

Ann
Title: Re: Can VL go up without "resistance" ?
Post by: David_CA on December 12, 2008, 08:14:56 pm
Hi Scott,

Look at my numbers (in my signature below).  My VL did what yours did... and then some!  Since becoming undetectable, they've stayed below 48.  My Dr. was concerned with this, along with the 18 months it took to reach that level.  I just attribute it to my having a stubborn virus.  As stubborn as I am, I guess I shouldn't be surprised!   ;)

David
Title: Re: Can VL go up without "resistance" ?
Post by: todd123 on December 13, 2008, 01:44:37 am
Thanks David, I do see the jump to 600 there from a significantly lower number.
I just get worried because of a couple of missed doses (not consecutive).
And one month I saw that I had 3 extra Norvirs in the bottle that, clearly, I had not taken.
Hopefully Not Consecutive!  I now put those refrigerated buggers in with the rest of the meds
once a week when I refill the box.