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Author Topic: Lab Results In Today  (Read 3442 times)

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Offline cicero

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  • Posts: 75
Lab Results In Today
« on: January 14, 2014, 07:54:01 pm »
From over 10 million in August 2013 to undetectable as of January 10! I'm very happy about that.  My CD4 is at 757.  So I'm pleased. However, my doctor wants me to start cholesterol medication again.   :o  I know Atripla can have a negative effect on cholesterol but I am pretty sure for me it is diet (I know I eat a lot of processed and fast food).  Just curious if anyone here has any experience with cholesterol medication alongside HIV meds, particularly Atripla?  What should I be wary of?  I took Lipitor about a year back before becoming positive, cholesterol went back to normal, and I stopped. I don't recall any side effects.
"How could this happen to lovely me?" -Jacqueline Susann

Offline Cojo

  • Member
  • Posts: 232
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #1 on: January 14, 2014, 08:10:52 pm »
Great news Cicero...congrats on fantastic numbers and progress!
May 2011 - Tested Positive
June 2011 - CD4 330   16%   VL182,000 no resistance
Oct 6, 2011 - CD4 300  20%  VL 60,000
Oct 7, 2011 - start Truvada / Isentress
Nov 29, 2011 CD4 280 26% VL 54
Feb 7 2012 CD4 260 25% UD!
Mar 20 2012 CD4 400 28%
June 2012 CD4 330 26% UD
Sept 2012 CD4 450 32% UD
Dec 2012 CD4 310 28% UD
May 2013 CD4 500 32% UD
Oct 2013 CD4 460 33% UD
May 2014 CD4 360 33% UD
Aug 2014 swap out Isentress for Tivicay
Oct 2014 CD4 320 33% UD
Feb 2015 CD4 420 30% UD
Jul 2015 CD4 480 32% VL51 !!
Sep 2015 UD
Feb 2016 CD4 460 35% UD
Aug 2016 CD4 378 33% UD

Offline phildinftlaudy

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  • Posts: 2,985
  • sweet Ann what you think babe...
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #2 on: January 14, 2014, 10:15:34 pm »
However, my doctor wants me to start cholesterol medication again.   :o  I know Atripla can have a negative effect on cholesterol but I am pretty sure for me it is diet (I know I eat a lot of processed and fast food).  Just curious if anyone here has any experience with cholesterol medication alongside HIV meds, particularly Atripla?  What should I be wary of?  I took Lipitor about a year back before becoming positive, cholesterol went back to normal, and I stopped. I don't recall any side effects.

I didn't run into high cholesterol since being on Atripla - however, my triglycerides spike every now and then.... At one point I was put on Lopid.... I didn't really notice any side effects from it. I was able to go off it when I made some diet changes (quit eating fried food, most fast food, switched to wheat bread instead of white, and laid off the white rice)....

Unfortunately, they have started going high again - as I haven't been as diligent about my diet (chicken wings, BK breakfast sandwich, spices, and processed food - microwave style for lunch at work), so I am almost certain that my doc will be prescribing the Lopid again when I go for my next visit (after my labs in March).... I will take it for a while, get my diet back on track, and go from there..

Of course, doc has also been hinting that I may be at about that time to change my HIV med - but, so far I am staying the course w/ the Atripla - it has been the only HIV med I have been on since being diagnosed, so I am really not in a hurry to change it, if I don't have to ---- I like the one pill a day routine and my side effects have been pretty minimal overall.... at least to this point.

Good luck on getting the cholesterol down - diet is a big part of it (a huge part of it, in fact).

September 13, 2008 - diagnosed +
Labs:
Date    CD4    %   VL     Date  CD4  %   VL
10/08  636    35  510   9/09 473  38 2900  12/4/09 Atripla
12/09  540    30    60   
12/10  740    41  <48   
8/11    667    36  <20  
03/12  1,041  42  <20
05/12  1,241  47  <20
08/12   780    37  <20
11/12   549    35  <20
02/12  1,102  42  <20
11/12   549    35  <20

Offline cicero

  • Member
  • Posts: 75
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 10:41:07 pm »
Thanks phildinftlaudy.

I'm curious -- why is it time to change your HIV medication?  Are your numbers suggesting it's not working well anymore?  Drug resistance is a concern of mine.  Of course I've only been positive since August and all I know is Atripla, which has been fine for me too.
"How could this happen to lovely me?" -Jacqueline Susann

Offline phildinftlaudy

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  • Posts: 2,985
  • sweet Ann what you think babe...
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 10:45:59 pm »
Thanks phildinftlaudy.

I'm curious -- why is it time to change your HIV medication?  Are your numbers suggesting it's not working well anymore?  Drug resistance is a concern of mine.  Of course I've only been positive since August and all I know is Atripla, which has been fine for me too.

Doc is looking more at the research on Atripla (sustiva) showing that while there is a benefit because of its ability to cross blood brain barrier, there have also been findings that it causes pretty significant cognitive issues over time....

So, we may change it because of these types of potential issues.

I have had some indicators of decline in cognitive ability - nothing debilitating, but definitely noticeable to me and to others who have known me for a while...

I'm just cautious on switching because overall the drug has been tolerable ---- I don't have resistance to any of the HIV meds available - so, I have plenty of options.

I am going to weigh it out over the next few months - prior to my appointment and make a decision..... Although, at this time, I will probably choose to stay the course - at least for the remainder of 2014.
September 13, 2008 - diagnosed +
Labs:
Date    CD4    %   VL     Date  CD4  %   VL
10/08  636    35  510   9/09 473  38 2900  12/4/09 Atripla
12/09  540    30    60   
12/10  740    41  <48   
8/11    667    36  <20  
03/12  1,041  42  <20
05/12  1,241  47  <20
08/12   780    37  <20
11/12   549    35  <20
02/12  1,102  42  <20
11/12   549    35  <20

Offline cicero

  • Member
  • Posts: 75
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 10:51:58 pm »
Well that's concerning.  Cognitive issues developing is an irrational fear of mine.  Keep me posted on what your doctor says and what you decide on if you don't mind. :)
"How could this happen to lovely me?" -Jacqueline Susann

Offline phildinftlaudy

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,985
  • sweet Ann what you think babe...
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #6 on: January 14, 2014, 10:54:23 pm »
Well that's concerning.  Cognitive issues developing is an irrational fear of mine.  Keep me posted on what your doctor says and what you decide on if you don't mind. :)

No problem....
Here is a link that tells a bit about some recent findings:
http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_efavirenz_neurocogntive_1667_22999.shtml?15&commentson=yes
September 13, 2008 - diagnosed +
Labs:
Date    CD4    %   VL     Date  CD4  %   VL
10/08  636    35  510   9/09 473  38 2900  12/4/09 Atripla
12/09  540    30    60   
12/10  740    41  <48   
8/11    667    36  <20  
03/12  1,041  42  <20
05/12  1,241  47  <20
08/12   780    37  <20
11/12   549    35  <20
02/12  1,102  42  <20
11/12   549    35  <20

Offline Ann

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  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Lab Results In Today
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2014, 08:10:08 am »

Doc is looking more at the research on Atripla (sustiva) showing that while there is a benefit because of its ability to cross blood brain barrier, there have also been findings that it causes pretty significant cognitive issues over time....


If you're interested in a med that crosses the blood-brain barrier, you might want to look at Prezista. My doc said he was pleased I chose Prezista, because of its ability to cross the barrier without causing CNS issues. (I was refusing to even try Sustiva for this very reason [CNS sides].) My doc is an hiv research pharmacologist, so he knows his stuff where this is concerned.

The only study I could find (without spending loads of time with google results) was the one discussed in an AM news story back in 2009: http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_brain_prezista_1667_16535.shtml

I've been on Prezista, Norvir and Truvada for eighteen months now, with no real side effect issues. UD, CD4s in the 900-1000 ballpark for the past year.
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