Poz after screening

[sumboy]

Hi all,
Had ulcers on my genital the other day so I decided to visit the doctors because I thought I had herpes. Did a screening and it shows that I am reactive for HIV. :/. I decided to go on a second screening and see how that goes. But I pretty much have settled that am poz. I've been calm taking it all in. Still is. Just soaking up everything I could get whle waiting for the second result. I should be fine poz or not. I hope so.
i think ive made my peace for now. Being in Malaysia, will not be the best part of the world to be tested positive but i'll fight through.

Cheers

[YellowFever]

Welcome to the forums. It's shitty that you're here. That said, like you, I'm a recently diagnosed pozzie and living in Malaysia too. True, its not the best place in the world to be HIV+, then again no place is. Have you gotten in touch with someone from the PT Foundation? If not, I highly recommend that you drop them an email or go visit their centre.

http://www.ptfmalaysia.org/

[leatherman]

Did a screening and it shows that I am reactive for HIV. :/. I decided to go on a second screening and see how that goes. But I pretty much have settled that am poz.

A second screening is not the answer. After an initial positive test, you need to have a Western Blot blood test done to confirm that you are actually HIV infected. 

[sumboy]

Just got positive on CMIA and got referred to go to the hospital. Will try to head there as soon as possible to check on my status. Thank you guys for the support

[sumboy]

Just gotten my results after much test. CD4 is 411. According to the dr I will not need treatment yet but he see me needing it this year. Is it possible to determine the period I got infected?

[Beyondstatus]

Just gotten my results after much test. CD4 is 411. According to the dr I will not need treatment yet but he see me needing it this year. Is it possible to determine the period I got infected?

Hey sumboy -

I'm not exactly sure if you can determine the period in which you got infected. I would think that would be quite difficult, I had to think back to my sexual encounters for me to figure it out. But I'm wondering about you starting treatment. I just tested poz feb 4th,2013 and my CD4 count was 602, I started treatment this past Saturday march 10th. My doctor is of the belief to start treatment ASAP for 2 reasons: 1) to get viral loads undetectable so you are less likely to pass it on to others and 2) the longer you wait and the lower your CD4 count the harder it is for your count to rebound.

I'm not saying you should start treatment right away but I would definitely talk that possibly over with your doctor. Just a suggestion.

[YellowFever]

I don't think OP can get meds before CD4 is < 350 unless he goes for expensive private treatment.

Also, it is difficult to determine when you got the disease as they do not measure your VL. Did you ask your doctor for the CD4 percentage? A low percentage has been associated with faster disease progression.

For me, I could quite pinpoint the day I got infected because I had a memorable bout of illness 2 weeks after that encounter (I am convinced that was my sero-conversion). I tested poz 2.5 months later. And my CD4 numbers are quite indicative of that as well (Fast progression).

But as always, who and how you got the disease becomes irrelevant very quickly (unless it was a blood transfusion). Stay healthy and take care!