should i start meds

My C4 count is 309 , my viral load is 9,150 . Should I start on meds?

[Teak]

Yes.

[jason1983sa]

I believe I contracted hiv by infected needles. Well the doctor said to wait a month to test my levels again since this was the first time we checked them.  He said if they didn't improve we can start on meds.  But I think he should of jus started me on something. Thanks    

[Teak]

Where did you come into contact with infected needles?

[jason1983sa]

Well I was heavy into drugs so the sharing of needles. What a mistake,  half the time I was so drunk and high I didn't know what I was doing. lesson learned.

[xe77]

No reason to start meds immediately yet. Viral load is still nice and low and CD4 is on the low end but still OK.

[Teak]

Your CD4 is below 350 which means you should start meds. Todays guidelines are starting meds before that get down to 350.

[xe77]

It's my understanding that Jason was diagnosed/infected just 4 months ago. A single CD4 test below a certain number isn't the defining way to determine this. 9150 is a low viral load for an early seroconverter -- a few more months and test results will be a better indicator. Starting meds isn't an easy choice to make, especially when someone is just starting to deal with their status.

Yes I have read the FDA guidelines on when to start - you will also notice that those in the 250 to 350 range are urged to start if the viral load is very high or they are experiencing AIDS-like symptoms or opportunistic infections. The health of th person in general is also very important to consider. Let's not get obsessed over numbers here - these tests are a GUIDE only to help us with these decisions.

An well-balanced article with some advise and resources: http://www.thebody.com/content/art1040.html

PS.. If you want to find out about starting meds as an early seroconverter.. ask me! I'm in a treatment study that is testing out that very question. I was started on ARV with CD4 of 535 and viral load of > 600,000.. I was also only 2.5 months from initial infection - I started for the study otherwise I did not need to go on ARV.

[Teak]

What does that have to do with when he was diagnosed? You don't actually know when he was infected. AIDS doesn't come on at 309.