Aa
should i start meds
My C4 count is 309 , my viral load is 9,150 . Should I start on meds?
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.
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.
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.
Your CD4 is below 350 which means you should start meds. Todays guidelines are starting meds before that get down to 350.
No reason to start meds immediately yet. Viral load is still nice and low and CD4 is on the low end but still OK.
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.
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
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