Question

What is my chance of having a healthy life?

24 September 2014. Related: All topics, Life expectancy, Newly diagnosed, Starting treatment.

When I was diagnosed in January 2014 my CD4 was 444 and my viral load was 10,000. I began treatment (Atripla) right away. 7 months later my CD4 is 600 and VL undetectable.

I know when infection occurred which was September 2013.

Seing that I started treatment within 4 months, and am doing well, what are my chances for a long healthy life?

Answer

Answer: Simon Collins

Hi

For anyone recently diagnosed who is on treatment, life expectancy is similar to if they didn’t have HIV. This assumes yo are careful taking treatment an not missing doses.

Other questions on life expectancy discuss this in more detail:
https://i-base.info/qa/category/life-expectancy

Some researchers believe that starting very early treatment (within 6 months of infection) may have particular benefits compared to starting later. This is an interesting an plausible reason to start early treatment.
https://i-base.info/guides/starting/early-diagnosis

People in your situation may also be good candidates for research into curing HIV, so this is another reason to be optimistic.