Question
Does anxiety and depression affect my CD4 count?
10 June 2010. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
To what extent can factors such as anxiety, depression or flu affect the CD4 count? If the affect is significant is it better to address the anxiety and tension or any other factor before the CD4 count test?
I ask this question because the CD4 count is an indicator about starting HIV treatment. Thank you.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Anxiety, depression and any underlying infection can affect the CD4 count making it lower than normal. Some people do see a slight increase in their CD4 count once the anxiety, depression or underlying infection is over. However, if someone is not yet on treatment the CD4 count may not increase very much again until HIV treatment is started.
For more information on CD4 counts and when to start treatments please follow this link
Thanks Calvin, Good luck and best wishes.
Ok. Thank you very much.
Hi Calvin,
Sorry, this is all confusing. As Lisa pointed out, we don’t know what the cancer protective treatment is. But Bactrim is sometimes given to HIV positive people who have CD4 counts under 200. Bactrim is an antibiotic that can protect against infections such as pneumonia.
It’s a good idea to go see another practitioner. You can mention you’ve been taking the antibiotic and Bactrim along with Odimune. As you live in South Africa you can contact the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC). Here’s the contact page with an email form for TAC. They should be able to help with support, and with info about other clinics and doctors.
I am in South Africa.
Seriously this lady worried me a lot.
I often visit a clinic when I go home. I want to go there to have a second screening because really I can’t be feeling this bad just in about a month only.
And guess what, I’ve realized I have had very bad effects just after I took bactrim. I have had rash on my back in the past week and a large bump which has now died after I took some antibiotics.
I developed chronic headache, watery eyes, fatigue, and some real loss of appetite just after I started taking this medication.
I have had a thought that maybe the disease is drug resisting or something.
But yes, I have a second thought. I will go see another practitioner so I can start afresh and be happy again.
I can’t believe my life has just turned upside down in only a month.
All this stress has affected also my exams starting in 2 weeks.
Thank you for being here and for allowing me burden you with all my worries.
Hi Calvin,
If you don’t live in a TB prone area then I don’t really understand why your doctor thinks you need to be given TB meds. With regards to the cancer protective treatment, I’ve never heard of this. Which country are you based in? Have you thought about seeing another doctor?
Thank you Lisa.
The last time I tested was in December last year. But does the cd4 count drops without showing any signs of illness in a person?
I am really worried. Now I’m even very worried that the doc said she would like to start me with cancer protective treatment which I will take for 6 months. This has me browsing all over the internet but I really can’t find the answer. It really sounds new.
With Tb, it is not so common around my area. And I did test for TB which the results came out negative.
Hi Calvin.
When a person has a CD4 count of 200 its common that they will be given TB meds, this is if they live in a TB prone area. Is this your case? With regards to the cancer prophylaxis, I really cannot say why these have been given to you. Please ask your doctor to explain.
Yes stress can have an impact on a persons CD4 count. However, this may not be the reason as to why your CD4 is 200. When was the last time you tested negative prior to your diagnoses?
Hi there.
I am someone who is really worried. I get worried mostly when I visits the center where I was tested hiv positive.
Before I tested hiv+ I was very very health and happy.
The problem started when I went for check after finishing my PEP treatment. I couldn’t believe the result as I had been in the treatment. So I refused the blood being drawn from me and went away.
I didn’t sleep that night. I got very depressed and lost weight in only 3 days.
I started feeling my head aching and had symptoms malaria like.
Well I once was diagnosed of malaria 2 year ago.
Then I opted to just accept and I went back to the center to get treatment.
Now my concern is, since I got diagnosed the doc said my cd4 count is 200.
I never had symptoms, or being sick to the point where I can believe y cd4 count could be this low.
I wonder could it be this low because I was depressed. I really almost passed of of stress before I went back to the center.
And now what worries me worst is that the doc keeps on appointing the bear dates with me to give me more meds.
She said she wants to start me with cancer prophylaxis, Tb and all such, which I wonder where could cancer come from when I have been all health and happy. I am not coughing or ailing but I get sick whenever I come back from visiting there. When I get upset/stressed like now, I get flue like symptoms, headache and so much fatigue. So I’m wondering if this kind of depression wasn’t the one which affected my cd4 count?
By the way she gave me calcium b which gave me side effects, now ba trim again. The Odimune isn’t really bad. I haven’t had side effects since I have taken it as prep before.
I have never been this worried. I know hiv is not killing anymore when on meds but I’m just worried why all these drugs.