Question
How can I get my CD4 count to increase?
26 May 2011. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Hi – what can I do to help increase my CD4? I have just found out I am at undetectable level after 8 weeks on treatment which is great. my CD4 has gone from 95 to 166 (after 4 weeks) and is now 173 after 8 weeks. I know it can take time for the CD4 to recover when the base level is low as mine but I am still disheartened as I was really hoping for it to have rebounded a bit better than this. What can I do to help it increase? Many thanks for your advice.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Your CD4 count is doing really well and increasing nicely. Most people take 6-12 months for their CD4 counts to increase significantly. You are doing really well and have nothing to feel disheartened about.
There is very little anyone can do to increase their CD4 counts accept using HIV treatment which you are already doing. However, there are some things that you can do to maintain your CD4 count and ensure it stays up. This includes eating a healthy balanced diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, not getting stressed out, not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation and generally looking after yourself.
Hi Ntsoaki, please dont worry about this. Your CD4 is almost 300 which is still very good. So long as you are careful taking meds it should continue to increase a little each year. Living a healthy life might also help you feel bette. for example, keeping physically and mentally active and not smoking, or drinking too much etc/
Hello Ntsoaki and thanks for getting in touch.
Your CD4 count is not that low, so please don’t worry.
The longer you stay in treatment, the higher your CD4 will get.
CD4 don’t increase as fast as the viral load becomes undetectable.
It takes a bit more time. That’s normal.
The medication we have today are very good though and if you take your medication daily you will make a full recovery.
You can read more about the CD4 here:
https://i-base.info/qa/cd4-faqs
Hi I’m on treatment bt cd4 count is low how can I improve my cd4 above 297
Hi I’m on treatment but my cd4 count is low (297 cells/ml). How can I improve my cd4 count?
Thanks Sebenzile, you are right :)
It is better to know what u are dealing with,because it will help u to find a solution,please go and test.
Hi Sebas, please just take an HIV test. It is easy and the only way to know. Most people find out they are actually still HIV negative. Much better to be find out first and then think about how to talk about this to your wife.
Hi, I feel like I am HIV positive. I have not tested yet because I’m so afraid that I might have infected my wife without knowing. I don’t know what to do. Even if I test, how am I going to tell her her if I am positive? Can someone please tell me what to do please.