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 Vishal, you did not say if you are taking treatment or not. If not, then this is a good time to start. Even though you don;t have symtoms, you are at risk because your CD4 count is low. Treatment will help it get higher again.
I have a CD4 count of 162 which is very less but no other symptoms. is it alarming?
Hi KK. Good or bad there is nothing you can do about it now. Sometimes people forget. Much better to find a way not to. Have you got a weekly pill box yet? If not, this is the best thing to do now. For the first few months you want to try to not miss any doses. It is okay to be 1-2 hours early or late – but getting into a good routine now wil make remembering much easier later on.
on my second day at arv i forgot to take efavirenz on 11pm i fell asleep and woke up at 3am i still took the med. how bad is this?
Hi KK – great that you started meds. Efavirenz has side effects that can change your moods and sleep. Not every one gets the side effect and they usually get easier. See this link for more info:
https://i-base.info/qa/12092
Hello today is my first day on ARV im taking duovir and efaviranz. What can you say about these drugs??? Thanks
Hi Nkem, there is lots of research looking at cure’s but this is likely ot be at least ten years away. Ty to think of your meds in more positive way/ You only need to spedn 30 seconds a day taking them – ad in exchange life expectancy is close to someone who is HIB negative. And treatment means your partners are protected.
https://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study
You sound like you might be having more than just a rough time. HAve you told you doctor about how you feel. If you are using a combination that includes efavirenz, you should try using a different HIV drug. Efvirenz can worsen depressive feelings.
If you are not using efavirenz, then getting counselling and support could make a big difference. It sounds like you have had a very bad psychological reactions to being diagnosed. With support you can not only get back to your dreams and find new ones.
Can HIV ever going to be a history cos it’s so frustrating when one is living a life dependent of ART.
Though my cd4 is above 1000. But I am still depressed.I use to be a fun free person but ever since I found out about my staus.it has not bn easy knowing that my life is never gonna be the same. My dreams died the moment I was tested positive.
Hi KKlove. Please use the same address as before: questions@i-Base.org.uk or: simon.collins@i-base.org.uk
The best thing you can do for you health is to find a way to stop smoking. HIV treatment is so good that more HIV positive people now die from smoking-related problems than HIV.
Where to email you? Thanks for the advice. Im a smoker