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 May, thanks for writing about your experience. The most important thing is that you were diagnosed before your CD4 count fell much lower and that you started treatment straight away. It is also really good news that your viral load is undetectable. This means the treatment is working and that the meds can last for a long time.
Often, it takes longer for the CD4 count to increase. Although this number is lower than when you started, your immune system is already likely to be stronger because you are on treatment. The CD4 test results can vary just because the test is not always accurate. The CD4 count is also likely to increase now without you doing anything other than taking HIV meds.
What did your doctor say? Also, when do you have another CD4 test?
My name is May and found out that I was Hiv positive in July when I was 4 months pregnant and went for my first check ups at the clinic. My cd4 count was 75 and viral load was 24,000. I started treatment right away. The second tests show that the Viral load is <20 but my cd4 count has gone down to 41. What can I do to increase the count coz I'm now stressing.
Hi Zizo, if bico are a type of vitamin (ie vitamin B complex), then these are fine and safe if you are positive. If bico is something else, please send more information and I will answer again.
what implication does bico tablet or injection have if infected with HIV?
Hi Mpho, your CD4 count is doing very well. Without more details it is difficult to comment any more than this though. For example I don;t know what your results were before you started treatment ro whcih drugs you are taking.
Hay I wanted to know my cd4 count is 550 can u explain to me what’s happening and the worst
part I didn’t take my treatment well
Hi Vovo, if your boyfriend wont listen now, then perhaps he will in the future. At least you have done your best to try to tell him. Maybe he already knows and is in denial. Maybe he has already tested positive somewhere else. These are just guesses. If he doesn’t what to know though I am not sure what more you can do. Perhaps write him a letter. Please talk to your doctor or health worker about this – or to other positive people where you live. It sounds like you need more support that we can give by email because it is worrying you.
how i tell my boyfriend tht im hiv positive because this is confusing me how im going to tell him . I tell him jokking tht im hiv positive he put me on silent . And i tell him to go check himself but he refuse .
Hi Virginia, please talk to your doctor about how you feel before making any decision on whether or not to stop treatment. Frequent urination is not a common side effect so your doctor might needs to run tests to see if something else is causing this. If your combination includes efavirenz, the information at this link might help:
https://i-base.info/qa/12092
my CD4 IS over 500 and i used to take ARV, and am fed up by taking the drug because of sweating at night and urinating many times to an extend urinating at night in the the bed. so far i dont have any problem .please help.