Question
How can I increase my CD4 count?
28 October 2017. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load.
Hi i was diagnosed HIV positive in June 2017 when my CD4 count was 18.
I live abroad and had TB and pneumonia one after the other and was in hospital. I started antivirals about a week later after my CD4 result came back.
By October 2017, my viral load is 26 and my CD4 count is 288.
My Thai doctor said to take my tablet at the same time everyday this. I have don’t this and drink coconut milk and eat pumpkin this I have done 3 times a week since being diagnosed.
I still have a runny nose and my chest cough and I’d like to know if there are other things I can do to increase my CD4 and reduce my viral load?
Thanks
Answer
Thanks for getting in touch.
From your results its clear that you’re doing very well. An increase in CD4 from 18 to 288 in a matter of months is amazing. In time this will rise even more.
Your viral load is undetectable, so as long as you keep taking you HIV meds, you don’t need to take additional medicine.
The cough and runny nose are not likely to be related to HIV. This might just be coincidence that you have a cold for example.
It is good to look after other things in your life – i.e. reducing stress and having goals to be happy. Eating a balance diet is good, and keeping mentally and physically active is also good for the long term – plus not smoking.
The HIV meds are all you needs for your CD4 count and viral load.
Hi Lisa.
Thanks for replying.My doctor told me to start ART after a week as I have a very low CD4 count.He prescribed an antibiotic and a food supplement. Please help.
Hi John,
I can’t comment on the back pain as i-base advocates aren’t doctors. This is something that you’ll need to talk to your doctor about. Starting medication in a weeks time is unlikely to be an issue. However, did your doctor say why you need to wait a week? As you’re going to be new to medication you may find this guide helpful: http://i-base.info/guides/starting
I am diagnosed with hiv and my CD4 count is 83 and my doctor said I can start my ART after a week but I am getting too restless and my back pain irritates me a lot.Pleade help
Hi Declan,
Sorry to hear about your cousin. What tablets is he taking? Please can he talk to the doctor about his pains so that he knows what’s causing them. He can also check with the doctor that there’s no interaction between his HIV meds and other meds he might want to take.
Some herbs and vitamins can interact with some HIV meds and so these are not recommended. But there’s nothing wrong with eating raw vegetables.
Can you find out more about your cousin’s treatment please?
Hello,
I got a question regarding the ART medications. I got a cousins which being diagnosed positive about June 2017 , his vl was unknown and his cd4 was 66 during the first diagnosis. At first, doctor gave him 2 time pills taken twice daily, and it didnt work well, a months after that, doctor gave him two tablets perday which he take them at 2200 everyday, he never missed and still keep on going. But he got this pain allover body from joint and muscle pain. Is it ok if I heard he take other pills to overcome the joint pains and all?
He also told me that from the hospital, doctor said he cant eat raw begetables or herbal like medications anymore? How come?
Hi Molele,
How long have you been taking ARVs for? Are you taking them daily as prescribed?
I’m taking difivir.novir and atozor but my viral load counts plus minus 5000…my cd4 count 345… I’m not sick but only have access on my umpits that can’t be healed since 2006
Hi Phiwe.
How long have you been on meds for? What was your viral load when you started? What is it now?
Am taking my meds everyday n am using same time which is 20:00everyday but I can’t control my viral load why
Hi Sibusiso,
These results look good. But unfortunately HIV treatment (ART) doesn’t stop HIV completely. What ARVs do is reduce HIV in the blood to very tiny amounts. And that’s why viral load results are called undetectable.
However, stopping ART is not generally a good idea, unless there is a medical need to do this.
This is what can happen if ART is stopped: Your viral load would increase within a few days. Within a few weeks it might be back to pre-ART levels. Your CD4 count is likely to drop. It will be more difficult to recover when you restart ART. Each time you stop there is a risk of drug resistance.
Staying on ART is generally better for your long term health. It will keep your CD4 count high and keep HIV under control.
So you can’t yet divorse ARVs. But researchers are working hard to find a cure.