Question
Will Chinese herbs increase my CD4 count? Can I wait for symptoms before starting treatment ?
2 August 2007. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Newly diagnosed, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
Answer
Hi
Your question addresses 3 main points.
1. CD4 counts go up and down quite regularly. A doctor would not see any difference between 360, 300 and 310. The trend over time is as important as the actual count. Continue monitoring – currently things look good and stable. Your viral load is also currently very low. Most people do not start treatment until their CD4 count is around 200 cells/mm3 and their viral load is over 50,000 copies/mL.
2. I know of no study that shows that any herbal medicine, Chinese or otherwise, can have any positive impact on your CD4 count.Whatever the website says, it is likely to be false advertising rubbish at best, and at worse could make your health worse.
3. You dont need to start HIV drugs until you feel happy about this. Getting more information is a good idea, and taking time to weigh the benefits and risks in your mind may change how you feel over time.
However, it is very risky to wait until you have signs or symptoms.
Starting treatment before your CD4 count drops below 200 will protect you from most serious illnesses, will keep your CD4 count higher over a longer time, and is less likely to cause side effects.
Keep an open mind when talking to your doctor and ask as many questions as you need.
Hi,
There is a statement that I dont understand, ‘waiting for CD4 count to be low before starting treatment’, why isn’t there a treatment to prevent it from dropping?
Thank you for your question.
I understand that it is very difficult coming to terms with a recent HIV diagnosis. When you are first diagnosed there is a lot of information to take in about CD4 counts and HIV medications. It can be very hard to cope with it all but you did the right thing starting medication. The guidelines state that medication should be started when CD4 counts are 350 or below.
It is not a good idea to stop your medication now that you have started it. The only way to increase your CD4 count is with HIV medication. If you stop medication now you run the risk of resistance to HIV medication in the future.
A month ago I discovered that I’m HIV positive. I have already started HIV treatment as my CD4 count was 309. I never got the option to work on improving my CD4 count before starting treatment as I was scared and thought I was going to die. Is there any chance of stopping the medication to work on increasing my CD4 count?
Hi Steve
These changes in your CD4 count may just be normal fluctuation. The best way to see if this is a real trend is to see whether your CD4 percentage (CD4%) has also dropped over the year. Your clinic will have this with your regular results.
As your last count is now under 350 – ie below the current guideline recommended for starting treatment – you could ask to have a CD4 count every 4 weeks until you know whether you are stable, and as part of the assessment looking at use of ARVs.
A viral load over 100,000 is another reason to consider treatment, independent of CD4 count.
Alcohol does not really affect the progression of HIV. Some red wine definitely is a good thing as long as you enjoy it and use it in moderation. I like it too.
I tested positive recently and my CD4 is 615. I am weighing 62kg, eat very well and like taking red wine always. Please advice, is it okay for my health?
Hi Simon, I was diagnosed with HIV in Oct 07, had CD4 of 340 in Feb, was at 390 in July; at 410 now in Nov am at 265, should I be worried? I
I have been HIV+ for a long time, I believe it’s just over ten years. The reason I cannot be accurate is that I naively avoided being tested, and when the symptoms in my health appeared to indicate something was up, I just ran away from it. More fool me.
However, when I was finally hospitalised with PCP pneumonia five years ago, my CD4 count was 9. I had a hard and steep mountain to climb – first, to learn that by burying my head in the sand, I had almost lost my life; and second, contrary to my ill-informed beliefs, help was at hand in anti-viral treatment. I had even further complications to deal with because it turned out I had contracted a multi-resistant virus. In some ways, only identifying my infection at the eleventh hour was a blessing in disguise as I was able to throw the newest drug developments at my virus, to which it had never been exposed, however, it was a coward’s way of finding out.
Five years on, I’m fighting fit, and with a cd4 count of 450, which is still climbing.
My advice is this: being so close to that final curtain has taught me to grasp life with new zest; make changes in your life so that you live it to the fullest, look after your well-being, grasp new challenges with energy, and make time to do things for those other people who still need help, and above all, don’t be afraid. Stress is apparently one of the greatest enemies to our healths – and so to CD4. I have never touched herbal remedies, I adhere strictly to my twice-daily doses (which include injecting every twelve hours), and I have never felt better. You can do the same. Go for it!!
Raw fruit and vegetables help a lot to keep you healthy. Some people take selenium and alpha lipoic acid, but this may not be a very good idea if you are not on medications.
Simon,
I recently tested positive with a CD4 of 560. I am above average weight for my height and age but excercise regularly, eat all food groups moderately and enjoy my red wine (average 2 glasses a day). What specific food types can