Question
Is my CD4 count too low to reach normal when I start treatment?
26 March 2010. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment.
I’m a 42 year old man diagnosed HIV positive on 2nd of Feb 2010. My probable infection date was in July 2006. I have swelling of a lymph node on my forearm and some nerve tingling sensation on my right leg otherwise I don’t have any obvious signs or illnesses.
My CD4 count is 224 with a viral load of 10,000. I haven’t started treatment yet as the doctor is waiting for my full resistance profile but I should be starting when I go back to the doctor in 2 weeks time.
With my CD4 count already relatively low can I expect it to come back to a normal level? Even if the treatment works, am I likely to develop HIV-related illnesses in the future and continue to experience various illnesses connected with HIV?
Although the doctor has said that I can expect to live almost a normal lifespan is it possible to give a realistic life expectancy? I am scared.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Please don’t be scared. I understand there is a lot to take in but you are doing the right thing by getting the information you need about HIV and CD4 counts.
There are many people who have had much lower CD4 counts than yours who have gone on to do very well on treatment. Some people live very healthily with CD4 counts of 300-400 and never reach above 500. Although the guidance is for people to start treatment when a CD4 count gets to 350 or below, starting treatment, when, with what, is a very individual thing. A normal CD4 count is also different for each person. Don’t get to hung up on the numbers, the evidence is that once you start treatment you are bound to do well.
For more information on this, please see a similar question by following this link
If you take your medication correctly and consistently you should not experience HIV-related illnesses in the future.
Your doctor is correct about you having an almost normal life expectancy once on treatment. Recent studies have shown people with HIV can live for over 35 years once on treatment. That would make you 77 which is a good age to reach and there is nothing stopping you living longer even than that.
For more information on these studies please follow this link
If you require any further information please contact us either via the web or by phoning the treatment information line (Mon-Wed 12-4pm)
Hi Valentine, congratulations on your pregnancy. Have you started HIV treatment? This is the best and only way to recover CD4 count. Treatment works by suppressing HIV and allowing the body to naturally recover its CD4 count. While your count is this low have you been offered another treatment called co-trimoxazole as well? This is a drug used to prevent other infections while you have a weakened immune system. Recovery of CD4 count is slow, but being on treatment will let this happen. Where changes in viral load are seen quickly, recovery of a CD4 count can take years.
My cd4 112 and I am pregnant women i want to now i can rich normal number
Hi Henry,
Unfortunately, we are not doctors at i-Base so please see your doctor about the lumps and rash. It’s important to ask the doctor to look at these.
Your ART combination looks like it’s, dolutegravir, lamivudine and tenofovir. I’ll try to answer your 4 points together.
Is your CD4 count now 48 and viral load still 400,000? If you started ART using a combination that contains dolutegravir your viral load should come down dramatically quickly. It could be 99% lower after a month of ART.
And once your viral load is controlled your CD4 count will get the chance to recover. But this is usually slower than viral load reduction. A higher CD4 count means that developing other OIs is less likely.
What does the doctor say about your CD4 count? Have they given you antibiotics to help stop other infections? So it’s a good idea to ask about antibiotics too.
Many people who started ART with low CD4 counts are now living long lives. Being on successful ART means life expectancy can be close to normal.
Hullo,
I first tested at a clinic in 2008, thats when i discovered i had HIV. I didnt start medication immediately. In 2009, i got a bad herpes zoestus(Hz) attack around the rib area.
I treated it and enrolled at an Hiv facility for the required tests, my CD4 count was 412 and was advised to start meds when it falls below 300. In 2012, i got another Hz attack around the chest area but it wasnt as fatal as the 1st one. I did a Cd4 test and it was 380.
The 3rd Hz was minor in early 2015. In June 2015, i did a cd4 test with 315 as the result and i was advised to start meds by a doc. I was given Atripla but the side effects in the 1st week were horrible, dizziness, body weakness, nausea and just after a week , I was transfered to another country.
Hopelessly i didnt take the meds again but kept taking Septrin all along from 2009 and I’ve not had any serious complications in between apart from the herpes attacks.
Recently, in late March 2019, i got a scally skin infection in my face and genitals. The doctor told me its eczema. My cd4 was 48 and Vl 400k which scared me to death.I started meds on April 1st..Though i look very healthy. I neither take alcohol,smoke nor do drugs. Most of my vital body organs were tested before ART initiation and they were in good shape.
Its a month and a week on ART but am getting reddish swollen hard humps that disappear by themselves plus itchy small rashes especially on the arms and feet I was given a 1 pill a day combination of..Dolu| lami| teno drugs.
My concerns are….:
1- Is it possible for me to push my cd4 up to 500+ and in what period of time can that be achieved and what can boost the rise atop ART?
2- What is causing the hard swellings?
3- Am i likely to develop other OIs on my journey to revovery?
4- What are the chances of survival to near normal life expectancy?
Kindly advise