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 Thembelihle,
Your boyfriends CD4 isn’t of importance with regards to you getting pregnant and not being infected. What’s important is his viral load. Once his viral load is undetectable the risk of transmission is less than zero. Please see here for more info:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
Hi
I’m a young lady who is 26 years old HIV negative and my partner,29, is HIV positive. He just started his treatment, his CD4 is 352. We both don’t have a child and we would like to have the child now. Is his CD4 not low for us to have children’s?
Hi, Lisa!
Thank you for your quick response.
I will get my CD4 count by tomorrow and I will let you know about it right away.
Regarding the support, since I am in Manila, it will start when the base check up is done. I’ll keep you updated. Thank you again!
Hi August,
Self diagnoses of any illness unless you are a doctor is not recommend. Therefore, if you think that you have Labial and gingival Kaposi’s sarcoma (a type of cancer) and Seborrheic dermatitis, this should be confirmed by a doctor. They, and only they will be able to tell you how these possible aliments can be treated.
With regards to your HIV, how are you coping with your diagnoses? Are you able to get any support?
When you were diagnosed were treatment options discussed with you? Once you get your CD4 count back, could you please let us know what it is?
I was diagnosed positive on May 7, 2017 and waiting to have my CD4 count on 17th. I browse all the physical appearance of people who has and had HIV. I was able to see that I currently have Labial and gingival Kaposi’s sarcoma and Seborrheic dermatitis. Will this removed when I started having treatment?
Hi Zack,
What’s your CD4? What meds are you taking? What sort of sores do you have? Are you taking any other medication?
If you could get back to us, I should be able to help you.
My CD4 count is very low and I’ve got sores around my neck.
I start treatment in February, its now been 3 months. What can I do?
Hi Joseph, Hiv treatment is good for everyone, at any CD4 count. All guidelines ow recommend this. In a few countries, people with CD4 counts lowere than 500 get the chance to start treatment first. With a CD4 count of 300 your sister’s doctor should be talking about treatment now.
My girlfriend say her cd4 count is 300 and she hiv when she suppose to take treatment
Hi, thank-you for sharing your promising story!