Question
Am I ‘lucky’ to be diagnosed with a CD4 count of 1000?
9 August 2007. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Newly diagnosed, Starting treatment.
I have just been diagnosed HIV+ but am at this stage very confused, I have had three lots of bloods taken over a 7 day period and on the last lot of results I was told that the ELISA and western blot were positive.
When the viral load results were returned It was measurement came back showing I had 7100 copies, but here is where I am lost. My T-CELL count is over 1000 and from what I have read this should not be the case.
When I asked I was told that ‘I AM LUCKY’ – this is not a medical term or explanation, can you throw some light on it?
Answer
Hi
Because the ELISA and western blot HIV test results were positive, this means that you do have HIV.
It sounds like you were not expecting this result and that you are still dealing with the shock.
Hearing a health care worker calling you ‘lucky’ is very clearly different from how you actually feel, and wasn’t a particularly careful choice of words. People have the same response when told they are ‘lucky’ to be diagnosed now because treatment is available (compared to being diagnosed in the 80’s).
However, regular CD4 counts in HIV-negative people, range from about 400 to 1600. Some people have naturally low counts and some have much higher levels, but if you are HIV+ then it is generally better to be at the higher end.
I haven’t seen research that shows that people with much higher counts are more healthy on a day-to-day basis. However, starting off higher may mean that you do not need to start treatment so early.
Although this may change in the future based on new research and new treatments, current guidelines recommend starting treatment before your CD4 count falls to below 200 cells/mm3, and in practice this means starting while it is between 200 and 350 cells/mm3.
CD4 counts on average fall by about 50 cells/mm3 a year – so this may mean you don’t need treatment for a while.
However, these are all average figures, and you need to see how you respond individually, by building up a picture of your own results over the next year or so. There is a wide range of responses – some people progress more quickly and a few progress more slowly.
Hi N.Mthimkhulu,
Its not for me to say if you should have an abortion or not. However, lots of positive women have children and this is even when their HIV isn’t under control like yours. Being positive shouldn’t deter you. Please see here for more info: http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
HIV and pregnant on treatment I’m worried about mý unborn child my cd4 count is1005 is the baby safe or should I do abortion
Hi Jeanette,
ARVs are now recommend for everyone who is living with HIV. This is regardless of a persons CD4 count.
The side effects that you mention are common, they should though go within a few weeks. If they don’t then please talk to your doctor.
My cd4 is 1399 from last week’s tests.My doctor said I should start taking treatment even if it is that high.She gave me arv’s. I’m encountering some problems of which I never had before. I loose appetite and I feel nausea and always tired.I even vomit daily and have diarrhea. Should I stop the treatment, its been a week.
The current recommendations in the UK are to start when your CD4 count is near 350. Your results indicate that you may decide to start considering treatment and the sooner-the better.
My CD4 count is fluctuating. For the past 1-and half years, it has been ranging between 177 – 250.This makes me a bit confused about starting treatment. My weight ranges from 70.5 to 75.00. I don’t feel any adverse health problems except for a sore wound in my nostrils which is clearing after a week or two.There’s been a slight recurrence of purple patches on my body, which, I think, could be psoarisis, a condition I had severely in 2001, but cleared up after taking some hebal treatment.