Question
How long will it take for my CD4 count to go back up?
26 May 2010. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, HIV transmission, Starting treatment.
I have recently found out I am HIV positive. I am dealing with it OK. It helps that I have such a supportive family. I went to see my HIV Consultant for the first time about 3 weeks ago she gave me my CD4 count and viral load results.
My CD4 is 77 and viral load is 112,450. She has also said I’ve had it 5-10 years which has worried me. I’ve contacted a few people to tell them to get tested there test have come back clear.
My questions are:
If I have a high viral load isn’t there more chance of me passing it on? (I was the top in all off them)
I was with someone 7 years and their result is negative or so they say!! In all this time is there more chance I would of passed it on to them?
How long will it take for my CD4 count to go back up? I’m not on any drugs at the moment as I’ve been given some tablets to stop me getting infections. (Was given Cotrimoxazole but had to change to Dapsone as I had a reaction)
Is it likely my CD4 would of gone down since the last test? Am I likely to get any OIs (opportunistic infections)?
Sorry for all the questions, but these are what are playing on my mind at the moment.
Thank you in advance
Answer
Thank you for your question.
It is good to hear you are managing to deal with your new diagnosis and that you have a supportive family to help you through this difficult time.
The higher the viral load the more likely HIV is transmitted. That is why if your viral load is undetectable the risk of transmission is very low.
If you were having unprotected sex with your partner of 7 years and he is still HIV negative then he has been very lucky.
If you are not on HIV medication yet and your CD4 count is 77 then you should definitely think about starting in the next few weeks. Once you have started HIV treatment your viral load should go down to undetectable levels (less than 50) within 3 months and you should start to see your CD4 count increase. It often takes longer for CD4 counts to increase especially if they are starting off low. But the important thing when on treatment is to suppress the virus to the lowest levels possible.
It is possible that your CD4 count will have gone down slightly since your last appointment but CD4 counts can fluctuate slightly. For further information about CD4 fluctuations please follow this link to a similar question
If your CD4 count is below 200 then you are at risk of getting opportunistic infections.
For information about starting treatment, CD4 counts, viral loads and other important things related to having HIV please follow this link to the i-Base Introduction to Combination Therapy’ guide
Hi Paular,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. But congratulations on your pregnancy! Being pregnant won’t make your treatment less effective but it’s important that your doctor knows you are pregnant and HIV positive.
You can read more about HIV, pregnancy and women’s health in our online guide. If you have any further questions please let us know.
Hi Nelli,
It’s great that you’ve got support and are coping so well!
If you are worried about feeling more tired or loosing weight you should speak to your doctor. They will want to find out if this is due to HIV, or something else. We’re not doctors at i-Base and we can’t tell you what your symptoms mean.
I’ve recently tested positive I’ve taken the news well because of great support I have and accepting it as well. But to my surprise I’ve already started to lose weight rapidly. I do eat yet I feel weak what causes this?
I m hiv positive and my cd4 count was 72 in February,I started treatment on march,on April I found out dat I’m also 1month pregnant so I want to know if the pregnancy will make the treatment not to be effective?
Dear Thuli
In general, a lot of things affect your CD4 count. They include the time of day it is taken, exercise, diet etc. Stress and lack of sleep can also affect your CD4 count. CD4 count also gradually reduces over the years when someone is not taking ARVs.
Can stress reduce my CD4 count
Hi Zanele,
I’m sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. Unfortunately there is no reason to believe that your diagnosis is wrong. It is very common for one person in a relationship to be positive and the other negative. This is called being ‘sero-discordant’. Many people who contact us are in a similar situation. You can read questions from other sero-discordant couples here.
It is important that you keep taking your treatment. This will bring your CD4 count up and help protect you from getting ill. In time treatment will also help to make you less infectious so you are less likely to pass HIV to your partner.
You might be interested in reading our two guide:
Introduction to combination therapy
HIV testing and sexual transmission
Hi, I’m a 20 yr old from Durban, South Africa. I tested positive in Feb with a CD4 of 288 and I told my partner 2 weeks ago and he went for a test and it came back negative. But we’ve been having unprotected sex for a year. I just started treatment but I’m starting 2 believe that I’m negative too.
Yes you should definitely try to start ARVs as soon as possible
I was told that my CD4 is 217 and my Viral Load is 19400. Do I have to take ARVs now?