Question
Are my recurrent cysts caused by being HIV positive?
4 June 2022. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Living with HIV long-term.
My CD4 count is over 500 and viral load undetectable. I have been on medication for 16 years with no health issues. Recently I started getting loads of cysts and abscess with one abscess surgically drained in Jan but still has not healed. The wound has infection after infection. Is my status causing the wound not to heal and multiple cysts to keep appearing? I have had 3 abscess and 4 cysts since Jan 2022.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
It is great to hear how healthy your CD4 count is and that you are undetectable.
Your CD4 count is in the range of someone who does not have HIV. A healthy range is considered between 430 and 1690. You fall in this range.
As your CD4 count is doing well and your viral load is suppressed, these recurrent cysts are not being caused by your HIV positive status.
Have you spoken with your doctor about any possible reasons for why you have had multiple cysts/abscesses?
Josh.
Hi Hh, are you on treatment for HIV and do you know your CD4 count/viral load?
Have mentioned your acne to your doctor? Even if you had never had acne prior to being HIV positive, there are still so many causes that could lead to cystic acne that would need investigating.
How are you managing your cystic acne currently? Are you on any treatment e.g., creams, tablets?
I’ve been going through the same thing .. I’ve never had cystic acne barely got a white head until I got hiv I’ve been trying to figure out for 5 years now why I’m still having problems with cystic acne: your not alone which you had found some advice. Yet another dead end.
Hi Indie, I am sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time with your care. Are you able to speak to a different doctor for another opinion?
Given how difficult this stomach abscess is to treat have you been trialled on any other antibiotics? and are you experiencing any other symptoms aside from your abscesses?
The main one on my stomach has been 4 months and not healed, it keeps getting infected even though covered and swab test confirmed staphylococcus aureus infection that won’t budge and now on fourth course of antibiotics, all other cysts go after antibiotics but doctors keep saying due to my status I am prone to them, which I don’t believe as my hiv is under control and has been for many years. Even the hospital and I have been twice not investigated this at all even when questioned . I feel like no one listening and they just blame it on hiv without investigating as i have not been ill with hiv and since I stopped smoking not been sick enough for a doctor for which been 5 years . I do have my usual 6 month check up with the clinic that look after me and my status I’m hoping they may shed more light as doctor, nurse and hospital blame this on my hiv
Hi Indie, an abscess is usually cased by a bacterial infection. If your CD4 count was low it may suggest that you are more prone to a bacterial infection but this is not the case.
How are these abscesses being managed? Have you had any tests done?
Hi josh
All my doctor said when I asked why I am getting all these cysts and abscesses is that is due to my hiv status and at times your body due to this illness get loads and then they will stop. Which I don’t think is correct as my viral load is suppressed