Question
I have a high viral load and my headache is getting worse
15 March 2011. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Opportunistic infections.
I am HIV positive and have got a very high viral load my problem is two days ago I developed a mildish headache and woke up with an even worse one that during the day go worse. By the next day it felt like my skull was been squeezed folled by sensivety to all light. By now my neck feels stiff and the pain to the back left of my head is unbearable and I can’t put my head down with the pain been very bad.
Answer
Thank you for your question.
I am sorry to hear you are feeling so bad.
You need to go and see your doctor as soon as possible to find out what is causing this level of pain. If you experience any symptoms as severe as you are describing should go straight to your GP and ask for an emergency appointment.
If you have a high viral load (over 100,000 copies/mL) this can be a reason to start treatment earlier. For more information please follow this link.
I hope you feel better soon
Hi Desiree,
I can’t comment on your joint pains, this is because i-base advocates aren’t medical doctors. However, because your CD4 is 270 and your viral load is detectable its important that you restart your meds.
I was on meds then I stopped them 3 months ago. I went for a test and my CD4 was 270 and viral load is 24097. I’m having numbness in my both arms ,joint and even my joint and knees are weak am scared. Will this feeling go away after taking my meds again ?
Hi, It’s important that you are taking HIV treatment so that your viral load gets to undetectable.
I’m sorry that you’re very worried. but we are not doctors and we can’t comment on symptoms. So it’s very important that you talk to the doctor or nurse about the warts.
I have high viral load of 1300 and my cd4 count is 520 with vaginal warts that’s occurred over four years now. How dangerous is it cause I’m strong, I work but the nurse at clinic was very worried about my viral load and warts two years back and went to GP help me. Then transfered to hospital, said warts were too small to be removed but worries me a lot, it’s more inside my vagina maybe inside my abdomen too don’t know.
Hi,
It is important that your wife is seen by her clinic or doctor. They can help her work out what is going on and how to treat it. It may or may not be connected to HIV but the clinic will be able to help with this.
My wife has been diagnosed with HIV and now she’s starting to experiance some sickneses like vomiting something green and when she eats it comes back up. She’s starting to loose weight and she complains about some headache now. . .
My question is what is it that needs to be done?
The decision to start treatment is individual but with a CD4 count over 500 you can still take time to get to the point where this is your choice. Viral load that is higher than 100,000 is one reason to start treatment earlier, as are having any symptoms, but again you have time to have viral load retested if this would change your decision.
Treatment usually turns out to be much easier than most people think. However, it is also good to confirm a test result if this is the main reason behind your decision.
While this is going on, take time to read about treatment (in the Introduction to Combination Therapy) and about Atripla so you have more information for when you need it.
If you are worried about any pain, you should call your doctor who can access whether this is serious and whether you need to go to hospital.
My CD4 count is just under 600 but my viral load is 105,000 and that was in Feb and it is now June. My doc wants me to start taking medication (Atripla) but I am scared. Once I start taking it I know I can’t stop. Should I have my doc check my VL again? What if the number decreased? I keep having pain from my neck all the way down to my left chest. I have a hard time breathing too, is this related to the HIV? Please help!
If your viral load is detectable again then you will need to speak to your doctor about what could be happening. Have you been taking your drugs properly every day? It is possible that you have built up some resistance and your increasing viral load is what is causing these symptoms. Alternatively, it could also be that you are having a high viral load blip and have an underlying infection causing the symptoms. This is nothing to worry about, if you have resistance then it just means you will need to change your drugs. Either way you need to see your doctor, have another viral load test to see whether it is still increasing or whether your viral load has gone back down again. They will be best placed to then advise you what to do to make you feel better.
I have been on my antiretrovirals for about 8 months my last blood test showed me as being undetectable t cells were good and viral load was great. I went back to my doctor last week now my viral load is 1450 I am hurting a lot under my arms and neck. I have a heavy chest ane slight headache. Why is this?