Question
How can I increase my CD4 count without ARVs?
8 January 2016. Related: All topics, Newly diagnosed, Southern Africa, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
I have just found out that I was HIV positive in March, last year. My CD4 count was 270.
I did another test and it was 284 and my doctor said I must start treatment.
I just want to know what I must do to increase my CD4 count without taking treatment.
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
The only way to increase your CD4 is to use HIV treatment (ART).
Your doctor is giving you good information and advice.
Nothing else, including multivitamins, supplements or herbal remedies can increase your CD4 count. Looking after yourself is important – for example, eating a balanced diet, keeping physically and mentally active, reducing stress, sleeping well etc. But increasing your CD4 count is only proven by using effective HIV meds.
Even though some companies advertise this vitamins and supplements can help your CD4 count, these are scams. There is no such thing as an “immune booster” and no “immune booster” will help your CD4 count or help control HIV.
Why do you want to delay ART or look at other options? HIV meds are really effective – this is what they were designed for.
ART stops HIV from replicating. The main aim is to reduce your viral load to an undetectable level (less than 50 copies/mL). As your viral load goes down, your immune system start to repair itself. This means that your CD4 count will slowly go up to higher levels again.
Currently South Africa recommendation starting treatment when the CD4 count is below 500 cells/mm3. This may change in the future and treatment might be recommended at any CD4 count. (Note: South African later changed to recommends treatment at any CD4 count).
Here is a link to more information about starting treatment. Please take your time reading it and if you have any further questions do write back to me.
Are you receiving any support from other people? Getting support from your local support group or a counsellor can help you to come to terms living with HIV. Also you will be able to gain and share experiences with others who are in the similar situation as you, rather than having to deal with it in isolation.
This answer was updated in January 2019 and January 2016 from a question first posted on 2 March 2012.
Hi Denzel, your HIV diagnosis is still very new. Although this is probably something your are still thinking about a lot – perhaps all the time – this is steadily get easier and easier. It is tough to do this on your own though, but because both your girlfriend and brother know, they can be an essential part of your support network. Many people find it helps to know and talk with a few other people who are also positive. Have you contacted any local HIV support groups or asked your clinic about these? You can take your time to decide if and when to tell your parents. It might be better to do this when you are stronger in yourself. HIV meds mean you can live a long and normal life – so you have plenty of time to decide when is best for your parents to know.
Everyone is individual though and I don’t know anything about your family and how they are likely to react and whether they need to know. your girlfriend and brother know everyone though, so you can talk to them about this. Many people worry about telling their parents things about their adult lives. If you are lucky, you might have parents who are very understanding and would be upset if you didn’t share anything that was worrying you. Or you might know your parents well enough to think that the information would add nothing to your relationship and only cause problems. This is a benefits of taking time to decide on this.
If you are still afraid for yourself, I can at least reassure you that the effectiveness of treatment is real. HIV shouldn’t stop you doing anything that you planned in life before you got your result. People still have relationship and families and this won;t stop you getting any job in the future.
I’m HIV positive and I found out a few months ago. I’m still not on meds and cd4 was 330 the viral load was OK….I’m afraid to tell my parents and my girlfriend only my brother and my youngest sister knows and I’m unemployed please help in this regard, I don’t know what to do anymore as I’m afraid.
Hi Menzi, I am sorry you are having this trouble. i-Base is in the UK so we only have a little infromation about health services in South Africa. Please stick with this so you can get the treatment that you need.
The Health System makes it almost impossible to start ARV, you need the whole day to be assisted, I have made 3 attempts to get to be initiated and none of those attempts were successful. Twice in KZN Newcastle and I have now relocated to Pretoria I went to the clinic Yesterday and Today but the process was incomplete again.
I don’t have my HIV results as they were left in Newcastle, I only have my TB results which are Negative but I tried to tell them that I will only be home in two months time to get my results, still they could not help me. Even when I was suggesting that I do HIV test all over again so that they quickly get my HIV results they refused.
Thanks for your comment Rose :)
Hi Rehana,
There is nothing to be afraid of in taking the ARVs. It will help you a lot. Your health is more at risk if you will not start taking the ARV since it will help you to live normally like everyone else.
Hi Joslyn, are you taking HIV treatment? If not, this is a good time to start. If you are, then it might be good to talk to your doctor about plans to change treatment.
I m HIV positive my veral laod is very high
Hi Rehana.
What worries you most? HIV meds are very effective and very easy. Even if you get side effects, these are usually mild and get better. There are options to change if a treatment is too difficult. Everyone is cautious at first – this is good. But most people say afterwards that they don’t understand why they worried so much.
So your reactions are very normal, but also you might be surprised at how easy treatment is if you try it.
Hi I’m HIV positive I’m afraid to use ARVs, please advise.