How am I doing?

Jul 25, 2009

Dr. I found out that I was positive about a year and a half ago. I found out that I had cancer, and the doctor suspected that I might be HIV+ and complicating the siutation and ran an HIV test. I started seeing an HIV doctor before I started chemo and radiation for my cancer. My intial labs were: viral load 300,000 (how high is this?) and my cd4 count was 350. She immediately put me on Atripla. This all happened in 2/2008. I then started my chemo and radiation,(March and early April 2008) my CD4 count fell to 202 (I was terribly concerned about the fact that I have heard under 200 is considered full blown AIDS) She assured me that this number wasn't all that accurate since I was having chemotherapy. By May of 2008, my viral load had gone to undetectable, and my CD4 count started rising. Now, July 2009 my viral load has remained undetectable, and my CD4 count is 687. She has never mentioned anything about a CD4 % to me. Does this seem to you to be doing well?

Response from Dr. Holodniy

Your initial viral load was quite high. Your doctor was correct about the transient CD4 count decline with chemo. From what you describe, you are doing fabulous.