I've been hiv+ for 3 years.My lab results have been pretty consistent and my doctor says my charts since my diagnosis have been almost a straight line.My last lab resutls where t-cell 272,viral load 9,000 and my percentage was 22.I'm not on meds yet and was wondering your thoughts on when to go on meds.I have been healthy all 3 years.My t-cells have fluctuated from a low of 242 to a high of 340,my viral load have varied from a high of 29,000 to a low of 9,000 and my percentages have gone from a high of 25 and a low of 17.Thanks!

That decision is really made between you and your doctor. But it seems that you are doing well with your numbers. The US DHHS guidelines recommend treatment for anyone with CD4 cells under 350 cells per ml, so you definitely qualify for that. But I understand that this decision can be difficult for many and several factors need to be considered , like your probabilities for good adherence, your commitment to take meds, and how well your body handles meds. I would just worry if I was you that my CD4 cells can drop under 200 cells and the chances to get PCP may increase.

But as I said, this is a personal decision that needs to be discussed in depth with your doctor.

If I was you, however, I would discuss what the best first line treatments are with your doctor. Atripla, Kaletra+Truvada, boosted Reyataz + Truvada, and others are popular.

Nelson