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PAUL
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Reged: 08/24/04
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Posts: 8
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Loc: Colorado, Foothills of the Rockies
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absolutes vs. percents
#110756 - 08/24/04 08:59 PM
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Help... I'm totally confused about the difference between absolute numbers and the %. I just found out that my cd4 cout was 28% or 392. How is the percent more meaningful than the absolute number? I just don't get this... I made the original posting before I joined the sight, so I re-posted using my name...I've already gotten a response that says to use the absolute cd4 count which is contrary to what my doctor informed me.
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[/e-mail]plutchendo@hotmail.com
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maninDC
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Newbie
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Reged: 02/11/04
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Loc: Washington, DC
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This is confusing! As I understand it - the actual CD4 counts can vary depending on the time of day the blood was drawn. The percentage doesn't fluctuate. With 28%, you're in good shape - I think 14% is the criteria for AIDS. Good Luck!
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PAUL
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Newbie
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Reged: 08/24/04
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Posts: 8
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Loc: Colorado, Foothills of the Rockies
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'Amazing how some people can be so clear. It finally makes a bit of sense, Thanks.
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[/e-mail]plutchendo@hotmail.com
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Jessie
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Guardian
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Reged: 06/15/04
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Posts: 395
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Paul,
I am confused and you are asking a good question. I e-mailed my doctor today because of your question and I am waiting to see what he has to say. I hope that I can get some sort of an answer for you as I have been told too not to get to caught up in the numbers as well. When I get the info, I will relay to you. Until then...hang in there my friend and try to keep a POSITIVE attitude.....
~Jessie~
HIV+ since 2-3-04
"Where ther is breath, there is hope".
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PAUL
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Newbie
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Reged: 08/24/04
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Posts: 8
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Loc: Colorado, Foothills of the Rockies
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Thanks Jessie... Ya' know, I'm the one that responded to you the other day, When you were so depressed... I did it before I set up any profile, so it came through as ANNONYMOUS, I actually got a good response from someone about this question. But please, let me know what you find out.
Peace... paul
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[/e-mail]plutchendo@hotmail.com
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Jessie
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Guardian
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Reged: 06/15/04
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Posts: 395
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Paul,
Thanks for responding to my post the other day...I go through these cycles of depression and then I am ok and then my mood swings like a hundred times. I still have not yet accepted the virus into my life but I am trying desperetly to work on it...It's people like you and others that I have heard from that put a smile on my face and give me HOPE...Thanks and I will let you know when I hear from the Doctor...should be soon. He is good with getting back to me on questions...Thanks again for your great post....Stay positive my friend.....~Jessie~
HIV+ since 2-3-04
"While there is breath, there is hope".
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Hey Paul...
I will try to explain this so it doesn't confuse anyone... My doc explained it to me this way:
Think of your blood as a freeway, expressway, whatever you call it in your city.
Think of your CD4 absolute number as individual cars on the freeway in your city...i.e....350CD4 cells=350 cars, etc. The CD4% is the total number of cars in your city...i.e.:...some cars on the freeway (CD4 absolute) and some cars "parked in the garage" The total number of cars.
For discussion purposes...lets say you live in a city that has a total of 1000 cars. During the day there is going to be more cars on the freeway than at 3:00 AM. Makes since...right? During the day..people go to work and there might be 700 cars on the freeway....so that leaves 300 cars parked in the garage for a total of 1000. At 3:00 AM there are 300 cars on the freeway...which leaves 700 cars parked in the garage for a total of 1000.
The CD4 absolute number you get when you have blood drawn is the number of cars on your freeway in your "city" at any given time, this can fluctuate quite a bit depending on the time of day and also if you have an infection, cold,etc. Remember the CD4% is how many total cars you have in your city.
So...you watch the trend of both numbers. One month you might have 350 absolute Cd4's with 28%.. The next month you might have 260 absolute CD4's...if the CD4% stays about the same...that's good. If the CD4% starts to drop along with the CD4 absolute...that's when you need to take notice that maybe your total cars (CD4 cells) are being eaten up.
Both numbers are important. Your CD4 absolute will fluctuate more than your CD4%.
Did I confuse anyone???
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