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danni
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Reged: 02/19/03
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Posts: 12
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Loc: alabama
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MAC. & low cd-4
#59274 - 02/21/03 05:08 PM
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i am terrified, i just learned that i have mac. my viral load is 87,000, my cd-4; only 14. my doc. did start meds for me, but i can't get past the fear that it's too late. with my blood counts, is mac, a sure death sentence? i appreciate any answers. may GOD bless
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may God bless & keep you. always
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Personal experience - been there. No, not too late, so just be a bit patient. Big advantage if you are new to medications.
I had a mac infection in my intestine (one of several places that it can infect) that formed a polyp and then hemorraged, until I virtually had no blood left. Wish I had known to be able to treat it before. 11 units of blood later, and on meds for MAI/MAC & HIV, doing well and much much better.
That was 4+ years ago. When tested in the hospital, my viral load and cd4 count was about like yours. You have the advantage at this point.
I am now and have been undetectable since shortly starting meds and was up to cd4 of 425 last visit. So, yes there is hope for recovery to a normal life. Just be a bit patient, and keep track of your medication side effects. Discuss them with your Dr.
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Just make sure you are seeing an experienced HIV specialist! cause you can be helped and you can live a long long time with the right care! Does your doc have a lot of experience?
Lots of people have been brought back from low t-cell count. It's also up to you to stick with all your medications and eat healthy stuff and exercise.
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danni
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Member
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Reged: 02/19/03
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Posts: 12
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Loc: alabama
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my doctor is great!!! i really thank you for your reply. i worry too much, i guess, it seems something is always going on with my body. but, from now on, i'm gonna try to have a little optimism, [forgive my spelling]and a whole lot of faith. may God bless you always.
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may God bless & keep you. always
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No, it's not too late. Your best defense against MAC is a good response to antiretrovirals. You may need to be on the MAC antibiotics for a year, but if your CD4 recovers to about 100 for several months, you may even be taken off MAC antibiotics (but not the antiretrovirals). I've witnessed such recovery happen to a person very close to me.
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I'm new to all this. Please tell me what MAC AND MAI are.
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MAI stands for Mycobacterium-avium intracellulare, a fancy name for a bacteria similar in appearance to the tuberculosis bacteria. MAC is the newer term, which stands for Mycobacterium-avium complex. It is a ubiquitous bacteria found everywhere and does not cause any disease in humans unless their immune system is defective. In HIV, this generally becomes a problem when the CD4 drops to 50 and below (that's why antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent MAC is recommended when the CD4 drops to 50). It can affect various organs and can even disseminate in the blood. Main symptoms are abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and in severe cases, wasting. The bad outcomes associated with MAC infections were pretty common prior to the era of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Since HAART was introduced, MAC incidence has declined. While MAC is treated with combination antibiotics, the best outcomes are in those whose CD4 counts recover (to above 100), allowing the body to fight the organism again. So along with the antibiotics, sticking to an effective antiretroviral regimen is emperative. Hope this helps.
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