Powered By
I have been reading lots of stories, posts, and answers on here from many of our friends. I was able to get my positive results about 2 months after infection. My CD-4 count is always super high and I don't have any HIV related health issues. Am I a freak or was I lucky to have gotten tested before any long term effects hit?
Asking for a friend...
Answer Summary
Members shared personal experiences about how the timing between HIV infection, diagnosis, and treatment can affect long-term health outcomes.... Read more
@A myHIVteam Member I just turned 76 today. I'm thinking a quart mason jar would be a suitable container. :-)
Indeed regardless of the disease, early detection will lead to improved outcomes.
Happy birthday @A myHIVteam Member and @A myHIVteam Member!!!!
Thanks @A myHIVteam Member. It is. Man I have been fortunate, blessed or however to refer to more good breaks than bad. My 77th trip around the sun has started.
Hopefully @A myHIVteam Member won't take offense when I contrasted my current age, 76, against his target max (78). I refer to this time of life (for myself) as "fourth quarter". And most of us will pass on well before quarter end.
It is something I've finally gotten comfortable with. The knowledge that I would die one day and that I will be there then. Highest quality time left for me wins over longevity.
I got my first test after exposure and it came back negative for antibodies. They told me to come back in three months and low and behold I tested positive for antibodies.my cd 4 count was 460 before medication and 116,000 viral load before medication.my doctor said if you are recently exposed your viral load goes up very high and your cd count starts dropping .then rebounds and becomes stable for about 8 to 10 years before starting to drop again.after 8 to 10 years your immune system is fighting for its life and you are close to an AIDS diagnosis if you don’t go on meds. He said since my first HIV test was negative he assumes I recently got infected. And I started meds within 4 months. As of last test my cd4 count was 660 and viral load is 20. I look at it this way I’m glad I started treatment early but I’m even more glad that I got HIV at later stage in my life. I’m 59.life expectancy in the USA for men is 78.so worse case scenario I’m only stuck with taking pills for less then 20 years give or take. Of course life is funny and I can drop dead tomorrow from a heart attack or get cancer etc. my doctor said it’s best to get treated quickly after diagnosis but he said with treatment today he said he’s seen lots of people who were in bad shape because they waited to long to get tested and once they went on meds they became undetectable with good cd 4 counts. However he said there damaged immune system is going to be a challenge because this virus is always replicating even in those newly infected. So I think we need some form of cure hopefully soon to get the HiV reservoirs out of hiding spots so the ARVS can kill them and that would be the cure.
Join
Your Privacy Choices
