Subscribe to this blog's feedJust got my latest blood work back, and for the first time since testing HIV positive in 1985, my CD4 count broke the 750 mark. 754 to be exact.
Back in my ACT UP days, when I was a complete media whore, there was a running joke that folks could check for my latest CD4 count (we called them T cell counts back then) by reading The New York Times. Now, with this wonder called The Internets, I can post the whole sordid history right here.
So here's a fun graph showing 23 years of CD4 counts, along with my HIV viral load (showed in logs, for easy graphing), which only became available in the mid-90s.
Kind of a wild ride, eh? Here's a list of specific moments where I started or changed therapies:
Diagnosed w/ "AIDS-Related Complex" 11/15/85
11/85 CD4 351 (20%)
03/87 CD4 373 (21%), Start 1200mg AZT, stop 6 months later due to anemia
09/88 CD4 103 (19%), Start 300mg AZT
10/89 CD4 702 (23%)
11/90 CD4 324 (18%), Add 200mg Videx to AZT
03/91 CD4 606 (21%)
01/95 CD4 490 (20%), VL 19,120 (my 1st VL test)
07/96 CD4 300 (16%), VL 15,980, Switch to Crixivan/Zerit/Epivir
10/96 CD4 401 (16%), VL undetectable
01/99 CD4 470 (16%), VL 1,239, Switch to Sustiva/Videx/Epivir
02/00 CD4 671 (28%), VL 885
05/03 CD4 612 (23%), VL 11,599, Stop therapy before switch
06/03 CD4 397 (12%), VL 489,796, Start Reyataz/Norvir/Viramune/Truvada
08/08 CD4 754 (33%), VL undetectable
Note my amazing luck with mono then dual therapy with the nukes (AZT and Videx). Tony Fauci always remarked how amazed he was by the CD4 rises I got from starting both of these meds. Even after being on dual-nuke therapy for six years, my viral load was only around 20,000.
Bottom line, I got very, very lucky, and was able to hold out until HAART's arrival in '96. And now I've got over 750 CD4s! Was it the Reyataz, or the Lindt Dark Chocolate I take with it every night?
Peter.
This is just fascinating. A great visual history of HIV/AIDS. I have my own personal history for this same period (I moved to SF in 1980). At the time I was on the outside looking in, so to speak. But now looking at your numbers and graph I can't help but think back to my friends and visualize their own fights against the virus from the inside and realize how badly outnumbered their t-cells were. AZT really didn't do squat for them. Some of them pre-dated AZT, others took their doses and seemed to suffer needlessly.
I can't imagine you not suffering but I am so glad you managed through and can share your success with the rest of us.
robert
Tony
Why do you take ur meds with dark chocolate?
That is inspirational to hear you having success even after two decades of living with the virus. Great for you and thanks for sharing
Dave
Do you make the graph yourself? I LOVE IT!!! Amazing numbers...I'm only at 500 T-cells, with an undetectable viral load. On my way...
:)
Yup -- I've been saving my lab results in Excel since I bought my first computer. I also save them in AIDSmeds.com's Graph My Labs, but Excel lets me create graph lines that are "smoothed", which helps when you've got years worth of data points.
Peter:
What great news!!! Good for you!!!
I tested positive also in 1985, did mono, dual and cocktail therapy and have never dipped below 387 in CD4 counts. Present count is 743 with undetectble VL (never have had a positive on a VL test ^50). Never had an OI!!!
Wish my first partner of 18 years was so lucky...he passed in 1990. I live for him day in and day out. Peace.
Peter,
It's been years since we spent the intermission of PRELUDE TO A KISS together, and I'm glad to see you doing well, still.
Having been on acyclovir since about 1983, I, too, believe this is why I am still alive.
In 1978, I developed swollen lymph nodes after a bout with a "mono" like illness. Years later, after the HIV antibody test was developed, I repeatedly tested negative. In 1991, I got tired of taking acyclovir and stopped dosing. A fews weeks later I developed another "mono" like illness. My lymph nodes went down, and I seroconverted to HIV poz. [I wonder, did the acyclovir hold the HIV "at bay" in my lymph nodes??]
Noticing the link, I immediately restarted the acyclovir. I take one 800mg tablet a day.
Since then (1991), I have been nonprogressing. To this day, I have maintained 800-1200 t-cells and no detectable viral load, without the help of HIV meds. Every time a physician suggests I lower the acyclovir dose, I refuse. I have sometimes been met with derisive looks and scoffing. But, I am alive. And healthy.
It's heartening to see science catch up to what some of us have suspected all along: there's something to this acyclovir...
Wishing you continued good health,
Lary Campbell, RN
(a former NY ACT-UPer/Nurse on AIDS unit at Roosevelt Hospital)
Peter,
So glad for you and your Eureka! moment at last. Feel to know it can be attained is as important as to do so it self. Not to ever give up the attitude of thinking Poz while being poz still. Takeing each day one day at a time and not looseing hope. MEDS are here to help, but that which we cannot see, taste or touch, works for our well being too! FAITH all will be well!
Hi Peter. I was officially diagnosed with HIV when the test was first available (1984). Because of various reasons, I know I was infected around 1977. Although my viral load is undetectable, and have been for many years, I have never had a bump (rise) in my CD4s. They stay at 175 to 225 (20% to 23%) no matter what meds I am on. In your experience, is this common? Do you know of any studies or information that is relavent to this situation and /or gives prognosis indication. Perhaps being stable is a plus but I sure wish I could see an increase in CD4s. Any info I would appreciate.
this post is to gary: I too like you have been on therapy for many years, and my cd4's would never rise above 229 and my viral load was in the 400 thousands. nothing seem to help me until i entered a clinical trial at duke university. with starting the trial i was put on norvir, lexvia, viread, combivir and the study drug marevoroc.marevoroc is on the market now as selzentry. now my cd4 count is 546 and my viral load is undetectable, after being on these particualr drugs so it has boosted my confidence that things will only get better. not sure what meds you are on, but it is something that you may want to speak to your doc about. i hope this gives you some comfort in knowing that this has worked for me, hopefully this may help you too. god blessd and wish you well
Congratulations on achieving 754! A great story to inspire people.
I think you should have that chart enlarged and frame it on your wall.
Hi Peter!
It's so inspiring to know such...I hope and I pray that someone very dear to me will also have a better result...He is just a little bit more than a year on therapy...and so far he is coping well and doing well with his new life...I just hope that one day the tests for CD4 and viral load will be readily available in my country and be more affordable so that I can also monitor his progress...but before the year ends I will send him to the big city for the said labs which hopefully will be available by then coz the last time I inquired there was no reagent then.
God bless...
Peter
Congrats! May the almighty give you more strength and hope the next time the CD4 will be over 1000. Keep it up!
Married with one kid aged 12 years. My husband tested positive in the May 2005. Have gone for tests severally and i have tested negative all through. Have really been there for my husband and encouraged him to live On! He has been on immune boosters but unfortunately by April this year his CD4 Fell to 26. He was put on ARV's immediately. It was really tough for him. He underwent alot of suffering due to side effects of the medication. He managed to come up and his health has really improved. In August he did the CD4 test and had improved to 150. He now wants us to have another kid and the doctor treating him advises that when the viral Load is low we can just have unprotected sex and he won't infect me. Please advice am so scared!
It's definitely the chocolate. Glad you are doing so well, Peter.
Great blog Peter, keep shining. I see you have discovered one of the two secrets of Life-- Dark chocolate, the other being butter on cooked vegetables. They make me feel good, and feeling good is one of the best ways to boost numbers. My numbers have flat lined around 250 for years, undetectable with no changes. My doc says not to worry so I don't. I believe there is too much emphasis on numbers--what metters most is how you feel--something I learned from my late physician Dan William, M.D., who we lost last spring.
Cheers, Michael
Its amazing how far we are compared to the 1980's. My partner of ten years past away in 1993. back then he was on chemotherapy. He was a doctor and we knew nothing about the medication or treatment options. Today I work as an outreach Educator for Aids Support Group in Charlottesville VA, I tested positive 7 months ago, My cd4 count was 69 and my viral load was over 1 million. Today because of the medications available My viral load is almost unditectable and my cd4 count has gone up to 189. It's still low, but I had to jumpstart from and almost dead battery, forgive my description. I am thankful to all of you who survived the crisis in the 80,s and gave all of us hope for the future.
What are the percentages for? And I'm sure I should know this and I just might, but right now, it escapes me.
congrats on everything, Ive been HIV+ just since march07 and Im doing really well so far. my numbers are: vl <less than 48 which is undedectible and cd4 count is over 500. Good luck and God bless.
I have recently been diagnosed with hiv and am waiting for my bloodwork to come back to my hiv doctor, actually have an appointment Nov. 5th.
Anyone have any suggestions or tips to keep myself in perfect health?