should i be on meds?

[wood]

I have waited 20+ years as my viral load and cd4 were fine. It was only when I went under 350cd4 that my doctor recommended taking them. I would personally avoid going on meds till absolutely necessary.

Honestly you are an anomaly, and this should not be considered as fact. For you I am glad you have had relatively good health, but in most cases that does not happen. I know a friend of a friend who just DIED of AIDS because he didnt get tested, he wasnt sexually active until 21, and he died right after he turned 27. You do the math.

The simple fact is that a majority of people will die within 10 years without treatment, and the last few of those years can be hell. Treatment is the best option for overall long term health.

[rawTOP]

Some new research shows that if you get on meds within the first 6 months to a year of infection that after a few years on meds some people become what is called a long term non-progressor, which means that the infection does not get worse with out meds. All the medical research out now says the sooner you get on meds the better. Some studies show that if you get on meds within the first year there is almost no decrease in life expectancy.

No, "Long-Term Non-Progressor" means your numbers stay good without medication. It's impossible to call someone who goes on meds quickly a Long-Term Non-Progressor" because the whole point of LTNP is that your body can control HIV pretty well on it's own, without medication.

There is a genetic test that can tell you how likely you are to be a LTNP. You can get it through 23AndMe. I recommend knowing that before going on meds.