Full blown AIDS within 3-5 years

[bisexstud]

Last week my viral load was tested and for the third test in a row it is higher. I've been infected for about six months now and my viral load is now 192,000. My doctor told me that is very high for six months after being infected and without meds now I would have full blown AIDS within three to five years.

Edited October 2, 2011 by Hotload84

[Hotload84]

Glad you're being watched closely by your physician, Bisexstud. What is your T-cell count? Are you seeing a physician with extensive experience in dealing with HIV? I see you're in upstate New York. Have you considered seeing a specialist in NYC or some other major city? Did the doctor run a geno-type on the virus? It would be interesting to know if virus is one of the usual sub-groups with normal susceptibility to the antiviral drugs, or a rarer, perhaps more virulent, perhaps less susceptible sub-group.

[rawTOP]

I know viral load is highest right after infection, but how long does that last before it drops? Is bisexstud still in the period when high viral loads are expected?

[Hotload84]

I know viral load is highest right after infection, but how long does that last before it drops? Is bisexstud still in the period when high viral loads are expected?

I learned something new. Apparently doctors identify the point where the body and HIV achieve a sort of equilibrium as the 'set point'. My search on the 'net generally seemed to suggest the set point has not been well analyzed, but if I understand this article, the set point occurs within about a year of seroconversion. I saw several articles, however, that suggested the higher the viral load the individual experiences prior to set point, the earlier the patient will experience full-blown AIDS.

http://gateway.nlm.nih.gov/MeetingAbstracts/ma?f=102254413.html

I have an appointment with my doctor this week. I'll ask her if there is a better answer to the question of the average interval between seroconversion and set point.

[HungLatinDom]

In my case, it dropped within two months of infection. At one point it was over 30K, came down to under 5K. At first the virus is unchecked, then your antibodies start being tailored to it, and that's when the VL drops.

Edited October 8, 2011 by Hotload84

[Hotload84]

In my case, it dropped within 2 months of infection. At one point it was over 30K, came down to under 5K. At first the virus is unchecked, then your antibodies start being tailored to it, and that's when the VL drops.

That makes sense, HungLatinDom. My experience was similar to your's.

[ptcumdump]

Pretty much my experience as well. Was diagnosed during conversion illness. The rapid antibody test was still negative but they did a PCR test and my vl came back over 750,000 copies (the highest that particular assay went). 6 weeks later it was down to 40,000, another month and it was down to 10,000. for the next several years it stayed in the range of about 3,000 to 10,000, ie at the "set point." never did go up but my t-cells dropped significantly and started meds 4 years after infection. now undetectable but thinking of going off and working on getting med resistant.

[wammt]

I started out at a VL of over 750K, and a CD4 (T-cell) of 10. The VL came down rapidly, and the CD4 got as high as 150. It has been steady now for several years with a VL 'undetectable' and a CD4 of 80.

[ptcumdump]

I should also point out that since my cd4 levels had dropped to 250 in under 4 years, even with a relatively low viral load, I would certainly have been full blown in under 5 years if I hadn't started meds. Not sure if my strain is particularly virulent or if there were other factors contributing to the decline in t-cells but I suspect I'd see a rapid drop again if I were to go off meds.

[Hotload84]

I asked my doctor about the average time lapse between seroconversion and onset of set point. She said it typically will occur within two to three months of seroconversion, but occasionally will take upwards to a year. She continued saying it's all a function of how virulent the strain of HIV is, and how adept one's body is to figuring-out how to deal with it.

[cageyone]

AIDS is an umbrella list of diseases the NIH came up with and continue to modify to include any and all maladies. They don't know. They think, they believe, it's a theory. I have my own story that's been told here. Won't bore you. I've been called a liar and other things because I go against the dogma. However, know ALL of the med side effects. Liver failure and death are high on the list. Wanna up your immune system. Don't stay out all night trying to get pozzed. Self fulfilling prophecies are just that. And if you give the "medical professionals" the right answers, they will be more than happy to diagnose you to get you in their "Treatment program."

[bbjoca]

Well, I had a VL of 520000 first test, a week later 133000 and a CD4 of about 600. I don't know what that tells you, but I'll be starting my meds pretty soon.

[Pig Bottom]

Last week my viral load was tested and for the third test in a row it is higher. I've been infected for about six months now and my viral load is now 192,000. My doctor told me that is very high for six months after being infected and without meds now I would have full blown AIDS within three to five years.

Why would you want full blown aids?

[bearbandit]

Why would an 21st century doctor, who you'd expect to be up with the latest terminology be using a phrase like "full blown aids"? It's either aids or it isn't. And even "aids" is falling out of favour with advanced HIV disease being the preferred and more accurate term.

[HungLatinDom]

AIDS is an umbrella list of diseases the NIH came up with and continue to modify to include any and all maladies. They don't know. They think, they believe, it's a theory. I have my own story that's been told here. Won't bore you. I've been called a liar and other things because I go against the dogma. However, know ALL of the med side effects. Liver failure and death are high on the list. Wanna up your immune system. Don't stay out all night trying to get pozzed. Self fulfilling prophecies are just that. And if you give the "medical professionals" the right answers, they will be more than happy to diagnose you to get you in their "Treatment program."

Gee, I guess all those fools who take meds don't know anything about their health, and of course all doctors and scientists are corrupt. The only trustable authorities are random internet guys...