hi everyone, I was just diagnosed positive 2 weeks ago and I am starting the combivir and lopinavir/ritonavir. As far as I know I have no infections, but my c4 count came back as 10. I am worried with the count. Can I expect a raise in that soon with the meds and what kind of raises do you see with meds. Any info is Appreciated thanks.

My brother was diagnosed with AIDS a year ago, and like you he did not have any infections specific to aids. He was just very tired, had lost weight and was starting to pick little viruses here and there. Come to find out his CD4 count was at 10 and his viral load over 1million.

Today, a year later, he is doing very well and his CD4 count just reached 200 with an undetectable viral load; he has gained his weight back and has been back to work for many months now.

You might have done so already; you should read a thread called "Just found out my brother has HIV.. what can I do?". There are a lot of wonderful stories on there.

Try and be positive and take good care of yourself; two very important things to get better.

Hi ,

Glad that you found this board,in answer to your questions YES, you will see a good response in your noumbers the Meds today are working very well in most all of us, as they will for you but it is not just the meds that count, your attitude is very important, along with sticking to the regiment of taking them as perscribed.eating well and having a healthy attitude is key to getting your noumbers up, don't feel alone, there are many of us here and we welcome your concerns fears,and good days as well as bad.. Good Luck. Buddy

I just want to say to you & many others on this board, that I have noticed when you come on the board & state that you were newly diagnosed, many of you seem very brave. You have taken on this major challenge in your lives with as much dignity as anyone could expect. I respect all of you for your brave attitudes towards your illness. I also respect the people who are terrified & are doing their best. You all are wonderful people. . .

I have only been reading this message board for about 5 minutes. I have already started to feel better. I am not doing well, mentally. Physically, I am okay. I am lost and have a lot of questions and concerns. I am just going to read this page for a while and see what it can do for me. I thank all of you who have the strength to share your experiences with the rest of us. It's amazing how other's imput can help sooooo much. Thank you already.

I was diagnosed a couple months ago. I had a cd-4 count of 20 and a viral load of 94000. I had a severe case of pnuemonia and hospitalized for 12 days. Since then I have done a complete 360. 1 month after my hosptialization we retested to make sure the meds were doing their job. I am taking combivir and sustiva. My cd-4 count was 75 and viral load was 493. The meds work, but will work faster if...

1. NO DRINKING 2. NO SMOKING 3. EAT RIGHT 4. Keep stress to a minimum

All those deplete our immune systems. Keep up the meds and good luck.

Hello ang89--stay strong..Your status will only improve with time and you can have a normal life with HIV/AIDS. Just remember that before we may not have took care of ourselves as well but now we will always maintain our health as a paramount to not doing it. You are beautiful and will prevail. Talk to your confidants, be open to your doctors, eat right, take care of yourself physically, mentally and especially spiritually. All of these things will keep you in a positive frame of mind and help keep stress to a minimum. Love you ang89.

Hi...It's all going to be OK.

May God bless you in these moments that you are going through, mentally and emotionally. May God give you sanity to over come all the questions roaming through your head.

OK...you're doing great if you don't have any infections. Please try to keep it that way.

Hopefully you don't smoke, abuse alcohol or drugs; for this is a pluss-pluss. You eat healthy or somewhat.

I've been Positive for 10yrs. I am 26@the moment. It has been an undeniable roller coaster ride for me, ofcourse it wouldn't had been as dramatic as if I would've done everything I was supposed to do when it came to my health. Instead I chose other roads and dealt with it the best way that I could.

My CD4 is 10. My viral load is 551,something something!

I start meds (again) in about 2wks.

Please do everything that your doctor tells you to do and please take of your self. It's not worth putting your own self through the pain when you are able to avoid it on your own.

Hi...It's all going to be OK.

May God bless you in these moments that you are going through, mentally and emotionally. May God give you sanity to over come all the questions roaming through your head.

OK...you're doing great if you don't have any infections. Please try to keep it that way.

Hopefully you don't smoke, abuse alcohol or drugs; for this is a pluss-pluss. You eat healthy or somewhat.

I've been Positive for 10yrs. I am 26@the moment. It has been an undeniable roller coaster ride for me, ofcourse it wouldn't had been as dramatic as if I would've done everything I was supposed to do when it came to my health. Instead I chose other roads and dealt with it the best way that I could.

My CD4 is 10. My viral load is 551,something something!

I start meds (again) in about 2wks.

Please do everything that your doctor tells you to do and please take of your self. It's not worth putting your own self through the pain when you are able to avoid it on your own.

I Am a person " Living" with HIV for over 20 years now and my suggestion and overview is that you in conjunction with your doctor can and will make your self better the thing i want to emphisize is team work with your doctor keep a ledger or diary at first so you can keep track as i did in the begining: also change your habits to healthy habits no recreational drugs, limited or no alcohol, research and healthy diet such as those people with diabetes and high cholestrol get a start on it now as many drugs will have side effects and are the lesser of two evils so if you take care of your self your doctor will have a better sucess taking care of you good luck dont worry you will be great PS> meditation and deep breathing and exercise even if its just walking 2 times aday after moring and evenning meals is a GOOD THING for you and your body it works well for me Mike

i have lived with my hiv for 7yrs now....bt you 20yrs...i want to live long just like you...thank you again.

There is a way to support your immune system that will not interfere with any medication. In fact it would most likely enhance your medication. smcpelkey@yahoo.com