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Author Topic: Question about Resistance...  (Read 9775 times)

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Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Question about Resistance...
« on: September 25, 2007, 11:20:58 pm »
I am doing much better after 3 weeks of knowing I am poz and have come to terms with certain things, things i'll probably never be able to do, like teach English long-term in a remote country or even Costa Rica. I have made some hard choices that I didnt want to make, but I did. And for the most part I am dealing with my situation.

This week I will find out what strain of HIV I have. I am a little scared about this. What if it is a drug resistant strain? What exactly does that mean and entail? If it is a drug resistant strain are there any treatment alternatives? If not what is the life expectancy?

Any information or experiences would really be helpful. You guys were great when I first found out.

Thanks :)

Matt
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline milker

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Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #1 on: September 26, 2007, 12:50:03 am »
Your dreams will adapt to your new condition. There is much progress done with medication too so your dreams of teaching in a remote country may become reality. I don't know if Costa Rica checks HIV status for long term residents, but that's something we can find out for you.

Genotype/Phenotype information will give you strain information and most likely you will have the world famous wild type with side mutations which are not viable. The results will tell you and your doctor which drugs are susceptible to the strains of virus in your blood, but remember, the strongest strain always wins, so don't worry too much about the side mutations.

Milker.

mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline Matty the Damned

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  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2007, 12:53:44 am »
Sac,

The best place to start learning about resistance is in the AIDSmeds HIV Drug Resistance Lessons. Click the red link to go directly to them.

You're newly diagnosed and whilst resistance is something to be aware of, it's not necessarily something to fret about.

Regards,

MtD

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2007, 08:36:39 am »
Thanks guys, so there really is no chance of getting this super virus that is immune to all medications? And I will most likely have treatments?

I just ruled out teaching elsewhere because who knows what their healthcare system would be like and if I would be able to get the meds.
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2007, 08:41:42 am »
Honey,

That's just not how resistance works. The "super strain" thing is a bit of a myth (though not entirely) from a couple of years back.

Resistance is a complex devil. My advice is that you read our Lessons, discuss it with your doctor when you get your genotype/phenotype results back you can raise any issues you don't understand with us. We have some kickarse experts who can sort that stuff out.

But most of all sweetie, don't fret. This is gonna be ok. Matty the Damned promises. :)

MtD

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2007, 11:49:57 am »
Thanks bud, should be any day now....I am waiting patiently.

Matt
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline Tim Horn

  • Member
  • Posts: 797
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #6 on: September 26, 2007, 03:22:33 pm »
Sac:

Building upon what Matty says, you should take comfort in knowing that drug-resistant HIV is documented in relatively small percentage of newly diagnosed/infected people. And when such drug-resistant HIV is documented, it most often involves a strain that is partially resistant to just one HIV durg -- and the fact of the matter is, the FDA just approved the 23rd antiretroviral agent (Selzentry) to treat HIV... the point being that, even if your virus has evidence of partial resistance to one drug, there are PLENTY of others to choose from. 

Keep us in the loop... we'll cross that bridge if you come to it.

Tim Horn

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #7 on: September 26, 2007, 08:50:56 pm »
Thanks a ton Tim. I should find out tomorrow from my doctor what strain I have. Just have heard so much differing opinions, prob untrustworthy, that I panicked some. Anything about the virus that I dont understand scares me some....so like the good teacher ....the more knowledge I have the better off I am!

Thanks again!!!

Matt
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline milker

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  • Posts: 4,034
  • Protected phone sex
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #8 on: September 26, 2007, 09:47:59 pm »
so like the good teacher ....the more knowledge I have the better off I am!
This is the best way to live with the virus and be confident that you can ask the relevant questions to your doctor and understand his responses. Do not google too much though, and if you read studies or articles, check the published date, many are very old and not relevant anymore. Any question, ask on here :)

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2007, 11:08:48 am »
Got the good news this morning. My strain has NO resistance! Happy days!
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline milker

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,034
  • Protected phone sex
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2007, 12:17:23 pm »
Got the good news this morning. My strain has NO resistance! Happy days!
YAY to you !

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline LordBerners

  • Member
  • Posts: 415
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2007, 03:21:10 pm »
I am doing much better after 3 weeks of knowing I am poz and have come to terms with certain things, things i'll probably never be able to do, like teach English long-term in a remote country or even Costa Rica.

I just found out I'm positive and I'm teaching in Thailand.  For me the situation is kind of opposite, as I know that treatment is cheaper here due to the local authorities breaking drug patents.  I've heard a few hundred dollars a month is typical - still hard to afford when your income is $1,000/month, but better than the situation for the uninsured in the US.  Basically I dread going home as I don't know of any way to get treatment there.

If you have good insurance in the US, and leaving would cost you that, then perhaps you shouldn't, but otherwise I don't see any absolute reason this disease would preclude teaching abroad.  Of course Thailand is an advanced middle income country with a good medical facilities experienced with this deasease.. might be different if you're going to somewhere backward..
Please, just call me Berners.. or Baron.

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2007, 06:39:24 pm »
My big reason is that I wont be able to get the medical that I need living for instance in Costa Rica on the northern coast where there are dirt roads. And small medical clinics. I had wanted to live where I could teach English, be by the beach, and enjoy life, now I will have a drug regiment to take, and where would i get that drug from??? Insurance is also another major issue, how to pay for it if I do leave the states, COBRA only lasts 18 months, then I would have to find a job, because no insurance company has ever given me a separate policy in the past, i SERIOUSLY doubt they will now! 
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline traveltramp

  • Member
  • Posts: 40
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #13 on: October 28, 2007, 01:07:01 pm »
I have lived in Costa Rica for about 5 years, HIV for 3 months.  To get blood tests, you can do it in San Jose for about 180 USD... CD4, CD8 and VL.  I have not seen a Dr. but have done some research, all of the ID Dr.s are in San Jose.  There are Dr.s that can treat you.  I travel a lot, just take care of yourself and you will be fine.  I am headed to India in a few weeks... this will be interesting...
5/7 SEROCOVERSION
7/7 CD4 669
9/7 CD4 1079 V/L 1200
2/8 CD4 803   V/L 3050
4/8 CD4 805   V/L 2200
9/8 CD4 959   V/L 2418
1/9 CD4 909   V/L 550

Offline mplsdoubled

  • Member
  • Posts: 52
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #14 on: October 30, 2007, 08:34:30 am »
Hi Matt,

Glad to see that your non-resistant and that you seem relieved.  Peace of mind is important.

I'm NO EXPERT here, I tested positive in September but have done a lot of research (most of it on this site) and had some great conversations with my Doc as well as others.  Your signature line lists your recent lab results and the line "here come the meds."  If it were me, I might wait for a few more lab results before jumping on meds.  Seems as though you seroconverted recently and your numbers may still be fluctuating as a result.  Do what makes you comfortable but I would caution you not to jump to a decision about meds out of panic or fear. 

I have a good friend who tested positive about the same time I did and jumped on meds right away (he was SCARED) and now is regretting doing it so quickly. 

Take the time you need to make the right decision for you and DON'T let fear control your life or your decisions.

Keep smilin'  ;D

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2007, 10:20:08 pm »
Well, I didnt go on meds yesterday. I am seeing a new doctor in Orlando Friday, since I am moving there tomorrow. I dont know what he is going to say. I think drastic drop though is pretty bad trend, and well my body has been through a lot already this year and maybe is it just isnt up to the challenge yet. I had syphilis, my appendix burst (literally) and been suffering from severe depression...actually until recently. Oddly im better now. And of course now my body is fighting this virus and it doesnt seem to fighting to well. I am scared about going on the meds, but I am more scared about dropping towards 200. The AIDS label is a little much for me to handle.

:)

Matt
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2007, 11:00:57 pm »
Yeah honey it's a bit of a plunge on the absolute count there, but not something to get overly fussed about yet.

Frankly I'd wait and get a couple of further CD4 counts before making a treatment decision. You're newly diagnosed/infected and in that first 12-18 months your numbers can bounce around before settling into a rut.

Regards,

MtD

Offline sacinsc

  • Member
  • Posts: 353
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2007, 11:19:19 pm »
But wouldnt you be afraid of another plunge before a rise? At that plunge puts you in the 200 range? I am at a loss really. It is scaring me and confusing me. My ID doc in DC seemed to really believe I needed to be on meds within the month. I will see what this guy in Orlando believes Friday morning. I am determined to manage this damn virus and not let it manage me.
March 07 - Negative
May 07 - Exposed
June 07 - Seroconversion
September 07 - CD4 402 VL 118000 25%
October 07 -     CD4 294 VL 124000 22%
November 07 - Norvir, Triuvada and Reyataz
December 07 -  CD4 355 VL  550 .... guess the meds are working.
January 08 - CD4 446 VL <48 undetectable!
April 08 - CD4 554 VL <48 undetectable!
July 08 - CD4 666 VL <48 undetectable! Hporay...I have devil CD4's

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: Question about Resistance...
« Reply #18 on: October 31, 2007, 11:24:22 pm »
Well I would be a bit concerned but, you know, 296 isn't such a horrible number for a pozzie.

Matt, the key to HIV is all about understanding trends over time. One or two blood test results really mean whole lots of fuck all when it comes to this stuff, especially in the newly infected. There's no observable trend here.

I know it seems tempting, but resist the urge to panic at this point. Take a deep breath and wait until your next CD4 results are in. If they're below the 200 mark (or your percentage dips below 19) then you should start thinking treatment.

MtD

 


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