POZ Community Forums

Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: vanillaice on July 19, 2010, 12:47:54 am

Title: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: vanillaice on July 19, 2010, 12:47:54 am
Hi,

This is my first time posting here. I've been reading the posts and they have been very helpful. Thank you all. I am somehow nervous. Tonight I will start Atripla. I put it off until I thought I was ready to begin. My doctor recommended me to start on HAART since couple of months ago, but I took my time to finally decide I was ready. It freaks me out the fact that I will have to depend on meds for life, but I hope that I will adjust to this pretty quickly. My numbers are not too bad, but doc says that starting when my CD4s are high will be better for me in the long term. I also see it as another way of protecting my negative partner from seroconversion. Anyhow, I am glad to be here in this forum with you guys and I hope to post more later about how Atripla is working on me.

Cheers,
Rick

      
23-Dec-09   Diagnosed      
                    VL   CD4 %   CD4 Count
18-Jan-10...   10118.......   34   ..........580
22-Feb-10..   264   ........28   ..........480
31-May-10..   511   ........28   ..........340
28-Jun-10...   684   ........29   ..........410
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: max123 on July 19, 2010, 12:53:52 am
hi rick,

welcome to the forums.

i'm sure that preparing to start meds has no doubt, been a trying experience. do you know how long you've been poz for?

max
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: wtfimpoz on July 19, 2010, 12:55:34 am
Congrats on reaching a milestone!  Keep us updated on what its like and good luck!
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: vanillaice on July 19, 2010, 01:09:56 am
hi rick,

welcome to the forums.

i'm sure that preparing to start meds has no doubt, been a trying experience. do you know how long you've been poz for?

max

Thank you Max. I have been positive since August 2009.
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: wtfimpoz on July 19, 2010, 01:12:50 am
Thank you Max. I have been positive since August 2009.

Did you convert in aug. of 09 or test positve in aug. 09?
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: max123 on July 19, 2010, 01:45:17 am
Thank you Max. I have been positive since August 2009.

you're quite welcome. okay, so you've been poz for almost 1 year. your 4 month post seroconversion vl of 10,118 was impressively low:
      
23-Dec-09   Diagnosed      
                    VL   CD4 %   CD4 Count
18-Jan-10...   10118.......   34   ..........580
22-Feb-10..   264   ........28   ..........480
31-May-10..   511   ........28   ..........340
28-Jun-10...   684   ........29   ..........410

moreover, with your current numbers, you should be undetectable in no time. best of luck 2 you and keep us posted  :D

max
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: tednlou2 on July 19, 2010, 02:29:11 am
All the best for a great response.  I have no doubt you'll see results very quickly.  Be sure to let us know how you're doing.  I often wonder what my numbers looked like in the time during infection and diagnosis.   

Off topic--  I seems like several people found out they were poz around the holidays.  I'm sure it breaks down evenly all over the year, but it just seems like I've noticed several diagnosed in Dec--many right around Christmas.  I probably just notice the ones near Christmas than other times of the year.

Anyway, glad to meet ya and keep us posted. 
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: Jeffreyj on July 19, 2010, 05:52:56 am
Best of luck with your new meds. remember, one pill at a time. and be patient with the results. the numbers will improve, it takes time. Steady as she goes!
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: vanillaice on July 19, 2010, 06:19:40 pm
Did you convert in aug. of 09 or test positve in aug. 09?

Converted in aug-09, tested positive in dec-09
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: vanillaice on July 19, 2010, 06:23:31 pm
All the best for a great response.  I have no doubt you'll see results very quickly.  Be sure to let us know how you're doing.  I often wonder what my numbers looked like in the time during infection and diagnosis.    

Off topic--  I seems like several people found out they were poz around the holidays.  I'm sure it breaks down evenly all over the year, but it just seems like I've noticed several diagnosed in Dec--many right around Christmas.  I probably just notice the ones near Christmas than other times of the year.

Anyway, glad to meet ya and keep us posted.  

Yeah ... you can now imagine how crappy this past Christmas turned out to be for me. I got the call on the 23th ... worst Christmas ever.
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: hope_for_a_cure on July 19, 2010, 06:27:45 pm
Its good that you are going to start on the meds.  I started taking Atripla in March and am doing really well at this point.  The anticipation of not knowing how the body will react this causes some anxiety during the first few days.  I hope your experience is as good as mine has been.  Best of luck to you!
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: phildinftlaudy on July 19, 2010, 06:33:37 pm
Hey V. Ice -
I started Atripla back in December - the first night I had anxiety because I didn't know what to expect - but it hasn't been bad at all.  You may have some vivid dreams - I still get them every now and then - Last night I had some doosies.

Most people that have other side effects (i.e. rash) find that it clears up within a couple of weeks.

Keep us informed on your progress - and feel free to ask questions and vent, sigh a breath of relief, etc. (just don't complain too much or we'll tell you off ---- just kidding  ;D  )

Welcome and look forward to hearing more from you.....  ice ice baby.... (couldn't resist)
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: Boze on July 19, 2010, 06:34:41 pm
Its good that you are going to start on the meds.  I started taking Atripla in March and am doing really well at this point.  The anticipation of not knowing how the body will react this causes some anxiety during the first few days.  I hope your experience is as good as mine has been.  Best of luck to you!

+1
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: vanillaice on July 19, 2010, 06:36:15 pm
Its good that you are going to start on the meds.  I started taking Atripla in March and am doing really well at this point.  The anticipation of not knowing how the body will react this causes some anxiety during the first few days.  I hope your experience is as good as mine has been.  Best of luck to you!

Thanks man. How long did it take for you to stop feeling weird (groggy) in the morning?
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: hope_for_a_cure on July 19, 2010, 06:44:52 pm
I never had any morning after issues with it too much.  Of course I go for the coffee as soon as I wake up and that puts me in overdrive quickly.  My experience was weird dreams.  My favorite was one where I won 750,000 bucks on a slot machine and they issues me a check.  In the dream I kept checking my wallet to see if it was there... and it was...  Of course when I woke up... no such luck.  The bad dreams for me were few.  I did dream that I had stolen a car and was trying to get away from the cops.  The damn car would not go fast and had flat tires but I gunned it anyhow and somehow managed to get away from them.  Dreamland is a strange but wonderful place most of the time. 
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: phildinftlaudy on July 19, 2010, 06:49:52 pm
Thanks man. How long did it take for you to stop feeling weird (groggy) in the morning?
Hey V:
I saw that hope for a cure didn't have the grogginess issues --- I did and still do if I take the pill too late on a weeknight.  I usually go to bed around 11 or 12 and wake up around 6 a.m.  If I take it at 9 I don't have too much grogginess -- if I wait til 11 then I get pretty groggy.  A couple of times I've had to call and tell my boss (who knows my status and that I'm on meds) that I need an extra hour before I go in. 

So, be prepared to have to adjust the time accordingly based on your schedule and how the pill makes you feel over time.  Also, if you eat before taking it some of the effects are more pronounced.  I basically eat whenever I want, but I also know that it may cause me to have even more dreams or be a little more groggy as a result.
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: hope_for_a_cure on July 19, 2010, 06:59:09 pm
I do take mine kinda early.  These days its around 9:00PM but I dont actually go to bed till later on.  I just have a thing about taking pills then getting horizontal in bed.  I know, its a psychological issue I have but in my mind they dont 'go down' as good.  That is 'prolly' why I dont have too many issues with being groggy the next day.  I will say that when I get up in the middle of the night to go take a leak, I am practically sleep walking and at first was very wobbly when making my way to the bathroom.
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: phildinftlaudy on July 19, 2010, 07:01:44 pm
I do take mine kinda early.  These days its around 9:00PM but I dont actually go to bed till later on.  I just have a thing about taking pills then getting horizontal in bed.  I know, its a psychological issue I have but in my mind they dont 'go down' as good.  That is 'prolly' why I dont have too many issues with being groggy the next day.  I will say that when I get up in the middle of the night to go take a leak, I am practically sleep walking and at first was very wobbly when making my way to the bathroom.
I feel you hope --- I get that wobbly feeling if I get up in the middle of the night too.  Also, I had a similar dream with the running from the police and the tires blowing out.  Haven't had the lottery one yet.  There was something where I kept going from a boat to the land, then to the boat - was kind of wild - I would be out at sea one minute then walk out the door and was on land...
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: skeebo1969 on July 19, 2010, 07:38:32 pm
Thanks man. How long did it take for you to stop feeling weird (groggy) in the morning?

V,

The groggy feelings went away after a week for me.  Welcome to the forums.
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: WillyWump on July 19, 2010, 11:12:15 pm
Welcome to the Forums Ice,

You have some relatively decent pre-med numbers there. You will do great on Atripla! Like some of the otheres my grogginess went away after a few days when I was on Atripla, matter of fact I had a surge of energy thereafter, it was fantastic.

As far as the dreams the first few days I had some emotional dreams about my deceased father, but soon I was dreaming wacky stuff such as the police opening a substation in my bathroom.

Keep us posted...

-Will
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: BlueMoon on July 20, 2010, 06:41:01 am
Ice, baby!  Welcome to the forum.

So how's the Atripla working out for you so far?
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: vanillaice on July 26, 2010, 04:38:24 pm
Ice, baby!  Welcome to the forum.

So how's the Atripla working out for you so far?

Thanks for all the encouraging messages!

So, it's been a week since I started on Atripla, and the dizziness is fading away. I still feel a little bit awkward and have a sensation of a heavy stomach most of the time. Other than that, I am feeling fine. Now, I am keeping an eye on signs of a rash or something like that, but so far nothing. Cheers!
Title: Re: Starting Meds tonight
Post by: hope_for_a_cure on July 26, 2010, 04:45:05 pm
Awesome!  You are out of the woods now I would say as far as wild side effects go.  Enjoy the feeling of getting stronger and seeing better numbers when your blood work is done.