Fatigue pre-meds

[ChaplinGuy]

Does anyone else who is positive and not on meds feel an extremely noticeable degree of fatigue? I am newly diagnosed with CD4s near 500 and a low viral load. I'm not taking meds. However, I am extremely tired and just kind of foggy most of the time. It's not debilitating - I'm still an active professional and exercise regularly. Just a sense of tired more than I've noticed before being diagnosed. Wonder if I'm just overly aware now that I know my status....

Thanks for your advice.

[Ithaca_Nights]

HI,
I was always tired on and off before I went on meds.  It seemed to come and go.  I first tested poz in 1988 and was able to stay off meds until this past July.  My average cd4's were in the 700 range before this year when they dropped.  Just eat right and try not to worry about being HIV+ to much.
Cheers, Dan

[J.R.E.]

Hello Chaplinguy,

I can only share with you my experiences. Prior to starting on meds in October of 2003, fatigue was a very big issue with me. It had been an issue for at least a year prior to starting on meds.

 That should have been an indication to me that things were not going well ( in my case)  I was still working full time during that period, and not missing any time from work. But the fatigue crept in ever so slowly, that it was easy for me to blame it on everything else, except for what was really taking place.

BY the time I had started on meds in October of 2003, It was taking everything I could, to get through my work day. The rest of the 16 hours was dedicated to sleeping or napping.

When I started on meds, the fatigue issues went away within the week , and my sleep patterns, went back to normal. I am now sleeping about 8 hours a day, still working. I still go through episodes of mild fatigue, but it is nowhere as bad as it was back in 2003. For me, right now it is tolerable.


You will need to bring these issues up with your doctor, and see what blood tests may be necessary. There are differant things associated with fatigue, and your doctor can test for them. Just make sure to mention this to your doctor.


Here is a link, to a lesson on fatigue, that you may find helpful ;

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/feeling-tired-fatigue-anemia



Take care----Ray