POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: Jeff G on October 16, 2009, 07:02:47 pm
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A few years ago when my cd4 count went up past 300 my doctor took me off Bactrim after being on it 10 plus years , said I did not need it anymore .
Since then I have had more infections than ever . I asked him if maybe I would benefit form taking it as a precaution but he refused and told me my theory that all my infections were because of being off the drug didn't hold water medically . I just recently had a prostate and bladder infection and was put back on Bactrim again . My sinus's are clear again my skin looks better and I feel great .
I was wondering if any of you people here experienced anything like this or have any thoughts you might like to share ?
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A few years ago when my cd4 count went up past 300 my doctor took me off Bactrim after being on it 10 plus years , said I did not need it anymore .
Since then I have had more infections than ever . I asked him if maybe I would benefit form taking it as a precaution but he refused and told me my theory that all my infections were because of being off the drug didn't hold water medically . I just recently had a prostate and bladder infection and was put back on Bactrim again . My sinus's are clear again my skin looks better and I feel great .
I was wondering if any of you people here experienced anything like this or have any thoughts you might like to share ?
Yes, I have, I was on Bactrim from 94 to 2002, but I didn't get any infections after being taken off of it for almost 8 yrs. so I cannot help you much there, but if it works, and clears up everything for you, why did they take you off of it after so long? did you changes ID Doctors? I did when I moved to New Mexico, in 2001 also I have heard other stories of POZ+ people who are still on Bactrim? this is interesting to say the least........sounds like your body has built up an immunity, but, I'm not a Doctor, this is way above my pay-grade here, ask you ID Doctor about this, and the long term effects of
antibiotics/prophylactics
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i was on bactrim for 10+ yrs too (96 - 07) and quit taking it about 2 yrs ago after my tcells had finally consistently stayed above 250. they've hit 305 and 311 but for the most part they hang around 260. Sorry, but I've never noticed any differences before or after the bactrim (except that now I don't itch LOL I have a slight allergy but thought it was better to handle the risks of scratching all the time over the chance of being in the hospital with PCP again. ;) )
how long have you been off the bactrim?
how soon did these issues start up after quitting the bactrim?
how long have you been having issues?
have your tcells stayed about 300?
the answers to these questions could either help pinpoint what's causing your problems or give credence to your story when talking to the doctor. I would think that if you could show that you started having issues sometime soon after stopping the bactrim, infection-related (sinuses, bladder) issues, that continued until you began taking Bactrim again, that you could persuade a reasonable doctor to put you back onto bactrim.
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Good advice guys . Its been about three years since my doc took me off the bactrim , almost immediately I developed sinus and other pesky minor infections . That's when I asked all my doctors they're opinion on the infections and stopping Bactrim . They all agreed since my cd4 count was above 500 that not taking bactrim had nothing to do with the new infections . I have about decided to stay on it since I feel better now than I have in a long time . If my regular doctors wont write me a script I have a good buddy that's a doctor that will write me one I'm sure .
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They all agreed since my cd4 count was above 500 that not taking bactrim had nothing to do with the new infections .
that's what I would have thought too with counts that high; however...
I have about decided to stay on it since I feel better now than I have in a long time .
I'm a firm believer than not all meds work exactly the same for everyone and sometimes changes HAVE to be made.
I was on a half dose of bactrim for many yrs because of the itching. I've also regularly seen that half of the prescibed dosage of many meds work just as well for me as the full dose. while the full dose may work, it also usually produces a lot of barfing too. I've been overdosed before (azt every 4 hrs), so why be overdosed and sick when a lesser dose will work and you'll feel good too? ;)
finally, what if there isn't any science to your infections and the bactrim but it's purely psychological? I remember worrying that as soon as I went off it, I'd end up back in the hospital :D why when I all together quit some previous regimens the only med I always stayed on religiously was bactrim. If you've taken it this long, and it makes you "feel well" without even really helping, what the heck. LOL Stay on the bactrim. ;)
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Hey Jeff,
If it's making you feel better, I would think the doctor would notice a difference just in your appearance and attitude.
I was only on Bactrim for 14 days, (plus other medications) so cannot relate to noticing any thing different from not taking it.
But I am glad your sinus's are clear, and your skin and that you feel better.
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I was on bactrim for along time until my CD4 got back near the 200s and while I didn't have any bad infections I didn't notice that I had a lot of breakouts after I first stopped taking it. After a while my skin cleared up again so maybe if he won't do Bactrim he'd be willing to do a milder anti-biotic for you skin. Otherwise I say you know your body best if you've got a friend who will write the Rx I say go for it.
AA
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I wrote in a thread not to long ago about how many times I have been on antibiotics in the last year alone . When this bladder infection thing came back and I went back to bactrim for treatment and my chronic infections all vanished in a month it just got me to thinking again about my conversations with my doctors 3 yrs ago when the infections started .
I should probably think these things out more clearly before I start a thread LOL . I do have a new ID doc now and I will talk to her about these infections next visit . I suppose I should be open to the possibility that the use of so many antibiotics in the last year may well play a part in this also .
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Hey sweetie,
I don't really have anything to add-I just wanted to say "hey."
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And hello to you Betty dear !!!
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Just a little update .
I saw my new ID doc today and talked to him about the bactrim thing. He told me I am not the only patient he has that was on bactrim for years and experienced this problem . He put me back on it . Being back on it the last month is the only time in three years or so I have not had a sinus infection or some other pesky urinary track thing going on . I hope all that is behind me now .
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jg
i just want to say ...congratulations.
You are a good example for all of us because you are aware of what your body needs and arent afraid to get what you need from your doctors.
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Thanks Bear . It sure helps to have a doctor that is open minded enough to hear what a patient has to say instead of a text book .
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So basically you're a bactrim junkie.
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I guess I am Miss P .... I will have to ask wallgreens if I should crush them before I smoke em .
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I will have to ask wallgreens if I should crush them before I smoke em .
Or bang 'em. ;) I'm glad to hear you're back on, and having less trouble with your nose and pee-pee. :-*
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Jeff,
I'm glad you are doing better.