Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 19, 2024, 05:06:19 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772785
  • Total Topics: 66296
  • Online Today: 290
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 213
Total: 213

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Would like some perspective  (Read 5307 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline PozJeepGuy

  • Member
  • Posts: 251
  • Facebook - Jacob Perry
Would like some perspective
« on: October 11, 2013, 07:32:22 pm »
Hello all,

Recently I have been going threw some messy depression.  It's one of those things where I found my self questioning is this depression or something else physically wrong?  I have been active with a counselor and she agreed we should do some blood work.  Long story short it turns out my meds and my body just don't like each other.  So again for the 3 time in 5 years my doctors ( HIV and counselor) and I have decided for another med break.  It's now been a month and feel night and day better.  Don't get me wrong still dealing with depression and real about it but physically not so drained, skin not so dry, head much clearer. 

With all that said I know there I need to be on meds but I'm getting frustrated with this process.  Do I just need to swallow the fact that's just the way it goes?  Your going to feel crappy.  Not horrible but just always crappy?  Is this what the new normal really means?   I have a regular schedule for quite a while now. Meaning 8 hours of sleep, a regular work schedule, stable home life and did all this to help and it really does but physically feeling crappy sucks the life out of you.   

Thanks for insight
Jake
Jake

Offline Jeff G

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 17,064
  • How am I doing Beren ?
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2013, 07:35:02 pm »
What meds were you on ?
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline PozJeepGuy

  • Member
  • Posts: 251
  • Facebook - Jacob Perry
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2013, 07:37:28 pm »
First I did a drug study for the quad pill.   That wasn't fun.  Then it was truvada and I can't remember and this last one was truvada and isentress. 
Jake

Offline Jeff G

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 17,064
  • How am I doing Beren ?
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2013, 07:40:08 pm »
Newt is a good source for all things med related , ask and he will happily advise .

I'm on Truvada / Intelence and have zero side effects , its the best one for me as of yet .
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline PozJeepGuy

  • Member
  • Posts: 251
  • Facebook - Jacob Perry
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2013, 07:41:23 pm »
Thank you.   So how about it Newt.  Any advise is welcomed.
Jake

Offline GoForIt

  • Member
  • Posts: 214
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2013, 08:16:42 pm »
Do you exercise?  Daily exercise wipes that drained crappy feeling right out of the way.  Even when I'm feeling like a sack of crap I just drive to the gym and after an hour or so of running/lifting I feel 100% better and then finish it with a smoothie for a healthy protein drink afterwards.  You feel like a million dollars at that point. 

Also I'm on Tivicay/Truvada for the past month and have 0 side effects.  I've actually re-gained a lot of my energy since starting it and find myself eating healthier throughout the day to maintain energy.
08/09/2013  Diagnosed WB positive
08/20/2013  CD4-506(28%)  VL-10,800
09/12/2013  CD4-391(28%)  VL-14,900
09/17/2013  Start ART (Truvada + Tivicay)
10/11/2013  CD4-377(26%)  VL-UD
12/20/2013  CD4-590(??%)  VL-UD
03/18/2014  CD4-660(29%)  VL-UD
07/22/2014  CD4-613(29%)  VL-UD
08/01/2014   Start Phase 3 TAF (Truvada 2.0) Clinical Trial (TAF + Tivicay)
10/09/2014  CD4-498(29.5%) VL-UD
11/06/2014  CD4-600(30.2%) VL-UD
01/30/2015  CD4-529(31.3%) VL-UD
07/25/2015  CD4-742(36.5%) VL-UD
10/06/2015  CD4-765(28.9%) VL-UD
01/05/2016  CD4-907(33.1%) VL-UD
03/24/2016  CD4-770(33.5%) VL-UD
06/20/2016  CD4-850(35.4%) VL-UD

Dr. Mark Wainberg on Dolutegravir:
Video 1: https://youtu.be/wCXOgLJqJAY
Video 2: https://youtu.be/DKiaD7fHO-s

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2013, 04:35:36 am »
I believe the feeling of being a blunted knife even though meds are working is an elephant in the room for many people. This is why I work 4 days/week, not 5.

But, there is perhaps room for improvement, and several things to consider.

1. Do you really want to do treatment now? There is marginal extra risk of illness while your CD4 count is over 500.

2. Tenofovir. Aha, yes, well Truvada, tenofovir, generally benign, few major side effects in general. But there is the question of subtle effects on kidneys etc, and cellular energy production. Everyone I know who has come of tenofovir feels more energetic, less grumpy. So I suggest looking at a combination without tenofovir.

3. Dolutegravir. The new one on the block, aka Tivicay, small amount of drug and doesn't need a booster. This avoids the Norvir question. Even a small amount of Norvir don't suit some people, and taxes energy production in your liver.

4. Boosted darunavir. While requiring a low dose of Norvir, boosted darunavir, aka Prezista, will work on its own, especially once your viral load is supressed. << I am on this plus FTC alone, ie 1 drug short of a full combo, because I want to avoid tenofovir long-term, and I deffo feel more alive having dropped the tenofovir.

5. Your original combos were badly chosen/unfortunate. The study combo ws kinda heavy, and atazanavir/tenofovir and Isentress can both affect mood and energy. Your next experience of meds doesn't have to be like the first three.

My stratgey would be, when restarting, to (1) avoid tenofovir (2) choose a combo to bring my viral load to undetectable and then switch to the least number of workable drugs to keep it there if the starting combo left me feeling out of sorts.

I would avoid NNRTIs + NRTIs, these kinds of combos are the most likely to affect cellular energy production.

Hope this helps

- matt
« Last Edit: October 12, 2013, 04:51:10 am by newt »
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline PozJeepGuy

  • Member
  • Posts: 251
  • Facebook - Jacob Perry
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2013, 09:50:04 am »
Thank you
Jake

Offline GSOgymrat

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,122
  • HIV+ since 1993. Relentlessly gay.
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2013, 01:24:36 pm »
But, there is perhaps room for improvement, and several things to consider.

What great information. I am copying this for future reference.

I hope you get your medication and depressive symptoms sorted out, Jacob.

Offline Jeff G

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 17,064
  • How am I doing Beren ?
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2013, 01:36:55 pm »
We can always count on Newt . Thanks Newt !
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline witch

  • Member
  • Posts: 67
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #10 on: October 13, 2013, 09:36:40 am »
The Quad pill (Stribild) and Isentress+Truvada are both based on Integrase Inhibitors.

I can't offer experience with Isentress but I was on Stribild 4 months and it had anti-depressant effect on me (made me more talkative) but only when combined with WORKING OUT. On days that I didn't work out, I felt like crap. On days I worked out, I felt like crap before working out, but after working out all the gloominess was gone and I felt HIGH for several hours and optimistic for the whole day. In general people do feel high after working out but something in the Quad pill amplifies this - my guess is either the booster Cobicistat or the Integrase Inhibitor Elvitegravir.

My experience above agrees with the one of GoForIt, who is on Integrase Inhibitor combo too.

I also agree with what newt said about NNRTI based combos. I cam currently on one of those Complera and it has a DEPRESSANT effect. I don't even feel the normal high after I work out while on Compera. So indeed avoid NNRTI.

So basically your options are either to stick to Integrase Inhibitor BUT WORKOUT every day or get something that does not have Integrase Inhibitor or NNRTI in it.

Offline liamwhit

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #11 on: October 13, 2013, 01:02:31 pm »
It's seem like you have gotten some good advice as far as medicines are concern.  From my own experience I know it's a big factor in well being.  I believe your emotional and psychological health are equally as important.  After the adjustment of medications, your mood and emotions have improved.  That is great but if you still have questions.  You need to look to live your best life despite HIV.  I strive everyday.  I self-evaluate and become really honest with who I am, where I am going and who I want to be.  I think this is just as important.  Remember, quality over quantity.   

Offline wolfthorn

  • Member
  • Posts: 88
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #12 on: October 13, 2013, 09:04:47 pm »
newt ~ Do you think the new tenofovir (TAF) is going to be better?
7/10/13: Oraquick at Home (+)
7/11/13: CD4 <20, VL 286,000
7/26/13: Start Stribild, Bactrim, Azithromycin
8/13/13: CD4 64, VL 1194
9/11/13: CD4 87, VL 511
10/14/13: CD4 164, VL 34
10/15/13: Stop Azithromycin!

Offline CallMeSid

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 117
Re: Would like some perspective
« Reply #13 on: October 14, 2013, 12:44:44 am »
"I have been active with a counselor and she agreed we should do some blood work.  Long story short it turns out my meds and my body just don't like each other."

Hmmm......

I'm VERY interested to hear what specific lab tests you had done AND what were your specific results that prompted your counselor (I'm curious about her credentials -- PhD in psychology?) and your doctors to conclude that "[your] meds and [your] body 'just don't like each other' " (what is the ICD-9 diagnosis code for THAT???) and to give you a med break.

I'd love to hear more about YOUR perspective...
07/2006 HIV-negative
06/2007 HIV-positive
07/2007 CD4: 795 (40%), VL: <50
09/2007 CD4: 629 (43%), VL: 895  (~2 weeks after measles/mumps/rubella booster)
12/2007 CD4: 854 (45%), VL: <50
03/2008 CD4: 880 (45%), VL: 151
12/2008 CD4: 943 (46%), VL: 116
05/2009 CD4: 865 (44%)  VL: 107

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.