My Partner's Ill! :(

[magnoman]

Not very ill.. or at least it seems that way to me.

This seems to be the season of flu where we live and he has a temperature of 38.7 and he says a really bad headache.

Started to feel ill yesterday and feels much worse this evening.

I think he is a little worried as his CD4 counts went from 500 on the first test, to 400 on the last one and he thinks they are dropping rapidly.  Diagnosed in January and I believe infected around then as well, although he says he has no idea when he was infected.

My view is that it is just a seasonal flu, but he is worried... and keeps saying it's the beginning of the end!

I tell him not to be such a drama queen!

Was just wondering whether I am being overly dismissive of his concerns?  And whether any of the wise folks on here had any experience based advice I might be able to give him?

Thanks.

PS Happy Holiday Season to you all.

[anniebc]

Sounds like he has a fever, possibly the flu, but it certainly isn't the beggining of the end. 

His drop in CD4 cells from 500 to 400 in a year is not a rapid drop, at the moment all you can do is keep up his fluids keep him warm and tucked up in bed and wait a few days, give him some panadol or whatever analgesics you have in the house, and if he is on meds makes sure he still takes them.

I hope he is up and about for the New Year.

Jan

[magnoman]

Thanks Annie,

Yes that is pretty much what I thought and what I have been doing... although I have been banished to the sofa as he doesn't want me to get ill!

The drop was from 550 to 400 from August to November, but even so I think part of that was caused to stress and lack of sleep before the 2nd test.

Anyway good to know that all is as well as it can be when flu is in the house!

[mecch]

My view is that it is just a seasonal flu, but he is worried... and keeps saying it's the beginning of the end!

I tell him not to be such a drama queen!

Is this the first time he's had a common cold or flu since he's been positive?  That can be nerve-wracking. 

Is he generally pessimistic about his prognosis as HIV+?

If so, then you can help him face reality that HIV is a manageable disease.  As long as he is in regular health care, this no more "the beginning of the end".   Ask him specifically what he is fearing about living with HIV, and talk through his irrational way of seeing these things.  But yeah, wait until the flu has passed. 

[mitch777]

ditto to above but everyone should always take the flu seriously.

give him lots of love.

[magnoman]

Thanks very much!

I think a lot of it was just the first time he had been ill since diagnosis, so it was perhaps a bit scary... Watching a couple of movies about the early days of HIV and Aids probably didn't help much either.

Anyway he is fine now...

A very Happy New Year to you all.