hayyou:
It then took me a week to get the second and then tell my serious girlfriend. My numbers were ok, cd4 177 (Don't remember %), and VL 37,400. No mutations, and besides AIDS, I am perfectly healthy. In fact, I only got tested because I thought I had an ear infection and just had gotten insurance, (but the ear infection had gone away), a week before my first poz. I have now had an allergic reaction to Bactrim, high fever and shakes, no rash though, so the MD didn't warn me to look out for a fever and I thought I was fighting something. So, I went off the Bactrim, and am signed up for clinical trials of Atripla and a Quad. Double blind. I read in another topic in this group about mourning or having a breakdown, I haven't done either, not that I didn't spend a portion of every day the first two weeks crying. Any way, I am glad to have the support structure of my family, and a very supportive girlfriend, (we have been together for almost a year and now live together, all before I found out), and can hardly wait to start meds, so I can "put the other foot down" and get moving forward with my life. Of course there are many other things going on at the same time, one job cheating me out of more than one full paycheck, my best friend not talking to me any more (due to other reasons, not the POZ), and not working. Now a new job is about to start, the clinical trials are about to start and though I wish I didn't need to have found this site, I am glad I did.
phildinftlaudy:
Welcome again Hayyou! Glad you found the site and that you are contributing. Get ready for the ride of your life -- as if life wasn't already enough of a ride. HIV/AIDS comes with many firsts. It comes with many obstacles and challenges, but also some sprinkles of rewards and "a-ha" moments. Enjoy life --- it goes along way - I believe - with how we respond physically, mentally, socially to all of the elements that come our way as a result of our condition.
Welcome again!
Phil
mecch:
Well I wish you luck on two new beginnings, then. And glad you have your family and GF.
hotpuppy:
At some point there is an acceptance of it.... so just because it hasn't hit you like a ton of bricks doesn't mean it might not. You sound like you are doing good, you are on meds, seeing a doc, and getting your numbers done. That's what is important.
Research can be good, and Atripla is a good med. Just make sure you take it very regularly. It's not like anything you've ever taken. A couple of skipped doses and it won't work well for you again.