POZ Community Forums

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits => Questions About Treatment & Side Effects => Topic started by: johnnyl on June 21, 2012, 01:08:12 am

Title: doc says to start meds but no full results yet
Post by: johnnyl on June 21, 2012, 01:08:12 am
not sure what to do here ..and all this is really new to me. Just found out the news and doc did get my viral load back...175,000....says cd4 is not in yet, and wants me to start treatment. I was supposed to be on Atripla first, and then once he got the VL back, says to take Truvada/Insentress/Intelence....

 I am in a panic here as to why he would recommend treatment not having all the results back from my labs and just feel that he is just forcing treatment. Asked him today and he was like I have been doing this for 25 yrs now and whats your problem. ?? ... I know this is a life long commitment and just feel I should wait to start till all the results are in.. Or maybe this is just anxiety of the fact that I am about to start treatment ... HELP !!! 
Title: Re: doc says to start meds but no full results yet
Post by: newt on June 21, 2012, 02:31:27 am
Waiting until you have your full set of results will not make a difference. If you want the full set, insist and wait. I would not start without the full set.

Also, changing meds this way and that way is unnecessary, better to start on one thing and stick with it. Two sets of meds in a short period risks two sets of side effects.

Truvada/Isentress/Intelence is one drug too many for a combo, and also unnecessary. Truvada/Isentress or Truvada/Intelence are perfectly good combos on their own, unless you have resistance (in which case you need your full set of tests including a genotype to decide what to take).

Hope this helps.

- matt
Title: Re: doc says to start meds but no full results yet
Post by: johnnyl on June 21, 2012, 09:51:07 am
Thanks Matt, was hoping to hear from you. I know I need the mess but that's what i was worried about. I mean how does this doc know what to give me without knowing all results. Not to mention there are only so many combos out there. Gonna call another doc to get sec opinion, and gonna wait till they get all results. I feel good, and other then some white tounge and a high viral load....thanks again brother...