My 2 cents on meds.

[dingowarrior]

We only generally here the horror stories in reguards to side effects.
Even when I found out my HIV status,I was so afraid of meds because everyone I spoke to,whether it was via email or the dozens of hotlines I called (in a panic),everyone had the scariest stories.

Well, Let me say,if I hadnt ever mentioned it before, I for one did not have any horrible side effects at all.
Just the very first night on sustiva was rough..
I had what I could campare to a really bad acid trip where I felt extremely guilty and ashamed. Because of the sustiva,the guilt was magnified and it was really speedy and I couldnt sit /lay still in my bed.
My wife comforted me by wiping a cool rag on my head and that settled me a bit and eventualy I fell asleep. The whole scene lasted about an hour.
The next night I was afraid to go to bed.Eventually I fell asleep,and had a wonderful dream that I was a world wrestling champ!(I'm a big fan) It was a great dream actually.
But that was about the extent of it.
Oh yeah, I also saw white spots for a few weeks,a bit distracting but not a big deal.
So there ya go, no horrible side effect and 2 and a half years later,if it wasnt for my lab results,I would never know I have this bug inside of me.
In fact ,there was a time that I felt that things are just too normal and I was afraid that the other "shoe will drop" But I'm over that and I am as fine today as I was the day before I was diagnose.
I was just reading a few posts and ,well,I dont know,I just thought that I'd share my feelings on the whole "meds" thing.
Yeah,this whole HIV/AIDS thing really sucks. But I'm forever grateful that there is medicine that keeps me alive and healthy without any real noticable difference in my life.
So if you are starting meds,dont be afraid, it may not be nearly as bad as you might think..It wasnt for me,and it may not be for you.
Adhere to them,keeps your I.D. appointments and stay positive!
No pun intended! 

DingoWarrior

[Ann]

Great post Dingo, thanks for sharing!

Ann

[Miss Philicia]

Thanks Dingo.  It can never be said enough that newly diagnosed people in the year 2008 are going to log onto the internet and selectively see the scariest stories, because someone that has a much-less-than-scary experience with meds is often not going to take the time to write about it.

[sharkdiver]

Thank you very much Dingo. I really appreciate you speaking up and sharing that.

Yes, starting meds is a big deal for many and a lot of fear has been expressed here on the forum.  But I would never want anyone to experience the alternative, which is wasting away from an opportunistic infection (believe me I know).  And especially now since treatment is available.

Thanks again,
Sharkie

[StrongGuy]

Great story and thanks for sharing.

I think we all benefit when a diversity of experiences - sometimes good and sometimes bad - are shared honestly and openly.

My own personal view from what I see here, at least, is that these forums have evolved into a place where lots of people openly share their successes and receive positive support. I also think as meds and treatments change and improve somewhat, so do the stories and the balance.

Peace...
Mike

[BlueMoon]

Count me among the satisfied customers.

No problems after three months.  I'm looking forward to my next blood test in a few weeks and hoping for good things.

[BT65]

Dingo, thanks for posting this.  Way too often all we hear is about bad happenings with the meds and not the good (i.e. that they enable us to actually keep alive).  Hopefully people will read this and take hope.

[next2u]

good post dingo! i am definitely a fence-sitter when it comes to meds. i will be going on meds sometime in the near future and have  been hesitant because of the side effects. let us know the results from your upcoming labs.

[Veritee]

A month or so on same here re the meds
I hated the thought of taking them but so far I have few real problems.
A bit of diarrhea sometimes but nothing really bad -nothing I can not cope with easilly

Just so grateful that I got HIV at a time when the meds are so improved

And my heart goes out to those who had to take the meds in the past that could make you feel so ill


Veritee XX

[danpoz]

Thanks Dingo.  Today will be 5 weeks on Atripla for me and I'm right there with you on side effects.  I had (and still occasionally have) strange dreams from the Sustiva in the Atripla but definitely not something that isn't manageable given all the good the meds are doing.  The dreams have all been very pleasant, except for one where I was attacked by escalators (childhood fear after my foot got stuck in one when I was little) and I rarely remember all of the details.

Thanks again for sharing something upbeat!


dan

[ScottPhxAZ]

9 months on Viracept+Truvada.

No side effects.

No big deals.

Just the way I like it.

Now undetectable with CD4 900+.

Life is good!

Scott

[David_CA]

Thanks for the post.  I also like to try and mention the good that comes from HAART treatment and the lack of side effects that many of us will enjoy (even if only for a while).  Hubby and I also don't experience any side effects to speak of from Atripla after about 18 months.  Unlike many, I wasn't afraid to start meds.  I knew it was inevitable, and I was so sick (PCP) that I knew I'd die if I didn't start.  I was also so out if it that nothing, including starting  HAART  bothered me much at all. 

It's important to not lose sight of the fact that one could start experiencing bad side effects 'most any time.  Some of the 'old timers' (absolutely no disrespect implied), as well as many who have passed, have not have been able to take many of the newer, improved meds that we start on today.  I enjoy the benefits newer drugs provide while I can and not kid myself that the easy meds may not always work for me.  Still, a person who will be starting meds today needs to hear the good stories, not just the horror stories.

David