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Author Topic: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand  (Read 4724 times)

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Offline Cojo

  • Member
  • Posts: 232
Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« on: October 06, 2011, 04:18:25 pm »
Just got my second labs in and was pleasantly surprised to see my VL drop from 182,000 to 60,000; CD4 went down from 330 to 300 and % increased from 16% to 20%. I feel good about the numbers, but know i am still in the grey zone. With Dr's advice, will start meds tomorrow.

I have chose Truvada and Isentress over Atripla to dry to dodge the CNS effects of the Sustiva portion. I already have some anxiety and sleeping issues so I'd prefer  to stay clear of that.
It seems surreal to have gone from my diagnosis on May 30, 2011 to first labs, to partner testing negative (now spouse!!) to second labs to staring two pill bottles down.
I am anxious about the side effects should they occur, but i guess that's only natural.
Any last advice from folks?
May 2011 - Tested Positive
June 2011 - CD4 330   16%   VL182,000 no resistance
Oct 6, 2011 - CD4 300  20%  VL 60,000
Oct 7, 2011 - start Truvada / Isentress
Nov 29, 2011 CD4 280 26% VL 54
Feb 7 2012 CD4 260 25% UD!
Mar 20 2012 CD4 400 28%
June 2012 CD4 330 26% UD
Sept 2012 CD4 450 32% UD
Dec 2012 CD4 310 28% UD
May 2013 CD4 500 32% UD
Oct 2013 CD4 460 33% UD
May 2014 CD4 360 33% UD
Aug 2014 swap out Isentress for Tivicay
Oct 2014 CD4 320 33% UD
Feb 2015 CD4 420 30% UD
Jul 2015 CD4 480 32% VL51 !!
Sep 2015 UD
Feb 2016 CD4 460 35% UD
Aug 2016 CD4 378 33% UD

Offline jkinatl2

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,007
  • Doo. Dah. Dipp-ity.
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #1 on: October 06, 2011, 04:24:04 pm »
I take, among other things, Truvada and Isentress. Sometimes I get a mild headache for an hour or so. That's it for me.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline Inchlingblue

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  • Posts: 3,117
  • Chad Ochocinco PETA Ad
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #2 on: October 06, 2011, 08:07:20 pm »
I've been on I&T since July 2009 and doing great, no side effects to speak of.

At first I set two alarms on the cell phone so I'd remember but now I'm used to it and have a routine. Especially after being undetectable, the timing does not have to be exact.

If you get it through insurance and have co-pays there is co-pay assistance that covers that.

When I filled my first Rx I then waited a month to start in order to build up a supply (because my numbers were still OK).

Offline Cojo

  • Member
  • Posts: 232
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #3 on: October 06, 2011, 08:49:22 pm »
Thanks guys...I am actually quite stoked to get on with it.
I noticed that the pharmacy insert for the Isentress listed fat redistribution / lipodystrophy as a possible side effect. I thought this class of drugs dodged that one...hmmm
May 2011 - Tested Positive
June 2011 - CD4 330   16%   VL182,000 no resistance
Oct 6, 2011 - CD4 300  20%  VL 60,000
Oct 7, 2011 - start Truvada / Isentress
Nov 29, 2011 CD4 280 26% VL 54
Feb 7 2012 CD4 260 25% UD!
Mar 20 2012 CD4 400 28%
June 2012 CD4 330 26% UD
Sept 2012 CD4 450 32% UD
Dec 2012 CD4 310 28% UD
May 2013 CD4 500 32% UD
Oct 2013 CD4 460 33% UD
May 2014 CD4 360 33% UD
Aug 2014 swap out Isentress for Tivicay
Oct 2014 CD4 320 33% UD
Feb 2015 CD4 420 30% UD
Jul 2015 CD4 480 32% VL51 !!
Sep 2015 UD
Feb 2016 CD4 460 35% UD
Aug 2016 CD4 378 33% UD

Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #4 on: October 07, 2011, 01:24:16 am »
Hey Cojo,

Don't let the inserts scare you. All of the HIV meds say that - literally!  The chances of you developing lipodystrophy from this combo is very small.

Isentress/Truvada is probably one of the most trouble free regimens I have taken. As Jonathan said, I sometimes get a headache for a bit, but its not a bad headache and it goes away soon enough.

Let us know how it goes.

HUGS,

Mark
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline Themepark

  • Member
  • Posts: 29
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #5 on: October 07, 2011, 06:52:33 am »
Hi Cojo

I myself have been taking truvada and alluvia and after a full month my cd4 increased to 581 from 365 and my vl dropped to 234 (nice number) from 20800. Now I do think that there is a hope to get this undercontrolled. With this combo (instead of stocrin) I am not much experience any side effects except I feel sometimes fatigue and a bit of headech. But perhaps that could be a result of my existing psychosomatic distoder.

Try to stay healthy both mentally and physically, everything will be all right.....
05/08/11 Tested poz at the age of 32
06/08/11 CD4@365 27% VL=20,806
11/08/11 Truvada + Stocrin
22/08/11 Truvada (Stop Stocrin)
31/08/11 Truvada + Kaletra
15/09/11 Truvada + Aluvia
01/10/11 CD4@581 27% VL=234
25/02/12 CD4@661 30% VL<40
13/03/12 Truvada + Viramune
08/08/12 CD4@590 37% VL<40
17/11/12 CD4@650 33% VL<40
01/05/13 CD4@634 35% VL<40
06/09/13 CD4@763 36% VL<40

Offline Billy B

  • Member
  • Posts: 392
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #6 on: October 07, 2011, 05:36:38 pm »
Hello Cojo- As you can see I&T are my meds as well. I am tall and naturally thin so I worried about getting the look once I started meds. MY ID said that this combo was very fat/lipo friendly and indeed I have actually gained 10 lbs all over since starting. My lipid panel and all other blood work is perfect.
Because of my age my CD4s are kind of slow to rebound but I am UD without any side effects at all so I am damn happy!
The only caveat according to my ID is that there is only a little over five years data on Isentress concerning viral controll but so far he hasn't had any patients experience failure.
Peace and congratulation on your marriage,
Billy
 
« Last Edit: October 07, 2011, 05:39:15 pm by Billy B »
VL 4420 CD4 340 CD4% 24   3/15/10 Started I&T
VL  UD   CD4 340 CD4% 26.5 05/13/10
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.1 08/3/10
VL  UD   CD4 310 CD4% 28.4 11/22/10
VL  UD   CD4 420 CD4% 27.9 02/11/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 26.4 06/08/11
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.7 09/23/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.3 01/20/12
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 28.8 05/11/12
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.1 09/07/12
VL  UD   CD4 390 CD4% 32.3 03/14/13
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 29.8 09/10/13
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 31.0 04/29/14
VL  UD   CD4 520 CD4% 34.8 11/05/15
VL  UD   CD4 440 CD4% 33.5 03/10/15
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 30.5 08/23/16
VL  UD   CD4 510 CD4% 34.0 07/21/20  (Biktarvy)

Offline Cojo

  • Member
  • Posts: 232
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #7 on: October 07, 2011, 08:51:36 pm »
Hi Billy and folks,

Thanks for your good wished on our nuptials. It helps me to pause in gratitude at how far we have come here and how proud I am to be Canadian.

Today was day one. Took T&I this morning and so far, so good. I have some flushing (hot flashes lol) and tummy is a bit upset and growling away. Maybe my flu shot yesterday is part of the culprit!
All that said, I am so grateful to have these meds available to me. I am shamefully mindful that the majority of our sisters and brothers on the planet don't have what I do and would give anything for a flushing and some nausea.
A poster on here wrote that perspective is everything. Instead of seeing meds as the enemy (the devil he/she called them), see them as my soldiers working on MY side. I'll add that they are hot soldiers kicking the s*%t out of the bugs. Perspective does indeed, change everything.
May 2011 - Tested Positive
June 2011 - CD4 330   16%   VL182,000 no resistance
Oct 6, 2011 - CD4 300  20%  VL 60,000
Oct 7, 2011 - start Truvada / Isentress
Nov 29, 2011 CD4 280 26% VL 54
Feb 7 2012 CD4 260 25% UD!
Mar 20 2012 CD4 400 28%
June 2012 CD4 330 26% UD
Sept 2012 CD4 450 32% UD
Dec 2012 CD4 310 28% UD
May 2013 CD4 500 32% UD
Oct 2013 CD4 460 33% UD
May 2014 CD4 360 33% UD
Aug 2014 swap out Isentress for Tivicay
Oct 2014 CD4 320 33% UD
Feb 2015 CD4 420 30% UD
Jul 2015 CD4 480 32% VL51 !!
Sep 2015 UD
Feb 2016 CD4 460 35% UD
Aug 2016 CD4 378 33% UD

Offline Billy B

  • Member
  • Posts: 392
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #8 on: October 07, 2011, 10:43:45 pm »
Cojo- Day one and the healing begins!
Peace,
Billy
VL 4420 CD4 340 CD4% 24   3/15/10 Started I&T
VL  UD   CD4 340 CD4% 26.5 05/13/10
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.1 08/3/10
VL  UD   CD4 310 CD4% 28.4 11/22/10
VL  UD   CD4 420 CD4% 27.9 02/11/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 26.4 06/08/11
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.7 09/23/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.3 01/20/12
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 28.8 05/11/12
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.1 09/07/12
VL  UD   CD4 390 CD4% 32.3 03/14/13
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 29.8 09/10/13
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 31.0 04/29/14
VL  UD   CD4 520 CD4% 34.8 11/05/15
VL  UD   CD4 440 CD4% 33.5 03/10/15
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 30.5 08/23/16
VL  UD   CD4 510 CD4% 34.0 07/21/20  (Biktarvy)

Offline Cojo

  • Member
  • Posts: 232
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2011, 10:54:51 am »
Day four and so far, so good. It is Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend and last night went out to celebrate. Today's insight is that 4 drinks felt like 8! I would never have hangover symptoms after 4 drinks, but this morning...yuk. I guess T&I will cut down on drink expenses if it is that quick!
May 2011 - Tested Positive
June 2011 - CD4 330   16%   VL182,000 no resistance
Oct 6, 2011 - CD4 300  20%  VL 60,000
Oct 7, 2011 - start Truvada / Isentress
Nov 29, 2011 CD4 280 26% VL 54
Feb 7 2012 CD4 260 25% UD!
Mar 20 2012 CD4 400 28%
June 2012 CD4 330 26% UD
Sept 2012 CD4 450 32% UD
Dec 2012 CD4 310 28% UD
May 2013 CD4 500 32% UD
Oct 2013 CD4 460 33% UD
May 2014 CD4 360 33% UD
Aug 2014 swap out Isentress for Tivicay
Oct 2014 CD4 320 33% UD
Feb 2015 CD4 420 30% UD
Jul 2015 CD4 480 32% VL51 !!
Sep 2015 UD
Feb 2016 CD4 460 35% UD
Aug 2016 CD4 378 33% UD

Offline klassykitty

  • Member
  • Posts: 379
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #10 on: October 10, 2011, 11:43:35 am »
Cojo

I also take T&I and haven't had to many side-effects.  I do get tired for awhile after taking it.  For an upset tummy eat a little something when you take it.   I usually have crackers or pop-tarts.   My VL fell from 125,400 (or somewhere around there) to UD in 3 months.

I'm not having hot flashes but I do get colder easier then before.   I have not had any headaches,  well I do once a month but that has nothing to do with medicine.   I agree with Mark all the pharmacy inserts say almost the same thing for side effects.

 I also noticed that alcohol part, I just limit myself to no more then 3 screwdrivers or no more then 2 shots of whatever.   I hate getting hangovers and yep it has saved me quite a bit of money at the bar.

Michelle  8)

How to handle stress like a dog:
If you can't eat it or play with it.....
then pee on it and walk away

Diagnosed 01-20-2011
01-23  CD4 32    VL 125,400
02-18        76     VL 189
03-14  no cd4 test done   VL-52
04-14   69  VL-UNDECTABLE  YEA!!
05-26   50  whoopsy  
06-27   71        %-7
08-15   64 WTF %-9 
10-16  80         %7  
2012  CD4  %Thing   VL-UD
01-18  87    7
04-18  93    8  
07-16  151  8         
10-18  83    9    VL-70
2013   CD4   %thing       VL-UD
01-28  121     9
04-24  148    11   
07-25  157    11   
10-22  185    13
2014   CD-4  %thing   VL-UD
02-07 201 YEA!!!!!!  12
06-03  205      12

Offline Billy B

  • Member
  • Posts: 392
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2011, 01:15:42 pm »
Cojo- How are you doing?
Billy
VL 4420 CD4 340 CD4% 24   3/15/10 Started I&T
VL  UD   CD4 340 CD4% 26.5 05/13/10
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.1 08/3/10
VL  UD   CD4 310 CD4% 28.4 11/22/10
VL  UD   CD4 420 CD4% 27.9 02/11/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 26.4 06/08/11
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.7 09/23/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.3 01/20/12
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 28.8 05/11/12
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.1 09/07/12
VL  UD   CD4 390 CD4% 32.3 03/14/13
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 29.8 09/10/13
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 31.0 04/29/14
VL  UD   CD4 520 CD4% 34.8 11/05/15
VL  UD   CD4 440 CD4% 33.5 03/10/15
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 30.5 08/23/16
VL  UD   CD4 510 CD4% 34.0 07/21/20  (Biktarvy)

Offline Cojo

  • Member
  • Posts: 232
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2011, 10:58:13 pm »
Doing fantastic! 6 days in and no side effects at all! I actually noted to self today that I felt better in the last few days than in many months. I don't want to be cavalier or underscore it, but I spent an enormous amount of time and anxiety worrying about all the medication what if's and so far, it was for naught.
If anyone is reading this who is frightened to start ARV, please note my (and many, many others) experience and try to relax...
May 2011 - Tested Positive
June 2011 - CD4 330   16%   VL182,000 no resistance
Oct 6, 2011 - CD4 300  20%  VL 60,000
Oct 7, 2011 - start Truvada / Isentress
Nov 29, 2011 CD4 280 26% VL 54
Feb 7 2012 CD4 260 25% UD!
Mar 20 2012 CD4 400 28%
June 2012 CD4 330 26% UD
Sept 2012 CD4 450 32% UD
Dec 2012 CD4 310 28% UD
May 2013 CD4 500 32% UD
Oct 2013 CD4 460 33% UD
May 2014 CD4 360 33% UD
Aug 2014 swap out Isentress for Tivicay
Oct 2014 CD4 320 33% UD
Feb 2015 CD4 420 30% UD
Jul 2015 CD4 480 32% VL51 !!
Sep 2015 UD
Feb 2016 CD4 460 35% UD
Aug 2016 CD4 378 33% UD

Offline Billy B

  • Member
  • Posts: 392
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #13 on: October 13, 2011, 11:06:29 am »
I am glad to hear that it is going smoothly!
Peace,
Billy
VL 4420 CD4 340 CD4% 24   3/15/10 Started I&T
VL  UD   CD4 340 CD4% 26.5 05/13/10
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.1 08/3/10
VL  UD   CD4 310 CD4% 28.4 11/22/10
VL  UD   CD4 420 CD4% 27.9 02/11/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 26.4 06/08/11
VL  UD   CD4 360 CD4% 27.7 09/23/11
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.3 01/20/12
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 28.8 05/11/12
VL  UD   CD4 370 CD4% 28.1 09/07/12
VL  UD   CD4 390 CD4% 32.3 03/14/13
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 29.8 09/10/13
VL  UD   CD4 430 CD4% 31.0 04/29/14
VL  UD   CD4 520 CD4% 34.8 11/05/15
VL  UD   CD4 440 CD4% 33.5 03/10/15
VL  UD   CD4 450 CD4% 30.5 08/23/16
VL  UD   CD4 510 CD4% 34.0 07/21/20  (Biktarvy)

Offline TonyDewitt

  • Standard
  • Member
  • Posts: 49
Re: Tommorrow is the day...2nd labs in...T&I in hand
« Reply #14 on: December 30, 2011, 04:28:55 pm »
Perhaps corny to say, but I am glad to hear so much good news from other folks about I&T - I know it's not for everyone, but it's very comforting to hear the good things from folks nonetheless.

 


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