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Author Topic: just tested poz last week.  (Read 5253 times)

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Offline brenner

  • Member
  • Posts: 93
just tested poz last week.
« on: March 08, 2011, 07:47:00 am »
Hi everyone, just tested poz last week after discovering a nasty blue/black/purple mole about 3 cm long and wide on my upper thigh.  thought it was a blood blister.  turns out to be kaposi sarcoma.  I am really really scared.  today the blood results came out.  viral load is 262,000 and my cd4 count is at 260.  Everything is moving so fast...now i feel like i have more stuff wrong with me...sore throat, and some markings at the back of my throat that look dark and blister-like.

my doctor tells me that i have to start treatment right away, so as soon as the rest of the blood work comes in, i will have to start.  nothing against meds, its just that i have no clue about anything, and its all so fast.  and this kaposi sarcoma is flinging me back to the 80s.

mentally, i feel ok...the shock comes and goes in massive waves, but i feel ok.  I just dont want to get sick.  im 38 and in a relationship with a great guy who has been supportive of me since i got my test back.  that has helped, but i am still afraid.

on a positive note, the med staff are so amazing, and the other poz people i have met are so cool.  its just going to be a new way of living my life.  so let the games begin.  im ready to start.  if anyone has had kaposi, please let me know.  thanks everyone and all the best.

B
Feb 23. 2011  poz diagnosed
Feb 28.  cd4 257, vl 262400, %21
Mar 14.  start Atripla
May 18.  cd4 639, vl 690, %33
Aug 19.  cd4 583, vl 60, %38
Nov 18.  cd4 450, vl UD, %38
2012
Feb.19   cd4 649, vl UD, %35
Jun 08.  cd4 524, vl UD, %34
Sep 16.  cd4 567, vl UD, %35
Dec 02.  cd4 592, vl UD, %35
2013
Mar 10.  cd4 688, vl UD, %35

Offline Inchlingblue

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  • Posts: 3,117
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Re: just tested poz last week.
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2011, 01:01:11 pm »
Treatment has so vastly improved as you probably know, chances are you'll be fine, even with ks.

Do you live in a country that has universal health care or if you are in the US do you have insurance or some sort of health coverage?

Most times ks clears up after starting meds. If you search on here for "ks' or "kaposi sarcoma" you'll find lots of threads or you can always start a new one in the "Living With HIV" forum.

Have you already started meds since the time you posted here? Keep us updated on your progress.

Offline brenner

  • Member
  • Posts: 93
Re: just tested poz last week.
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2011, 02:30:28 pm »
thanks for your post....gives me some sense of hope.  will start treatment tomorrow.  will update you all on how it goes.  have to see the dermatologist on tuesday.  feeling pretty tired a lot, but am still able to function at work etc.
wish me luck everyone.
Feb 23. 2011  poz diagnosed
Feb 28.  cd4 257, vl 262400, %21
Mar 14.  start Atripla
May 18.  cd4 639, vl 690, %33
Aug 19.  cd4 583, vl 60, %38
Nov 18.  cd4 450, vl UD, %38
2012
Feb.19   cd4 649, vl UD, %35
Jun 08.  cd4 524, vl UD, %34
Sep 16.  cd4 567, vl UD, %35
Dec 02.  cd4 592, vl UD, %35
2013
Mar 10.  cd4 688, vl UD, %35

Offline edfu

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,090
Re: just tested poz last week.
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2011, 01:57:28 am »
I was diagnosed with AIDS in 2001, when I presented with two KS lesions, one on each arm.  My CD4 was 29.  After a month on antiretroviral therapy, my viral load went undetectable.  The lesions gradually changed color from pink/red/purplish to brown; this was hemosiderin, or iron.  After about a year and a half, they completely disappeared.   
"No one will ever be free so long as there are pestilences."--Albert Camus, "The Plague"

"Mankind can never be free until the last brick in the last church falls on the head of the last priest."--Voltaire

Offline brenner

  • Member
  • Posts: 93
Re: just tested poz last week.
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2011, 05:36:22 am »
thanks edfu,

hope i have the same success as you did with the ks.  seeing my dermatologist tomorrow where they will most likely do a biopsy on the lesion.  am going to post almost every day to blog my progress on this.  right now the lesion is around 3cm in diameter, black and flat on top.  no pain or itching.  its right above my lymph node on my upper left thigh.  starting atripla today as well, so here is hoping to the best.  thanks for your reply, makes me feel much better.
Feb 23. 2011  poz diagnosed
Feb 28.  cd4 257, vl 262400, %21
Mar 14.  start Atripla
May 18.  cd4 639, vl 690, %33
Aug 19.  cd4 583, vl 60, %38
Nov 18.  cd4 450, vl UD, %38
2012
Feb.19   cd4 649, vl UD, %35
Jun 08.  cd4 524, vl UD, %34
Sep 16.  cd4 567, vl UD, %35
Dec 02.  cd4 592, vl UD, %35
2013
Mar 10.  cd4 688, vl UD, %35

Offline edfu

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,090
Re: just tested poz last week.
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2011, 05:40:50 am »
Haven't you already had the lesion biopsied?  Until that's done, there is no 100% proof that it's KS. 
"No one will ever be free so long as there are pestilences."--Albert Camus, "The Plague"

"Mankind can never be free until the last brick in the last church falls on the head of the last priest."--Voltaire

 


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