Gonna miss 2 doses. Scared, want opinions.

[Rockin]

Hello. I'm in the middle of a road trip between San Francisco and San Diego, which will last, in total, a week. When I packed last Saturday, I packed in a hurry cause I was late...I took a look at my weekly pill dispenser, I actually filled some of the slots that were empty and thought it was fine.

However, once I opened it the next day to have my daily dose, I realized that I had made a mistake...and I'm gonna miss 2 doses, for Thursday and Friday. I'm back on Saturday so I'll still be able to have that one once I'm back.

Suffice to say...I'm feeling scared. I'm angry with myself for not being organized and I'm scared that this will eventually lead to my death.

I even thought about reaching an HIV center in San Diego but, because I'm not American and my international health insurance doesn't cover HIV, I don't think they would be able to do anything about it.

I guess I just want to know if anybody here been through those situations and lived to tell the story. I'm genuinely scared for my health.

[darryaz]

I guess I just want to know if anybody here been through those situations and lived to tell the story.

Oh sure, lots of times.  If you miss 2 doses you're still more than 70% compliant for the week.  Plus check out Leatherman's comments about FOTO in this thread:
http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=49168.msg593047

[leatherman]

a public service announcement from leatherman:

you should always overpack medications!

Terrorism, volcanoes, floods, blizzards, lost/damaged luggage, winning at the slots, having Mom or GrandMother keep you an extra day, an accident or roadside repair - all these things could make a trip be longer by 1 day or 1 week and leave you without meds. Or sometimes just a simple miscount  can be the problem - so alway take more and never have to deal with that nagging voice that drives your crazy when you don't have enough meds and will have to skip some daily doses.

[mecch]

I'm scared that this will eventually lead to my death.
 I'm genuinely scared for my health.

First of all, the info.
Someone can miss two doses and be perfectly fine.
I guess in some incredibly far-fetched rare instance, and Im not even sure then, a person could miss only two doses and develop resistance. But resistances can be dealt with via a combo change.  So again, no death sentence.

Ok, you are genuinely scared.   But from a distance you seem "generally" scared - - e.g. is it possible you are living with TOO MUCH FEAR about HIV and your health.  Seems like you have the grim reaper always in mind...  You might start thinking of ways to reduce this fear.....

[darryaz]

I learned the benefits of overpacking (and I mean everything - clothes, meds, toothpaste, etc) years ago when I had a job that required extensive travel.

I would be nearing the end of a week-long business trip and on Friday morning the boss would call me and extend my trip an extra week or two.......or inform me I had to fly to Des Moines immediately.

To this day even for a weekend trip I pack as if I'm never coming back home (the airlines just love me!!!)

So yes, it's always smart to take a few extra doses of meds.

[LiveWithIt]

Don't worry you shouldn't become resistant to a medication just because you miss a day or two.  You will most likely be fine when you start up again.  Just don't be so careless next time. 

[Pontus]

a public service announcement from leatherman:

you should always overpack medications!

Terrorism, volcanoes, floods, blizzards, lost/damaged luggage, winning at the slots, having Mom or GrandMother keep you an extra day, an accident or roadside repair - all these things could make a trip be longer by 1 day or 1 week and leave you without meds. Or sometimes just a simple miscount  can be the problem - so alway take more and never have to deal with that nagging voice that drives your crazy when you don't have enough meds and will have to skip some daily doses.

Agreed.. I take my whole bottle with me on my trips..  of course I always make sure that I have ore than plenty for the duration of the trip.  You can never be too overly prepared.