Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 19, 2024, 03:14:57 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772784
  • Total Topics: 66296
  • Online Today: 267
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 233
Total: 233

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: 25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?  (Read 2874 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline jm1953

  • Member
  • Posts: 295
25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?
« on: September 09, 2012, 10:13:03 pm »
This may belong in the long term Survivor thread, but may be applicable to all of us no matter what stage we are in HIV/AIDS,  In the past four years it seems a majority of the specialists I see, whether it be a hand doctor for pain, ENT doc for sinus, Vascular for venous reflux and leg pain, or Orthapedic for disc erosion, all want to do surgery.  My internists and HIV docs suggest only doing surgeries if life threatening at this point because my recovery and healing would take so long.  Most of these problems I have taken care of myself through Homeopathic, Eastern Medicine, and Pain Medication.  Why subject yourself to surgeries you can manage when you really don't have a full life span to work with?  My opinion anyway?

Maybe it's all about the money.  Just don't think docs are completely aware that quality of life is our main goal as long termers, not recovering from surgeries that can be managed through pain meds and homeopathic, acupuncture and such.  I will give specialists the benefit of the doubt as they may have limited knowledge of the complications of HIV. Alot of the side effects of our meds mimic conditions they want to do surgery on, even if it is short term.

I don't know,  Just frustrated I guess.  Anyone else experiencing this or have comments?

Thanks,

JM
Positive 29 years. Diagnosed 10/1987.  Current CD 4: 720: Viral load: almost 100.  Current drug regimen, Tivicay, Emtriva, Endurant, Wellbutrin, Clonazepam, Uloric, Losartan Potassium,Allegra, Ambien, Testosterone, Nandrolone, Vicodin, Benedryl, Aspirin, lots of vitamin supplements.

Offline Jeff G

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 17,064
  • How am I doing Beren ?
Re: 25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2012, 11:18:18 pm »
Any time a doctor recommends surgery I would definitely think about the pros and cons of it , maybe even get a second opinion but with your CD4 count and undetectable status you are perfectly able to heal from a surgery as well as any . I am also thinking with your lab numbers you may want to consider the fact you may be around to enjoy a full life span .

If your trying to say alternative treatments have worked well for you then I would say do what works , but I wouldn't base my decision not to have a surgery on the premise that because you are living with HIV you haven't time or the ability to heal from a surgical procedure .

I'm seeing an ENT next week for chronic sinus problems and I'm actually wishing with all my being that a surgery can put an end to this because nothing else has worked in 12 years of dealing with it . 
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline Buckmark

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,643
  • Would you like to tie me up with your ties, Ty?
    • Henry's Home Page
Re: 25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2012, 01:01:07 pm »
Just don't think docs are completely aware that quality of life is our main goal as long termers, not recovering from surgeries that can be managed through pain meds and homeopathic, acupuncture and such.

I think that different people have different opinions on quality of life.  For some, it might mean having surgery, so that these other tools and methods used to manage health problems are no longer necessary.  Others like yourself do not want surgery.  Your CD4 and viral load numbers look great, so I would think that surgery is an option for you.  But it is something you should discuss with your doctor, and ultimately it is your decision.

That said, these ailments come on partly just because we long time survivors are getting older, like everyone else.  In my experience doctors don't usually recommend surgery lightly.  But I'm sure there are some out there who do.  A second opinion is often helpful.

Regards,

Henry
"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things:
     One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell.
     The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love."
- Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

Offline harleymc

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,523
Re: 25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2012, 02:24:04 am »
Surgeons like cutting, that's why they become surgeons. On the other hand surgery can bring benefits so there's no reason to rule it out.

I've had three operations since sero-converting. One of the operations predated AZT. Recovery was no harder for me than anyone else. I was very vigilant about hospital staff washing their hands & gloving up before changing my dressings, a bit gobsmacking but true that a lot of health workers forget infection control.

Offline Miss Philicia

  • Member
  • Posts: 24,793
  • celebrity poster, faker & poser
Re: 25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2012, 11:24:00 am »
I've had three major surgical procedures performed within a span of 8 months -- two foot surgeries and one nasal surgery. I'm just now recovering fully from the last foot surgery (as in physical therapy). Ideally it would have been easier on me mentally to have spaced them out, but it couldn't be helped.

In terms of this thread it's very difficult to evaluate your situation as I was not sitting with you at each medical appointment, but in my case each specialist presented surgery as an option, though in the nasal case because recovery is rather short it was presented as the preferable solution over the long-term. And it solved my sleep apnea issue, so effectively I do not have to sleep with a CPAP machine, and frankly that sounds like a great deal to me.

The foot surgeries... well, what can I say. Anything with your foot basically sucks chunks and I won't sugarcoat these. Healing isn't quick, regardless of HIV, so it would suck for anyone. So that issue simply varies according to the procedure.

Sure, age factors into the decision making process here, but you are 59, not 75. I am 47, so I am not going to speculate what I would do in my situation if I had been almost 60.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline red_Dragon888

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,845
  • Love and Be Love in Return
Re: 25 years positive and docs are surgery happy? Don't get it?
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2012, 10:35:05 pm »
I just know that I avoided it, totally hip replacement surgery, for years until I could only lay in bed in pain and I decided to I had to get it done for I was bound to my bed otherwise.  Now i can walk with walker but it will take a while to fully recover.  Months I expect...  My doc knew of my HIV and took it into account and I felt comfortable going through with it.  Just to let you know it was hell to deal with the pain of the wound, but the pain of the bone spurs was worst.  Walking is difficult, stairs are worst, but I am getting rehab and I have faith that I will be just as good as before.  Or at least I hope so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I3ba3lnFHik

Off Crystal Meth since May 13, 2013.  In recovery with 20 months clean time.

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.