Author Topic: 5th week on Viramune - can't stay awake! (Read 11862 times)

shadowfluid · « **on:** March 02, 2008, 11:23:28 pm »

I bite my lip as I watch my student loan get low and I can't seem to go to class or even look for a job.
I know it's the meds since I'm not really depressed anymore. (Squeeeeee!!!!!!!!!)

Saw doc on fri and he's checking EVERYTHING.
I ran out of dance class last week cuz my body was saying no. Usually exercise gets rid of my fatigue momentarily....but last week it got worse so I just knew I had to stop what I was doing and go home.

This really sucks. I seriously have been living in a cave for 4 weeks and my friends suck and don't feel like visiting.
All the initial side effects, nausea, vomiting, barely noticeable rash and facial swelling have gone away. I just have a cold.

I know we're all different etc but I just wonder if anyone out there who could only be productive 4 hours out of the day without a nap.

I really don't want to turn to sudafed or other illegal substances just to go to the store. My life sucks.
Can we fast forward to April please?

newt · « **Reply #1 on:** March 03, 2008, 10:26:15 am »

Ahem, facial swelling, fatigue, a "cold"...personally, on Viramine, with these symptoms, I would be straight down the doc.

I would be straight down the doc to get my liver enzymes checked, which is standard of care for Viramune at about 2-4 weeks.

Are you still on the 1 tab of Viramune a a day or have you moved onto 2?

This said, fatuigue, mysterious thing, HIV beats a lot out of you, and hammering the virus with combo allows your body to adjust, like flu passing, so maybe sleep is in order. Hopefully this will pass soon.

Get your liver enzymes checked please.

- matt

inmontreal · « **Reply #2 on:** March 03, 2008, 10:34:34 am »

hi shadow..i know EXACTLY what you mean except ive been going through it now for 2 years..i use to be so active even before taking meds. Then one day my body crashed and i cant seem to get back the energy..i hate sleeping the weekends away..even walking a few min wipes me out..But i still continue to work out.
My doc told me that the Kaletra could be making me feel weak and maybe i should change to something else once the study is over..but now that you mention the same thing with Viramune, its making me rethink everything.
Keep us posted

shadowfluid · « **Reply #3 on:** March 03, 2008, 11:21:34 am »

Quote from: newt on March 03, 2008, 10:26:15 am

Ahem, facial swelling, fatigue, a "cold"...personally, on Viramine, with these symptoms, I would be straight down the doc.

I would be straight down the doc to get my liver enzymes checked, which is standard of care for Viramune at about 2-4 weeks.

Are you still on the 1 tab of Viramune a a day or have you moved onto 2?

This said, fatuigue, mysterious thing, HIV beats a lot out of you, and hammering the virus with combo allows your body to adjust, like flu passing, so maybe sleep is in order. Hopefully this will pass soon.

Get your liver enzymes checked please.

- matt

got it checked on Week 4...have to wait till March 14 to get the results. My doc isn't worried...the mild facial swelling was weird...but I also get sinusitis too which can cause that. I'm on two tabs a day. I know my body very well and I know this fatigue is from the meds. Hopefully it'll pass in a few weeks.

shadowfluid · « **Reply #4 on:** March 03, 2008, 02:32:53 pm »

Quote from: inmontreal on March 03, 2008, 10:34:34 am

hi shadow..i know EXACTLY what you mean except ive been going through it now for 2 years..i use to be so active even before taking meds. Then one day my body crashed and i cant seem to get back the energy..i hate sleeping the weekends away..even walking a few min wipes me out..But i still continue to work out.
My doc told me that the Kaletra could be making me feel weak and maybe i should change to something else once the study is over..but now that you mention the same thing with Viramune, its making me rethink everything.
Keep us posted

Wow that sounds extreme. How old are you? Did you have an OI? I'm gonna give it a few more months...then change combos. I have to be physically active all day so this is a problem for me. I'm also naturally very very hyper so I'm hating this right now.

inmontreal · « **Reply #5 on:** March 04, 2008, 10:04:31 am »

thats the strange mystery, i didnt have and dont have presently any OI (touch wood) but for some damn reason i cant keep my eyes open..its almost like i need more than 12 hours of sleep (which i dont get) and if i over sleep i feel even worse..But do give it a few months to adjust to your body. Im sure eventually it will kick in and you will be back to feeling brand new!

inmontreal · « **Reply #6 on:** March 04, 2008, 10:05:25 am »

oh yeah ..im 31

shadowfluid · « **Reply #7 on:** March 04, 2008, 11:49:48 am »

Quote from: inmontreal on March 04, 2008, 10:05:25 am

oh yeah ..im 31

Honestly I think it's passing. Felt better in the the past 24 hours than I have in a long time. woot.

thunter34 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2008, 01:56:16 pm »

Quote from: shadowfluid on March 04, 2008, 11:49:48 am

Honestly I think it's passing. Felt better in the the past 24 hours than I have in a long time. woot.

And now? Some 4 days later, but still prior to the liver results? What's the deal?

shadowfluid · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:15:29 pm »

Quote from: thunter34 on March 08, 2008, 01:56:16 pm

And now? Some 4 days later, but still prior to the liver results? What's the deal?

Hey Timberly,

I'm still very tired. But getting better. I'm having some residual depressive symptoms like "early morning awakening" and shit. It's making me more depressed the fact that I'm still too tired to go out on the weekends.

I think if it doesn't pass in another month I'm going to change combos. Or should I wait till week 12? This really sucks!
I'm sure everyone gets tired the first few months on their first combo right?

thunter34 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:26:13 pm »

Quote from: shadowfluid on March 08, 2008, 02:15:29 pm

Hey Timberly,

I'm still very tired. But getting better. I'm having some residual depressive symptoms like "early morning awakening" and shit. It's making me more depressed the fact that I'm still too tired to go out on the weekends.

I think if it doesn't pass in another month I'm going to change combos. Or should I wait till week 12? This really sucks!
I'm sure everyone gets tired the first few months on their first combo right?

Honestly, hon...I can't say with that liver enzyme thing still out. Personally, I'd try to give it the best go you possibly can because, to me, they generally all suck. They all will most likely make you sick, tired, the whole show. But if the overriding trend is "but getting better", I'd stick it out. I'm of that frame of mind that one should be fairly prudent about regimen switches.

shadowfluid · « **Reply #11 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:27:16 pm »

Quote from: thunter34 on March 08, 2008, 01:56:16 pm

And now? Some 4 days later, but still prior to the liver results? What's the deal?

Well the doc said it would take 2 weeks for the results? i don't remember if that was for the VL or the other stuff. I guess I'll call him on monday.

thunter34 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:35:55 pm »

Quote from: shadowfluid on March 08, 2008, 02:27:16 pm

Well the doc said it would take 2 weeks for the results? i don't remember if that was for the VL or the other stuff. I guess I'll call him on monday.

Can't hurt. Yeah, the VL / CD counts tend to take about 2 weeks. Dunno about that other stuff. My cholesterol / triglycerides came back next day when I got my last ones. Those counts were probably the big selling point in getting my meds switch, achieving what my griping could not. I'm know all about some fatigue. I am so hoping my switch will help out with mine, but the switch has been 3 years in the waiting.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #13 on:** March 08, 2008, 02:42:06 pm »

In my experience, greatly limited as it is, you only get rid of the fatigue by getting your cd4s up to a certain level, and of course VL suppressed. Most people get their VL down to UD and are still fatigued, though perhaps not as much as before. Hence why I consider getting your cd4s up, which means your immune system is reconstructing itself, is the most important part.

Unfortunately doing the latter is the most difficult task in HIV treatment.

shadowfluid · « **Reply #14 on:** March 08, 2008, 05:32:43 pm »

Quote from: philly267 on March 08, 2008, 02:42:06 pm

In my experience, greatly limited as it is, you only get rid of the fatigue by getting your cd4s up to a certain level, and of course VL suppressed. Most people get their VL down to UD and are still fatigued, though perhaps not as much as before. Hence why I consider getting your cd4s up, which means your immune system is reconstructing itself, is the most important part.

Unfortunately doing the latter is the most difficult task in HIV treatment.

It's a trip cuz the 8 months I had HIV and didn't know I wasn't fatigued at all. Then the depression/anxiety hit when I was diagnosed and I'm tired for 8 months....and just as the depression/anxiety are going away my energy levels get better and i have to start meds. I wish I could have postponed it...but my doc made me feel like i had no choice (cuz of the shingles I got). I feel like (as I run out of money and try to look for a job) I'm being set up for extreme poverty. I have my good days where I'm fine all day and soooo energized. I only get a few of those a week. I must be still depressed if i'm starting to think in black and white again.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #15 on:** March 08, 2008, 05:42:21 pm »

Maybe you should just buy some meth.

shadowfluid · « **Reply #16 on:** March 08, 2008, 05:48:18 pm »

Quote from: philly267 on March 08, 2008, 05:42:21 pm

Maybe you should just buy some meth.

Does is interact with my meds? Let me check on "Check my Meds". brb!
Or I can get the legal kind. Can you snort Provigil?

shadowfluid · « **Reply #17 on:** March 10, 2008, 11:41:22 pm »

Quote from: thunter34 on March 08, 2008, 02:35:55 pm

Can't hurt. Yeah, the VL / CD counts tend to take about 2 weeks. Dunno about that other stuff. My cholesterol / triglycerides came back next day when I got my last ones. Those counts were probably the big selling point in getting my meds switch, achieving what my griping could not. I'm know all about some fatigue. I am so hoping my switch will help out with mine, but the switch has been 3 years in the waiting.

WOah feeling better today. Waaay better. Doc said it was ok to take both viramune pills at night. Don't know if this will bring on more side effects or what. But I haven't really had any besides fatigue. Can't wait to get my first labs on meds this Friday!!! wheee

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Author Topic: 5th week on Viramune - can't stay awake! (Read 11862 times)