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Author Topic: Has it been a year?!  (Read 3123 times)

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Offline komnaes

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,906
Has it been a year?!
« on: September 07, 2008, 10:39:44 pm »
If it wasn't for the fact that I discovered these forums and started writing the first of 876 posts here immediately I would not have remembered the exact date - but it's been a year since I was tested positive. And where I am now?

- the first 3-4 months were unbelievably stressful; couldn't work much, fighting to get my promotion and to deal with a new boss that wanted to get rid of me; trying to hide it from my mother and on several times I was almost caught going to my clinic at the same time when she'd appointments. Good things - have reached out immediately for supports from the local AIDS Foundation and made some new friends/fellow HIVers; and of course I discovered poz.com, which has been a life saving platform.

- the second quarter was more bearable and after a few visits I had come to term with the fact that I had to be checked regularly; it was comforting to know that the numbers were (touch wood, still are) stable; the stress caused mainly by family was still very much there, but the whole time I suffered more "panic attacks" than the first 3 months - i.e. waking up at night crying and feeling so depressed for no apparent reason one time that I couldn't stop crying while sitting on a plane.

- the last 6 months, well, life goes on; I have come to the conclusion more or less that time is truly limited and after a minor health crisis with abscess/MRSA that I realize now that I need to seize every moments; I am more aggressive at work than ever, started volunteering again and finally went backpacking and hiking again (first trip, Turkey, next Mongolia), and I hope to continue to do so as long as my health would allow me

- Mum also knows now - I am working on it to see how we can work out a way to co-exist with HIV; I am also emotionally stronger; I was seriously haunted by my breakup with my ex 4 years ago, and after my diagnosis I became even more obsessive. But last week, a mutual friend sent me a link to her new online photo gallery, and just by accident I found a page with photos of my ex and his current husband's wedding photos (that took place 3 years ago, but none of the "mutual" friends wanted to tell me...), and for the first time I saw my "replacement".. strangely, it felt good to see this guy's face... I guess I have finally moved on

I want to thank Ann and Andy, helping me through the early weeks..

And I also want to say that it's been a blessing meeting and making friends with you, yes, you.. (you know who you are)

Big hugs to all fellow forum members, Shaun
Aug 07 Diagnosed
Oct 07 CD4=446(19%) Feb 08 CD4=421(19%)
Jun 08 CD4=325(22%) Jul 08 CD4=301(18%)
Sep 08 CD4=257/VL=75,000 Oct 08 CD4=347(16%)
Dec 08 CD4=270(16%)
Jan 09 CD4=246(13%)/VL=10,000
Feb 09 CD4=233(15%)/VL=13,000
Started meds Sustiva/Epzicom
May 09 CD4=333(24%)/VL=650
Aug 09 CD4=346(24%)/VL=UD
Nov 09 CD4=437(26%)/VL=UD
Feb 10 CD4=471(31%)/VL=UD
June 10 CD4=517 (28%)/VL=UD
Sept 10 CD4=687 (31%)/VL=UD
Jan 11 CD4=557 (30%)/VL=UD
April 11 CD4=569 (32%)/VL=UD
Switched to Epizcom, Reyataz and Norvir
(Interrupted for 2 months with only Epizcom & Reyataz)
July 11 CD=520 (28%)/VL=UD
Oct 11 CD=771 (31%)/VL=UD(<30)
April 12 CD=609 (28%)/VL=UD(<20)
Aug 12 CD=657 (29%)/VL=UD(<20)
Dec 12 CD=532 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
May 13 CD=567 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
Jan 14 CD=521 (21%)/VL=UD(<50)

Offline sharkdiver

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,353
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #1 on: September 08, 2008, 01:25:59 am »
I am very proud of you Shaun.

You have come so far this past year and it is truly inspiring.
Congratulations.

Hugs,

Sharkie

Offline next2u

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,813
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #2 on: September 08, 2008, 02:13:46 am »
congrats shaun, the road has been tough but it was a good journey. lets see what year 2 has in store. btw, my 1 year is on friday. when i acknowledge this i'll keep you in mind and send some good energies your way. i know acknowledge is a strange term, but how does one commemorate their date of infection/diagnosis?

best of luck to you in the upcoming year. may each year grant you with more strength, wisdom & courage. for myself, i'd like to have more ass : )

best,
d
midapr07 - seroconversion
sept07 - tested poz
oct07 cd4 1013; vl 13,900; cd4% 41
feb08 cd4  694;  vl 16,160; cd4% 50.1
may08 cd4 546; vl 91,480; cd4% 32
aug08 cd4 576; vl 48,190; cd4% 40.7
dec08 cd4 559; vl 63,020; cd4% 29.4
feb09 cd4 464; vl 11,000; cd4% 26
may09 cd4 544; vl 29,710; cd4% 27.2
oct09 cd4 ...; vl 23,350; cd4% 31.6
mar10 cd4 408; vl 59,050; cd4% 31.4
aug10 cd4 328; vl 80,000; cd4% 19.3 STARTED ATRIPLA
oct10 cd4 423; vl 410 ;); cd4% 30.2
jun11 cd4 439; vl <20 ;); cd4% 33.8 <-Undetectable!
mar12 cd4 695; vl ud; cd4% 38.6
jan13 cd4 738; vl ud; cd4% 36.8
aug13 cd4 930; vl ud; cd4% 44.3
jan14 cd4 813; vl ud; cd4% 42.8
may14 cd4 783; vl *; cd4%43.5
sept14 cd4 990; vl ud; cd4% *
jun15 cd4 1152; vl ud; cd4% *
july15 - STRIBILD
oct15 cd4 583; vl 146; cd4% 42
mar16 cd4 860; vl 20; 44

Offline Robert

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,658
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2008, 02:28:55 am »
Shaun.

Congratulations,(I guess.) you have been through a lot in the last year.

And thank you for sharing with us. Your postings have been refreshing and your words inspiring.

robert
..........

Offline Movingon

  • Member
  • Posts: 52
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2008, 04:10:43 am »
Sean - glad you are doign well. We were diagnosed at roughly the same time, and we are both still here.

good luck to you mate

Offline Peter Staley

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,338
  • Founder & Advisory Editor, AIDSmeds.com
    • AIDSmeds.com
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2008, 09:21:36 am »
Congrats, Shaun.  And thanks for posting this look back.  Our newly infected members would gain much from reading it.

Life does go on.

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #6 on: September 08, 2008, 03:12:10 pm »
You come a long way baby! :-*
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline penguin

  • Member
  • Posts: 747
  • The Penguin Whisperer
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #7 on: September 08, 2008, 03:33:10 pm »
made me smile it did as i read this shaun  :)

have a hug from me - kate

Offline komnaes

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,906
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #8 on: September 09, 2008, 04:32:05 am »
Thank you thank you thank you!
Aug 07 Diagnosed
Oct 07 CD4=446(19%) Feb 08 CD4=421(19%)
Jun 08 CD4=325(22%) Jul 08 CD4=301(18%)
Sep 08 CD4=257/VL=75,000 Oct 08 CD4=347(16%)
Dec 08 CD4=270(16%)
Jan 09 CD4=246(13%)/VL=10,000
Feb 09 CD4=233(15%)/VL=13,000
Started meds Sustiva/Epzicom
May 09 CD4=333(24%)/VL=650
Aug 09 CD4=346(24%)/VL=UD
Nov 09 CD4=437(26%)/VL=UD
Feb 10 CD4=471(31%)/VL=UD
June 10 CD4=517 (28%)/VL=UD
Sept 10 CD4=687 (31%)/VL=UD
Jan 11 CD4=557 (30%)/VL=UD
April 11 CD4=569 (32%)/VL=UD
Switched to Epizcom, Reyataz and Norvir
(Interrupted for 2 months with only Epizcom & Reyataz)
July 11 CD=520 (28%)/VL=UD
Oct 11 CD=771 (31%)/VL=UD(<30)
April 12 CD=609 (28%)/VL=UD(<20)
Aug 12 CD=657 (29%)/VL=UD(<20)
Dec 12 CD=532 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
May 13 CD=567 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
Jan 14 CD=521 (21%)/VL=UD(<50)

Offline joemutt

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,167
Re: Has it been a year?!
« Reply #9 on: September 11, 2008, 01:48:55 am »
Bittersweet congratulations, Shaun, always a pleasure to read your posts.

 


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