AIDS + 4

[Assurbanipal]

About four years ago, more or less, a little before Memorial Day, I went to hospital with pneumonia.  By the time I got out it was June.

And I had an AIDS diagnosis.

A couple of years ago, when I joined this site, I wrote about what a relief it was to have a diagnosis, to know what was wrong and that there were treatments.  And of how grateful I felt to be in a time and a country where  those treatments are available, where I could have a new chance at life -- a second act. 

There's a certain uncompromising clarity about priorities and people that sets in when you've had a near miss.  And one gains an urgent understanding of whether you still want to live.  I did and do still. I don?t know why? I just know that it is.

I still have those feelings of a couple of years ago, but  they are less intense now.
 
Back then, about a year and a half in, I?d moved to what I thought was a temporary period of self employment ? thinking I?d work less and focus on getting my health back.  Not the best timing, what with a recession and all ;-)   

And the ?getting the health back? thing has been a bit elusive.  My numbers are good ? it took three and a half years and a med change, but I?m undetectable and back to normal tcell counts and percentages.  What with some problems when I tried Isentress, the doctors have recently checked out my heart, kidneys, bladder and lungs and they are all in great shape!  Improved the diet and the sleep patterns and, when I?m not sick, I get regular vigorous exercise.

But I get sick a lot more often and it lasts longer and feels harder than it did before 2006.  Plus, back then, I used to see a doctor every two or three years...

I?d hoped for better, for that state some people seem to get to where they take their pills and otherwise HIV is just in the background ? not really an issue except for disclosure and a check up twice a year.  And maybe it will come with time.  But even if this is it, the steady state, I?ll take it and be happy. 

The view from the top side of the grass is still sweet.

[WillyWump]

The view from the top side of the grass is still sweet.

Yes, soooo very sweet.

-Will

[tednlou2]

I'm glad you're here.  I hate to hear about when you get sick it is worse now even on meds.  As you know, I'm sure cause I talked about it so much, I found out after pneumonia and was told I, too, had AIDS.  However, my numbers rebounded.  Still, hearing someone tell you that you have AIDS messes with your head.  Most of this battle seems to be the mental baggage.  With people who truly are at the AIDS level, you hear that news and don't get the reprieve--well, until the meds work. 

Thanks for sharing. 

[Boze]

Good to have you here!

[Jody]

Hi assur...Good to hear you are doing reasonably well, avoiding the hospital and so on but when you say you are getting sick more often and illnesses linger longer what are you referring to specifically, colds, flus, stomach problems, skin issues?

If so what may be some possible reasons- Is your exercise regimen too strenuous for you?, certain foods not good, unavoidable stress or any other outside reasons or is it just what it is?

Anyway hang in there and keep on truckin' our favorite assu

Jody

[Assurbanipal]

Thanks for the well wishes, guys.

Jody,  I just counted it up and it seems like a lot compared to the past.  This year it's still only May and I'm on day 5 of my second cold.  The first one lasted 10 days.  And I had a stomach bug for about 5 days.  And bronchitis that was bad for about 2 weeks and then lingered another 2 weeks.  While before I probably averaged one cold a year and they lasted 3 or 4 days.

Sometimes I wonder if it is just that I'm paying more attention, but it seems like too big a difference for that.

About training too hard-- well, I talked about how I exercise with my GP and the pulmonologist last year when I thought about training for a marathon (First ever for me -- I've taken this second act thing seriously!).  I was looking at the Philadelphia one -- its nice and flat and late enough in the year that it isn't likely to be really hot and humid.  They were a little cautious, but thought I was being careful enough about ramping up slowly.  Unfortunately that plan blew up when I had some problems with Isentress in the fall, so I was thinking I might try again for this year. But I'll definitely check in with the docs again to see if that might be it.  Thanks!

Although it feels good to vent about the health stuff, that's not mainly what I wanted to get across.  It was really that even starting with lousy numbers and older and not having a perfect response to the drugs...I'm still in a pretty happy place.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

A

[max123]

hi assurb,

you have a great, uplifting attitude...i admire that. keep it up.

hope your weekend was good as well.

max

[Hellraiser]

Urban, you are my gold standard of success.  You had a slightly higher CD4 count than me when diagnosed (mine was 15) and you're now at 600+  I'm hoping in a few years I'll have as many as you.  Unlike you, I haven't had any major sickness just a general feeling of malaise when I was at my worst.  Anyway I thought you might like to know that your numbers inspire me