Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 08:55:38 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772963
  • Total Topics: 66312
  • Online Today: 741
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 2
Guests: 196
Total: 198

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: starting meds tonight  (Read 8583 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline koi1

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
starting meds tonight
« on: January 04, 2007, 09:29:24 pm »
After extensive tests and analysis, my doc said it would be safe to start me on my meds. The delaying factor was my liver function, which will be closely monitored. I will be starting on sustiva and truvada. I am hoping for the best. Wish me luck. I am going to watch the queer duck movie and see if I dream in cartoon land, since I don't own any porn.


rob
diagnosed on 11/20/06 viral load 23,000  cd4 97    8%
01/04/07 six weeks after diagnosis vl 53,000 cd4 cd4 70    6%
Began sustiva truvada 01/04/07
newest labs  drawn on 01/15/07  vl 1,100    cd4 119    7%
Drawn 02/10/07
cd4=160 viral load= 131 percentage= 8%
New labs 3/10/07 (two months on sustiva truvada
cd4 count 292  percentage 14 viral load undetectable

Offline Teresa

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,755
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2007, 09:36:19 pm »


Hope you have as good of luck with your meds as hubby has with his!

Keep us posted on how you are doing on them.

Hugs
Teresa
Hubby HIV+ 5/5/06
CD4:320
  %: 26.7
 VL: <20
Atripla (started it 8/24/06)

Offline allopathicholistic

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,258
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2007, 09:38:53 pm »
I am hoping for the best. Wish me luck.

all the best! we're here for you. log in here anytime if a need arises. we have members from all over the world


Offline nycthreeoh

  • Member
  • Posts: 7
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2007, 09:40:05 pm »
hey rob...well congrats on starting meds.  it is a hard choice to make, but you made the right one.  i only started last summer and a few folks in here helped me through it.  i know because of the liver/toxicity issue there is a lot of blood work to be had in the beginning but you are going to do amazing......you should try to not worry and just think about how great it is that these meds exist and are available to you!  I started on Kaletra and am switching to the same therapy as you are in about a week, but in the one-a-day form, atripla.  I heard the dreams are supposed to be pretty vivid!  You gotta tell me how they went, and I'll let you know about mine!

Anthony.

Offline anniebc

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,185
  • AM member since 2003
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2007, 09:40:52 pm »
Hi Rob

What Teresa said..only she did it in big purple sparkly letters and I have no idea how she does that.. :D

Just take one day at a time.

take care
Hugs
Jan :-*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Never knock on deaths door..ring the bell and run..he really hates that.

Offline Johnny Guaylupo

  • Member
  • Posts: 43
    • MYSPACE PAGE
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2007, 09:41:05 pm »
Hey Man,

Good Luck, try not to stress too much.

We are def. here for you...
AIDS ISN'T OVER UNTIL IT's OVER FOR EVERYONE!
www.myspace.com/johnnyguaylupo

Offline cubbybear

  • Member
  • Posts: 510
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2007, 09:41:19 pm »
Heya Rob,

I don't think I've said hi to you before, so hey ;) and big bear hugs.

I have been on Sustiva and Truvada for just over 12 months now, and I also have regular LFT's done because my liver function has never been normal since I was diagnosed.  It tends to be 1 - 2 times above normal, but never any worse than that.  The meds themselves have done an excellent job for me, taking me from 35 to 207 CD4's in 12 months, and my VL from 300,000 to undetectable from 4 weeks in to therapy.  It's good to keep an eye on your LFT's though and watch they don't get too high.

Sadly I didn't get any funky sustiva dreams.. ripped off!!

Good luck with your meds.
Cheers,
Matt

Offline Robert

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,658
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2007, 09:50:41 pm »
Hey BOB !!

Good luck.  I'm glad to hear this.  Meds are overrated.  I mean, they really do their stuff, it's amazing how are friends in the world of science have managed to find something to fend off this ugly virus, but, when it comes to side-effects, it's somewhat of a quasi cake-walk.

Way to go teach!!

BOB !!

(you can call me roby, you can call me rob.  You can call me robert, but my uncle calls me Robin the Dobin)
..........

Offline Life

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,389
  • Member 2005
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2007, 09:52:34 pm »
Rob, its going to be just fine... 

Love

Offline David_CA

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,246
  • Joined: March 2006
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2007, 10:32:32 pm »
Hi Rob,

My husband and I are on the same drugs (Atripla, actually); we've been taking it for a bit over a month.  As long as your liver doesn't give you any problems, I think you'll be fine.  Just take it RIGHT before bedtime... like right before you go to sleep.  That's kept the problems with sleep away.  I've had a few fun dreams and a bit of 'drunkenness' if I get up to go to the bathroom at night.  Good luck with it and let us know how it goes.

David
Black Friday 03-03-2006
03-23-06 CD4 359 @27.4% VL 75,938
06-01-06 CD4 462 @24.3% VL > 100,000
08-15-06 CD4 388 @22.8% VL >  "
10-21-06 CD4 285 @21.9% VL >  "
  Atripla started 12-01-2006
01-08-07 CD4 429 @26.8% VL 1872!
05-08-07 CD4 478 @28.1% VL 740
08-03-07 CD4 509 @31.8% VL 370
11-06-07 CD4 570 @30.0% VL 140
02-21-08 CD4 648 @32.4% VL 600
05-19-08 CD4 695 @33.1% VL < 48 undetectable!
08-21-08 CD4 725 @34.5%
11-11-08 CD4 672 @39.5%
02-11-09 CD4 773 @36.8%
05-11-09 CD4 615 @36.2%
08-19-09 CD4 770 @38.5%
11-19-09 CD4 944 @33.7%
02-17-10 CD4 678 @39.9%  
06-03-10 CD4 768 @34.9%
09-21-10 CD4 685 @40.3%
01-10-11 CD4 908 @36.3%
05-23-11 CD4 846 @36.8% VL 80
02-13-12 CD4 911 @41.4% VL<20
You must be the change you want to see in the world.  Mahatma Gandhi

Offline Bartro

  • Member
  • Posts: 124
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #10 on: January 04, 2007, 10:41:05 pm »
I started the same combo Sustiva/Truvada in March of 2006.  Had some wild dreams but enjoyed most of them.  A cheap vacation.  The meds worked.  I feel great.  Now on Atripla.  All labs, liver, cholesterol etc. still within normal range.  I'm sure you'll do great too.




4/27/2006 Vl 40,800  CD4 339-17%  Platelets 1000
05/5/2006 Platelets 26000
06/1/2006 Vl 181 CD4 342-19% Platelets 27000
08/4/2006 Vl <50 CD4 301-20% Platelets 31000
11/2/2006 Vl <50 CD4 364-23% Platelets 38000
« Last Edit: January 04, 2007, 11:36:16 pm by Bartro »
Rusty

Offline Tucsonwoody

  • Member
  • Posts: 396
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #11 on: January 04, 2007, 10:47:49 pm »
I'd like to join the others here in saying I hope it goes as well for you as it has for most of us.  I think the anxiety before the actual start can be worse for a lot of people then the actual medication.

In my case my dreams have been as they were before I started Atripla and I am still waiting for the "vivid" ones to kick in!  But can't complain too much since I haven't had any of the negative ones either.

Hope to hear how it goes for you and if you have issues I'll bet someone here will be able to help.

Good luck and "vivid dreams"!

Kevin

And I wished for guidance, and I wished for peace
I could see the lightning; somewhere in the east
And I wished for affection, and I wished for calm
As I lay there - Nervous in the light of dawn

Offline FiercenBed

  • Member
  • Posts: 183
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #12 on: January 04, 2007, 10:49:58 pm »
get some porn:)

Offline Boo Radley

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,252
  • Not a "real man" and damn proud, mithter... FAB
    • Animal Rescue New Orleans
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #13 on: January 04, 2007, 11:10:16 pm »
Rob,

As has everyone else I wish you best of luck with your med, may side-effects be minor and short-lived, if you have any at all, with your viral load decimated and CD4 count bouncing way up!   

Boo, AKA Rob, who better stick to Boo since there are so many Roberts on these forums.  Someone contact Ripley's immediately!
String up every aristocrat!
Out with the priests and let them live on their fat!





Everything I do, say, think, excrete, secrete, exude, ooze, or write © 2007 Sweet Old Boo, Inc.

Offline poet

  • Member
  • Posts: 934
  • Poet living and working in Central Maine
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2007, 06:27:40 am »
Hey Rob.  A late good luck with your start.  (Yes, I did have the normal Sustiva dream last night, but it was more like a feature on t.v.).  Best, Win
Winthrop Smith has published three collections of poetry: Ghetto: From The First Five; The Weigh-In: Collected Poems; Skin Check: New York Poems.  The last was published in December 2006.  He has a work-in-progress underway titled Starting Positions.

Offline Iggy

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,434
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #15 on: January 05, 2007, 10:19:46 am »
.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2007, 11:39:52 pm by Iggy »

Offline bocker3

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,285
  • You gotta enjoy life......
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #16 on: January 05, 2007, 10:37:45 am »
Hi Rob,

Hope last night went well for you.  I've been taking Sustiva/Truvada for over a year -- the dreams never really went away for me -- but I kinda like 'em!   ;D
Some nights I take them and an hour or so later, I feel completely drunk, which considering I've been sober since 1989 is quite a thing! 
Try not to stress, regardless how the first night went -- anxiety can make things worse.

Hang in there!

Mike

Offline koi1

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2007, 11:22:56 am »
Good Morning and thank you all for cheering me on!

As I lay in bed last night, anxious. I thought of not taking the meds until the next night. But then I thought, you need to kill this virus! So swigged the pills down with gatorade and said, "Take that and that you fucking virus!"

I had an okay night on sustiva and truvada. No rash or nightmares. My dreams were weird, but made no sense at all just me flying around. I had this heavy feeling, and trouble sleeping. I did feel the drunk feeling when I got up to use the bathroom, but could walk just fine without stumbling. I don't have a medication hangover that people report and I am happy about that. Tonight I will take the ativan to see if that helps me sleep. The pharmacist said to watch it with the ativan because that could be habit forming. He also said,"Wow, you just saved over a thousand dollars with these medications." I asked him how much they retailed for and he said that one was six hundred and the other one was 4 hundred plus the lomotil and the ativan. And this is just a 30 day supply. I told him that I better not lose my job. So if someone doesn't qualify for financial assistance, it is a huge part of their icome gone. Unbelievable!

« Last Edit: January 05, 2007, 11:30:01 am by koi1 »
diagnosed on 11/20/06 viral load 23,000  cd4 97    8%
01/04/07 six weeks after diagnosis vl 53,000 cd4 cd4 70    6%
Began sustiva truvada 01/04/07
newest labs  drawn on 01/15/07  vl 1,100    cd4 119    7%
Drawn 02/10/07
cd4=160 viral load= 131 percentage= 8%
New labs 3/10/07 (two months on sustiva truvada
cd4 count 292  percentage 14 viral load undetectable

Offline Javicho

  • Member
  • Posts: 268
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #18 on: January 05, 2007, 11:49:00 am »
Good luck you'll be fine.  :-*

J.

Offline bear60

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,105
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #19 on: January 05, 2007, 11:58:15 am »
Good luck .
 I have friends who LOVE Netflicks.  Dont know if they have porn tho.
Poz Bear Type in Philadelphia

Offline skipmco

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #20 on: January 05, 2007, 12:08:06 pm »
You'll be fine...luckily I didn't have time to think about it as whenI found out I was in the hospital and pretty much not given a choice.  Even though some of the side effect grow old it's pretty much life as usual for me.  Good luck.  You'll be fine. 
"Dance like nobody's watching; love like you've never been hurt. Sing like nobody's listening; live like it's heaven on earth." - Mark Twain

Offline Coffeechick88

  • Member
  • Posts: 431
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #21 on: January 05, 2007, 06:12:03 pm »
Good luck.  It's good you seem to be doing well so far.  I have no experience with sustiva, though I do have a friend who said it gave him some of the best sex dreams.....
Lucas James is here
Born 6-14-08 at 1233 am
8 lbs 14 oz, 22 in long

Offline blondbeauty

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,787
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #22 on: January 06, 2007, 08:10:52 am »
I am on the same combination and, apparently, I am doing well.
Good luck.
Prices here: Sustiva: 324 Euros/ Truvada: 498 Euros.
I was taking something for anxiety before starting meds (bromazepam) now Sustiva does all those thing for me.
The only member in these forums approved by WINBA: World International Nail and Beauty Association.
Epstein Barr +; CMV +; Toxoplasmosis +; HIV-1 +.
Counts when starting treatment:
V.L.:80.200 copies. CD4: 25%=503
Started Sustiva-Truvada 14/August/2006
Last V.L.count (Oct 2013): Undetectable
Last CD4 count (OCT 2013): 52%= 933

Offline Longislander

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,489
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #23 on: January 07, 2007, 01:32:31 am »
Hey Rob, congrats on starting, and very happy to hear there isn't much to it thus far. I hope it remains that way, and your #'s and health bounce back in no time!

Paul
infected 10/05 diagnosed 12-05
2/06   379/57000                    6/07 372/30500 25%   4/09 640/U/32% 
5/06   ?? /37000                     8/07 491/55000/24%    9/09 913/U/39%
8/06   349/9500 25%              11/07 515/68000/24     2/10 845/U/38%
9/06   507/16,000 30% !          2/08  516/116k/22%    7/10 906/80/39%
12/06 398/29000 26%             Start Atripla 3/08
3/07   402/80,000 29%            4/08  485/undet!/27
4/07   507/35,000 25%            7/08 625/UD/34%
                                                 11/08 684/U/36%

Offline koi1

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #24 on: January 07, 2007, 08:43:59 pm »
Well I spent my last two nights taking meds in Vegas. No dreams to report on. Taking them with ativan helps me sleep through the night. I was not much fun to be around. I just went because one of my best friends got married on Saturday and I couldn't miss her special day.

I have had uncontrolable diarrhea for nearly a week now which really scares me,
but I had it before starting the meds. My nausea and my appetite have not improved. I get nausea after eating which makes it hard to eat lunch and dinner. Nausea is the most horrible feeling! I had all of these symptoms before starting meds though. I think I need some medication for the nausea.

rob
diagnosed on 11/20/06 viral load 23,000  cd4 97    8%
01/04/07 six weeks after diagnosis vl 53,000 cd4 cd4 70    6%
Began sustiva truvada 01/04/07
newest labs  drawn on 01/15/07  vl 1,100    cd4 119    7%
Drawn 02/10/07
cd4=160 viral load= 131 percentage= 8%
New labs 3/10/07 (two months on sustiva truvada
cd4 count 292  percentage 14 viral load undetectable

Offline Eldon

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,664
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #25 on: January 08, 2007, 02:45:50 am »


Hey Rob,

I am sending you my best wishes with starting on your meds. Good luck! Operation supression is now in progress.






"What can I notice right now that makes me smile?"

Offline koi1

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #26 on: January 08, 2007, 09:38:16 am »
No bad evil side effects to report, except a general grogginess in the morning. I usually start waking up at  5 to get used to it. My mind seems to require more of a reaction time, has anyone noticed this? I jus wonder when I will feel "normal" again. Will I ever on meds?

rob
diagnosed on 11/20/06 viral load 23,000  cd4 97    8%
01/04/07 six weeks after diagnosis vl 53,000 cd4 cd4 70    6%
Began sustiva truvada 01/04/07
newest labs  drawn on 01/15/07  vl 1,100    cd4 119    7%
Drawn 02/10/07
cd4=160 viral load= 131 percentage= 8%
New labs 3/10/07 (two months on sustiva truvada
cd4 count 292  percentage 14 viral load undetectable

Offline Iggy

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,434
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #27 on: January 08, 2007, 09:41:04 am »
.

« Last Edit: January 09, 2007, 11:05:01 pm by Iggy »

Offline midnightchatter

  • Member
  • Posts: 32
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #28 on: January 08, 2007, 11:29:07 am »
Good Luck starting your meds, I've been on sustiva and truvada just under a year and its great. My vl Dropped from 800,000 to 1000 in 2 weeks!

CD4 up from 222 to 372

You may feel light headed for a few days but believe me you'll be really happy with the results.

Hang in there dude~!!


Offline dingowarrior

  • Member
  • Posts: 191
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #29 on: January 08, 2007, 11:34:47 am »
my first nite on sustiva i dreampt i was at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN & I WAS WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION CHAMPION!!!

Offline LatinAlexander

  • Member
  • Posts: 599
  • Bogota, Colombia
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #30 on: January 08, 2007, 12:03:08 pm »
Sustiva is crazy. I have been getting nice results with sustiva+combivir. But I had rash the first 3 weeks, however, It went alone. I have the craziest dreams, and I feel reaaaalllyy drunken like one to 3 hours after i take the pills.

GOOD LUCK BOY!

Alex
Poz since Jul 19 2006
Initial numbers : CD4-250 VL 3500
First labs after HAART (Dec 04-2006) : CD4-432 VL-<40 (Undetectable)  cd4%=25.11%
Started HAART: Combivir+Efavirenz Aug 26 7:38 pm
Feb 08 2007 - Gradually stopping HAART cause of Myalgia. Protecting Efavirenz. Stopped Efavirenz, ahead with Combivir....
February 17 Combivir stopped.
April 3 -07 : Started ddi+3tc+efavirenz...
Gay and positive (What a lack of Identity...:) )
Looking for my Ben....

Offline Robert

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,658
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #31 on: January 08, 2007, 12:49:33 pm »
Hi rob.

I'm on different meds but I remember when I started mine I was very nauseous for about 3 weeks.  I don't recall ever throwing up but the smell of food made me gag.  I had very little appitite.  It eventually passed but it wasn't easy. 

As for feeling "normal" again.  I never have.  I've said this a number of times and I'm sure people are getting tired of hearing it but I fried my brain during my bout with PCP and it's never been the same.  Cognition - awareness - anayltical thinking--it's just not what it used to be.

robert
..........

Offline koi1

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
Re: starting meds tonight
« Reply #32 on: January 08, 2007, 11:44:35 pm »
Hey Robert,

I know that the virus has done different damage to all of us. And no you shouldn't feel badly about stating that you never have felt the same before HIV. Frankly, I don't know if I ever will either. I can deal with the diarrhea as long as I don't waste away. I can deal with the loss of apetite by forcing food down my throat. Right now the hardest thing to deal with is the yucky nausea.The difficulty concentrating I can deal with so far. People tell me that all of these will subside. I hope so. I know nothing will replace my immune system before AIDS, but I am coping.

Rob
diagnosed on 11/20/06 viral load 23,000  cd4 97    8%
01/04/07 six weeks after diagnosis vl 53,000 cd4 cd4 70    6%
Began sustiva truvada 01/04/07
newest labs  drawn on 01/15/07  vl 1,100    cd4 119    7%
Drawn 02/10/07
cd4=160 viral load= 131 percentage= 8%
New labs 3/10/07 (two months on sustiva truvada
cd4 count 292  percentage 14 viral load undetectable

 


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.