POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: gemini20 on August 15, 2010, 06:12:50 pm
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I hope I don’t tempt fate or piss anyone off with this post but I just wanted to write and say how great I’ve been feeling over the last few months.
Despite my 19 years of living with HIV, my health has never been better. I can honestly say I have absolutely no health problems whatsoever. At the moment I don’t have to deal with any of the health issues that other long term survivors seem to be dealing with and I don’t know whether I am just very lucky or if the bubble might just be about to burst anytime soon!
In the last few months I have been hitting the gym regularly and now do a miminum of three 5km runs every week as well as one or two 15-20km bike rides and I’m doing weights as well.
My weight is steady between 56-58kg and my figure is probably the best its been since I was in my early 20s plus the added extra of the anti-retrovirals giving me a bigger bust!
I have no idea what my t-cells might be doing right now; at the last count in June they were 475 (33%) and still undetectable on my boosted Prezista only regime. I’ve recently switched to the tablet form of Ritonavir/Norvir, absolutely no problems with that, but then I never had any problems with the gel capsules either.
I’m currently enjoying my summer break from schools; still just under a month to go before I get back on the road to deliver my HIV awareness talks around the UK – I aready have 40 jobs in the diary for the autumn so will be kept very busy once term kicks off in early September. My reward to myself at the end of all that is a month in Sydney for Christmas and New Year once again.
Not really sure why I wanted to post this but I guess sometimes I feel there isn’t enough said from those of us who are doing perfectly well living with HIV be it long-term survivors like me or those more recently diagnosed.
So there, I said it!
Best wishes,
Emma
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:-*
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Emma,
I felt the same as you worrying that I might piss someone off over my last results. In fact I asked Anne if I was being a little untactful.
We need good news and love hearing about it. Personally I think it'll give some of the newly diagnosed hope and that much needed glimmer of light.
As far as your current situation is concerned, "you go girl" enjoy this, enjoy every last second because you deserve it.
John
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My weight is steady between 56-58kg and my figure is probably the best its been since I was in my early 20s plus the added extra of the anti-retrovirals giving me a bigger bust!
and, if that's a picture of you, you have a great smile that is very inspiring! Glad you're feeling so great! :P
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That's great news, Emma.
I'm so tempted to try a boosted PI as monotherapy, maybe someday.
Were you undetectable for a while on a 3-drug combo before trying it?
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Great news and we definately need to hear it!
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and, if that's a picture of you, you have a great smile that is very inspiring! Glad you're feeling so great! :P
Thanks, El Zorro - yep that's me!
:-*
Thanks Bob - nice to see you pop in - hope you are doing okay?
I'm so tempted to try a boosted PI as monotherapy, maybe someday.
Were you undetectable for a while on a 3-drug combo before trying it?
No I wasn't undetectable - I'd actually been on a two year treatment break before I restarted on a PI monotherapy regime. That being said my viral load had only average about 22,000 during my treatment break and was actually only 4,402 when I restarted meds.
Emma
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Great news honey, glad you are doing well, and looking great!
Keep doing whatever you're doing, it must be working well for you!
Hugs,
Alan
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Emma,
Sound great !! Enjoy the rest of your Summer !! Nothing wrong with saying that your feeling great , and that things are going well for you ! A very nice uplifting post !!
Ray 8)
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Congrats. Such a lovely smile in the pic, too!
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Emma,
I love hearing this!
Congrats and Yay you!!!
-Will
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Great news from Great Britain's most delightful, travelling HIV educator, bags ever packed, AIDS info to go, and and from such a bright, charming lady with so much to give.
Great to hear you are doing so well Emma, not just on paper (your numbers), but also with your daily life, and making a difference for others to stay healthy first and foremost and to get help if they cannot do so. And for many struggling with their regimens and/or their health or who perhaps are still deciding whether to take meds, Emma provides her own personal feelings and results and there is not only room for that, it's to be encouraged.
Meeting Emma was a great joy for me on my trip to England and she very much lights up a room with her presence!!!
Jody :)
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Hi Em,
I am so proud of you. You deserve to be happy..
Hugs,
Eric
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Awesome news Emma!
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Thanks for sharing. I definitely need to hear stories like yours. I suppose most people don't post about when they feel great, so all we hear are the bad many times. I'm guilty of this myself.
I was just talking to someone I know. His friend, who was just 40, just died from liver failure. He had HIV and Hep C. It really got me down thinking what is there to look forward to besides health problems--even though I don't have Hep C. So, it is good to hear the other side, too. I don't mean to take away from the importance of talking about the bad stuff as well.
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hi emma.
ya done good and you said it well.
Congratulations. I'm also on Prezista and the Norvir (tablet). But my Dr. has also added Combivir. Combivir is not my friend. I see the Dr. tomorrow. I will ask her about mono therapy and see if we can drop the Combivir.
It sounds like you have a great rest of the year planned out. My long term plans include a trip to Sydney and when I go I'll make sure to plan it around the holidays so we can exchange Christmas stockings.
robert
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Emma,
Great post! You and everyone else is correct. It is nice to hear that feeling good can happen. :)
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Babes, have you been getting some regular jiggy jiggy?
Congratulations on the bust.
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These are stories I enjoy hearing, keep up the good work. I am inspired. I am also back at the gym after a period of absence due work commitment. I thought i should take myself back since I am on two weeks leave from work.
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Emma I absolutely loved your post! great thing to read first thing waking up, and very inspiring to though rest of us.
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It's good to read something uplifting. Glad to hear that you are feeling super!
btw...still jealous of the bust increase! ;D
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Me too! In schools we say that people only talk when they have a complaint, and it's the same with this. Thanks for sharing your good news! There are lots of nervous and afraid people (me included, sometimes) to whom it does a lot of good to see a message like this and think "maybe I'll be fine too." Thanks!
Edited to add:
I typed this just before HippieLady wrote her response, and in saying "me too" I was specifically referring to Ravhyn's statement that she loved your post. Not saying that I, too, am jealous of the bust increase. Although, if there were an ARV that promised bigger biceps (or something) that might be an argument in favor of that regimen.
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That's great news Emma . You have inspired me , I'm going to go check out the gym that just opened down the street and double down on my desire to finally stop smoking .
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What a beautiful post Emma, thanks for sharing.
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Aiming to feel as good as this in 20 or so years!
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Thanks for posting good news :)
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Got back from the gym (5.8km run in 40 minutes, next time I will crack 6km!) a couple of hours ago and thought I'd see if there was any more response to my thread.
Wow, thanks guys and gals for all the wonderful comments! I really didn't know what sort of response this thread might generate so I am pleased I posted it; the words had been swimming around my head for a few weeks now and I really wasn't sure whether to share but now I'm glad I did!
Babes, have you been getting some regular jiggy jiggy?
Oh and this did make me laugh! For the record, yep, still getting a regular workout with the guy I told you about at the AMG in London!
My long term plans include a trip to Sydney and when I go I'll make sure to plan it around the holidays so we can exchange Christmas stockings.
Wow that would be fantastic Robert, couldn't think of a better place to meet! Given this is my third year running that I will be in Sydney for Xmas I think it's a fair bet I'll be there each and every holiday in the foreseeable future.
Thanks again everyone, I really have been touched by your comments.
Emma
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I printed your original post and put it on the fridge so I can see it everday. There's just something about seeing a pretty girl smiling and talking about living with HIV for 19 years that makes me feel like what I'm going through is not insurmountable and that anything can be overcome.
Thanks so much for the post!!!
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HEY!!!
I want the big boobs and girlish figure too!!!
I'm happy for you!!! Keep smiling, keep living, and keep loving!
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:) You go girl! You inspire me! Thanks for sharing that.
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WooHoo Em! ;D
Never feel badly about telling us good news. God knows all the bad news we've had over all these years. I'd much rather hear your good news and celebrate with you (and even deal with a touch of jealousy about all those lovely tcells) than have to talk about rising viral loads, bad side effects, or the partners we've lost. Sometimes it's tough to break through that "survivor's guilt"; but we had to have survived for a reason - and I can't think of a better reason than to hear how well you're doing. :-*
Thanks for sharing something good!
the boyz and I send our love :-*
Woof! Woof! Woof!
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hey Emma,
Great news and woo wa wa, you is looking mighty fine!!!
I hope you can forgive my rudeness on your last visit. If you are around and willing to give me another chance, I'd still like to catch up and show you some of my favourite places when you are next in town.
And., Roberto - make it this year!!! c'mon, you know you want to. spoil yourself.
Steve
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I hope you can forgive my rudeness on your last visit. If you are around and willing to give me another chance, I'd still like to catch up and show you some of my favourite places when you are next in town.
You are forgiven! Definitely will make time to meet this time around - I'll be in Sydney from 14th December to 12 January. If I remember you were going to take me to your favourite outdoor pool - now with my fabulous figure I won't mind getting into my swimming kit! :)
Emma
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Emma,
Wonderful news and I am insanely jealous. Seriously though, why would you ever think that we don't want to hear good news? Your post just made my day.
Joe
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Hi Emma
I dont often post on here but just wanted to say thank you for such an uplifting post. Ive just passed my 20th anniversary with this damned virus but touch wood....am doing well, working and living a virtually normal life.
Im in the UK too and as we were diagnosed around the same time Im guessing you had the same depressing outlook back in the early 1990's. My biggest worry for the next 20 years is saving for a pension!!
Keep smiling.
David
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Im in the UK too and as we were diagnosed around the same time Im guessing you had the same depressing outlook back in the early 1990's. My biggest worry for the next 20 years is saving for a pension!!
Very much so, I wrote my will and bought my coffin when I was in my early 20s! The will has subsequently got binned but the coffin is still in the living room and has been a very useful storage box for my vinyl record collection and makes for a good window seat!
As for the pension I'm still not bothering with one of those! I guess if I'm still here in another 20 years I'll be regretting that decision.
Emma
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Congratulations and thanks for the good news. Screw the pension! Vinyl rocks!
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Good for you! You look absolutely fantastic, and I'm so glad to know that you feel the same! How inspirational! LMFAO @ the boob comment btw.
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You go Girl! woohoo.
Sweet Ema, I'm so happy to hear this news. I'm so happy for you.
As hard as you work and all, you sure do deserve to feel good! It could not happen to a nicer person!
Hugs to Ema, indeed!
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Hi Em!
Glad to hear you are doing so well!
Thanks for sharing!
Snow
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Hey Emma,
Glad to hear things are going so well - and that you get to travel too!
Thanks for sharing.
HUGS,
Mark
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Congratulations Emma. You should be doubly proud since its not just a case of the meds working, but of you taking the fitness initiative as well!
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Great news! I like reading success stories like this.
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Thank you for sharing the wonderful news! It was delightful to read. Here's to many more spectacular years!
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You are forgiven! Definitely will make time to meet this time around - I'll be in Sydney from 14th December to 12 January. If I remember you were going to take me to your favourite outdoor pool - now with my fabulous figure I won't mind getting into my swimming kit! :)
Emma
Thank you.
Now let's talk Roberto into coming out this year as well. He could be here for his birthday which falls during the time you are here.
We have an office shut down b/w Xmas and New Year and I'll likely ad a week on one side.
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wow thats fantastic you go girl...
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Now let's talk Roberto into coming out this year as well. He could be here for his birthday which falls during the time you are here.
We have an office shut down b/w Xmas and New Year and I'll likely ad a week on one side.
ummm....as my father used to say, "...damn you Enoch. You know I got two hogs!"
You know I can't say no~~.
Let me check out Southwest Airlines and Jet Blue. Prices are generaly good but I find their schedules are somewhat lacking.
robert
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THanks for the update. It is refreshing to hear people also talk about their good experience.
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Hi Emma
I am very new to this website and I feel uplifted having read your story, It makes me feel like maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I might have a future to look forward to,even with my diagnosis. I have been diagnosed a year and still feel like I am trying to come to terms with it, so it is nice to hear someone feeling fantastic rather than the negative postings.
Thanks for giving me hope
D x
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Hi Emma
I am very new to this website and I feel uplifted having read your story, It makes me feel like maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I might have a future to look forward to,even with my diagnosis. I have been diagnosed a year and still feel like I am trying to come to terms with it, so it is nice to hear someone feeling fantastic rather than the negative postings.
Thanks for giving me hope
D x
Welcome D and thank you for your comment. Hang onto that light at the end of the tunnel - I had others give that to me in my early days and it made such a difference to know that people were surviving and thriving with HIV.
I think coming to terms with HIV is an ongoing process; even after 19 years I still have the occasional moment of thinking I'm not dealing well with this!
I believe one key to my living well with HIV has been to have a passion in life to keep me going through the dark days - fortunately I have a few - music, art, football to name just three. It has really helped me, particularly in the early years.
And thanks to everyone else who has posted since I last checked in - I am glad I started this thread now, even if my initial thoughts were that people wouldn't want to hear 'good' news.
And just to say I cracked the 6km run in 40 minutes and am now up to 6.4km!
Emma :)
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Very much so, I wrote my will and bought my coffin when I was in my early 20s! The will has subsequently got binned but the coffin is still in the living room and has been a very useful storage box for my vinyl record collection and makes for a good window seat!
Oh shit, girl, that made me laugh out loud! Had to tell the story to my husband, too! We spent a good part of the day figuring out what to do with the 500+ records I have in plastic crates...we finally added some wood planks on top and made a credenza out of the lot.
It's good to hear that you're doing and feeling so well.
Cheers,
Creighton
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Hey Emma-
Got any football pointers, my son is playing for his third year and I still don't have a clue. LOL!