How long does it take Combivir and Sustiva cause liver toxicity?

[Meghan]

I was the victim of sexual battery on 5/3 and have to take Combivir and Sustiva as a preventative measure for 28 days (the man is a vagrant so we have no idea my risk at this point.) I'm 3 weeks in and my skin is looking a bit yellow and I have a stabbing pain in the middle of my back on the right side. I'm sorry for posting here and not being positive but I feel so lost and don't have health insurance so no one will see me.  The cost of the meds has wiped out my savings so I don't want to go to the er but I don't know what to do. Thank you to anyone who can help

[Jeff G]

Hi Meghan and welcome to the forum , Im terribly sorry you are going through this difficult time .

We cant diagnose what's going on with you health over the internet , you need to see a doctor ASAP if you are showing signs of jaundice and having pain .

I moved your thread into the Am I Infected Forum where it belongs . Please save your third post to let us know how this turns out for you , best of luck .

[jkinatl2]

Do you have a doctor you can see over this? If not, I would go to the nearest ER and get checked out. They have a person on staff who will see you for a reduced/negotiated fee.

It sounds as though you really needed to be checked for Hepatitis as well. I am worried about you. The ER has people who will work with you. Please get this looked at.

[Ann]

Meghan,

I'm in agreement with Jonathan - the jaundice you're experiencing could very well be a sign of acute hepatitis B infection as it's not a known side effect of the meds you're on. Hep B can be sexually transmitted and much more easily than hiv.

It's a shame you were put on the older med Combivir rather than Truvada, because one of the meds in Truvada is also effective against hep B. Up to 80% of people will clear a hep B infection on their own, but the tenofovir in Truvada may have given you an extra edge in self-clearance.

You really should not have been put on Combivir and Sustiva in the first place - the standard PEP treatment is Truvada and Kaletra. Both combos are equally effective in preventing hiv post-exposure, but the second combo tends to have fewer, more easily dealt with side effects, thus increasing adherence.

Please get in touch with a local rape counselling service. Most areas of the country have one although if you're in a rural area, you may have to cast your net wider into the urban areas around you. If you're in a rural area and transport is a problem, call the ones in your nearest urban areas anyway. Rape Crisis centers very often have trained volunteers who can pick you up and take you where you need to go to get the care you need, as well as helping you with the emotional aftermath of what you've been through. Planned Parenthood may also be able to help.

They may also have funds to help you pay for the medical attention you need (either PP or RC) - and you DO need medical attention ASAP.

Try to not worry about the cost; your health is priceless. You can work that out later even if you have to  come to an arrangement where you pay a certain amount each month.

(I had to have an ovarian cyst operated on when I didn't have insurance and it took me a few years to get it paid off at a few dollars a month, but I got there in the end. I saved all the invoices, cancelled checks and other associated paperwork and burned them all in a big bonfire when it was paid off, just like some people burn a mortgage when it's finally cleared. I even threw a party - and we roasted hotdogs and marshmallows over the bonfire.)

You may also be able to find some assistance from a local ASO (aids service organisation) in your area. Put your zip code into the second section of the POZ.com's Health Services Directory. In the "Search by primary organization function:" section, hold down the Ctrl button on your keyboard and left-click on every type of organisation you think may help. If I were you, I'd choose every one but the "clinical trial unit", "housing provider" and "prison outreach" ones.

Call all the contacts your search comes up with and if none of them can help you directly, one or more of them should be able to point you in the right direction. One thing I would suggest before you contact any organisation is to write down what information you need to give them, including but not limited to the symptoms you're experiencing. If police reports were made, tell them. It can be too easy to forget details when you're nervous in the first place, and talking to a stranger. They need to know exactly what's going on so they can understand the potential seriousness of your health situation.

Good luck. I wish I could be of more help.

BTW, you have two free posts left - please use them wisely.

Ann