Author Topic: Diagnosis at 20, 30, 40 or 50 years - The prognosis... (Read 9168 times)

Life · « **on:** October 15, 2006, 07:43:45 pm »

I have heard in a round about way that being diagnosed later in life is harder on the body in relation to the virus and meds/resistance? How does this correlate to those diagnosed young? Just curious. I am 40 something and was curious if this is indeed another "plate" I need to dust off for another fucking unexpected guest..

Here is the post from down lower in this thread....

Ok, as it relates to age, here is a blurb from the aids meds site itself in the "top stories".

"ICAAC: "Older" HIV-Positive People Benefit from Treatment (10/10/06)

For "older" people diagnosed with HIV infection, a new study indicates that HIV drug treatment offers significant benefits in terms of reducing viral load and increasing CD4 (T4 cell) counts. However, the data reported at last week's 46th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco also indicate that those 50 years of age or older diagnosed with HIV were more likely to progress to AIDS than those diagnosed at a younger age."

The study quoted actually compared those being diagnosed under 40 with those diagnosed over 50 so that leaves the 40-somethings in the "no man's land." And of course the data comes from a time frame when the treatment wasn't as "quality" as it is today. There are several other assumptions mentioned in the full article. But the headline summary kind of gets your attention if you were diagnosed at a somewhat "older" age.

allopathicholistic · « **Reply #1 on:** October 15, 2006, 07:53:25 pm »

just tell the uninvited guest to fuck off, eat crow, the kitchen is closed. or try this one:

RapidRod · « **Reply #2 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:03:45 pm »

Eric, I was diagnosed in 1984 at 29 and I'm still here at the good ole age of 51. I didn't start meds until last April of 2005. So the prognosis of someone that is newly infected? Keep building up that savings account and keep making plans for a long life.

Life · « **Reply #3 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:11:05 pm »

Rodney and Alex... I guess there is some data out there (no clue where) that just says that hiv is harder to maintain life - "later in".. I still trust my doc and yes, he says the same thing in fact he showed me his hand and told me to talk to it.. So I did... I asked his hand if I have the same chances at long life these days... The hand said "yes you do"... Still I am curious about whatever this study or findings reveals.. Yeah yeah, eat right, exercise, be good to your body - - bla bla bla.. Doin that, dun that..

anniebc · « **Reply #4 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:15:51 pm »

I agree with Rod...keep saving for those dreams don't let anything stop you..I was dianosed in 2002 aged 54 and I plan on being here to see my youngest grandaughter get married...she had her 4th birthday on Saturday.

I find there are a few things I can't do now that I could do 4 years ago but it has nothing to do with with my status..it's just an age thing....

Hugs
Jan

Esquare · « **Reply #5 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:16:40 pm »

Eric I'm kind of with you on thinking this stuff through. Its so much to absorb but I want to know as much as I can to be mentally prepared. The Johns Hopkins U. book I read said that a study showed that positive people can have the same or similar life expectancy as someone negative. My Doc told me that there is a new study that shows that newly diagnosed HIV pos people have actually a longer life outlook than someone diagnosed with diabetes. Of course, that gets clouded sense HIV pos people have a higher chance of becoming diabetic but still its good information. I fall in the early 30's range and feel like the primary threat is the long term side effects of meds and the speed at which research continues to pace helping us with those side effects and risk factors.

RapidRod · « **Reply #6 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:19:09 pm »

Ok Eric, tell me what this hand is saying,

and don't say, pick me, pick me.

Life · « **Reply #7 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:22:29 pm »

Rodney, its a trick question.. That hand does not have HIV does it?

Jan, I know you will be there for your Granddaughter and that we will be seeing many many more paintings and love from you....

Esquire - Problem is I tend to listen to much or beleive to little... RAT FARTS!

RapidRod · « **Reply #8 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:37:22 pm »

No it doesn't Eric. It's a hand from one of the Baptist tent meetings.

Blixer · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:46:08 pm »

Ok, as it relates to age, here is a blurb from the aids meds site itself in the "top stories".

"ICAAC: "Older" HIV-Positive People Benefit from Treatment (10/10/06)

For "older" people diagnosed with HIV infection, a new study indicates that HIV drug treatment offers significant benefits in terms of reducing viral load and increasing CD4 (T4 cell) counts. However, the data reported at last week's 46th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC) in San Francisco also indicate that those 50 years of age or older diagnosed with HIV were more likely to progress to AIDS than those diagnosed at a younger age."

The study quoted actually compared those being diagnosed under 40 with those diagnosed over 50 so that leaves the 40-somethings in the "no man's land." And of course the data comes from a time frame when the treatment wasn't as "quality" as it is today. There are several other assumptions mentioned in the full article. But the headline summary kind of gets your attention if you were diagnosed at a somewhat "older" age.

Life · « **Reply #10 on:** October 15, 2006, 08:58:45 pm »

Ok, the data and info came from David (Blixer), its his fault for this thread.. But again, it deserves some explaination to either elevate it or squash it with the "hand"....

Blixer · « **Reply #11 on:** October 15, 2006, 09:03:15 pm »

I'd love to see it squashed... I see that 50 mark looming way too close in the future.....

Eldon · « **Reply #12 on:** October 15, 2006, 09:24:42 pm »

Hello Eric,

It is a FACT that our bodies will change due to aging. There are a number of genetic factors involved with this change. As we know it, HIV/AIDS effects everyone differently.

The BEST thing that you CAN DO in this situation is to take care of YOU.

Excessive worry with "What If's" is very unhealthy for your Mental Health.

Take care of your health. A good diet, plenty of rest, exercise and attention to your mental state is the right thing to DO. It DOES make a difference in your life.

Make the BEST of Each Day!

Life · « **Reply #13 on:** October 16, 2006, 12:19:38 am »

Note from Ben my Doc....

Response from Dr. Young

Hi Eric-

The chairs are happily spinning here (as only a snow-head would understand).

There's not much data on the differences between responses to treatment or natural history of HIV disease in young'ins and us old folks.

What is clear is that the overall magnitude of CD4 cell response is somewhat lower as one gets older.

Additionally, the background risk of other health issues (like the aging issues of diabetes, heart disease and cancer) of course increases as we age. As such our monitoring of those other, non-AIDS related health maters increases in our happily aging patients (as they do in HIV negative patients).

Best to you and yours, BY

Alain · « **Reply #14 on:** October 16, 2006, 09:17:02 am »

aztecan · « **Reply #15 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:18:24 am »

EEP! Slightly more than nine months till I am AARP material.

You have to post this NOW!

Oh well, it could be worse. I could be pregnant!

(LOL)

Seriously Eric, don't worry about the "what ifs." They only make you crazy.

HUGS,

Mark

Life · « **Reply #16 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:30:24 am »

I guess I don't have to have all the answers... I am greatful there are so many hands to hold. I will continue to take my "Centrum Silver" lol

. . And let the good times roll...

Can't wait till pharma starts marketing meds for the "over 40 crowd"..... You know they are thinknig about it...

Anyway......

Florida69 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 16, 2006, 04:13:37 pm »

You think they will add xanax or valium to that list. I will post my address. This was a good thread, learned a lot, and saw a lot of hands. D

Jeffreyj · « **Reply #18 on:** October 16, 2006, 04:45:56 pm »

Eric,
Back in the day('84,85,86) there was NOTHING but bad news. To this day, I try not to read the bad stuff. I am quit certain, had I read every negitive article about HIV since 1984, I would not be here. I may be crazy, but I believe it to be true. There are plenty of positive articles to read. I believe the worry and the stress of reading negative, doom and gloom type articles can do more damage to someone then HIV itself.
Just my thoughts!

Blixer · « **Reply #19 on:** October 16, 2006, 09:39:27 pm »

Maybe a disclaimer is in order... like the ones you see on mutual funds and such... "Past performance is no guarantee of future results!"

I guess I kind of got this going by referring to the article on aidsmeds and Jeffrey, you are totally right. There will always be negative stuff out there. This isn't a perfect world. Being realistic but focusing on the good stuff might be the best approach. I'm here on aids meds now because of all the negative stuff on another site.

Life · « **Reply #20 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:02:46 pm »

David! Absolutely never tell me about shit you read again!

In Love and Spanking,

Blixer · « **Reply #21 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:22:19 pm »

So Eric, does that mean you don't want me to mention that other article?

Life · « **Reply #22 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:23:15 pm »

OH, YOU SHUT UP!

Longislander · « **Reply #23 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:28:45 pm »

aww, spill it--we're all friends here............

allopathicholistic · « **Reply #24 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:31:21 pm »

Quote from: Longislander on October 16, 2006, 10:28:45 pm

aww, spill it--we're all friends here............

careful what you wish for!

Life · « **Reply #25 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:32:32 pm »

Me and Blix are "going to have a go"... Knock down drag out, cat scratching stuff... Knock him over with my purple Frette hand bag.. Then pummel him with my pink stiletto's..

Longislander · « **Reply #26 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:35:01 pm »

don't forget to video it for YOUTUBE, or, um, xtube?

Life · « **Reply #27 on:** October 16, 2006, 10:36:59 pm »

well this thread just went into the shitter...

[attachment deleted by admin]

poet · « **Reply #28 on:** October 17, 2006, 06:49:07 am »

I think that left out of the study may be what guys later in life were exposed to. I, too, date back to 1984 infection at age 29. My friends in New York who went on single drugs (AZT) are no longer around for that reason. But what if someone older, say 40, got infected with a simple hiv strain and someone younger got infected with a strain of multiple hiv's, some of which were already exposed to cerrtain drugs? Working in mental health and doing my medication administration class, I have read that as our guys get older there will be more complications with the effect of drugs on their systems, of years of the same drugs on their systems, of more drugs being needed for their systems. So perhaps an eye on do we need this additional drug (non-hiv, that is) and how can we be good to our bodies as we get older? Win

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #29 on:** October 17, 2006, 07:26:02 am »

well this thread just went into the shitter...

I was never sure what this thread was about in the first place.

-FLUSH-

MtD

Life · « **Reply #30 on:** October 17, 2006, 10:24:09 am »

Not suprising Matty... Your not over 40.. AND you not taking toxic hiv meds..

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #31 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:14:26 am »

Not suprising Matty... Your not over 40.. AND you not taking toxic hiv meds..

That's true Ewic, but I have taken them in the past and I'll wager you a pound to a pinch of shit, that I've more experience with the horrors of AIDS than any of you poz.com wannabes.

But then, I'm not lifted that high I can stand on mountains, am I?

One other thing luvvie, before you go lecturing the rest of us on How Things Are^TM maybe you should learn to read and write in basic English. I know you're from Colorado but even the Columbine boys managed to churn out a journal in a barely comprehensible form before they blew their brains out.

It's "You're not over 40 and you are not taking toxic HIV meds.."

MtD
(Who's never shit his bed either)

Life · « **Reply #32 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:23:05 am »

And I figured that response was coming from you as well Matty... Very big of you... Ill give you a few years to grow up a bit..

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #33 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:29:50 am »

And I figured that response was coming from you as well Matty... Very big of you... Ill give you a few years to grow up a bit..

Nah, you didn't have a clue what was coming. That's kinda the point. Frankly Esme, you wouldn't know if a bus was up you until the people started getting off.

Stings doesn't it?

And do save me the tiresome "until you grow up a bit" lines. That's what all the lamers say when they're on the receiving end of Matty's Particular Brand of Truth. You're 42 or something and you still believe in Jesus?

Well good for you kiddo. Now don't you have some sheets to wash?

MtD

allopathicholistic · « **Reply #34 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:36:53 am »

oh man, someone's just BEGGING for a suspension!!

Life · « **Reply #35 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:58:36 am »

Oh Matty.... I am sorry if I made you angry... Again...

blondbeauty · « **Reply #36 on:** October 17, 2006, 12:26:49 pm »

A few months ago I read that if we all reached the age of 120 years, we would all end up developing cancer. The fact is that our body produces cancerous cells many times in our lifetime, but our immune system destroys them. As we age, the immune system gets weaker and those cancerous cells might escape to our immune system, succeed and reproduce.
A Spanish research proved children with HIV should start antiretroviral therapy before their cd4 % dropped below 25%. That is because, our immune system, is very different at different stages of our life, and a 14% in an adult is the same as a 25% in a child. As we grow older our immune system decreases in potency. But that is something unavoidable. In fact, the worst of all diseases, in my modest opinion, is ageing.
Our bodies might suffer the consequences of a weakend immune system (with or without HIV). The meds (all meds for any condition) might be more harmful as we age, because we are weaker. The the recovery of a damaged immune system by HIV in an elderly, is much slower and difficult. Just like the healing process after a surgery or an accident in a person of the same age. And the results aren´t as good as in a 20 year old.
What proves that ageing is the worst of all diseases is that we always end up dying. Growing old means having death closer.
What I like most of my crazy Dr. is that, instead of using the word "undetectable", he says you have "negatived" the infection. For him, and undetectable viral load is like being HIV-. Too optimistic? Maybe...But even though I would not have chosen him as my Dr. I like the way he thinks and makes me feel optimistic. For him, the chance of developing resistance to meds (with today's knowledge) is less than having a car accident on my way to the hospital.
Water Duck told me I worried too much. Now I tell you the same.
Take care!
Juan

Blixer · « **Reply #37 on:** October 17, 2006, 07:08:45 pm »

Thanks for the optimistic spin Juan. In the end, there is just a whole lot that no one really knows.

fearless · « **Reply #38 on:** October 17, 2006, 11:11:38 pm »

One thing we know for sure. We've all gotta die sometime, poz or not.

blondbeauty · « **Reply #39 on:** October 18, 2006, 06:36:47 am »

That is the point: "we are all going to die". So we better start enjoying the rest of our lives and stop feeling sorry for ourselves.

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Author Topic: Diagnosis at 20, 30, 40 or 50 years - The prognosis... (Read 9168 times)