Less than 2 weeks since positive diagnoses

[mecch]

When the time comes for haart, you should find the pill cobination that will likely fit your work schedule, and try it, and see.  And if not, adjust. 

Changing your work schedule ahead of starting, to accommodate something you haven't even tried... no.

Over my time on Isentress and truvada, I haven't noticed any impact on my work nor my life, based on when I take the pills...

[pittman]

Does anyone know anything about the side effects of these drugs and if atripla can be taken with shift work?
I'd really like to have a once a day pill will help with my compliance too. The idea of 3 pills a day scares me.

We'll obviously consult the ID specialist, but my personal experience with Atripla has been good. Shortly after taking, I felt the similar fuzzy headed effect as an antihistamine, but only for the first week or two.  After that break in period I have not really noticed any side effects, and I feel clear headed after taking it.

While I do not do shift work, I have had to travel periodically for work crossing both time zones and datelines such that I would have to take my dose at a time other than bed, or adjust my dosing times to the new locale. When I went to a significant time zone shift like Europe or India, my ID suggested I shift my doses by four hours per day until I was on the right schedule again. He felt the long half life of meds made that a reasonable approach. That seems to work just fine for me.

[madbrain]

That is truly astonishingly fast healthcare. In most of the US a two-week turnaround is expected for Western Blot tests, which are normally NEVER done "in house" like other tests.

For example, I can get my cd4 test results in days, but my viral load often takes ten business days or more since they have to send it out.

Guys, count yourselves lucky that you live where you do.

It really doesn't seem that fast. Back when I used to get HIV tests with Kaiser as long as 12 years ago, they drew my blood and scheduled the followup for results a week later.

My CD4 now comes the next business day with Kaiser, I can see it online as soon as it's there. I used to call the nurse in their HIV departments to ask .

Viral load usually takes one calendar week, and I still have to call or email for those. They no longer mail it out.

The longest test I had with Kaiser was the genotype when first diagnosed, which took 2 weeks.

[madbrain]

The idea of 3 pills a day scares me.

All the combos are at least 3 drugs.
Why does it matter if they are in 1 pill or 3 ?
Don't you want the drugs that are best for you ?

I can understand if you prefer a once a day regimen vs two times, but the number of pills really is unimportant.

[phildinftlaudy]

Actonye -
Glad you are sticking around. I can only share my own experience - knowing that everyone's experience is different....

There have been many times in my life that I have either made a decision that has changed the direction of my life or an event out of my control that changed it...

A long time ago, I came to realize that life really is a roller coaster... and sometimes you just have to raise your hands up and say, I don't know where the ride is taking me, but I'm either going to hang on and enjoy the ride or life my hands up and really enjoy the ride. Enjoy doesn't mean it is always comfortable - but I have found that sooner or later things end up exactly the way they were supposed to and I usually end up in a place that I never imagined I would end up (in a good way) and that I wouldn't have ended up had the "negative" things not happened.

This has been true for me when I went through addiction, when I got arrested and locked up, fired from jobs, had people pass away, moved, got put out of the military, diagnosed HIV+, etc.  Life has a way of getting us to where we are really meant to be (whether it be physically, mentally, socially, or spiritually)...

I am reminded of the story of the old farmer long ago who had one son and one horse... the son used the horse to plow the fields - until one day the horse ran away... the farmer's friends said "Oh what a bad thing has happened." The farmer said, "It may be good, it may be bad..."  Soon after the farmer's son found the horse and one other horse with it - the farmer now had the ability to plow his fields quicker... The farmer's friends said, "Oh what a good thing.."  The farmer looked at them and said, "It may be good, it may be bad..."

One day when the son was trying to train the new horse, he fell off and broke his leg - he couldn't plow the fields.. The farmer's friends said "Oh what a bad thing" To which the farmer replied... "It may be good, it may be bad.." 

Well, there was a great war in the land - and all the young sons were taken off to fight and to probably die fighting the war. Except the farmer's injured son couldn't go... And the friends said, "What a good thing..."  You guessed it, the farmer said, "It may be good, it may be bad...."   And the story goes on...

The point (morale) being - things that sometimes seem horribly bad tend to not be as bad as we think - and those things we sometimes perceive as good are not always good...

I have given up on trying to figure out if a promotion is a "good" thing for me or if the loss of a job or medical diagnosis is a "bad" thing for me..  I'd rather just ride the ride and enjoy the experience - knowing that it is a package deal...

Welcome to the forums. You are not alone.

[actonye]

No everyone it's been a while I posted on here. I wish I could say things have been going ok since. Initially I Thot I was making progress I Thot I was coping, learning to deal with the entire situation, however the last week has been a real difficult week. Roller coaster of emotions. Hot into a really dark place and attempted hanging myself fortunately or unfortunately it got too painful , the bed sheet around my neck and the chocking sensation that I couldn't go ahead with it.
I have since then been in a really dark place, never experienced depression or pain like this.
It's worse cos I have no friends in the area I live in that I can confide in. I feel very alone at the moment. I can't honestly get past this new reality for me. It hurts like I've never Thot was physically possible to experience pain.
I'm not sure what I'm looking for posting this here maybe someone to tell me that it's all going to be alright. Doesn't seem to matter how many times I hear that though even with the counseling I'm getting.
My major fears are that I've never been in a situation like this before as I'm sure line of us had been before we became postive. I'm not sure how to move on from here.
I'm worried about my professional life esp. With regards moving countries etc. I feel I can't be honest with my loved ones , family. They already have issues with me being gay and now I have to tell them this also.  I feel life is trying to tell me I'm not meant to be around anymore.
I really want to get these derogatory thots I ascribe myself with out of my mind but I'm at the moment my own worst critic.
I don't know myself anymore. I don't recognize the guy in the mirror anymore.
The few mates I've disclosed to have been incredibly supportive, but I imagine they are only supportive cos they feel its their obligation to as friends. Even yet I don't want to contact them because I feel they are fed up with reassuring me.
Guys I'm lying on my bed in my dark rootm writing this on my phone, can't be arsed to get up and even turn on my computer. That's how catatonic I am and have been in the last few days.
I'm scared to die but even more scared to live with this disease.
I'm confused guys.
I really don't know what to do anymore.
Not even asking for help anymore just Thot I'd talk to someone else about this. You guys are all I have right now.
Thanks for your time taken out to read this.

[Jeff G]

Hey bud ... I see it s a really bad day for you . I was once in the same situation and emotional shape that you are in , the pain is just as bad as being kicked and things seem so hopeless .

I once attempted to take my life because of the same issues you are facing and ended up in the hospital where I eventually got the help I needed to go on .

I'm encouraging you to get up and go to the emergency room if you are contemplating harming yourself , or call the hospital or an ambulance . I promise you that things can get better if you give it time and trust that there is help out there .

We need you on this forum as much as you need us . Please keep talking and lets see what we can do to get you through the day or night  . Hugs Jeff .

[britchick]

actonye,

Please keep coming back to the site.We care about each other  here and being honest many of us have had really bad times too.

I promise you that you will begin to feel better.Please contact one of your friends.Dont think that you cant after all, you would be there to help your friends.

Hugs

Britchickx

[Jeff G]

actonye ... please give us an update , I'm very concerned about you and want to know that you are OK . The reason this forum exist is so we can be there for each other in times like this , so please allow us to be a part of your life .

[Souledout]

We're all here actonye.

Unless your friends are rubbish then I see no reason why they wouldn't genuinely want tio help you. I'd have gone under if it weren't for my circle of friends.

Come to Manchester and we'll have a beer or two. 

[Ann]

Actony, I hope you're having a better day today.

You have friends here - friends who know and understand exactly what you're going through, even though the specifics of our circumstances may be different. An hiv diagnosis is a life-changing one no matter what line of work you're in, where you live, what your finances are like or any other life situation you find yourself in at diagnosis.

Yes, we have all been in that dark, newly diagnosed place you're in, but what's important is that we are still here to talk about it! Many of us are thriving with hiv, not just living with hiv. You can too.

Hiv is life-changing for sure, but YOU still have a lot more control over those changes than you may realise right now.

There's a saying you may be familiar with that applies very much to the newly-diagnosed situation: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!

The life-changing aspect of an hiv diagnosis is what you make it. You can use it to become a stronger, more compassionate person, or you can use it to bury yourself in fear and self-loathing and by doing so, no longer able to make a worthwhile contribution to society.

You have the means at your disposal to make a very worthwhile contribution to society. You have years of medical training that do not have to go to waste.

If you allow your hiv diagnosis to make you a stronger, more compassionate person, it will enable you to become a doctor who has excellent doctor/patient relationships.

As someone who will now be regularly on the receiving end of care, rather than the giving side of care, you will begin to understand just how important it is that your doctor is caring and compassionate.

If you can emulate the compassionate hiv doctors you encounter, you'll be well on your way to being an excellent physician regardless of what your speciality may be.

There are countries who permit hiv positive doctors to even perform surgery, so you're not necessarily stuck living where you're not happy. You have the internet - you can do the research to find out what the laws/practices are in other countries who do not unfairly discriminate doctors by not allowing them to do certain procedures.

Universal precautions work to prevent occupational transmission where hiv is concerned, and any medics should be practising UP regardless of where they practice. Attitudes towards hiv positive medical personnel have been changing (for the better) for the past few years and you can be part of that change.

If you look at it from that perspective, you'll see a bright future for yourself.

Ann

[actonye]

Hey guys so it's been a while since I've been here. I'm doing a lot better than I did when I was diagnosed making some progress. However today was with my ID doctor, and the dilemma at the moment is what meds to go with. She wants me to go in a 3 pill a day treatment. If rather have a one pill combo to ensure better compliance. I can't take atripla because I work shifts in the emergency department. Complera which is my other option has to be taken with a strick calorie requirement. I'm a very erratic eater and will find it difficult to stick to taking a specific calorie meal at the same time every day especially since I work shifts.
I'm getting rather upset with the limitations in my options due to work and calorie requirements.
Any advice guys.
Thanx.

[Ann]

Hi Actonye, good to hear from you and I'm glad you're doing better. You had some people here (me included) very worried about you.

You still have other ONCE a day combo options available to you.

The number of pills you take ONCE a day should have no bearing on your ability to remain compliant. It's no more difficult nor time-consuming to take one pill or ten when you're taking them all at the same time.

One ONCE a day combo I can highly recommend (because I'm on it) is Prezista, Norvir and Truvada. Because you take two Prezista tablets, it's a four pill combo - but you only have to take it ONCE a day.

It's also very effective against hiv.

There is a food requirement with the Prezista component, but it's not calorie-specific. You can either take it with a normal (for you) meal, or you can take it with a small snack.

A cup of tea or coffee with a biscuit (cookie) or two is enough. Or a glass of milk. Or a snickers bar. You just need enough to get your gastric juices flowing.

It can be taken any time of the day; whatever is convenient for you. I take mine when I have something to eat in the afternoon, and I swallow them all down in one gulp with a drink of water.

One pill or four - they can easily go down in one.

Another ONCE a day option you may be offered which involves more than one pill is very similar to the one above - Reyataz is substituted for Prezista. The Norvir and Truvada stay the same.

I opted for Prezista rather than Reyataz for one simple reason - Reyataz (harmlessly) elevates some people's bilirubin levels, which can cause yellowing of the eyes. I decided I didn't want to deal with (the possibility of) yellow eyes, so I went with Prezista.

There are various other once a day options (involving more than one pill). Hopefully others will chime in with their once a day, multi-pill combos.

You have plenty of options available to you, so relax.

You can read about the various meds in our Treatments section.

Ann

[actonye]

Hey Ann thanks so much for ur reply. Thanks also about worrying about me. You guys are awesome. My new extended family. I am much happier in myself and coping better. I'm thinking I'll seek a second opinion from the professor regarding my treatment. A few of the combos you've mentioned are not available here in ireland. Cost or something not sure. Anyway I'll do a little bit more research and figure out what will work best for me.  Oh can't wait to feel normal again.

[Souledout]

 I told you it gets easier! Welcome back.

[Ann]

A few of the combos you've mentioned are not available here in ireland.

It might be that you're not recognising the trade names. In the UK and Europe, doctors tend to use the generic names rather than the equivalent brand names.

Prezista = darunavir

Reyataz = atazanavir

Norvir = ritonavir

Truvada = tenofovir + emtricitabine (emtricitabine is also sometimes called FTC)

[jaace24]

Just wanted to chime in that I also take Prezista, Truvada, & Norvir.  My ID dr said it was a pretty effective combination.  It has been working for me.




DX 1/25/13
2/5/13 CD4 53 VL 380,000
3/7/13 CD4 151 V: 1437
Feeling better everyday!

[Marchmain30]

Hey!
Hows things Iam living in Sligo, I'am on the same combo works very well for me.