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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: karry on April 18, 2014, 09:39:48 pm

Title: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: karry on April 18, 2014, 09:39:48 pm

I posted this in the women forum already but I think I might get some feedback from the general forum.

So, I am finally pregnant and crazy happy ....but facing a dilemma!
I am in my first trimester. Saw a dr yesterday (not my hiv dr as he was absent). I also met with the pharmacist. They (dr and pharmacist) are asking me to decide if I start treatment right away or wait till my second trimester.

The regiment proposed is a combo : kivexa and kaletra.

My vl is 1500 and cd4 850.
I am treatment naïve.
I am aware of the US recommendations for treatment naïve positive pregnant women is to start treatment in the second trimester. However, Canadian guidelines recommend to start right away (I live in Canada).
The other thing is the financial. Because I work, and have insurance through work, only 80% of my meds are covered. So I will have to spend about 370$ a month on my meds.

I am having difficulties deciding if I start now or wait till second trimester.
Any advice from those with experience with the kivexa kaletra combo will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.
Happy Karry

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: pittman on April 18, 2014, 10:06:52 pm

I don't know enough to comment on when is best to start for medical reasons. But I thought I would make sure you knew for sure the way your insurance worked.

A lot of insurance policies have an annual max out of pocket amount that you would have to pay. While you may have a 20% co-insurance, at some point that may max out and then you'd be covered for the rest of the year for 100%.  With the cost of the medical care for the pregnancy itself, perhaps you will already reach your out of pocket max and thus starting early won't actually cost you any more, it will just cost you sooner.

You may want to just double check that.

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: karry on April 20, 2014, 04:52:10 pm

Thanks for your input Pittman.
I will be contacting insurance on Tuesday as well as booking another appointment to see my usual hiv specialist to get a second opinion about the meds.
Karry

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: Jeff G on April 20, 2014, 07:58:20 pm

Congratulations on the pregnancy ! . I am not much an med advice but I am thrilled you are going to be a mother . 

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: anniebc on April 20, 2014, 08:06:13 pm

I'm with Jeff, I'm not 100% comfortable giving advise on when and when no tto start meds, I would only advise you talk to your specialist doctor.

I just wanted to come in and congratulate you on your pregnancy, I can understand you being crazy happy about that.  ;D

Aroha
Jan :-*

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: mikeyb39 on April 20, 2014, 08:33:50 pm

Congrats on your Pregnancy!  I don't know much about it, but I was reading in below article.  It looks as though if you have viral suppression then its better to cut the risk of transmission even more.

I'm sure you have read stuff like this, but I will copy the link I was looking at.

http://www.uptodate.com/contents/hiv-and-pregnancy-beyond-the-basics

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: Theyer on April 21, 2014, 06:23:05 am

Congrats you crazy happy fool, talk with your ID doctor make your decision, then coz you are now a Mother it will be THE RIGHT ONE .

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: OneTampa on April 21, 2014, 09:08:19 am

Karry,

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You are "carrying" love, hope, joy and life in that little bundle.  For a safe arrival, consult your Doctor. 

Wishing you good Mother all the best.

Take care.

 :)

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: BoiBoy on April 21, 2014, 09:44:41 am

Congrats, Mommy.

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: karry on April 22, 2014, 12:43:30 pm

Thanks to all of you for sharing my joy and for your kind words.
I will be seeing my hiv specialist on Friday. So will definitely decide about date for starting treatment this weekend.

I also checked with my insurance and was informed after a max of 3000$ per calendar year my meds are going to be 100% covered. Still a chunk out of the pocket but for my baby I am willing to pay more than that!!!

Overall, I am very happy.... my partner is going around all dreamy and planning about painting the room etc and taking the baby to play soccer!!!.... and I am just a few weeks along! Lol.
Thanks for your support
Hugs
Karry

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: Joe K on April 22, 2014, 02:42:02 pm

Karry,

What a fortunate child to have a mother like you.  I know you will do what will be best for your family, as you could do no less.

Congratulations!!!

Joe

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: karry on April 25, 2014, 07:25:25 pm

Thanks Joe!

Update: finally saw my dr today and I decided I am starting meds tomorrow morning.

Picked up my prescription from the pharmacy. I am pretty confident its the right choice and I think everything will be ok.

So I am mentally prepared to start. I am setting my alarms for kaletra for morning and evening and kivexa for the mornings.....
So here we go.... celebrating my last evening of being treatment naïve with a warm cup of milk!
Karry

Title: Re: pregnant and have questions about starting meds
Post by: skeebo1969 on April 25, 2014, 07:51:51 pm

That is some awesome news!  My wife and I went through all of this 6 years ago and have been blessed with a healthy little girl who is excelling in both school and sports!

 Congrats!

 Thomas