HIV positive for less than 3 years and doc says i need to start on the drugs

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits > Questions About Treatment & Side Effects

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nickchicago:
I'm 24 years old and have always been a healthy guy. I have had problems with my bowels though, mucos in my stool, stuff like that since I got infected. Last month my CD4 was 317 and the viral load was 111,000, this week it was 276 and 200,000. but I know when I was infected, late summer of 04. I've been HIV positive for less than 3 years and the doc says I should go on meds!
I want to wait as long as possible to go on meds because I read they only give you ten more years. I also am very vain and don't want any of those unflattering side effects.
Well, it looks like I had a gonorrhea infection in my bowels for over a year, which was recently proven by tests (I told doctors I thought I had VD in my bowels and they were dismissive) and I was treated with rocephin but it seems to be coming back. I think this infection is what has accelerated my HIV disease. I got gonorrhea in my dick and that's how it was proven I had it. I am a bottom and my bf and I are monogamous and he was just tested recently for everthing and was clean. So somehow the gonnorreah spread from my ass to my dick. I'm sure it's pretty easy for that to happen. I told my doctor I think I have antibiotic resistant gonnorhea, but I feel like nobodyh believes me. And I know this is why my HIV is so bad after only 3 years. Why won't the fucking doctors just give me a super antibiotic instead of telling me I should go on HIV meds!
What do I have to do to make them treat me!
Can gonnoreah hide in your bowels?

thunter34:
I'm not going to speak on anything but the HIV personally...and there just to say that some people get a particularly active strain of HIV that progresses quickly with or without additonal health problems.

I am one of them. I went from infection to AIDS (with lower CD 4's than yours, actually) in less time.

Blixer:
Nick, there are a lot of variables, but most HIV specialists today are saying that the meds are much improved and if you start before too much damage has been done to your immune system you can expect a "near normal" lifespan. I went on meds within 3 months of my diagnosis with a CD4 count of 520. I wanted to hit early. My doctor told me on the first visit that if I did what I was supposed, lived a healthy lifestyle, and was adherent to my meds that I would probably be alive for a LONG time and something other than HIV would be what got me.

Here I am just over a year into the meds and my CD4 is at 725, I feel good, and my VL is undetectable. I'm working two jobs and keeping myself way too busy.

Use common sense, but don't let the meds scare you. I've had many people tell me that they wish they would have started sooner.

budndallastx:

--- Quote ---Use common sense, but don't let the meds scare you. I've had many people tell me that they wish they would have started sooner.
--- End quote ---

I waited until my CD4's hit 200 because the posts about the meds scared the crap out of me. One thing I have learned is the meds available today are very potent. Work with your doctor and get the genotype tests done to determine if your particular variety of HIV has any resistance to the meds and talk candidly with your doctor about what your fears are. The regimes available today can be a single pill each night (Atripla) or some other convenient dosing. HIV is now considered a chronic disease which is a change from 10 years ago. Looking back, I should have started meds sooner since studies show a faster rebound in CD4 counts the higher your count is. Also, below 200 you open yourself up to opportunistic infections which are not pleasant.

This board is a great place to ask questions and the people here will provide you with the benefit of their experience.

Good Luck.
Tom

risred1:
I am one to believe the condition of the gut is a primary driver in ones HIV infection. I learned this from my own experience and from Jon Kaisers information on the web and in his book.

Unfortunately, many doctors are aware of gut issues but don't necessarily link the progression of the disease and the health of the gut.

My own story was based on having a parasite that fortunately i caught quickly and had it treated successfully with anitbiotics. During that time my VL shot up and my CD4 took a hit. Since my treatment my CD4 has rebounded and VL return to below my original diagnosis.

So I am one to believe you when you say it is contributory. Additionally, if it is not treated, it probably will continue to be a factor in your recovery. Kaiser has stated that he believes that parasites and the like are a factor in drug treatment failure. The digestive tract seems to be the front line in managing your HIV.

So if you doctor took a year to recognize that you have another STD, and if you believe you have it in your intestinal track and have sufficient reason to believe that is the case, I would say you are being perfectly reasonable in asking for someone to take your issues seriously.

If your doctor won't or can't justify or just doesn't get it, I suggest that you ask for a referal to a GI specialist who deals with infectious diseases. You may have to go on meds regardless to stop the HIV from gettin worse. I know the thought is once you are on treatment you should stay there. But in my opinion, and I am not a Doctor, if your HIV was progressing because of an intestinal infection, once the infection is treated successfully, and you get your cd4's up and your HIV down, it may be reasonable to take a break from treatment to see what happens, of course while you are being monitored closely.

Also one of your tactics for dealing with your doctor is to come armed with written documentation about what you believe is your condition and be adament about what you are going through and ask pointed questions about what the doctor knows about this type of infection. If you come in determined to examine the why's of a doctors opinion, and to ask for justification of his/her thoughts, you are now talking differently with your doctor. If you doctor is a type to shut down such dialog, simply put, get another doctor until you find someone who will at least explain their opinion to your satisfaction and who will take your opinion seriously.

Be determined in your efforts. People in general will pay more attention and grant more credence to someone who is prepared and knowledgable and persistent!

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