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Author Topic: How do you cope with little sicknesses?  (Read 3383 times)

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Offline mecch

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How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« on: July 07, 2009, 05:49:48 pm »
Started feeling gross two days ago. Yesterday I worked but had bad runs all evening. Thought I would vomit but didnt. Achy. Crawled into bed. Woke up feverish this morning and felt achy all over.  Then slept all day. 

Watched Michael Jackson's funeral when I woke up.  Pretty well done, I thought!

My question - how do you all cope with little sicknesses?  I mean should I run to my doctor, and which doctor? My HIV specialist says I have to go to my regular doctor for stuff now that I'm stable on HAART.

My regular doctor never sees me right away, always have to wait a few days for an appointment.

I haven't been sick since I seroconverted a year ago. So it kind of a new experience.

Do you panic when you get sick???

“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline Luke

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2009, 06:01:34 pm »
If my numbers weren't as good a they are, perhaps I would tend to worry more; but for now my attitude is that I used to get ill before I was HIV-positive and that any illness I get now is most likely not to be in any way related to HIV .. so I'd do exactly the same as I would have done before: stay at home for a couple of days (if it is bad enough to warrant that), and if things don't improve call my regular general practitioner for an appointment.

 

Offline GNYC09

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #2 on: July 07, 2009, 06:17:42 pm »
I agree with Luke. I personally only arrange a new doctor's appt if the symptoms persist or if they are really unusual/dangerous (blood in stool, for example).  I myself have been lightheaded, tired and nauseous the last two days myself but am chalking it up to possible anemia  :(
Lets hope we both feel better soon  :-\

Offline Luke

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #3 on: July 07, 2009, 06:27:10 pm »
Don't get me wrong; if I suddenly starting passing foaming urine, which is a classic symptom of kidney problems, I'd get straight onto my HIV specialist and wouldn't even bother with my GP - because my immediate suspicion would be that it was related to my medications.

Offline Assurbanipal

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #4 on: July 07, 2009, 06:28:44 pm »
You have a serious chronic medical condition.  Often things that are minor for other people can have much more serious ramifications (look at the difference in recommended treatment for HIV+ people potentially exposed to swine flu as one example).

It is not the case that you have only a choice between panic and doing nothing.  You are not forced into a binary choice.

There is a third alternative, which is to let your DOCTOR help you calibrate your response to illness.  For now, whenever you have a question about whether to call the doctor, just CALL.  And at the end of the call/appointment explictly bring up the subject of your hesitation to call and get advice as to whether you needed to call.  That way you can recalibrate to the new normal.

You don't have to guess at the right answer.  You can ask.
5/06 VL 1M+, CD4 22, 5% , pneumonia, thrush -- O2 support 2 months, 6/06 +Kaletra/Truvada
9/06 VL 3959 CD4 297 13.5% 12/06 VL <400 CD4 350 15.2% +Pravachol
2007 VL<400, 70, 50 CD4 408-729 16.0% -19.7%
2008 VL UD CD4 468 - 538 16.7% - 24.6% Osteoporosis 11/08 doubled Pravachol, +Calcium/D
02/09 VL 100 CD4 616 23.7% 03/09 VL 130 5/09 VL 100 CD4 540 28.4% +Actonel (osteoporosis) 7/09 VL 130
8/09  new regimen Isentress/Epzicom 9/09 VL UD CD4 621 32.7% 11/09 VL UD CD4 607 26.4% swap Isentress for Prezista/Norvir 12/09 (liver and muscle issues) VL 50
2010 VL UD CD4 573-680 26.1% - 30.9% 12/10 VL 20
2011 VL UD-20 CD4 568-673 24.7%-30.6%
2012 VL UD swap Prezista/Norvir for Reyataz drop statin CD4 768-828 26.7%-30.7%
2014 VL UD - 48
2015 VL 130 Moved to Triumeq

Offline Miss Philicia

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #5 on: July 07, 2009, 07:17:34 pm »
I've always tended to get respiratory infections yearly, so early in my diagnosis when I was <200 or even when up to 400 I was encouraged to come in and have it checked out -- but it was always bronchitis and never pneumonia.  Fortunately my infectious disease doctor has always also been my primary care doctor -- I can't be bothered with this double doctor bs.  And over the span of three different such doctors they've each always fit me in for an unscheduled appointment if really necessary, though sometimes this demanded waiting an hour in the waiting room.  However, this was never a privilege that I abused.
"I’ve slept with enough men to know that I’m not gay"

Offline Oceanbeach

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2009, 07:29:48 pm »
I feel like crap, served on toast right now.  i could not sleep last night, want to puke but, I can't.  Imagine that, I always thought I was super human.

I would like a cigarette but I don't smoke.  There is a strees overload in my mind.  It is a full moon with a partial eclipse, reasonable planetary aspects.  Neptune, Uranus and Jupiter are in retrograde so there is nothing I can do.  I believe I will get some sleep and wake up with a smile  ;D  Have the best day
Michael

Offline BT65

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #7 on: July 07, 2009, 09:22:26 pm »
I guess it would really depend.  If I'm having a fever and the runs, I'd probably wait it out and see if it clears.  If I had a fever and was hacking up stuff, I'd go to the doctor.

BTW, I have one doctor also.  He's my ID doctor and general doctor.  So, all my stuff is in one office.
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Offline skeebo1969

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #8 on: July 08, 2009, 08:40:56 am »


  Mecch,

      Just getting over a bit of nasty cold myself.   I didn't call me doc mainly because the symptoms I had were similar to what I had last 4rth of July.  The one thing I hate most now is everytime I get sick I get severe nausea......  which is something I cannot stand, but a lil herb  will knock it out everytime.

  Thomas
I despise the song Love is in the Air, you should too.

Offline mecch

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #9 on: July 08, 2009, 10:01:25 am »
Thanks for the advice. I was so sick yesterday I woke up after business hours and could barely move. Chills all nght. I woke up this afternoon feeling much better so was able to make it to the phone and get an appointment for tomorrow. Ill probably feel fine tomorrow. hehe
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline leatherman

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #10 on: July 08, 2009, 10:49:41 am »
from my personal experience:
throwing up once an hour every hour for 12 hours means you should go to the hospital because it could be pnuemonia (at least that's how it happened for me twice)

a "mystery" fever could last for up for 12 days (but go to the doctor by day 4 ;) to get checked out) without any explanation (happens to me about every third Feb for the last decade) or a fever that lasts for 30 days could mean non-hodgkins lymphoma (that's what happened to my late partner)

I think the best rule of thumb is to contact your doctor if you're worried or if you have been ill for more than three days (w/o improvement)

 I'm glad to hear you're feeling a little better and hope your health continues to improve!
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline GNYC09

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #11 on: July 08, 2009, 09:44:54 pm »
Feel better...

Offline AndyArrow

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Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #12 on: July 09, 2009, 12:33:41 am »
I hope you feel better soon!
It is not the arrival that matters.  It is the journey along the way. -- Michel Montaigne

Offline mecch

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  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: How do you cope with little sicknesses?
« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2009, 04:41:31 pm »
Started to feel better today.
My regular doctor saw me two days in a row. I am content the relationship goes on pretty normally past my HIV diagnosis, this being the first time seeing him again.
Doesnt know what I have yet. Maybe virus. Maybe "bacteria". Maybe parasite.
hmmmmmmmm
Thanks for your support
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

 


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