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Author Topic: Busy afternoon  (Read 4275 times)

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Offline TheNormalLife

  • Member
  • Posts: 222
  • Rules have changed; giving up is never an option
Busy afternoon
« on: March 27, 2015, 03:44:11 pm »
Here I am ready to leave home to my first public health care ID visit. For those who don't know, I live in Mexico where HIV treatment is free, though access to the actual services sometimes is bureaucratic and troublesome.

After the initial visit to the public GP three weeks ago I was scheduled for my today's appointment with the specialist. It was actually quite fast as I've been told that certain fields such as psychiatry have wait times of months.

On the side I have a private ID, but medicines being so expensive I am going to put my severe tax deduction of my last 15 years to work (can you believe income tax is more than 30%?).

Anyway, wish me luck. Today is when I find out how and when I will be having access to my drugs. And yes, I'm feeling a bit anxious; good thing is that tonight I'm also visiting my therapist.

Well, gotta go...
Ray.
09/14 Conversion
12/14 Diagnosed
12/14 CD4-6; VL-4245 (wrong CD4 test)
01/15 CD4-530 (pheeew)
01/15 CD4-755
03/15 CD4-545; VL-14401
04/15 CD4-623; VL-4531
04/15 Truvada/Efavirenz
07/15 CD4-595; VL-UD
08/15 CD4-763; VL-UD
11/15 CD4-581; VL-UD
03/16 CD4-523; VL-UD
07/16 CD4-655; VL-UD
09/16 CD4-820; VL-UD
03/17 CD4-544; VL-UD
03/17 CD4-669; VL-UD

Offline Tonny2

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,938
Re: Busy afternoon
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2015, 07:49:48 pm »


          ojo         Hello Ray, but now, I think you already saw the ID specialist, I hope, everything went ok and you, now, know what treatment you will take...please, let us know, how it went with the specialist...best of luck...lots of hugs.....ojo

Offline TheNormalLife

  • Member
  • Posts: 222
  • Rules have changed; giving up is never an option
Re: Busy afternoon
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2015, 06:09:01 pm »
Thank you Tonny, thank you all for reading.

First public ID visit went great. Despite I had a bit of a long wait, it was all worth it; the service provided was excellent even though the facilities are not ultra-new and the paperwork sometimes can be bothersome.

The hospital is huge. It is publicly-owned and the medical specialties are distributed in a multistory building, while the ER and GP spaces are on the lower levels of an annex. When I arrived I bounced a couple of times here and there trying to find out where to go; finally I made it into the ID office, where a nurse took my medical booklet (where all of your appointments and preventive care is written) and told me to wait.

While I was waiting outside of the ID office (there were about 12 to 15 people sitting in the hall -unusual amount of workload, later I knew-) I didn't know where to direct my sight. I knew, and everybody there knew the reason why we were there, however not many people talked between them, except for small talk such as complaining about the waiting times or how rude one or another employee were. I truly never saw the latter.

It hasn't stopped amazing me how HIV is a democratic condition. It affects young, old, gay, straight, men or women. One wouldn't think, except perhaps because we were outside of infectology, that all of us were positive. For what I understood, most of them (if not all except for me, on initial visit) were on their current check-ups and/or were there to pick their prescription. Everybody looked healthy, none of them "wasted" or super-ill.

There was only this guy, mid 20's perhaps and on the thin side, who was visibly agitated, complaining plenty about the delay in attention and how one nurse was rude; I overheard that the night before he had to go the ER from where he was sent back to ID and then back to the ER for some reason. He claimed that the Dr. did a mistake prescribing his drugs or something. He probably had a very good reason to be mad, however I could say most of those who were there agreed that his attitude and behavior was a bit exaggerated.

While waiting and after the charade of the aforementioned guy, this lovely lady named Marisela on her late 40's approached me and asked me my name. I hadn't talked to anyone at the clinic yet, perhaps only to the receptionist-nurse whom I gave my booklet, so I hesitated at first to give her my name. She told me she was with social services and that she provided assistance to HIV infected patients.

She was super attentive and warm. She said I was a new face there and reassured me that I was going to be fine. Her office was around the corner from the ID's, so we went inside to chat for some time while it was my turn at the ID's.

She said that those who went there were from multiple backgrounds; some were very-well educated, others were not, some old (there was a 68 years/old lady!) and others very young. Gay and straight. What we had in common was our diagnosis and that we all should have a positive attitude towards it. She placed emphasis in the attitude and that she had long-timers there that we were some sort of a community where it was important to connect and release pressure. It was like this forum, but live! ;)

After officially our interview had ended and filled some paperwork (that part still makes me uncomfy, ever again disclosing my personal information) I spent the rest of the wait at her office and talking to others who went there to pick meds and to say hi to her. I made a couple of positive friends and one negative social services worker friend with a positive approach.

Then they called my name. My doctor was a lady in her mid-50's, very well groomed and attentive. She wasn't rude at all, and even though there were still a few people waiting outside, took the time to answer my questions. I brought to the appointment my freshest stats (that you can see at the bottom) for her to study. I tried to be educated and smart; I wanted to sound informed so that I could open-up a channel of direct true communication; you know, not smart-ass, but committed instead.

She was very relaxing and agreed with me that most likely I was going to die slipping in the tub or in a train wreck (reassurance I was trying to get). More than anything I wanted to let her know that I am ready to start treatment and not willing to give up.

The visit lasted maybe 20 minutes. It was very fast yet I didn't feel like it was rushed. After asking me a few questions about gastrointestinal and respiratory background, she said that I was ready to be prescribed medicines. That was a blessing; I thought that in a developing country the treatment guidelines were going to be outdated; so it was pleasantly refreshing to know that with my +500 CD4 I was ready to start fighting this mofo. 

I was given Truvada (Tenofovir+Emtricitabina) and Stocrin (Efavirenz). Only two pills! I was even taken the option of taking them in 15-minutes spacing once a day, preferably on an empty stomach (30 minutes to one hour before/after meals). She mentioned something about Atripla being available but for some reason not recommended for me right now, but I was so excited that I didn't really get what it was.

She carefully explained the side-effects of the meds; however I really don't want to focus much on that. First because I know it doesn't happen to everybody, then because the state of mind and predisposition could place a role in how I feel and last but not least, there are plenty of over the counter options I can take to relieve them. Right?

After I profusely thanked her, I left the office to do some paperwork, went to get my appointment at the lab and got scheduled another visit in 6 months with the ID (though in a month I will be back to pick-up my meds). I was told that if I was unable to personally pick them up, I could have another person to do it. Sweet!

As per Social Services (off the record), the two guys I met while waiting (thank you Enrique and Mauricio) and my private ID's recommendation, I will wait about one month before starting; this way I will stack up a little for whatever. I found very useful to know that Enrique is taking the same meds; you never know; maybe one day I need to borrow a dose or I can do the same for him. These two fellows have offered their unconditional help. When I hugged them and Marisela good-bye (hey, we Latins are very affectionate), I had teary eyes. :')

You know? These last hours, though I haven't taken my pills yet, I feel like a winner. I feel like I have the attitude and the tools to manage this decease. Every now and then, before getting my medicines, I was boycotting my happiness thinking I had HIV, constantly and involuntary reminding my self that life had changed to become more difficult. Just having access to a reliable supply of medications, have given me an incredible boost; can't wait to start taking them and feel the satisfaction of knowing that I am doing what it will keep me alive and happy for many, many, many years to come.

I promise I will translate all of this to Spanish for other visitors from Mexico to read; it is my duty and will be my pleasure. I need to return the blessings and confidence placed on me from everybody I have met virtual or personally in the last three months.

Thank you all for reading. Hugs from South of an imaginary line...

Ray.
09/14 Conversion
12/14 Diagnosed
12/14 CD4-6; VL-4245 (wrong CD4 test)
01/15 CD4-530 (pheeew)
01/15 CD4-755
03/15 CD4-545; VL-14401
04/15 CD4-623; VL-4531
04/15 Truvada/Efavirenz
07/15 CD4-595; VL-UD
08/15 CD4-763; VL-UD
11/15 CD4-581; VL-UD
03/16 CD4-523; VL-UD
07/16 CD4-655; VL-UD
09/16 CD4-820; VL-UD
03/17 CD4-544; VL-UD
03/17 CD4-669; VL-UD

Offline Tonny2

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,938
Re: Busy afternoon
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2015, 08:09:23 pm »


        ojo     Hello Ray, you are really up beat, and that's the attitute, definitely, you are a winner!!!...best of luck....good idea to share your experiences in the Spanish forum, there is not to much participation, but they do read the post....oh man, aren't you a politician?, hahahah, CONGRATZ, and yes, you are going to be fine, just take your meds as prescribes....hugs          ojo

Offline madeindetroit

  • Member
  • Posts: 95
Re: Busy afternoon
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2015, 11:46:45 am »
Keep going buddy sounds like you have it under control. 

((Hugs))
7/8/2014 DX
7/2014 CD4  400 VL 88,000
8/8/2014 Started Stribild
9/2014 CD4 590 VL 250
11/2014 CD4 762 VL 183
2/2015 CD4 735 VL UD wooooohooooo
5/2015 CD4 735 VL UD 38%
8/2015 CD4 1018. UD. 42%
11/2015 CD4 1185. UD 45%

Offline lupetto

  • Member
  • Posts: 70
Re: Busy afternoon
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2015, 02:29:02 pm »
Hey Ray!
What a wonderful post, I'm so glad to hear you had a good first appointment and it's great seeing how well you are doing with this all! I have a feeling you'll be just fine. :)

It hasn't stopped amazing me how HIV is a democratic condition. It affects young, old, gay, straight, men or women.

I used to be amazed by the very same thing, especially whenever I saw older people who were infected with the virus. Silly to think that way, really, but that's how it was in the beginning. Seeing other positives also helped me to realise that I wasn't that different after all.

Take care and hold on to your positive attitude!

Offline TheNormalLife

  • Member
  • Posts: 222
  • Rules have changed; giving up is never an option
Re: Busy afternoon
« Reply #6 on: April 11, 2015, 04:22:02 pm »
Thank you Tonny, Lupetto, madeindetroit and all for reading...

This week I had a cold and gosh I was worried about my soldiers. I will start treatment next month as I'm stacking a little bit. Mentally, feeling very well, though sometimes specially if I go to sleep after reading something related to HIV, I can't have a good night rest.

Hugs,

Ray.
09/14 Conversion
12/14 Diagnosed
12/14 CD4-6; VL-4245 (wrong CD4 test)
01/15 CD4-530 (pheeew)
01/15 CD4-755
03/15 CD4-545; VL-14401
04/15 CD4-623; VL-4531
04/15 Truvada/Efavirenz
07/15 CD4-595; VL-UD
08/15 CD4-763; VL-UD
11/15 CD4-581; VL-UD
03/16 CD4-523; VL-UD
07/16 CD4-655; VL-UD
09/16 CD4-820; VL-UD
03/17 CD4-544; VL-UD
03/17 CD4-669; VL-UD

 


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