undetectable! 3 months in.

[bino88]

2nd set of labs since diagnosis in ...

brief summary
diagnosed december 3 2014.
1st set of labs
cd4: 388
VL : 23942 cps/ml ( this was done in nigeria and i was started on Atripla)

11th march 2015
2nd set of labs (done in the United states)
HIV by PCR: detected
HIV QT by PCR : <20 (UD)
HIV (log copies/ml) : <1.30
CD3 Abs: 565
CD4 T cell Abs: 321 (this one worries me because it's going down , but oh well )
CD8 T cell Abs: 225
CD4/CD8 ratio: 1.4

Heb b surfacce antigen/ IgM :Non reactive
Hep A IgM : Nonreactive
Hep C AB IGG screen : Non reactive
RPR/syphillis screen : Non reactive

sorry for starting another thread, but felt like the first one was overdrawn. still getting used to being poz! yea i said it. so far what i hate most is the constant hiding, hiding to do your labs, hiding for doctor's visits , lying about the reason for the doctors visits, hiding medical records , asking for confidentiality all the time, walking away from situations where HIV is mentioned,  hiding, hiding , hiding.
 I had been having some pain while swallowing recently (it's gone now after a course of acyclovir and fluconazole) and when i told one of my colleagues about it he made a joke and said dude u might have HIV and laughed, i laughed along with him but little did he know.
I feel like i'm living a lie. but for now it's working. I'm happy to be UD but the only place i can share that happiness is on here.
lets face it having HIV sucks but i'm still determined to continue to achieve my dreams, live life, and try to enjoy it. i'm naturally a happy person, but with this hiv nonsense all that has changed.
 i have good days but still a lot of bad days, and it's like i have to struggle more these days to remain happy but i believe it's a choice I have to make. anyway just wanted to share the good news enuf with the ranting 

[TheNormalLife]

Congratulations on those fantastic results!

About the absolute CD4 count, remember it can vary a lot (just learned that the hard way); often, a more stable reading is the percentage, so you shouldn't worry very much about it. The greatest thing is that you are now UD.

I guess that most of us here can relate about the confidentiality thing and turning around situations and people to protect our little secret. Others have a straight-forward, open approach to it. I firmly believe that telling others about being positive is strictly on a need-to-know basis, and not everyone needs to know.

About hiding files and documents, if this stupid bug will not invade my body, it shouldn't invade my home, so I keep everything related to it in a briefcase. This way I don't have to be constantly reminded about it and my home is always ready for when I receive visits for tea (which I never do, but hey, you all are welcome whenever you want) (bring the cucumber sandwiches).

Come and yell, scream and write all you want. As we might not all the time have plenty of people to tell, it feels damn good telling it to a bunch of dear, beautiful strangers.

Huge hugs,

Ray.

[bino88]

Thanks ray the cd4% is 42 so hopefully thats a good thing. Thanks for the encouragement. and i hope you're doing Good yourself. Hugs

[Tonny2]

      ojo       Hello binno...excelent cd4^, you are in good shape...hiding, hiding, hiding, do not let it bother you, nobody is saying I have diabetes, or Hep C, we are entitle to our privacy, health privaci especially...please, keep living your life, planning for the future...you are going to be fine my friend, you are an educated person, it has to be easier for you the get used to your new life...I've been hiding for 20 years that I'm positive, its nobody business, again, congras for your numbers...hugs       ojo

[Flyer]

Hi Bino88, congrats on the great results.

I was diagnosed just a few days before you and I started med on 8jan15, just did my second lab last week and waiting to see if my VL is supressd down.

Yes I totally understand the feeling of hiding...just try to share my way of handling it: I am trying to distract myself from it by doing more exercises and working a little bit harder - my theory is that once you lose something, you gonna get it back from somewhere else, and it helps when I achieved something, it could be an heavier lift in the gym, or a welldone from work, it makes me feel I am as good as before, and even better than before, and life can be as meaningful with HIV. Then the feeling of carrying this 500 prouds secret everyday is relieved bit by bit. Of course, frustration hits me back now and then, but I trust we will all get through.

Thanks for sharing and keep posting.

[bino88]

thank you tonny 2 and flyer, P.S flyer : thats a good way to go about it. so i will begin to incorporate that. P.S: tonny2: u're right but it seems like a pretty hard job, well it's good to know someone who has been able overcome that step for the past 20 yrs gives me a sense of hope.

[Tonny2]

thank you tonny 2 and flyer, P.S flyer : thats a good way to go about it. so i will begin to incorporate that. P.S: tonny2: u're right but it seems like a pretty hard job, well it's good to know someone who has been able overcome that step for the past 20 yrs gives me a sense of hope.

           ojo      Hello bino...I know you can do it..I've lived my life living as a gay man, but if you see me, you wouldn't think I'm gay, and I'm not going to stop you and say to you, "I'm gay", I'm not hidding that I'm gay, I just tell the people I'm interested on, same with my status, I'm not hiding it, it is nobody business to know I have a virus, I will let know about my status, if I'm interested in having a relationship, I do not have to tell anybody else...just a thought...hugs            ojo

[Tonny2]

thank you tonny 2 and flyer, P.S flyer : thats a good way to go about it. so i will begin to incorporate that. P.S: tonny2: u're right but it seems like a pretty hard job, well it's good to know someone who has been able overcome that step for the past 20 yrs gives me a sense of hope.

           ojo      Hello bino...I know you can do it..I've lived my life living as a gay man, but if you see me, you wouldn't think I'm gay, and I'm not going to stop you and say to you, "I'm gay", I'm not hidding that I'm gay, I just tell the people I'm interested on, same with my status, I'm not hiding it, it is nobody business to know I have a virus, I will let know about my status, if I'm interested in having a relationship, I do not have to tell anybody else...just a thought...hugs            ojo

[so2014]

Awesome news bino88! Congratulations!

-Sean