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Author Topic: Newly diagnosed  (Read 7478 times)

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Offline Ldn+

  • Member
  • Posts: 42
Newly diagnosed
« on: March 07, 2007, 10:32:09 am »
Hi all

Just a post to say that I'm newly diagnosed (5 days now).  Not too scared or upset, more concerned about what I face.  It's one of those things where I didn't expect to be poz, but I'm not 100% shocked either (as I've had unsafe sex a few times over the years).  Being in the UK I feel there is a lot of support for me, so I'm not worried about getting help.  But I'm sure I'll have loads of questions for you all over the coming weeks and months, and I hope that I can help others along the way too.  I go for my first appointment at my clinic next Wednesday, when I'll get my first bloods done.  That bit IS kind of scary as I have a feeling I could have been poz for several years now.  I'll keep posting here...

28.02.07 -- Diagnosis
28.03.07 -- CD4 620 / VL 27,600
21.06.07 -- CD4 570 / VL 12,900
04.10.07 -- CD4 367 / 26.8% / VL 11,604
11.10.07 -- CD4 510 / 29.9% / VL 7,734
31.01.08 -- CD4 453 / 24.9% / VL 27,700 (Symptomatic)
21.02.08 -- CD4 395 / 27.4% / VL 27,000
02.04.08 -- Start Efavirenz + Truvada
15.05.08 -- CD4 509 / 32% / VL 78
12.06.08 -- CD4 557 / 28.6% / VL >50
11.09.08 -- CD4 744 / 35.3% / VL >50
27.11.08 -- CD4 798 / 35.5% / VL >50
19.02.09 -- CD4 726 / 36% / VL >50
21.05.09 -- CD4 654 / 43.6% / VL >50
02.07.09 -- CD4 558 / 39.8% / VL >50
02.07.09 -- Side effects on 1st combination. Switch to Atazanavir + Ritonavir + Truvada
13.08.09 -- CD4 686 / 40% / VL >50
10.12.09 -- CD4 901 / 37% / VL >50
04.03.10 -- CD4 704 / 35.4 / VL >50
20.05.10 -- Next results

Offline red_Dragon888

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,845
  • Love and Be Love in Return
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2007, 07:46:20 pm »
I like your attitude.  Be happy and think positive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=I3ba3lnFHik

Off Crystal Meth since May 13, 2013.  In recovery with 20 months clean time.

Offline dtwpuck

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,013
  • дано мне тело, что мне делать с ним?
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2007, 11:24:01 pm »
Hi Ldn and welcome.
It is kind of scary.  The fact you can say kind of speaks volumes to your state of mind.  Some of us find it completely scary or utterly terrifying, so it's very very good that you have the wherewithall to start off with a positive outlook, so to speak.

Looking forward to getting to know you, and we're here to help should you need it.

Scott
Floating through the void in the caress of two giant pink lobsters named Esmerelda and Keith.

Offline Central79

  • Member
  • Posts: 527
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2007, 10:12:39 am »
Hey

Just posting to wish you the best. I'm glad you're in a good head space about it. But don't be alarmed if you flip out at some point (or at multiple points). I'm not saying you will, but give yourself space to feel it. It didn't kick in for a while for me.

Second thing is don't second guess your numbers until they come back. Chances are you'll have time to adjust and time to make a decision about meds, if that's necessary.

There's lots of support here in London - I hope you access whatever you need.

All the best,

Matt.
Diagnosed January 2006
26/1/06 - 860 (22%), VL > 500,000
24/4/06 - 820 (24.6%), VL 158,000
13/7/06 - 840 (22%), VL 268,000
1/11/06 - 680 (21%), VL 93,100
29/1/07 - 1,020 (27.5%), VL 46,500
15/5/07 - 1,140 (22.8%), VL not done.
13/10/07 - 759 (23.2%), VL 170,000
6/11/07 - 630 (25%), VL 19,324
14/1/08 - 650 (21%), VL 16,192
15/4/08 - 590 (21%), VL 40, 832

Offline megasept

  • Member
  • Posts: 478
  • Steven here...
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2007, 12:56:36 pm »
Hello. Your attitude is great. The UK is certainly a one of the better places to live when POZ. I reacted in a similar fashion to my own diagnosis 16 years ago; took my time picking a great specialist (still together!) and otherwise went about my life as though little had changed.

I wish I had had the resources then that exist now, especially this Forum. We all help one another. Sometimes we have discussions that ignore the fact that we are a global family, and not all US residents or US citizens. Feel free to scold us from time to time. A sense of humor and an open mind do well here. Welcome.

 8)  -megasept 

Offline Ldn+

  • Member
  • Posts: 42
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2007, 04:54:56 pm »
Wow.  Thank you ALL for such a warm welcome!  Cheers...That's brilliant. 

Got my confirmation test results this morning.  Shock!  I'm still poz.

I do think that I've got a "positive" outlook about everything, and I'm sure the tears will come too.  (They have once).  Being positive is certainly something that I NEVER stop thinking about right now, and I actually do feel a bit different (I know that's all in my head but it's how I feel).

Like I said, I'll definitely keep you all updated on stuff with me and my first appointments.  And I look forward to giving my input and support along the way to you all and others.

Thanks again.
xx

p.s.  If anyone else is newly diagnosed and wants to chat, feel free to send me a private message.  (Or if anyone in general just wants to chat).
« Last Edit: March 08, 2007, 05:04:42 pm by Ldn+ »
28.02.07 -- Diagnosis
28.03.07 -- CD4 620 / VL 27,600
21.06.07 -- CD4 570 / VL 12,900
04.10.07 -- CD4 367 / 26.8% / VL 11,604
11.10.07 -- CD4 510 / 29.9% / VL 7,734
31.01.08 -- CD4 453 / 24.9% / VL 27,700 (Symptomatic)
21.02.08 -- CD4 395 / 27.4% / VL 27,000
02.04.08 -- Start Efavirenz + Truvada
15.05.08 -- CD4 509 / 32% / VL 78
12.06.08 -- CD4 557 / 28.6% / VL >50
11.09.08 -- CD4 744 / 35.3% / VL >50
27.11.08 -- CD4 798 / 35.5% / VL >50
19.02.09 -- CD4 726 / 36% / VL >50
21.05.09 -- CD4 654 / 43.6% / VL >50
02.07.09 -- CD4 558 / 39.8% / VL >50
02.07.09 -- Side effects on 1st combination. Switch to Atazanavir + Ritonavir + Truvada
13.08.09 -- CD4 686 / 40% / VL >50
10.12.09 -- CD4 901 / 37% / VL >50
04.03.10 -- CD4 704 / 35.4 / VL >50
20.05.10 -- Next results

Offline alberche

  • Member
  • Posts: 221
  • a distancia del mundo incierto, saludo mi suerte
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2007, 05:52:10 pm »
Hiya Ldn+!!!

Wellcome to the forums, this is a great place, I have learned a lot of useful things here!!!

I got infected one year ago. I realized it because I had unprotected sex and 3 weeks after I felt very bad, and I was sure that was not a flu, so I decided by my own to test with a PCR and results were positive, I had 260.000 copies per ml. I got immediately to the doctor and they repeated all tests, including blood, STDs, hepatitis and so on. All the process of testing, re-testing, confirmation and new doctor appointment took 6 weeks.

Doctor proposed to me start with meds and I accepted, so I started just 2 and a half months after being infected.

They said to me that starting so soon could have important benefits in termns of slowing disease progression in a long term basis due to it is suppossed to reduce the damage the virus does on immune cells and a wider variety and number of lymphocites is preserved.

The first weeks were though, but I got used to it and now I feel very well. I have no detectable VL and have been all these months around 1000 CD4.

From a psychological point of view, in a way, I expected a positive result: when I started to feel ill I was pretty sure that I got the bug inside. What I decided for the first weeks was not to think too much about how much stupid I was, but to act. I reacted in a similar way than you are doing now.

I started to decide things, step by step: first, testing, second, going to the doctor, third, when I was proposed to start with meds, I read a lot of information and asked to other positive people I already knew, and based on all that I decided to start with meds.

Then, when I got used to the meds and I reached again to control things in my daily life, I decided to disclose my situation to some very good friends and to my partner.

That was the most difficult of all, but everything went OK, or, at least, much better than I expected.

And, this is now, one year after, that I am starting to think about what happenned to me. I realize this is a big impact in my life, but I am still not able to see it in all its dimmensions. I also realize that I have changed and now I feel much more focused in things I consider are really important for me.

And, finally, life keeps going on and it is better to try to don't miss the pace.

We, living in Europe, are really privileged people. Now things go much better than 5 or 10 years ago, and a positive attitude is very important to go ahead.

In the end, you are still you, and your life is out there waiting for you to do things. Everything has changed, but everything is, at the same time, the same!!!.

Big hugs from a windy Madrid, Spain ;-)
love is blindness...  a wonderful song!

Offline Ldn+

  • Member
  • Posts: 42
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2007, 09:01:52 am »
Hey all.  Been wanting to post for a bit but only just getting around to it now.

I had my first clinic appointment last Wednesday.  It was odd - good because I felt I was "getting on with things", but bad because it helped to make things more real.  Being given an HIV doctor and having 10 vials of blood taken out didn't help.  (I've got a MASSIVE bruise on my arm to remind me too). 

I think the hardest bit is waiting for the results.  I won't get my first numbers until the morning of Thursday 29th.  Fingers crossed, but I do expect them to be bad.

I also had my first meeting in a newly diagnosed group.  That was on the Wednesday too.  It was great.  It was very comforting to be around other gay and positive guys.  I only wish it were weekly instead of fortnightly.

That night I went home and rang my friend in America.  Her and I are very close.  The problem was, she took it REALLY badly.  Not unsupportive, but being very upset and crying.  I really didn't expect that, cause everyone here (in the UK) has been so different in responding.  More positive and circumspect.  Perhaps its just her, but I expect it's a least partially cultural. 

So, it's been a rollercoaster week for me.  I'm still feeling generally positive about things, but I also can't (and don't really want to) stop thinking about it.  I'll update things with my first bloods numbers when I get them next week.
28.02.07 -- Diagnosis
28.03.07 -- CD4 620 / VL 27,600
21.06.07 -- CD4 570 / VL 12,900
04.10.07 -- CD4 367 / 26.8% / VL 11,604
11.10.07 -- CD4 510 / 29.9% / VL 7,734
31.01.08 -- CD4 453 / 24.9% / VL 27,700 (Symptomatic)
21.02.08 -- CD4 395 / 27.4% / VL 27,000
02.04.08 -- Start Efavirenz + Truvada
15.05.08 -- CD4 509 / 32% / VL 78
12.06.08 -- CD4 557 / 28.6% / VL >50
11.09.08 -- CD4 744 / 35.3% / VL >50
27.11.08 -- CD4 798 / 35.5% / VL >50
19.02.09 -- CD4 726 / 36% / VL >50
21.05.09 -- CD4 654 / 43.6% / VL >50
02.07.09 -- CD4 558 / 39.8% / VL >50
02.07.09 -- Side effects on 1st combination. Switch to Atazanavir + Ritonavir + Truvada
13.08.09 -- CD4 686 / 40% / VL >50
10.12.09 -- CD4 901 / 37% / VL >50
04.03.10 -- CD4 704 / 35.4 / VL >50
20.05.10 -- Next results

Offline LeeGonzalez67

  • New Member
  • Posts: 2
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2007, 10:01:00 am »
I just been diagnosed positive and I would like to know what kind of medication I should take. I got a a paper that recomends ATRIPLA. If someone could help me please it will be appreciated.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2007, 10:04:50 am by LeeGonzalez67 »

Offline alberche

  • Member
  • Posts: 221
  • a distancia del mundo incierto, saludo mi suerte
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2007, 04:01:25 pm »
Hiya Lee,

Atripla is a good med, it is a combo of three different drugs: emtricitabine, tenofovir and sustiva.

Truvada (tenofovir + emtricitabine) plus Sustiva has been the first recommendation treatment for people just starting.

Atripla is just the same, but more simple to take, only one pill once a day.

Another option is Truvada plus Atazanavir boosted with Ritonavir. That will be 4 pills once a day.

Ask your doctor and discuss with him/her which regime is more suitable for you.

Before starting try to be sure you understand what this means and that all your doubts (at least, the most important ones) are clarified.

Good luck!

Regards
love is blindness...  a wonderful song!

Offline LeeGonzalez67

  • New Member
  • Posts: 2
Re: Newly diagnosed
« Reply #10 on: April 01, 2007, 07:28:56 pm »
Thank You very much for answering my concerns. I do appreciated it.
Lee

 


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