POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: newt on June 05, 2006, 07:43:52 pm
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I first posted this on Friday May 12, 2006 1:46 PM
- matt
I have just had lunch with a friend, whos kinda reached the end of the line with licensed meds, even done T-20 ("good riddance" he said).
I told him I feel bad because I feel so damn normal, and my treatment is going very well. I saw my new doc a few weeks ago (liked him), I am normal, it's offical, healthwise, hit the 500 CD4 mark, now get to see the nurse for consults, (knowledgable and gently spoken ). My doc said "See you in a few years, if then". He also said some interesting things like:
The absolute mortality rate for people with HIV in London is now lower that that of the general population. The age-adjusted mortality rate is a couple of % higher. The absolute mortality rate for people with HIV is also lower than for people with diabetes. I did ask my doc what about people with HIV who get diabetes from meds etc. He said good point. Then laughed and told me I know too bloody much about HIV treatment.
Weird thing though, I walked out the clinic and felt NORMAL for the first time in 4 yrs, I mean, not OKAY but NORMAL and glad the Reyataz now comes in a small bottle not a massive box, and that the clinic delivers my prescription to work.
Anyway, lunch. My friend said: don't be silly, I've been here before and I will be here again and SO WILL YOU, I started treatment with 10 CD4 cells and lymphoma for chrissake, I feel normal too, life's too short etc. He's gonna do an expanded access TMC114 + 3TC + Kaletra combo from next Tuesday and has just booked a 3 month trip to South America. Funny thing is, post-lunch, I am not the least bit worried about treatment failing.
Off to the countryside to go camping...
This is a funny virus to have.