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Author Topic: OK, it's not exciting, but ...  (Read 7880 times)

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Offline aztecan

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  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« on: March 05, 2014, 10:15:26 pm »
This month marks an anniversary for me, my 18th anniversary of starting HIV meds.

It was in March of 1996 I started Saquinavir, AZT and Epivir. I was 11 years poz at the time, at least, and my numbers were starting to go south.

I took 17 pills a day, all for HIV. I say that because, now that I am somewhat more seasoned (read: tired old queen) I take other meds to offset the ravages of time.

I know, not really exciting news. But I think we really should celebrate the little things in life, not just the big ones.

HUGS,

Mark
« Last Edit: March 05, 2014, 10:18:37 pm by aztecan »
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline Jeff G

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2014, 10:26:06 pm »
I think its worth celebrating because I remember those days too and there is plenty to celebrate having lived through them .

I remember how excited we were to have viable treatments and how hard it was to hold on to that excitement when we shit our pants at work from the side effects of those meds . You have come a long way baby . 

« Last Edit: March 06, 2014, 09:25:55 am by Jeff G »
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Offline aztecan

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  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2014, 09:17:24 am »
Oh, the clothes, bed linens and car seats I ruined thanks to Saquinavir.

Those were the days, eh Jeff. You are right, it was hard to hold on to the enthusiasm because of the side effects.

HUGS,

Mark
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline Jeff G

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2014, 09:28:37 am »
I wonder if I can blame my meds for my inability to proof read my post before posting them ?

HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline denb45

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  • "1987 Classic Old School POZ+"
Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2014, 10:31:53 am »
Mark, you are a LTS, and that's something to be proud of

yesterday at my weekly , VA-LGBT-support group, they all told me

the same thing, "you survived others did not" is what they told me

what a mild-stone that can be, and a inspiration to many others

live it, be it  :D

HUGS

DEN
"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

Offline wolfter

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2014, 04:45:56 pm »
Oh, the clothes, bed linens and car seats I ruined thanks to Saquinavir.



HUGS,

Mark

Congrats Mark

I still have compulsions to buy underwear every time I go shopping.  OH, what glorious days, eh?  It was only in recent years that I finally took the plastic mattress covers off. 

hugs
greg
Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline BT65

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2014, 04:50:35 pm »
Congrats Mark

I still have compulsions to buy underwear every time I go shopping. 
hugs
greg

I still look at underwear ads, all the time lol.  Mark, congrats!
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

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Offline denb45

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2014, 05:02:57 pm »
Congrats Mark

 It was only in recent years that I finally took the plastic mattress covers off. 

hugs
greg

LOL  Betty  ;D

hey Gerg

Heck, we still use plastic mattress covers, as you just never know  ;D

HUGS

DEN
"it's so nice to be insane, cause no-one ask you to explain" Helen Reddy cc 1974

Offline Talis1115

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2014, 05:16:08 pm »
That is something to be very proud of.  :) If it wasn't for people like you who went through all those terrible side effects, treatments would not be so advanced for people like myself today. Learning i was HIV positive was a big enough shock without having to deal with the side effects you are all describing from the early drugs. I am so happy when i read a great story like this because you seem to be doing so well these days.

I started on Atripla last year and the worst side effect i had was feeling a little tired in the morning and crazy dreams, which i actually really enjoy. Last night i dreamt that i was in the new Katy Perry, Dark Horse video clip and the colours were all just as bright.

I am undetectable with a T-Cell count of 1020. I am forever grateful for what you early HIV patients had to go through. I am happy things have improved so much for you. You should celebrate as much as you want, you really deserve it.

Great work Mark, celebrate whatever you feel like celebrating.

Offline mitch777

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2014, 10:01:39 pm »
Hi Mark,

Our timing of numbers going south is almost identical. How lucky we both were.

Happy Anniversary!

hugs,
Mark
33 years hiv+ with a curtsy.

Offline bear60

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2014, 04:46:42 pm »
Mark, you have always been my hero.
Poz Bear Type in Philadelphia

Offline Joe K

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2014, 06:35:55 pm »
Dear Mark,

Happy Anniversary I suppose.  Somehow, my celebrating starting AZT in 1988 is not something I can imagine getting too excited about.  The marked change in health, yes; the actual experience with the drug, not so much.

Joe

Offline Theyer

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Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2014, 06:52:29 pm »
I say dear Mark grab and celebrate anything that you feel the tiny bit pleased about ,
There has been enough off whatever the opposite is for a village to go through let alone an individual.
"If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people ."  Tony Benn

Offline LongTimeSurvivor

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  • I don'no...there may be Zombears...in theres...
Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2014, 09:22:51 pm »
Not sure how I feel about celebrating that but to each his own.

I tried to explain it to one of my friends who congratulated me on not getting sick like everyone else (LTNP here). He meant well and I understood that, but I told him I felt strange being congratulated on achieving something that I had nothing whatsoever to do with achieving. Just the luck of the genetic draw.

Still...I will congratulate you on celebrating something in your life. Lord knows, it's hard to find stuff. So...hip, hip, hooray!!!
Of course it's important. It's an email...

Offline AlanBama

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  • Alabama: the 'other' 3rd World Country!
Re: OK, it's not exciting, but ...
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2014, 12:16:19 pm »
Hey Mark!  I think it's definitely something to remember and celebrate, because we MADE IT THROUGH it.  I also started Saquinivir in 1996; I can thank that drug for saving my life.  Funny how Joe and I had the same thought:  there is NOTHING to celebrate about starting AZT in 1988!  LOL

After seeing these recent films about our 'early years' and reading Dr. Michael Saag's book Positive, I thought 'I need to dig through my old photograph albums and find my "AIDS years" photos'....but I just can't seem to make myself do it.  There are very few of those photos for me to find, because if I saw a camera I went the other way....There's one of me, at 130 lbs, being pushed in a wheel chair in the 1991 Atlanta AIDS walk, and one of me taking a pentamidine treatment....but I really don't have much "use" for those pictures now.

Again, just glad we made it through it all, and glad I know you and other LTSers from A.M.   

Love & hugs,
Alan
"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

 


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