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Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

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Recent Posts

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 10
1
Do I Have HIV? / Important question
« Last post by Tiwari on Today at 12:11:25 am »
Dear Sir sorry to bother you. I have a question. Since i did not find any solution and you have the experties  that is why i am asking you. I read a research Article that says taking Antidepressants SSRIs significantly slows down the viral replication of HIV and RT response of HIV. (I have given the Article link at the end of the query)

Now my question is what if someone takes Antidepressants SSRIs during the whole HIV window period of 90 days daily without missing any day then according to the Article do you think his Antidepressants SSRIs intake during the whole HIV window period of 90 days daily will work like "PEP" and slow down the viral replication of HIV and RT response of HIV as soon as HIV enters the body? As a result do you think his Viral replication of HIV and RT response of HIV will be slowed down to that level where immune system will not be able to recognise Virus or Virus particles and will not produce detectable level of  HIV Antibody?

My exposure was 2 years ago but that time was already taking Antidepressants SSRIs and continued to take during the whole HIV window period of 90 days daily and did not miss any day. So far I have taken 4 HIV 3rd generation Antibody test after 3,6,9 and 12 months of the exposure. I am afraid that my Antidepressants SSRIs intake during the whole HIV window period of 90 days daily may have acted like PEP that is why I am not producing HIV ANTIBODIES and my Viral load may be undetectable. May be in future I will end up having Aids and Die.
Article link
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2978281/
2
Questions About Treatment & Side Effects / Re: Update on switch to Dovato from Biktarvy
« Last post by Dogman on Yesterday at 08:24:49 pm »
Quote from: leatherman on September 22, 2023, 04:25:12 pm
ugh. this is one of those wrong "hopes" I wish doctors would explain better.

ARVs sole purpose is to interrupt, at several different points, the life cycle of the HIV virus. The effect is that HIV is reduced, although sometimes it takes times, to undetectable. Once that happens, and as long as you remain undetectable, your body has the chance to replenish cd4s. Now how fast that happens is all up to the genetics that created your immune system. Some people rebound fast. Some don't. Some people have a "low" rebound. Some jump above 1000. So really the most important number to look at is the VL. As long as that remains low, HIV is unable to do much, if any, further damage to your body.

I do understand this, I was just being hopeful that my CD4 rebounded rather than went backwards. But yes, apart from a pesky cold in the past week, I have felt perfectly normally physically.

Of course, a lot of people end up caring about the cd4 number; but why? First, there's a huge number range of what is defined as "normal". The limits tend to be a little hazy too. is 400 or 500 the lower parameter? Is 1200 or 1600 a normal upper parameter? Then there's the pesky problem that the cd4 count is only a quantitative amount. The test can't determine the strength of those cd4s (a qualitative description). While most people need that average range of cd4s (400-1600), there are plenty of people who live healthy lives with cd4s in the 250-400 ranges.

Last, but not least, since cd4s can change by up to 100 points in one day, it's kind of hard to get anything other than a snapshot of the cd4 count at blood draw. That 400 result that you received could have easily been 300 or 500 on that same day. Sounds extreme, right? But if you did 4 cd4 tests in one day, you could quit easily see results all over that range.

Not to bore you with my 40yrs of living with HIV, let me tell you the short story of why worrying about cd4s is useless. My first test was a miniscule 5 cd4s. Ten years and a dozen regimens later, I was lucky to have a whopping 225. Another 15 yrs after that I was up to 350. In that 25 yrs I hadn't returned to the hospital, had two bouts of flu and about 4 colds. Quite frankly, since the last time I was hospitalized with AIDS (30ish yrs ago) and got onto newer meds, I've been getting healthier and healthier. Oddly enough, in the last 3 yrs, my cd4s have jumped to 650, and the only sickness I've had in yrs was covid 2 yrs ago. For a long time, I was like you hoping to reach the "normal" range, until I realized that it didn't matter. Keeping medicated to stay UD was all it took. It may have taken nearly 30 yrs to get into the normal range; but when I did, nothing changed. I was just as healthy and happy as I had always been.

Please, never apologize, you do not bore me. I have read your posts over and over. I regard guys like you very highly, I have a couple of friends, who like you, went through the wars and are like you, still here, healthy and happy. I know we have it "easy", with the modern medicines etc.

cd4 results are just a number, like blood pressure, that's too in flux to mean much - well, as long as they are above 200. Worry about keeping your viral load undetectable, and your cd4s will take care of themselves. ;)

Thank you, my doctor doesn't want to see me for 3 months, and yes, he also stated being UD is what to focus on. So thank you again, for your insight and reality check, I don't mean to sound like a whiney baby - it's just a struggle at times, I appreciate you and your valuable wisdom and experience.
3
I Just Tested Poz / Re: Found i am poz 10 hours ago
« Last post by Weliooo on Yesterday at 07:59:07 pm »
Hello, i am doing well
It was challenging time for me but i tried to adapt.
I focused on maintaining my health, lost 47 kg, started sports and i enhanced my diet.
I still have troubles sleeping well, but i am trying to keep my mental health good.
I am in process to immigrate to Canada, so i hope they don't find me medically inadmissible.
One of my fears is that i am always afraid to transmit to my son, i am cautious much but it is like abnormal thing about me.
I did a test for my family lately they are both negative. I am just being paranoid much about it.
Anyway i am trying to do my best and hope things go well for everyone.
4
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Activity with a stripper and now with severe Seroconversion symptoms
« Last post by Jim Allen on Yesterday at 07:05:21 pm »
No, not weird and the covid test isn't detecting HIV from the activities mentioned here.

Quote
Please don't post about this again, thank you

If you post again about this no HIV risk situation it will result in a ban from the forums out of kindness to encourage you to engage in professional mental health support to assist you with these fears.
5
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Activity with a stripper and now with severe Seroconversion symptoms
« Last post by Bsnow82 on Yesterday at 06:07:45 pm »
Although I was advised here I didn’t have a risk, I got an 8.5 week test that I’m awwii g results for. However I also have covid, or so I think. My whole family got sick but none tested + for Covid, but I did. Weird right? Is it possible the Covid test is picking up HIV? I’m freaking out.
6
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Mutual Masturbation and HIV risk
« Last post by Jim Allen on Yesterday at 05:40:33 pm »
What you posted isn't an HIV concern, move on with your life.

Here's what you need to know to reduce your HIV risks:
Use condoms for anal or vaginal intercourse correctly and consistently, with no exceptions. Consider talking to your healthcare provider about PrEP as an additional layer of protection against HIV

Keep in mind that some sexual practices described as safe in terms of acquiring HIV still pose a risk for other easier-acquired STIs. So please do get tested at least yearly for STIs, including but not limited to HIV, and more frequently if condomless intercourse occurs.

Also, note that it is possible to have an STI and show no signs or symptoms; testing is the only way to know.

Kind regards

Jim

Please Note.
As a member of the "Do I have HIV" Forum, you are required to only post in this one thread no matter how long between visits or the subject matter. You can find this thread by going to your profile and selecting show own post, which will take you here. It helps us to help you when you keep all your thoughts or questions in one thread, and it helps other readers to follow the discussion. Any additional threads will be removed.
7
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Should I retest, or am I good?
« Last post by Jim Allen on Yesterday at 05:36:51 pm »
This is an HIV forum and there wasn't any reason to test outside of standard yearly routine to start with.

As for other STIs there is no risk free contact but you don't need to run out and test everytime you have sex and two weeks isn't enough time but relax and move on with your life
8
Do I Have HIV? / Re: Should I retest, or am I good?
« Last post by JKat88 on Yesterday at 05:14:31 pm »
Should I retest though? Or is 2 weeks enough time to see if I’ve caught any std or Sti? Thanks again in advance. I apologize. What I meant to say is negative**
9
Do I Have HIV? / Mutual Masturbation and HIV risk
« Last post by Youssefhi on Yesterday at 04:01:29 pm »
I have a met a guy whole status is unkown and we had mutual masturbation and then he cum on my penis and he used his semen as a lube for me to cum. Im not sure if his semen reached my urethra or not. I am circumcised. Am I at risk for HIV? Should I get tested?
10
Forums Gatherings / Re: Monthly Virtual Gathering
« Last post by leatherman on Yesterday at 03:43:08 pm »
Quote from: Jim Allen on Yesterday at 01:38:56 pm
HIV Stigma & studies study under healthcare providers outcome
I know I commented about this report in the other thread; but thanks for sharing that. The whole thing was really interesting. Quite frankly, I think the reason I trusted the results and liked it so much was because of some of the "bad" responses. If the results had been that everyone was hunky-dory with all things HIV, I'd have known the study didn't ask the right questions, didn't question enough people, or wasn't confidential enough that people could honestly answer. The results though show what PLHIV know: outside of HIV clinics, healthcare professional aren't very knowledgeable about HIV; some healthcare personnel are under-educated in general about cleanliness and precautions much less HIV; and some are just bigoted jerks.

Quote from: Jim Allen on Yesterday at 01:38:56 pm
Spiders.
Ick. ick. ick.
Our property backs up to some woods with a small creek running along the side. I run into spiders and webs all the damn time! After we left our call today, the doggos wanted out and I wanted to smoke. 8) Stepping on the deck by the pool, I ran through a spiderweb - and the large writing spider I knocked loose ran across my head. :o :o :o But, no bites and only one manly scream as I thrashed about to knock the spider off. No neighbors were around (and I'll leave the screaming part out when I tell this story to Larry. LOL) so it was all good.
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