Doctors apt coming up on Thursday

[barbch2]

I have a doctors apt coming up on Thursday and I am so nervous, I have come to hate getting blood drawn to find out my numbers. Its just like being tested for hiv again, I really dont want to go, but if I miss the apt, I risk getting kicked out of the Ryan White fund and I will not get free medication so I have no choice but to go. I just hope I am undedetectable this time, last time I was vl 105, cd4 375 or something like that. I really hope that the cd4 count goes up, they said it could be b/c I had not eaten before I went in, so my b/f and I are going to make a really nice big breakfast before my appointment in hopes that it helps.

[Matty the Damned]

Sweetness,

Getting your bloods drawn is a reality of having teh AIDS. You'll get used to it. You may never like it, but you'll get used to it.

MtD

[emeraldize]

It might be helpful while en route to your appointment to consider those who have no access to meds, who would skip, or run, and clap joyously to get labs done if they could get meds for free. And, further,consider that many of them haven't the access to foods to make a big breakfast in hopes of beefing up their numbers. As Joni Mitchell sang " You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone."

[woodshere]

As I think back to my first few dr visits I also had a sense of dread.  I hated needles, but as MtD said it come with the territory.  I have grown used to it.  Now whoever draws my blood and I have a nice chat.  Then I had 2 week where I stressed out and on the day of the appt I was a nervous wreck.   I came to realize that as long as I am taking my meds and trying to take care of myself, there isn't alot I can do about the results of the test.  Once I accepted that fact the stress gradually left and now I just show up like any normal appt.  You hear it often, but it just takes time to accept all the shit that comes with HIV.  Doesn't help your situation now, just hang in there.

[tednlou2]

After 2 years, I still get anxious from the time I give blood to the time I get the results.  It sometimes feels like taking the SAT's.  I wonder whether I've done all I could to get a good grade.  It seems silly, because I don't think there is much we can do to change the results.  Well, I take that back.  I know stress affects CD4.  And, I suppose going without food for a long time could affect them as well.  I've never read anything about food and CD4, so I don't know. 

About the needles, that doesn't really bother me--as long as the person is good at it.  I do find that I always look away.  For some reason, I don't want to see the needle going in or the blood filling the tubes. 

[Hellraiser]

After 2 years, I still get anxious from the time I give blood to the time I get the results.  It sometimes feels like taking the SAT's.  I wonder whether I've done all I could to get a good grade.  It seems silly, because I don't think there is much we can do to change the results.  Well, I take that back.  I know stress affects CD4.  And, I suppose going without food for a long time could affect them as well.  I've never read anything about food and CD4, so I don't know. 

About the needles, that doesn't really bother me--as long as the person is good at it.  I do find that I always look away.  For some reason, I don't want to see the needle going in or the blood filling the tubes. 

Extended malnutrition weakens the immune system, but fasting for 24 hours wouldn't even make it fluctuate (according to the first ID who diagnosed me).

[wolfter]

I regularly have my labs drawn NPO since my dr. tests for various things.