Regretsafew:
First of all... I'd like to thank the creators and all the people on this site... It sure is a Godsend.
Well here goes... This is my story. I just learned I was HIV positive the beginning of this month.
I started not feeling well the beginning of July. I am a nurse and work in an Emergency Room in the suburbs and I think I've only seen 1 or 2 patients with HIV in the 4 years I've been there. So HIV is uncommon to my colleagues and pretty much myself. I was seen by one of the docs there because I was feeling tired and was running a low grade fever. He said probably just a sinus infection and put me on some antibiotics. Hover I got worse. I went to my primary doctor a few days later He did some blood work (not HIV) and said that I had mono. I went back to him a few times and was not getting any better. Fevers over 102. etc. All I could do was drink water and Gatorade and pop tylenols and Advil's. He then referred me to an Infectious Disease doctor.
I went and seen her. She reviewed my labs from the mono and asked a bunch of questions. Later I was becoming very dizzy and still running fevers. I ended up in the ER- where I work at. and was admitted because my sodium level was very low. While I was in the hospital they did my HIV test. I asked them to keep it confidential because everything at work is put into a computer where anyone can gain access to. They did, thankfully. I was in the hospital for 4 days. After I came home a few days the ID doctor called me and told me my HIV came back positive. I was completely devastated and she reminded me to keep my appointment with her 2 days later.
I went to her office.... I was scared to death. She gave me per scriptions for 2 medications. Combivir and Sustiva and sent me to another hospital lab for my CD4 and Viral Load test for confidentiality. She called me about a week later and told me she had some good news that my T cells were 357. My viral load was high ... greater than 100,000 CD4 was 7% but she said with the meds those would improve. She also said that the hospital had a committee and they discuss employees who are HIV pos, have Hep B etc and that they had to tell the director (my boss) OMG i was so scared I would be fired. I met with her before I returned to work and thankfully she was very supportive. You just never know how people will react to this. She assured me she wouldn't tell anyone and anything I needed just to come to her.
I started back to work last week. I'm a lil tired but I'm dealing with so much and trying to learn new things. I'm the happy go lucky guy normally and I feel like I have this huge weight on me now. The hardest thing was telling my mom and my close friends. I'm trying to hang in there but sometimes I just break down and cry. Any support or guidance would sure be appreciated. I think I need a hug.
Thanks for reading this.
Joey
jkinatl2:
Joey, it is with regret that I welcome you to the forum. But you could NOT have found a better place to discuss your concerns and get the best information anywhere.
Hang in there, ok? You're among friends.
ACinKC:
Im sorry you have to be part of our family...but you are that to us now.... FAMILY!
Welcome and big hugs!
Andrew
LatinAlexander:
The virus? That bastard is gonna be killed soon, brought to it by YOU AND YOUR ID.
You, WELCOME!!!!!! I was diagnosed like 6 weeks ago. We all know exactly how scared you feel, and difficult can this thing be...But guess what? WE ARE STILL ALIVE....YOU ARE ALIVE!!!!!!
A warm but strong huge in these moments of confussion