Author Topic: I'm new on this forum (Read 5561 times)

Archi · « **on:** January 23, 2016, 07:18:12 pm »

Hi. I'm new on this forum . And have so much questions last December I'm make HIV test Result was +. Make appointment to HIV Doctor . Result on test was so bad . CD4-164 and 18%. And 66000 . Doctor give me Altripla , Fluconazol every day and sulfameth/trimethoprim 3 times a week. In a internet I'm read if CD4< 200 , that AIDS. MY DOCTOR DO NOT EXPLAIN ME NOTHING. English my second language . Please maybe explain me how found good doctor in a Milwaukee what going bad or maybe good on my diagnose ? My full blood taste very good. Maybe somebody started from about same blood taste and now that real go up. How long that take Thank you.

zach · « **Reply #1 on:** January 23, 2016, 07:36:18 pm »

Hey Archi,

Glad you found this place.

No one can say how quickly your numbers will recover. What we can say, many here started with numbers lower than yours.

Atripla is a very effective medication. It will suppress your virus and allow your immune system to rebuild. Keep taking it.

However, Atripla is no longer recommended as a first medication in America. There may be good reasons your doctor prescribed it, but I think you should ask why?

AIDS... yes, less than 200 is AIDS, but there also needs to be a Opportunistic Infection (OI) present for an actual diagnosis of AIDS. (I think)

Regardless, it doesn't matter these days. With meds, you'll be virally suppressed rapidly.

Tonny2 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 23, 2016, 07:52:15 pm »

Quote from: Archi on January 23, 2016, 07:18:12 pm

Hi. I'm new on this forum . And have so much questions last December I'm make HIV test Result was +. Make appointment to HIV Doctor . Result on test was so bad . CD4-164 and 18%. And 66000 . Doctor give me Altripla , Fluconazol every day and sulfameth/trimethoprim 3 times a week. In a internet I'm read if CD4< 200 , that AIDS. MY DOCTOR DO NOT EXPLAIN ME NOTHING. English my second language . Please maybe explain me how found good doctor in a Milwaukee what going bad or maybe good on my diagnose ? My full blood taste very good. Maybe somebody started from about same blood taste and now that real go up. How long that take Thank you.

ojo. Hello and welcome Archi

Your numbers are not that bad yes, you are considered to have AIDS, fat but as soon as you start taking your medication, your numbers will go up rapidly and you will feel better. As soon as you go over 200 you will stop the other medications. So please do not worry too much, best of luck and keep us posted... Hugs. ojo

Archi · « **Reply #3 on:** January 23, 2016, 08:19:29 pm »

Thank you , guys. I hope I'm go up with my numbers. I'm optimistic in a life. That not easy to take this diagnose , that know every one , who on this forum. I need help now for understanding my status . My life not real change because my HIV status. Of course that skier , but hope I'm be OK. THANK YOU

Archi · « **Reply #4 on:** January 23, 2016, 09:03:39 pm »

Zach , what are you mean ,when : Atripla not longer recommend a first medication in USA ? What's recommended now ?

Jeff G · « **Reply #5 on:** January 23, 2016, 09:10:54 pm »

Quote from: Archi on January 23, 2016, 09:03:39 pm

Zach , what are you mean ,when : Atripla not longer recommend a first medication in USA ? What's recommended now ?

Atripla is still widely used but is not a first line med now … any of the other new combos are but you need to discuss that with your doctor .

Archi · « **Reply #6 on:** January 23, 2016, 09:24:03 pm »

Jeff , I cant understand how I tell to Doctor about prescription. Can I have right for that ? She is tell me , make test months letter and see what is going on. I'm so confusing

Archi · « **Reply #7 on:** January 23, 2016, 09:39:33 pm »

What medi recommended now ?

zach · « **Reply #8 on:** January 23, 2016, 09:50:53 pm »

archi, calm down ok

we're not going to recommend a medication here, we're not doctors

yes, you have the right to question your doctor to explain why she prescribed atripla as a first line medication.

please understand, it is an effective medication. in most of the world, it is still the first option. but, you're in america now.

you ask how to tell her... here is an article you could print, and show it to her at your next appointment

http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/treatment_guidelines_Atripla_1667_27065.shtml

until then, you keep taking your atripla meds

this is nothing to panic about

Tonny2 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 23, 2016, 11:07:25 pm »

Quote from: Archi on January 23, 2016, 09:24:03 pm

Jeff , I cant understand how I tell to Doctor about prescription. Can I have right for that ? She is tell me , make test months letter and see what is going on. I'm so confusing

ojo Hello Archi, would you mind if I ask you where are you from or what language do you speak?...Have you been taking ATRIPLA?, this medication is a good medication, for some people it is not, but if you are doing ok with it, it will be alright...there are other combinations, one pill a day, you can discuss this with your doctor, but do not panic, you will be fine with ATRIPLA...so relax and how about if you tell us, if you have any side effects with this med...best of luck...hugs ojo

Archi · « **Reply #10 on:** January 23, 2016, 11:12:14 pm »

Thank you. I'm try.

Archi · « **Reply #11 on:** January 23, 2016, 11:21:54 pm »

I'm take Atripla for 12 days. I do not know how that work now. I'm hope I'm OK. I have make another blood test at February ,12. After that need make appointment to my doctor. Im real hope y CD4 and % go up

zach · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2016, 11:34:26 pm »

archi, i'm sorry i said anything

i realize now that was a mistake on my part

the meds you are taking work great, you're ok... keep doing what you're doing

Jeff G · « **Reply #13 on:** January 24, 2016, 12:53:14 am »

Zach is correct … many people here on the forum and for that matter the world take Atripla and love it … its a powerful and effective drug .

CaveyUK · « **Reply #14 on:** January 24, 2016, 06:44:46 am »

Quote from: Archi on January 23, 2016, 07:18:12 pm

Hi. I'm new on this forum . And have so much questions last December I'm make HIV test Result was +. Make appointment to HIV Doctor . Result on test was so bad . CD4-164 and 18%. And 66000 . Doctor give me Altripla , Fluconazol every day and sulfameth/trimethoprim 3 times a week. In a internet I'm read if CD4< 200 , that AIDS. MY DOCTOR DO NOT EXPLAIN ME NOTHING. English my second language . Please maybe explain me how found good doctor in a Milwaukee what going bad or maybe good on my diagnose ? My full blood taste very good. Maybe somebody started from about same blood taste and now that real go up. How long that take Thank you.

Hi Archi. Firstly, don't get too hung up on the AIDS thing. It's just a categorisation used, and varies depending on where you are in the world. I know in the UK for example, you would have to have an OI as well as a cd4 < 200 for the diagnosis, and even then doc's in the UK are getting away from using 'AIDS' as a term, preferring to use 'late stage HIV' instead. You have HIV, there's no point piling on your problems by worrying about whether it's 'AIDS' or not. I'm confident too that you will be > 200 before you know it.

Secondly, your numbers are not THAT bad. Sure, your cd4 is low-ish but your cd4 percentage is great at 18%. That percentage is equivalent to a cd4 count higher than 200, so relax. I'm recently diagnosed with similar numbers - cd4 160, cd4% 16.3 and VL 70k and my doc said that if she was going just on the percentage alone, she wouldn't have prescribed the antibiotics to warn off PCP, but the guidelines insist on it with a cd4 < 200.

The Flucanazole will have been prescribed because the doc thought there could be some sort of fungal thing going on. I was prescribed it for 7 days because my doc thought she could see a bit of thrush on my tongue. I was't convinced, and still am not after finishing the course but the drug was easy to take and didn't cause any side effects.

As for Atripla, it's a very commonly used med and will get your viral load under control very quickly, so you will see benefits. The good news about HIV medication these days is that if for some reason one drug doesn't work as well as expected, or side-effects become troublesome, there are plenty of other options out there to replace it. That said, many many people use Atripla and find it works really well. I suspect you will be one.

Hang in there.

Tonny2 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 24, 2016, 01:56:48 pm »

Quote from: Archi on January 23, 2016, 11:21:54 pm

I'm take Atripla for 12 days. I do not know how that work now. I'm hope I'm OK. I have make another blood test at February ,12. After that need make appointment to my doctor. Im real hope y CD4 and % go up

ojo Hello Archi...if you are tolerating your med, you will be ok, I have some friends who are on ATRIPLA, and they are doing just fine...I'm sure that your next results, you will be over 200...just take your med as prescribed and you will be OK...best of luck...hugs ojo

Archi · « **Reply #16 on:** January 25, 2016, 06:05:26 am »

Thanks every body. I'm keeping my Atripla and hope I'm be ok. Please discus with me about right understand my life now

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Author Topic: I'm new on this forum (Read 5561 times)