Recently tested positive

[daveR]

Hi all,

I tested positive on 25th June, standard test followed by 2 additional confirmation tests. Then the painful one week wait for the final confirmation. Probably the worst week of my life, although after not sleeping the first two nights I managed to convince myself it was all some big mistake. I was wrong.

My initial figures were according to the doctor were "good", how she though me having HIV was in any way good was beyond me at the time. CD4 at 330 and 30% with a vl of 21800. After a while her optimism filtered through to me. I had it regardless of what I wanted but my body had not been over run by it yet. That was on 1st July. I took my first ARV's on the 2nd, another day that changed my life. Strangely enough I didn't grow another head or change colour, I didn't feel anything so just kept on taking them every 24 hrs, +/- 10 minutes, I know, a bit over cautious but I am still relatively new to this. Bloods were checked and the tests last week showed a CD4 of 957 at 36%, vl undetectable and a CD4/CD8 ratio of 0.83. All with no ill feelings bar a touch of stomach problems for the first few weeks.

All other blood work is normal and the fact that I have to take a bit more care of myself has got me back in the gym running and working out again at the tender age of 53. I live in Thailand so don't get access to the state of the art drugs but Truvada and its friend Edurant are doing a good job for now till the new stuff gets here. My initial mental issues have gone, did so after about 3 months when I woke up and looked in the mirror first thing in the morning and instead of asking "Why me, who, where, when and how", I just asked "Why not me" and accepted it.

After reading news articles and forums like Poz I am looking forward to a full, healthy and a life as long as normal. I can't say I am proud of myself for ending up here, after all I am an educated guy from the UK, grew up with all of the early scary stuff that was out there so have only myself to blame, but this is where I am.

Good luck to you all and if any newly infected people, I hate that word infected, makes us sound like the unclean and outcast, read this, don't panic it is life as normal.

Dave

[Jim Allen]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum, glad you found us and that you are on treatment and doing well. Excellent that you did not grow an additional head or change colour when starting treatment 

After reading news articles and forums like Poz I am looking forward to a full, healthy and a life as long as normal.

Indeed and its something worth repeating.

Hope to hear more from you on the forums and try not to blame yourself too much, instead forgive yourself and let it go, your only human so are the rest of us. 

Jim

[Tonny2]

       OJO       HELLO DAVE...WHATEVER THE REASON YOU WENT AND GOT TESTED FOR HIV, IT WAS THE BEST DESICION YOU HAVE DONE IN YOUR LIFE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE LIVING A "GOOD" LIFE...I LIKE YOUR ATTITUDE, NOT BLAMING ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU, "WHY NOT ME"...I LIKE IT, SAME HERE...I'M GLAD THAT YOU DIDN'T FEEL ANYTHING AFTER STARTING TREATMENT, YOU DON'T FEEL YOUR LEGS, YOUR HANDS, LOL...WISHING YOU THE BEST, AH!, BY THE WAY, YOUR NUMBERS ARE GREAT. ALTHOUGH YOU ARE NOT A V.I.P IN THIS CLUB, YOUR TREATMENT IS WORKING GREATLY, TAKE LOTS OF WATER THO...HUGS                                                  OJO

[harleymc]

Hi Dave,

congratulations on the top notch results that you are getting.
I've on the same 3 medications, as you are, for about 5 years with no nasty side effects.
Depending on the individual an older combination can work just as well as the new frontline medications.

I'm more flexible about the timing of the medications because the edurant must be with a meal and I don't always eat at the same time.

Good on you

[daveR]

Thanks for the words of encouragement guys. I hope my numbers can stay up there.

The testing Tonny2 was really luck. I have had periodic testing for work medicals over the years but never had any problems. My sex life when I first moved to Thailand was full on and I had always tested negative so it had become a routine that I was no longer nervous about, especially as my sexual activity in these past couple of years has been almost non existent. You could have knocked me down with a feather when the nurse took me to one side and started asking questions about drug use and sex. It wasn't until she mentioned HIV that the penny dropped. Up until that moment I had no idea, never had any flu like symptoms, swollen glands or any other of the symptoms which can indicate a problem. Again this was poor education on the subject by me. After being told I checked up on everything I could think of to prove I did not have it. It was then that I read that only 60-70% of people have obvious symptoms which could possibly indicate a problem. So I consider myself really lucky that I had that medical. If you know a problem exists you can manage it, the head in the sand approach will only get you to an early grave and hurt others on the way.

I consider myself to be along way off a position to preach or give advice on the subject as others I have read about have lived with this for 10-20 and 30+ years and have far more experience to share than me. The advice I would give though is this, get tested, put any thoughts about shame and embarrassment out of your heads and get a test done if you are in doubt. The stigma that surrounds this virus is certainly a big issue but just be discrete about who you tell, let yourself come to terms with it first and allow rational thought to return.

[Mightysure]

Hey Dave,
Welcome to the forums. It's OK to go through the emotions,most of us did after finding it out. I don't think your doctor was implying that having Hiv is itself good,  but your stage of progression is good and you were caught before toouch damage was done to your immune system. Conaider yourself one of the lucky ones. There are people here who found out when they were very sick and had single digit Cd4. 
You're doing so good on your meds and you'll get to a point where you won't even think about it. Take care of yourself keep in touch.

[bigsur123]

I can tell you that your initial test numbers are GREAT. My ppl wish they had those numbers prior to starting ART. I was infected for almost 8 years before I realized it and I only realized it because I was having eye issues which led to a string of tests and my new PCP has the fore sight to order an HIV test. Boy - we were both surprised.

[Jim Allen]

I can tell you that your initial test numbers are GREAT. My ppl wish they had those numbers prior to starting ART.

 

[harleymc]

Hey daveR
thanks for your post. I'm glad your treatments are working well.

That message of get tested, get on treatment is a life saver. It's a pity HIV testing is not being offered routinely by primary care practitioners.

Hope 2017 is a great year for you.

[JosephP]

Hey DaveR,
Hang in there... These forums are for you to vent, share and discuss our HIV...
I am not usually of the welcoming type as the membership to this exclusive club is rather expensive and, so far, there is no way to cancel membership! However, I am glad you found the forums and all their information. There are many, many LTS that with their advice can and will guide us on this journey..