What next

[skycee]

Good day All.

I'm relatively new with been positive and really do not know what to expect, i wake up each morning looking for changes in my body and sometimes my mind gets really bugged? I'm currently on multivitamins, exercise and generally living healthy as that's what my doctor prescribed as he said my cd4 is okay.

I have a couple of questions and would appreciate if I get some answers..

1. If I stay on my medications with perfect adherence and maintain my cd4 count and vl is undetectable, am I still prone to OI.

2. What are the major issues for we the new generation pozzies, with respect to the current HARRT treatment side effects.

3. I've got swollen nodes around my neck and groin, should I expect it to go away just by living healthy and the multivitamins regime I've been placed on.

4. I shed a couple of pounds am I going to regain it and put on more weight, or should I expect a downward trend, if I can regain it what can i do to help my body?

Would truly appericiate answers to these.

Thank you

[skycee]

Good day y'all.

Still waiting for answers  to my questions, would definately appericiate it.

[darryaz]

1. If I stay on my medications with perfect adherence and maintain my cd4 count and vl is undetectable, am I still prone to OI.

2. What are the major issues for we the new generation pozzies, with respect to the current HARRT treatment side effects.

3. I've got swollen nodes around my neck and groin, should I expect it to go away just by living healthy and the multivitamins regime I've been placed on.

4. I shed a couple of pounds am I going to regain it and put on more weight, or should I expect a downward trend, if I can regain it what can i do to help my body?

I'll defer to more-experienced people to answer 2 and 3 but.....

1.  Short answer:  No.  Many of us have immune systems as strong as the average HIV-negative person.
4.  Once your viral load is low and CD-4 is high you will most likely have to be careful not to gain too much weight..... just like the general population.

[bufguy]

I asked the same questions soon after I was diagnosed in 2008.
Check this link:http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/SideEffects/Q195450.html

HIV+ persons with decent CD4 counts (> 350-500) have much the same risk and outcomes for community acquired infections as HIV- persons with some exceptions. There is an increased risk for infections due to Strep pneumonia, herpes zoster, TB and possibly methicillin resistance staph infections and some others. Other infections can pose additional challenges to treat (as compared to HIV- populations) such as hepatitis B or C or human papilloma virus infections. Overall it is remarkable how well HIV+ persons doing well on treatment compare to HIV- matched persons


Generally if you stay adherent to your meds you will be as healthy as the general population.
Some recent good news...It appears that HIV+ people may actually have a longer life expectancy than the general population if they stay adherent and visit their docs on schedule. The thought is that their health is more closely monitored with regular care....I know since I was diagnosed I am much more concious of my health..I stay fit, lost 15 lbs, watch cholesterol etc.

[emeraldize]

"3. I've got swollen nodes around my neck and groin, should I expect it to go away just by living healthy and the multivitamins regime I've been placed on."

Is your medical team aware of this? If not, give them a call.

If they were aware of it in your last visit, what did they say? If you've forgotten it's fine to call back and say, hey, I was a little overwhelmed last time I was in---what about the swollen nodes in my neck and groin?

[newt]

Well, in short keep taking the tablets and expect and plan for a normal life, whatever you plannend to do before diagnosis.

To answer your specific question:

1. If I stay on my medications with perfect adherence and maintain my cd4 count and vl is undetectable, am I still prone to OI.

At your CD4 count, which is well "normal" (within the statistical range of normal), no. Note that some people, very few, without HIV and normal immune systems will get eg PCP, other infections that HIV-positive people get, this is just how infections go. But I would plan for no OIs. Risk of OIs is related to CD4 count not adherence to meds. Above 350 on CD4 you are mainly safe for serious OIs. Above 500 no worries, and if you get anything nasty it's prob not HIV related.

2. What are the major issues for we the new generation pozzies, with respect to the current HARRT treatment side effects.

Ask us in 5-10 years. If there are side effects like bone loss, rising cholesterol, these are usually apparent in the first 6-12 months of treatment.

3. I've got swollen nodes around my neck and groin, should I expect it to go away just by living healthy and the multivitamins regime I've been placed on.

I would expect these to go away after a few months now you are on medication. The vitamins will do nothing for enlarged lymph nodes.

4. I shed a couple of pounds am I going to regain it and put on more weight, or should I expect a downward trend, if I can regain it what can i do to help my body?

You may add healthy weight (lean muscle mass) if you eat proper and go to gym. HIV screws your fat metabolism, so a modest amount of non sexy weight gain is common after starting meds, but not compulsory, and as many do not experience this as do. Gaining lean muscle mass post meds (and, ahem, avoiding gain of unwanted subcutaneous body fat) depends on the correct combination of diet, exercise and genetics.

Hope this helps

- matt

[emeraldize]

Hey Skycee,

One of your posts noted your doc did not put you on meds yet. Is that correct?
I think some of your med questions are future-oriented, yes?

[skycee]

Hey Skycee,

One of your posts noted your doc did not put you on meds yet. Is that correct?
I think some of your med questions are future-oriented, yes?

Yes emeraldize, I'm not on meds yet, just multivitamins for now.

[skycee]

Thanks for your response guys....

[emeraldize]

Yes emeraldize, I'm not on meds yet, just multivitamins for now.

So, re: your swollen lymph nodes, call your doc's office.

[Ann]

Sky, it's not unusual to have swollen glands (lymph nodes) during primary hiv infection (primary can last several months to a year - I'm not talking about ARS). The best thing you can do is to stop poking and prodding them to see if they're still swollen. Touching them all the time can irritate them and keep them swollen.

You probably actually have swollen glands in places you don't even know to look for them and no, I'm not going to tell you where those places are. Just keep your hands off your glands. It's all part of your body doing what it needs to do, so chill out about them.

Why don't you know your viral load?

[jkinatl2]

I had swollen lymph nodes for about three years after I seroconverted. They eventually settled down on their own.

[emeraldize]

Ann has good advice and a good question re viral load. I tend to be a conservative old bat and think that asking questions of your doc's office gives them the option to advise, or, puts it on their radar for the next visit. It's just a phone call. (You could also ask about your viral load.)

[skycee]

Sky, it's not unusual to have swollen glands (lymph nodes) during primary hiv infection (primary can last several months to a year - I'm not talking about ARS). The best thing you can do is to stop poking and prodding them to see if they're still swollen. Touching them all the time can irritate them and keep them swollen.

You probably actually have swollen glands in places you don't even know to look for them and no, I'm not going to tell you where those places are. Just keep your hands off your glands. It's all part of your body doing what it needs to do, so chill out about them.

Why don't you know your viral load?

Thanks everyone for Š response.

Ann, a part of me wants  to know where Š glands are and another part doesn't, i wld just let it slide and restrain myself from not checking on Š internet.

As for Š viral load, my doctor said Š regulations is SA, considers that cd4 1st and only checks Š VL when Š CD4 goes below 350...he said i shouldn't worry about em for now, that my cd4 is ok, my next check up should be in 6months, buh you bet i wld be there in January  to check whatever i have  to, don't want  to be taken unawares.

So that's it.

[mecch]

Do you know other HIV+ people?  I think its odd that viral load isn't checked routinely.  I would ask other HIV people who are experienced in your region how they deal with that lack of information...

[skycee]

Sadly i don't, and I'm yet  to get a support group here.

However i intend  to go back in January thoughthe doctor said 6months

[mecch]

When I am faced with a situation in which there are limitations or roadblocks to getting what I feel I need and or deserve, and or want, I usually try to figure out if the "squeaky wheel gets the grease."  That is, there are obviously many situations in life that come with limited resources or no resources, rules and regulations that restrict.  But sometimes, knowing how it works and if there is some lee-way, if I can be politely assertive - the squeaky wheel - sometimes I got the grease. Not always but sometimes.  And i'm very thankful for those times. 

[skycee]

Thanks Mecch.

I would push harder and update asap