Author Topic: I am positive (Read 9780 times)

drphil1974 · « **on:** January 17, 2018, 10:31:24 pm »

I found out a month ago (Dec18) that I was positive. My general practitioner refused to have anything to do with my treatment; so, I didn't get to start treatment until Jan 16. My new doctor prescribed Genvoya. I just took my second pill and so far no side effects. I know.. it's early. But I have high expectations!

As to how I got it? Who knows? Maybe it was the girl from the bar in Bali? Maybe it was the guys blood from the watersports accident in Mexico? Questions like this though aren't going to get me anywhere or change anything. They're questions that I will probably never have answers to.

As for treatment, I really don't see HIV treatment as all that difficult. I mean Genvoya is a once a day pill. That's it. Simple. I was diagnosed with diabetes in my early twenties. Managing my blood sugar every day is much more challenging! Now, when I give blood for my A1C, they'll take a few more vials for my HIV.

So here I am. I appreciate this site, I learned a lot from it over the past month. So thank you to everyone here

drphil1974 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 17, 2018, 10:54:21 pm »

Oh, I guess I can add some more info. My CD4 was 659 (36%). Viral load was 680,000 which I think is a lot. My ID doctor told me not to worry, that I should be undetectable soon.

daveR · « **Reply #2 on:** January 17, 2018, 10:58:48 pm »

Welcome to the community. Sorry that you have ended up here but this is where we find ourselves.
Your attitude towards this condition is spot on. We could all dwell on who where when and why but that just takes up to much time in which we should be living.

You are right to have high expectations, we all can live normal lives now a days. The diabetes is obviously a complication but still a manageable one.

Good luck with it all
Dave

CaveyUK · « **Reply #3 on:** January 18, 2018, 05:59:04 am »

Indeed. Welcome.

The treatment these days is so good compared to how it used to be, and I am eternally grateful for that.

Keep us posted as to your journey

Jim Allen · « **Reply #4 on:** January 18, 2018, 11:56:35 am »

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry to hear your general practitioner was not open towards helping.

That said prehaps better this way, some GP's are simply not able or not skilled to assist in HIV care. I find HIV care is best left to HIV specialists.

Anyhow good to hear you started treatment and your new doc is right, you will be UD soon. Take it easy

Jim

Tonny2 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 18, 2018, 07:09:30 pm »

ojo. Welcome

I just want to ad that, you seem to have the right attitude to defeat this virus, now, you only have to take your one pill a day med, as prescribed, and you will be on your way to take back control of your life...the sooner you learn to.live with the bug,better....

Orez · « **Reply #6 on:** January 24, 2018, 09:28:14 pm »

Hello, sorry to hear we have another member to the community. It will be two years next month since my diagnosis and as you can see from my labs your starting VL is nothing compared to what mine was when I started meds. I started on Stribild because Genvoya was still new on the market so doc wasn't sure about it. After trying Stribild for two months and getting massive headaches I researched Genvoya. Even though my doc wasn't sure about it I told him to switch me because I cannot keep taking the Stribild and getting massive headaches. He did without issue and as you can see from the results below Genvoya so far has been good to me. I work a regular job and stay physically active so outside of relationship issue life goes on.

2016 Feb 15 - CD4=700; VL=8329600; CD%=38.9
2016 May 04 - CD4=?; VL=90; CD%=? Stribild
2016 Aug 27 - CD4=810; VL=80; CD%=35.2 Stribild
2016 Dec 17 - CD4=772; VL=<20; CD%=38.6 Genvoya
2017 Apr 15 - CD4=905; VL=40; CD%=43.1 Genvoya
2018 Jan 04 - CD4=1458; VL=<20; CD%=48.6 Genvoya

drphil1974 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 23, 2018, 07:05:05 pm »

Well I am back from my visit with the ID doctor. I am tolerating the Genvoya well, so I am staying on that. I've had zero side effects with the Genvoya. It really is just like taking a daily vitamin. I did my blood work; however, it wasn't all back at the time of my appointment. My CD4 has risen to 827 and 46%. I still don't know if I am undetectable though. Waiting on the viral load test to come back now.

CaveyUK · « **Reply #8 on:** February 23, 2018, 08:50:22 pm »

All good numbers and pleased you are having no side effects.

Sometimes it takes a little time to get UD, and the VL can get low but then taper off so getting to actual undetectable takes longer than you'd like, so don't be disheartened if you are not quite there yet!

JosephP · « **Reply #9 on:** February 24, 2018, 12:22:29 am »

Quote from: drphil1974 on January 17, 2018, 10:31:24 pm

I found out a month ago (Dec18) that I was positive. My general practitioner refused to have anything to do with my treatment; so, I didn't get to start treatment until Jan 16. My new doctor prescribed Genvoya. I just took my second pill and so far no side effects. I know.. it's early. But I have high expectations!
As for treatment, I really don't see HIV treatment as all that difficult. I mean Genvoya is a once a day pill. That's it. Simple.
So here I am. I appreciate this site, I learned a lot from it over the past month. So thank you to everyone here

Well, sorry you became a member of the group. But welcome to our little niche in the world.. Yes, treatment is a lot easier and we have to be thankful to all the trailblazers that made it possible for us to survive on one pill a day.
I was also started on Stribild and then switched to Genvoya when became widely available. So far not a single side effect. They are miraculous medications, albeit quite expensive.. Grateful insurance covers them! And you are right. Worrying about how I got it, where I got it or why I got it is an absolute waste of time and worry. We got it and now we have to deal with it. That is the truth in the matter. Keep us posted of your progress. You will get the news of being undetectable soon..

drphil1974 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2018, 08:48:58 pm »

I finally got my viral load results. On February 3rd my viral load was 183. Not undetectable; but I am very happy about that. I expect on my next test in May that I will be undetectable.

Tonny2 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2018, 04:23:11 pm »

ojo hello there...good results and better atittude, you will be UD mext visit with dracula...keep taking your med as prescribed and keep that good atittude, and you will be fine...hugs ojjo

drphil1974 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2018, 05:40:49 pm »

Well, I just got my results back. CD4 us up to 49% or 988. Still no word on my viral load yet. Happy with my progress and Genvoya.

Jim Allen · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2018, 05:21:37 am »

Hi

Glad you are feeling well

.

On the VL it is most likely UD by now it nearly was there last time but wait for results before presuming that.

To be honest as for CD4 you were near enough within "normal or average" range to start with and you will see that number go up and down each time, I'm saying this because there is no point for you to focus on the CD4 counts. I've seen mine personally shoot up by 200+ between tests and drop just as fast, its means nothing and its not an measurement of overall health or directly a measurement of the treatment either.

Take it easy

Jim

drphil1974 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 31, 2018, 06:11:22 pm »

Just came back from meeting with my ID doc. I am undetectable!

Tonny2 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 01, 2018, 03:52:18 pm »

ojo. Congratulations, welcome to the UD club... NOW THAT YOUR MEDICATION HAS TAKEN CARE OF THE VIRUS, NOW IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE... Best wishes and keep us posted. ojo

vrsan · « **Reply #16 on:** June 01, 2018, 05:33:39 pm »

I'm happy for you drphil, it's a great feeling to be UD for the first time. I found it liberating to know that the possibility of my virus spreading stops here. Keep doing what you're doing!

Jim Allen · « **Reply #17 on:** June 01, 2018, 05:40:01 pm »

Excellent update, congratulations

Bartlett · « **Reply #18 on:** June 02, 2018, 04:05:10 pm »

Excellent

Just keep adherent and you shouldn't have many issues!

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Author Topic: I am positive (Read 9780 times)