POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Matty the Damned on September 25, 2007, 06:10:44 pm
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How time flies! It seems only one set of blood results are delivered and it's time to collect another.
Earlier this week Matty the Damned's Clinical Nurse Consultanat, the industrious Jo rang him with his most recent set of numbers. The bloods were taken a couple of weeks back.
As always the prior results for perspective:
July 2007
VL: <40 therefore undetectable
CD4 absolute: 120
CD4%: 12
and the most recent being September 2007
VL: <40 therefore undetectable
CD4 absolute: 204
CD4%: 12
Yay!! No change in VL means I don't have to change combo. I like my current combo (Norvir/Reyataz/Kivexa) and it, I fancy, likes me. Obviously my CD4 results are neither here nor there as my % is stable and the goal of HAART is viral suppression and nothing else.
I also have the results of my DEXA (bone density) scan. I have osteopaenia of the hips and osteoporosis of the spine. The blame is placed squarely on the evil combination of high doses of corticosteroids, AZT use and AIDS. A treatment plan is still being squabbled over by the medical types.
I would urge all HIVers who have been positive for a while, who have used steroids or AZT and/or are of the female persuasion to arrange a DEXA scan. You don't want to find out that you're osteoporotic the hard way as I did.
Fractures are terrible things.
AIDSmeds has excellent and extensive lessons on this subject. Read them.
I remain,
MtD
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Matty, Dahling,
Congrats on the new numbers. On the bone density subject, hopefully those medical types will come up with something that works for you.
Molten
(who likes Matty Dahling 'though don't know why ;D)
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Yeah, well you're probably gonna like me a whole lot less when you get back to Off Topic.
Dahling.
MtD
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That's good news, no change is good if the combo works for you. As for the CD4s 12% 204 looks nicer than 12% 120 anywayz!
Milker.
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Matty-
Good news on the #s. Relax, I had to do a DEXA scan awhile back and I was given the diagnosis of having osteoporosis. Mine is in my hips and spine. I was advised to take my testosterone hrt (hormone replacement therapy) daily and eat a lot of stuff w/ calcium. Milk is absolutely a big no-no for me. I take calcium supplements. Another vitamin added into my mix. I was also told to walk and exercise a lot (like I don't do that already).
I am sure there is something the medical ppl can do for ur diagnosis.
I was stunned when I heard that I had it considering that I thought only "old" ppl get it, well ppl a lot older than I. I also thought only elderly women get it as well.
Rob
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Well done my evil genius..about bloody time.
As for all the other stuff that's going on I hope they can come up with a treatment you can deal with...I've have a couple of DEXA scans done, if anything goes amiss I'm putting it down to old age... ;)
Love and hugs
Jan :-*
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matty, you will outlive us all.
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Good for you, Matty.
Hope they can sort out something for the bone density issues. I never knew it was an issue and was just thinking you had a glass jaw, so to speak, but your the third HIV'er I know that has found out recently that this is an issue for them. Your spot on with your tips/recommendation about the DEXA scan.
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My Delicious Damned One~~~~
I just love how that rolls off the tongue.. ;D I am glad to know that your numbers have remained stable and I have always said you are too evil to die. Your Majesty has been lucky thus far in life and has never broken a single bone..*knock on wood*. Is there a certain age you have to be to take this Dexa test? Neither of my doctors have mentioned it. I haven't even had the booby test done yet because according to them, I am not old enough yet. I was hoping someone would get to play with the girls since it has been ages since they have had any action... ;D
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Mattty,
Glad the numbers are holding steady and, more importantly, the meds are agreeing with you.
As for the osteo stuff - well damn young man! I didn't know anything much about this til now. I just followed your advice and read up on it in the lessons here.
UGH!
Let's see, I smoked for 34 years, I have taken AZT for going on 12 years, I was a somewhat thin man (till I quit smoking and porked up) I didn't consume any dairy for about 20 years because of lactose intolerance, so I have some of the issues people need to look out for regarding osteoporosis.
I suppose this is yet another test I should have done, along with that rectal thing.
I think I'd rather have a V8.
HUGS,
Mark
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See what happens when you take your meds on a kinda, sorta, sometimes, semi-regular, basis. :-*
AD
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Further to my earlier comments, herewith the AIDSmeds Lessons on Bones. (http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Bones_7548.shtml)
MtD
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MTD-
204 looks much better on you than 120. ;)
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My dear Damned One:
Alas, I have osteoporosis also. I had a DEXA done earlier this year to confirm my doc's guess. Are you taking Calcium with vit. D? I opted not to go on the meds for that yet. Just didn't want to add something else to the already insurmountable mix of meds.
I hope you're doing well. Congratulations on your new numbers. I'm glad something is going well for you. :-* :-*
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Hurrah to numbers! :) Boo to bone density. :( I second what Mr JK says.
Hug hug kiss kiss and muchas love, babycakes. :-*
Miss Debra xxx
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Glad to see you are holding your own with the blood work up.
As far as the bone stuff, I think too many of us are literally unconscious of this very important side of HIV, and most doctors don't keep up with the science at all. It is up to us to push them into "our" reality, rather than theirs. Fortunately, mine is on top of it, but only recently. I do know that calcium pill supplements are not the answer, as it can actually stop the effectiveness of PIs completely. We traced my last years vl increase to my initiation of calcium supplements to fight off bone loss. It appears diet is the only way to really fight this nasty side effect.
Love.
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Keep up the good work sweetie!