Just tested positive 23years old

[newbie123]

Hello. I tested positive last Friday. I had risky sex in March and this month I test positive. So I am positive 3 months. My mood is changing all the time. From sad to anger and whatever else... But most of the time I feel good I am surrounded by friends all the time. I can sleep good. The first 2 days were hard. 3rd day I was happy all day and did lots of stuff... Today is the 4th day and I feel a little bit angry and I feel that I don't want to start taking the medication because I feel good. My doctor told me that I can start the treatment right away. But I feel like I don't want to start the treatment. I've read that WHO and many other organizations suggest starting of treatment right away. But I just feel that I don't want to. :/ Do you guys have any recommendation or advises for me? Thank you very much! 

[Jim Allen]

Hi

Welcome to the forum.

If you tested positive 4 days ago have you had confirmation testing done?
Also has your doctor booked you back in for CD4 and Viral load testing ?

If you start treatment or not is up to you, now it is indeed recommend like your Doctor said to start sooner, I mean why wait for damage to occur or to become sick. Your healthy so staying that way would be a smart move from my point of view.

Anyhow welcome to the forum.

Jim

[LukasAtlPZ]

One of the members of this forum recomends getting your prescription filled, but waiting a couple or three weeks to actually start taking meds. This is so that, once you begin taking meds, you do not get into a situation where you run out.

[zach]

i'm the guy that recommends stalling a few days to build a stockpile... but three weeks is too long to wait if your doctor thinks you've started and doesn't know you're waiting. doctor will do follow up labs after starting to measure the efficacy of the meds about a month after you start, and if you haven't started, they will interpret your labs incorrectly if you aren't honest with them.

whether or not to start? why would you wait? what would you for? AIDS? AIDS sucks.

every day you're not on meds, HIV is replicating in your body, spreading to new cells and organs, attacking your immune system, and doing unchecked damage. nothing in this world will stop that, except for meds. no prayer, no herbs, nothing.

every day you're not on meds, is one day closer to you getting sick and dying

treatment as prevention is also a concept to consider. with an unchecked viral load, you are infectious. with a suppressed undetectable viral load, you stand next to no chance of passing virus.

it is a big commitment to make, to decide to fight for your life. take that anger out on the bug, hit it as hard as you can. don't get sick and die.

but hey, if you just don't feel like it.

edit: if you'd like some tips on how to build a stockpile. ask when you've got your first bottle of meds in hand. we'll help you lay out the strategy. and go into more detail about the reasons a stockpile can be helpful

[CaveyUK]

My answer about when to start would be a stock : straight away. You may not feel like it is warranted if it is such a new infection but the latest thinking amongst researchers (not proven yet) is that if people start treatment very soon after infection then it will stop HIV getting into 'reservoirs' around the body. Modern HIV treatment is great but these reservoirs are still the reason many people have low-level inflammation which *could* cause some age-related health problems in the future. Starting meds super-early may be huge beneficial in this regard.

I know all the research hasn't been finalised on this, but as there is little down-side with modern meds, and huge potential up-side I would say start as soon as you can.

Of course, all this assumes it really is a very recent infection. I have no reason to doubt you at all, but I would get your numbers (such as CD4 and VL) first and factor this into your decision.

Best of luck

[newbie123]

Thank you for advises guys. Yeah I've got the confirmation today and it is positive. On Wednesday I have appointment to make lab tests about my VL and CD4 count. Regardless of the result they will start treatment on me right away cause they've told me it is a practice now in my country to start right away. And Yeah I've become infected on 10th march 100%. My last negative test was on 20th January.

[CaveyUK]

Well you are in good-shape then! As odd as that sounds in the circumstances!

[Tonny2]

          ojo        Hello newbie...welcome...please keep us posted...best of luck       ojo