POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: Incognito12 on February 03, 2012, 07:05:10 am
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Greetings everyone.
My name is Tony and I've decided to join this forum as sensible answers are given to sensitive questions. Last October I was tested for the first time and my results were a cd4 count of 14 and viral load of800,000. I went to see a doctor, he asked a couple of questions and prescribed: ricovir-em 200/300mg stocrin600mg trimoxazole480mg flucozole200mg. He then said he was going abroad and I should go to one of the international hospitals here in bangkok. In december my cd4 went up to 58 and viral undetectable. The second doctor I saw renewed the prescription without answering most of my questions. Both doctors said I should return to england, but this is my home. I've lived here for 12 years and have a beautiful 10 year old daughter. I get my perscription filled outside the hospital for 500% less, they dont like that. My cd4 is currently46. Question: when will the physical pain go ? when will I have an appetite? when will I gain weight? when will I have any energy? how long have I got? when will I get better? I have nobody to ask these questions to, only you guys. Those in a similar situation could certainly help me deal with this uncertainty. Sincerely,Tony.
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Greetings everyone.
My name is Tony and I've decided to join this forum as sensible answers are given to sensitive questions. Last October I was tested for the first time and my results were a cd4 count of 14 and viral load of800,000. I went to see a doctor, he asked a couple of questions and prescribed: ricovir-em 200/300mg stocrin600mg trimoxazole480mg flucozole200mg. He then said he was going abroad and I should go to one of the international hospitals here in bangkok. In december my cd4 went up to 58 and viral undetectable. The second doctor I saw renewed the prescription without answering most of my questions. Both doctors said I should return to england, but this is my home. I've lived here for 12 years and have a beautiful 10 year old daughter. I get my perscription filled outside the hospital for 500% less, they dont like that. My cd4 is currently46. Question: when will the physical pain go ? when will I have an appetite? when will I gain weight? when will I have any energy? how long have I got? when will I get better? I have nobody to ask these questions to, only you guys. Those in a similar situation could certainly help me deal with this uncertainty. Sincerely,Tony.
Hi Tony,
Welcome to the Forums! :)
I'm sorry to hear that you've been unwell and I appreciate that you have quite a few questions.
Let's deal with them in some sort of order, why not?
It's certainly true that you would receive better treatment in England, but it's quite possible to receive proper treatment in Thailand. If that's where your life is then it understandable that you would not wish to move.
Your current regimen is very effective and thus your undetectable VL is no surprise. It's important that you understand that whilst your VL might drop rapidly when you start treatment, your CD4 count can take a lot longer to go up.
Patience, my pretty. ;)
Your CD4 count is really low and it is no surprise that you feel unwell. It's going to take sometime before you get your appetite back and start to gain weight.
If you are in pain, you should seek medical attention.
Most of all, be patient. You will get better. Don't hesitate to ask us questions and most of all;
Welcome! :D
MtD
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Welcome Tony -
Matty has given you some great suggestions and feedback.
Stay the course, ask questions here and of your doctor, read the various lessons on HIV available on this site, and get support (and some laughs) from some of the posts.
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Welcome again.
Phil
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Welcome to the forums.
Nice results with the treatment. Keep hopeful.
What is the physical pain?
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Many thanks for your kind remarks. It certainly helpful to know there are people out there who are willing to give support.
The pain I mentioned is a continuous aching around my pelvic region but pain killers seem to help a little.
I shall take great interest in what people have to say and contribute when and where I feel it is appropriate.
Tony Bush. (my real name)!
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Hi Tony :)
Matty has addressed most of you questions, so I'm just gonna say welcome to our AIDSmeds family. As we often say, sorry that you had to join us, but glad that you found us.
Continue taking your meds, you're on the right track. That undetectable viral load is an excellent step in the right direction. It will be a gradual process as far as recovering your appetite, increasing your weight, and improving your CD4 count. You will get there as long as you continue taking your meds and monitoring your health.
You asked "how long have I got". Just know that you're going to be fine. Yes, your life has changed drastically, but the meds we have available to us nowadays are the key to a virtually normal life-span. In time you will see that life goes on.
Wishing you health.
Da Rev.
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All great advice up there ^
Can't add anything but just wanted to say Welcome. :)
-Will
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Again, many thanks.
tb.
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Sorry you found yourself in this position but glad you found your way here. Welcome! :)
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Greetings everyone.
My name is Tony and I've decided to join this forum as sensible answers are given to sensitive questions. Last October I was tested for the first time and my results were a cd4 count of 14 and viral load of800,000. I went to see a doctor, he asked a couple of questions and prescribed: ricovir-em 200/300mg stocrin600mg trimoxazole480mg flucozole200mg. He then said he was going abroad and I should go to one of the international hospitals here in bangkok. In december my cd4 went up to 58 and viral undetectable. The second doctor I saw renewed the prescription without answering most of my questions. Both doctors said I should return to england, but this is my home. I've lived here for 12 years and have a beautiful 10 year old daughter. I get my perscription filled outside the hospital for 500% less, they dont like that. My cd4 is currently46. Question: when will the physical pain go ? when will I have an appetite? when will I gain weight? when will I have any energy? how long have I got? when will I get better? I have nobody to ask these questions to, only you guys. Those in a similar situation could certainly help me deal with this uncertainty. Sincerely,Tony.
Hi Tony,
How are you getting on? I've lived in Thailand for almost 6 years now, and work in the Thai health care sector as a RN ( I still have to pass the Thai license test yet though). If you would like I can recommend you an infectious disease (ID) specialist to visit in Bkk, consultation fee is about 550baht.
Also just a word of recommendation, many general doctors here are not up to date with the new developments in HIV research and much of the knowledge they hold they got from out of date textbooks written in the 80's and 90's. So you would really want to visit a specialist to get some sound unbiased advice where you are not made to feel stigmatized.
As for buying your meds, you are right to buy at a clinic, as the price is far cheaper. I recommend the anonymous clinic at the Thai Red Cross society at Silom area. They can also do most blood work for you at cheaper price than most hospitals. The viral load test is still most expensive at 1,500, CBC & CD4 is 300, ALT/AST 140 and BUN Creatinine is 130Baht. But you will need to bring your own prescription(s) as they usually don't have a doctor on premises that can write you a script, if they do the wait time is usually long. You can order any blood tests that you want yourself, the doctor doesn't have to order them for you.
You said "I get my perscription filled outside the hospital for 500% less, they dont like that." Unless you are visiting a rural hospital outside of Bkk I couldn't see that they would care where you are getting your prescriptions filled. Your best bet is to see an ID specialist in BKK and get them to make out multiple prescriptions for you, for example each prescription with a 3-4month supply, Then you will never be stuck if your doctor leaves the country. Anyway I would still recommend that you see an ID specialist at least every 3 months or more frequent if you have time during this initial phase of your treatment as your CD4 is still very low.
Also at this initial stage of your treatment you should be getting a CBC and CD4 at least every month, this is only 300baht at the Thai Red Cross society, and they can email you the results within 3 days (5 for viral load). Then you can track your progress, include weekly weight and make a nice graph in Excel and bring this with you when you have a consultation with your doctor so they can make adjustments to your treatment and give you diet recommendations.
For pelvic pain, I would suggest you get a urine and blood test to rule out infection of your bladder or kidneys.
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Hi Tony,
Welcome. Small contribution here. BNH hospital in Bangkok is well worth checking out and the Silom Community Clinic is located there within it. While the clinic's focus is men who have sex with men, you could contact them to get names of ID docs who practice at the hospital.
Just because it's Mother's Day and immune systems, as you've experienced put up long fights without clues, I'm inclined to ask has your wife/partner (mother of your daughter) and your daughter, been tested? I realize the question may not be relevant if you are stepdad, adoptive father, etc.
Aside from physiological causes for pain, appetite, tiredness, also consider that you may be within the grip of depression which can have considerable impact. Probably best to ask your doc about that as well.
I think you should stay inThailand with your family. You just need to line up the resources you need for continued care.
Em
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Globe, who can you recommend in Krungthep?
I would really appreciate an answer.
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Hi, I tried to send you the info via a PM but it wouldn't let me, maybe I don't have enough posts yet to send PMs?
This is definitely the doctor for you to see, I think he is without doubt the best in Thailand for HIV/AIDS. He got his PhD from Johns Hopkins in Maryland, and speaks perfect English.
Here is his faculty page: http://prevent.md.chula.ac.th/preventive/th/snh.html
I know he is available for consultation at Ramkamheang hospital ever Sat. from 8-4.30pm, I also think he is available at Chulalongkorn Hospital during the weekdays but you will have to check what day as he also has a busy schedule lecturing at the Chulalongkorn School of Medicine. Consultation fees are around 600Baht, and remember to bring your passport to register at whatever hospital you would like to see him at.
I would initially suggest calling Ramkamheang hospital (0-2743-999) and making an appointment for a Saturday, you can then ask him in person where else he holds rooms and make a subsequent appointment for somewhere more convenient to you. Chulalongkorn hospital is huge, and you may spend the whole morning walking around trying to find his department.
Make sure you bring printouts of all your blood-tests, and info of the current meds you are taking for him to see.
Good luck
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Many thanks Globe. I shall keep you posted.
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Hi, I tried to send you the info via a PM but it wouldn't let me, maybe I don't have enough posts yet to send PMs?
You need a minimum of three posts in the public forums before you can access PMs. It's an anti-spammer fix we had to implement.
BTW, welcome to the forums. :)
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You need a minimum of three posts in the public forums before you can access PMs. It's an anti-spammer fix we had to implement.
BTW, welcome to the forums. :)
Thank you, and this will make three
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Welcome to the forums dude. I live in Thailand as well and haven't died yet...lol. I think you should be ok. 8)