Newly Diagnosed

[Vlad2022]

Hi there, I've been diagnosed nearly 3 weeks ago
I have no symptoms except enlarged cervical lymph nodes
And lost 3kg weight
So sadly CD4 and VL tests are not available in my city right now (the harsh life in middle east, northern Africa)
And right now I'm doing some lab work (liver function, kidney function, TB) so i can start the treatment
I'm slightly depressed
Dont want my family to know
I've just told a Friend of mine
So i want to know if the treatment reverse the weight loss?
Since I'm in the middle east islamic community I'm also concerned about getting married and have a family
I'm 26
Still z student

Any piece of advice?

[Jim Allen]

Hiya.

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Have you started treatment yet, if so how is that going? and what labs were run to confirm your diagnosis?

EDIT:

I see you are doing some labs before starting treatment... do you know what meds will be offered?

[Vlad2022]

The tests for dx was
HIV Rapid test
And confirmed by ELISA

The  tests for setup of the treatment was
Liver function tests
Kidney function test
CBC
UG
All came back normal
And I'm waiting for the last one The T.B test
Propably if negative they'll put me on meds on Sunday

I have no idea about which meds they'll prescribe

[Jim Allen]

Hiya,

Okay, well, as you only have a reactive ELISA, ill ask you to post only in this thread until more lab results are available, like viral load or results from confirmation tests.

Liver function tests
Kidney function test
CBC
UG
All came back normal

That's good news.

Any piece of advice?

Take your meds, go to six monthly checks, and live your life. It's a manageable condition and not anyone's business, so I would keep it to yourself unless you feel sharing your HIV status would somehow help you.

As for marriage, I don't know how marriage works where you are located. I know HIV isn't a roadblock to marriage here, and I have two kids. Many forums members living with HIV have families and children, HIV is not a roadblock to these things.

Also, with treatment at some stage, you should suppress the virus. Once suppressed for six+ months and if you continue to take your meds, you will be unable to sexually pass the virus on. https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=71848.0

[Vlad2022]

Thanx man❤️,
Your words really help

Here the stigma is not helping
No one would mary an hiv+
Maybe even my family would suffer from discrimination

[Vlad2022]

so I would keep it to yourself unless you feel sharing your HIV status would somehow help you.

I've just told my closest friend
My biggest fear is my mother knowing
She's 67 she'll not be able to digest it
She is so sensitive

[Vlad2022]

I have two kids.

Wow
Good for you

Have you been diagnosed before marriage?
And is your partner hiv+?

[Tonny2]

          ojo.         Hi there!!…welcome to the forum…usually, after an ELISA test, there is a confirmatory test called WESTERN BLOT, did your doctor order that test?, anyway, if you were to confirm you are indeed positive, you will regain weight, although you will have to be adheren to your treatment…you are a young person and you have a whole life ahead of you, as Jim mentioned, undetectable is intransmisible, so, if you want to start a family you will be able to do it, I have a couple a friends that they did just that, their wives gave birth to a healthy boy, each couple got a baby boy, so you will be able to have your own family…please keep us posted…hugs

[Vlad2022]

Hi there, my diagnosis has been confirmed
And they put me on dolutegravir lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets 50 mg/300 mg/300 mg

Right now there machine for measuring viral load is broken
They'll run the as soon as it get fixed

My depression is subsiding now and started to live my life normally

I'm glad that I'm here
It feels like a new family
Love ya all

[Jim Allen]

Sorry to hear it's been confirmed. Glad you have started treatment. TLD combo, solid drug combination.

What was the confirmation test?

[Vlad2022]

.

What was the confirmation test?

They just did three rapid test and ELISA







Is my drug good enough?

[Jim Allen]

Hiya.

The drug combination is fine, TLD is a solid combination.
My own combination contains two of the three drugs you are currently taking and the third drug I used to take until a few years ago.


https://i-base.info/guides/14970

They just did three rapid test and ELISA

Right well until you have confirmation testing such as NAT or WB results to share please post in this one thread only. Thanks

[Jim Allen]

My depression is subsiding now and started to live my life normally

Glad to hear your depression is managble and you are focusing to on living your life. Was it triggered by the HIV diagnosis or a preexisting challenge?

[Vlad2022]

Glad to hear your depression is managble and you are focusing to on living your life. Was it triggered by the HIV diagnosis or a preexisting challenge?

It was because HIV
Actually it's not a diagnosis by a Psychiatrist
I just had the symptoms
And went to my College Supervisor who is an Enternist so she prescribed an anti depressants to help my to go through

One fact i didn't mention i am a fourth medical student
I came hear because event in our books there is no sufficient info about living with hiv
And we don't have HIV specialist in our city

And  we have a local say :"ask experienced patients and dont ask a doctor".

Finally thank u for following up with all the members here

[Jim Allen]

I came hear because event in our books there is no sufficient info about living with hiv

Well, this isn't directed at you but if I was writing a page on living with HIV it would be take your meds and move on with your life.

The longer version would be prehaps, take your meds, move on with your life and get over it 

Attend clinic visits and live your life as normal. General health regardless of HIV status, don't smoke, drink less alcohol, eat a balanced diet and exercise

There might be room a short side note on TaSP and disclosure in region's where it's required.