Newly Diagnosed - Truvada/Prezcobix Feeling Like Crap

[jcmich09]

Hello all,

I found out at the beginning of December that I am positive. I likely have been for over 5 years. Got initial blood work back: T cells at 62 and viral load over 100k. My doctor put me on Truvada and Prezcobix.

I have been on it for about 10 days now and am starting to feel worse and worse. Surprisingly, my temperature is low, but around 97. My neck has become very stuff and my glands are swollen. Is this a normal side effect, especially for someone that had very low t cell counts?

[Amaterasu]

Hey I started in July but on triumeq and it was by no exaggeration complete hell. But I stuck with it powered through it drank lots of water and after I would say a month or two my body adjusted and it got easier . hang in there it gets worse before it gets better but it does get better ... Goodluck!

[mecch]

Hello jcmich09 - welcome here.
Your post was over a week ago.  How are you doing.

A few things to keep in mind:

Its common enough for people to take a few weeks to adjust to starting HIV treatment. But eventually its also common enough for people to have little to know side effects on todays medicine.

Second - your CD4 is low so its going to take a good time for your immune system to rebuild, and there are lots of effects the immune system kicking back into high gear. The treatment is cutting your viral load down by a lot, (by what they call logs).  But that means the immune system is going to shift gears and people can get what's is called i.r.i.s - reconstitution of the immune system.

I'm glad you identified your infection and started treatment pretty quickly. I'm glad you joined the forum.

Do you have a good contact with your doctor?  If you get concerned about something, can you see your GP and or your HIV doc?  Also remember if you get worried about something you can post about it here and people will give you some feedback based on lots of experience.

[mecch]

I forgot to ask - are you taking antibiotics?  Usually people starting treatment with low cd4 take antibiotics to prevent lung infection. 

[Mac2016]

I can relate!!

Yeah, your body is getting adjusted. I was diagnosed in 2010 and started Triumeq this past June. I had no problem at the start of the med. Then in July, my body felt foreign to me. My stomach ached all of the time...it gurgled nonstop, my legs tingled until I thought I'd go mad. I told my doc I wanted off meds. Luckily, she talked me out of it. I had insomnia, I wasn't eating, I took some old Klonipins to sleep at night. I finally got my appetite back at the end of August.....and thankfully, it's all a memory now.

Stick with it....it does get better.

Wishing you well!

Robbie

[jcmich09]

Hey thought I'd give an update since its been a while. Was close to going to the ER as I had severe neck pain, very swollen glands, etc.

I didn't end up going and felt much better a week later. Had my first checkup and my viral load went down to 2,000!

I'm finishing my second month of Meds and unfortunately broke out in entire body hives last night so of course I'm scouring the forums again

[Jim Allen]

If you have broken out in hives it's simple go see a doctor.
Hives can have different causes some serious others harmless but self diagnosis is no good.  I would recommend seeing a doc.

I get them myself as I'm allergic to certain things like antibiotics.

Jim

[jcmich09]

Doc took me off Prezcobix and Dapsone. I do have a very mild sulfa allergy, so she's guessing thats why. I am starting Tivicay next.

[Jim Allen]

Well glad you spoke to the Doc and I hope you start to feel better soon.
As i said I get hives myself from time to time so i know just how unpleasant it can be.

Jim