Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 29, 2024, 09:26:11 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37614
  • Latest: bondann
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772954
  • Total Topics: 66311
  • Online Today: 741
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 1
Guests: 459
Total: 460

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: coping with the shock  (Read 5929 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline zach

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,586
coping with the shock
« on: December 15, 2010, 07:22:56 am »
They say hindsight is 20/20, and looking back over the last six months of my life I see some things I wish I had seen then. One, I wish I had found this board the day I was diagnosed. Two, I wish someone had made me read The First Year sooner.

Instead a doctor tossed me a bottle of Atripla, take one a day, you'll be fine. Sure enough, my numbers improved, and I have survived. And I will continue to do so. But AIDS is still the worst disease of our time. It's been my experience that some doctors have become complacent, their job only seems to extend as far as stabilizing the disease. That may be true, but I hope other newly diagnosed pwas have some tools, and are better equipped to cope.

Think I'm gonna get about 20 copies of First Year, write the aidsmeds url in the cover, and ask my doctor to give them to new patients. I want to put together some sort of tool bag, not just directions on what time to take your meds, side effect and interaction warnings. Don't Panic in large friendly letters on the side. There's got to be a better way of easing into this life.

I'll get off my box now before I start sounding preachy.

Offline buginme2

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,426
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2010, 07:37:44 pm »
Hey, are you referring to the book, First year.  I have seen others mention it on here but havent read it.  I should probably pick up a copy.  Glad to hear things are going better for you. 
Don't be fancy, just get dancey

Offline zach

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,586
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2010, 03:43:41 am »
yep, the book
http://www.amazon.com/First-Year-Essential-Guide-Diagnosed/dp/1600940137/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1292488879&sr=1-1

and thanks, things are better, still feel like a rock skipping across a pond, but at least i see the shore

Offline Crowe

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2010, 03:15:40 pm »
I too am coping with the shock. I am just starting Atripla today. A bit scared to be honest. Good to be able to chat to others too. My girlfriend is a great support but nothing like talking to those that go through the same.

Offline buginme2

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,426
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2010, 08:30:59 pm »
Atripla is not so bad.  I just started on it last week.  The first night was rough but it got better very quickly.  Hope it works out for you.
Don't be fancy, just get dancey

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2010, 10:06:58 am »
Hang in there guys. Gradually, while still obviously being important, it's going to subside and not be THE overwhelming truth of your lives. It's important to have a good relationship with your doctor and to have one who answers questions when you have them.

You're always welcome here to ask questions or to talk about anything that's on your mind. It's inspiring to get the determination and life spirit in each of your comments. Hang in, hang in.

Cheers to each of you. (Apologies for not writing separate e mails to each of you). 
Andy Velez

Offline numbersguy82

  • Member
  • Posts: 532
  • Adrian Alan
    • Instagram
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2010, 11:02:56 am »
I agree 100% Zach. There is so much more to this illness than just stabilizing your numbers. Mental and emotion well being should be guarded closely. Finding support groups and friends to share things with is vital to your continued wellness. I am very blessed to have had a positive best friend for the past 5 years now, and when I was diagnosed it was so easy to get information from him.

I haven't tried any local support groups yet, but these forums have helped me immensely.  I hope to get to know you guys better on here! Oh and I'm definetly going to read The First Year. Thanks for the recommendation.

Take care- Alan
JOIN US FOR PEER-ish SUPPORT Every other Friday @ 7pm EST, PM me your email address for meeting link/information

Strive for “One Day When” by collecting “One Day Wins”

Offline tag_man08

  • Member
  • Posts: 118
  • Keep Dreaming!!!
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2010, 10:17:59 pm »
i'm glad you found this site too...it was a blessing to me when i found it....wish i had known of it sooner...cause i was very lonely and in the dark for months after my diagnoses....i didn't want to talk to anyone about HIV...nor did I want to talk to anyone gay.....was hard to move on and forgive the person that gave it to me....i need to read this book too....its the first i've heard of it.....thanks for the info
08/30/07:  The HIV diagnosis...
09/07/07:  CD4 299 (21%)  VL 160K
01/07/08:  CD4 396 (26%)  VL 125K
04/21/08:  CD4 478 (25%)  VL 92K
09/03/08:  CD4 313 (23%)  VL 10K
11/03/08:  CD4 338 (23%)  VL 30K
11/21/08:  Isentress & Truvada
12/05/08:  CD4 485 (29%)  VL  undetectable in two weeks
03/13/09:  CD4 575 (30%)  VL  undetectable

Offline drewm

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,248
Re: coping with the shock
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2011, 10:37:16 pm »
I am glad I found this site also. Thanks for sharing.
Diagnosed in  May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX -  FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS


Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.