Author Topic: Quick update from me (Read 7573 times)

manchesteruk · « **on:** November 22, 2007, 04:56:38 am »

Hi All,

Just thought I'd let you all know what I've been up to in the last few weeks. First off I've been busy revising for a Microsoft qualification I've got coming up in the next couple of weeks, fingers crossed for that one. I had my latest labs done a couple of weeks ago but I'm having trouble getting my results back because my doctor is off long term sick at the moment but I'll post them on here when I manage to get them back.

I've been asked by the LTNP study in Boston to send some blood over again so I'm arranging to do that in the next couple of weeks. They want 12 tubes of blood this time I'm going to have a withered arm by the end of that! And last but not least I'm off to hospital to have a shoulder operation in the next couple of hours. I'm going to have my arm in a sling for at least a month afterwards so don't expect any long replies from me for a while I'll be tapping away with one finger haha.

Happy thanksgiving to everyone in the US as well!

See you soon
Chris

carousel · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2007, 05:36:15 am »

Good luck with the qualification, do you get letters after your name?

Sorry to hear about the arm, best wishes for the operation. Apart from writing is it the 'important' hand for 'daily relief'.

penguin · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2007, 05:38:56 am »

hope everything goes well with the surgery today, mr manchester - and good luck with the qualification gaining

kate

Cliff · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2007, 05:53:53 am »

Hi Chris,

Good luck with the qualifications and surgery!!!!! THanks for the update and keep us posted mister!

Cliff

BT65 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2007, 06:29:44 am »

Good luck with the surgery and the recovery!

RapidRod · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2007, 06:52:58 am »

Good luck Chris and I hope you have a speedy recovery too.

Rodney

bear60 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:16:35 am »

Hi Chris
Its good that you have been able to keep up with your participation in the Boston study. This past Monday I too went in for the blood draw of 12 vials to be sent to Boston. Have you asked for any information regarding the results of the study or the results of your genetic test?
Good luck with the surgery and recovery.

BirdBear718 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:56:59 am »

Here is hoping for a speedy recovery from surgery!

12 -- hoping for a talented vampire, and a speedy "withdraw" for that too!!!!!

cayucosguy · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2007, 11:45:12 am »

Good luck with the surgery, Chris.

I need to update my MCSE and I'm working towards a Cisco certification this year, so I know what the studying is like. Best of luck with the cert.

Vince

Robert · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2007, 11:46:16 am »

hi chris.

always good to hear from the IT guy in manchester. I'm wonder ~~ How many times have you told us about the LTNP study? Apparently not enough. I'm always forgetting that you're part of the study. Good luck with your surgery. Can't they just sort of snap it back into place and leave it at that?

Can you get those manchester lassies to come make you some dinner?

robert

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2007, 12:36:16 pm »

Just curious, but how can one be labeled LTNP when you've only been diagnosed for two years? Sorry, I have no clue how this study is set up.

AlanBama · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2007, 06:40:33 pm »

Chris,

Good luck with your surgery, I hope your shoulder heals very quickly! Keep us posted......

Hugs,

Alan

heartforyou · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2007, 07:06:58 pm »

Hi Chris,

good luck with the surgery.
I just had "needling" performed on both my shoulders. Procedure, by means of a long needle inserted in the shoulder shaft to remove calcarious growths... a bit painfull, but with very good results..

hermie

Jerry71 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:51:27 pm »

Good Luck Chris.

I feel your pain for the taking blood part. I had to give 11 vials of blood last month just to get all my lab results and other tests done. Was doing pretty good till the 9th vial then started to turn a yellow color and started to sweat and nearly passed out. Just thank goodness Lisa was there for her support.

Basquo · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2007, 11:15:10 pm »

Hope you heal and recover quickly, Chris! I gave my 12 vials a couple of weeks ago--it wasn't too bad even at the end, though I had to have some candy right afterwards. I wish they'd share the results with me!

mjmel · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:48:41 am »

Chris, hope you do fine on the certification,
and that your shoulder heals well and rapidly,
and that, someday, I get to finish that conversation I was having with you that was interrupted at AMG 07 Meet & Greet.
Hugs and more hugs,
Mike

manchesteruk · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2007, 06:09:48 am »

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I think the Op went ok the surgeon had gone by the time I came around (last patient of the day surprise surprise!) so I won't actually know what he's done until I go back to see him in a couple of weeks. Arm should only need to be in a sling for 2 weeks anyway I think. It was on my right shoulder and I tend to do EVERYTHING with my left hand anyway so I'll be ok haha. I'd oozed onto my bed sheets this morning though which wasn't nice they did warn me it might happen so it's my own fault for not putting something down! Got my viral load test back yesterday as well which is undetectable so I'm pleased with that, CD4 won't be till early next week I think.

Quote from: philly267 on November 22, 2007, 12:36:16 pm

Just curious, but how can one be labeled LTNP when you've only been diagnosed for two years? Sorry, I have no clue how this study is set up.

I'm not considered to be a LTNP Philly I think that's reserved for people who have been + for over 10 years without showing any signs of disease progression. I think I'm considered to be an 'elite controller' haha sounds very over the top doesn't it. That just means my viral load has always been undetectable without the help of meds. It's always been less than 40 apart from once when it was 90 all very strange I don't understand it to be honest!

Creighton and Bear they haven't really told me anything about my results I don't think they have anything to report as of yet to be honest. I got this back in an email though:

Quote

The last time you sent in blood it was used for DNA only and no immunology studies were done . Your DNA was sent off with about 400 other samples back in April for an initial look at all of your genes in comparison to other people who also are able to control HIV to the same level as you. Because it is such a broad look these results basically take an algorithm just to analyze and these results have not come back as of yet. Eventually we are trying to compare 1000 people who control to same level as yourself in order to have statistical significance, so even though that is the big picture it may still be another year or so before we have those results.

In addition, your HLA genes that are on the surface of your cells were typed. These are the same genes that are examined when one is going to be an organ donor. Basically these genes help to define the immune response your body will have during an infection. Some forms of these genes have been found in a greater prevalence amongst people who control HIV really well and other forms have a higher prevalence in the AIDS population. The forms of these genes you have no documented associations, meaning that your control of HIV cannot be solely attributed to just those genes. There are many factors which we are trying to look at including the number HIV recognizing T cells that you have, and the properties that these T cells exhibit. These are the studies that are currently going on in the lab.

Make sense of that if you can! Right this has taken me over 40 minutes to type so I'm finishing here!

Chris

cjc · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2007, 08:06:54 am »

Best of luck to you and wishing you a speedy recovery. Cristy

David_CA · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:18:22 am »

Good luck and quick healing from the surgery, you 'elite controller' you!

I hope it all goes well and that you do end up one of the fortunate ones who are considered LTNP! Take care.

David

allanq · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2007, 02:47:08 pm »

Chris,

Good luck with the surgery and for a speedy recovery.

Also good luck with the Microsoft certification.

"Elite Controller" is such a weird term. Sounds like a psychiatric disorder.

AllanQ

penguin · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2007, 04:00:58 pm »

Quote from: allanq on November 23, 2007, 02:47:08 pm

"Elite Controller" is such a weird term. Sounds like a psychiatric disorder.

reminds me of Thomas the Tank Engine more than anything

glad to hear things went ok yesterday chris.. hope you have a speedy recovery.

kate

JohnOso · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2007, 04:55:07 pm »

Chris,
Funny i should see this today, when i just asked Debra last night how you and englishgirl were doing.

Glad to hear the surgery is over with....please tell me they gave you lots of good pain meds.

Good luck with certs...i know it's a lot of studying about really awful stuff.

big hugs,
John

OzPaul · « **Reply #22 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:10:14 pm »

Hey Chris

Glad to hear the surgery went well ! I'll be sending healing thoughts and vibes for a speedy recovery.

For those reading this thread, here is some more info about the "elite controller' study, which you and several other of us here at AM are enrolled in.

http://www.massgeneral.org/aids/hiv_elite_controllers.asp

Take good care

Cheers
Paul

pozattitude · « **Reply #23 on:** November 23, 2007, 05:13:11 pm »

Hi Chris,

Hope your recovery from surgery is a speedy one and good luck with your Microsoft certification.
"elite controller' ...aren't you special?...lol

Rich

manchesteruk · « **Reply #24 on:** December 05, 2007, 05:51:31 pm »

Hi all,

Just thought i'd give you a quick update. Recovery from the surgery has gone well. Went to see my consultant today who was happy for me to stop using my sling and i've got a physio appointment on Friday so I can start building my shoulder up again. It's all healed a lot quicker than I thought it would so that's a bonus. Only problem is one of the incisions hasn't healed very quickly so i'm going back next week to get that checked out.

Got my CD4 back which was 1165 (43%) so all looking pretty good still on that front. It's been two years since my diagnosis now which I find very strange doesn't seem like two years at all! In other news i'm in the process of trying to get myself some CBT counselling to work on my Social Anxiety which I struggle with more now that anything else really. I've noticed now how it effects your life in more ways than you realise and I want to try and do something about it. Private CBT is very expensive though and waiting lists on the NHS are ridiculous so i'm still working on that one!

Chris

poz1970 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 05, 2007, 05:58:44 pm »

Hey

Grats!! 1165 is fantastic!!! Good to know you've recovered well :-)

How did the microsoft certification go?

J

RapidRod · « **Reply #26 on:** December 05, 2007, 06:04:08 pm »

Chris glad to hear your recovery is going well. Great numbers too. I know where I can get some CD4s now.

Social Anxiety? You? You put on a good front for having it. Good luck to you on that also Chris.

Rodney

AlanBama · « **Reply #27 on:** December 05, 2007, 07:18:34 pm »

Glad you're recovering nicely, Chris. I agree with Rod, you did a good job of keeping us unaware of "social anxiety". Best of luck with that too, honey.

Hugs,

Alan

Robert · « **Reply #28 on:** December 05, 2007, 07:36:09 pm »

hi chris.

glad to hear the sling is gone and the shoulder is repairing itself. You'll be back to snuff in no time.

Don't let a little anaxiety bring you down. Like Rod said, I saw a cslm, collected and crazy cool kind of guy in SF. Ummmm. Now that I think about it, maybe it was that constant barrage of gibberish I was throwing at you on our walk home from the meet and greet that messed you up. Sorry about that.

robert

BirdBear718 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 05, 2007, 08:42:47 pm »

Glad to read your great report!

Social anxiety is a tough one -- I experience that too. But here is the thing you mus remember (I have to remember it too....): Other people are sfferig from it too, although it is something you cannot see. Some people become quiet and withdrawn, while others actually get really loud trying to cover up their social anxiety. So, when you are at a gathering, look at it as an opportunity to see what coping skills others are using to overcome their anxiety...oh yes....most are experiencing it.....maybe not as much as you and me, but they are experiencing it nonetheless.

Best wishes to you!

fearless · « **Reply #30 on:** December 05, 2007, 10:11:15 pm »

Quote from: manchesteruk on December 05, 2007, 05:51:31 pm

... happy for me to stop using my sling ...

I'm not happy about this one bit Chris. I was hoping I could play in your sling one day.

manchesteruk · « **Reply #31 on:** December 07, 2007, 01:53:28 pm »

Quote from: fearless on December 05, 2007, 10:11:15 pm

I'm not happy about this one bit Chris. I was hoping I could play in your sling one day.

haha. i'll keep hold of it for you!

Yeah the social anxiety thing is pretty complicated to be honest I don't fully understand it myself. It wasn't a problem for me at AMG though. There are different types of social anxiety and different severity's. Some people have a crippling fear of speaking to people on the phone, in public or talking face to face. I'm not like that at all. For me it's hard to pinpoint which is why i'm trying to get some help really. I'm too self critical of myself and I overanalyse things which leads to insecurities and paranoia, quite often about completely ridiculous things. I sound like a head case now don't I haha. Anyway I think this CBT will help a lot because it helps to change the way you think and behave around certain situations.

Microsoft exam is scheduled for the 17th but i'm going to change it till after Christmas I think, i'm not quite ready yet!

Chris

RapidRod · « **Reply #32 on:** December 07, 2007, 05:45:32 pm »

Quote

I sound like a head case now don't I haha.

That's alright Chris, we know you're on pain medication for your shoulder.

penguin · « **Reply #33 on:** December 08, 2007, 09:59:37 am »

glad to hear the arm is healing up - i wish you an equally speedy navigation through the cbt waiting list

kate

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Author Topic: Quick update from me (Read 7573 times)