Positive Last august 15

[PHLApoz]

Hello everyone

I am a new immigrant in America. I came here in January 2023 from Southeast Asia.
Last august I set an appointment with my primary physician and he ordered HIV screening. To my shock I turned out positive and subsequent tests was done and I found out that my viral load was 111, 364 and my cd4 count was already 84. I am assymptomatic but the diagnosis is already AIDS. I felt so terrible and lost. I could not sleep. I felt I was a disappointment to myself and family knowing that I will have this disability forever. I will also face possible discrimination especially I am working in the healthcare field. I never told anyone fearing of my
Discrimination save for my aunt.

 I was referred to an infectious disease physician and she ordered further labs. She has prescribed me to start BIKTARVY. The genome typing reveals that I have subtype AE version of the HIV-1 virus which is the predominant strain in SouthEast asia and has more virulent power. It added more to my depression. Good thing though the labs reveal the virus does not have resistance to anti retroviral drugs. I tried to hide it but the psychological impact of my diagnosis affected my work that I got reprimanded. At that point I wanted to kill myself. But I fought that idea hard.

I made other research concerning the laws on HIV, statistics and assistance. I was revealed that as of 2019 in our lecture in infectious disease the statistics shows that the mortality of HIV/AIDS has decreased to less than 1%. I also found this forum. Reading the various claim how their viral
Load went down fast and cd4 slowly rising I was somewhat reassured.

I started my first dose Of Biktarvy August 17. So it has been a 8 weeks since I am on BIKTARVY and my latest viral load is 57. That is fast considering im not even 2 months in my drug therapy!

Thank you for all your statements. It is difficult for me to find group support and therapy here (health counseling requires me to transfer my insurance ). The sorrow is still there but sharing your experience and your therapy responses gave me hope.

[numbersguy82]

I am so glad to see that you are getting treatment and that your health has improved. You have a long and wonderful life ahead of you, and I hope you don’t let this diagnosis take away from that joy!

[PHLApoz]

Hey thank you for reading and for your encouragement. Id like
To join in your peer support group. Can you send me info?

[leatherman]

I will have this disability forever.

while you may have HIV forever (there's no cure right now) you certainly won't be "disabled". Taking daily medications will get your viral load to undetectable and let your cd4s recover. Then you can go on with your life as you want and you'll be like millions of other people living with HIV for 30-40 yrs already.  

[Tonny2]

                ojo.               Hello there!
… welcome to the forum… it’s normal, that you feel the way you are feeling, it takes time to digest the bad news but, you are going to be OK. Lots of us have been diagnosed with aids, and now, with the new medications nobody stays too long on that phase, just take your medication as prescribed and try to be positive now that you are positive, no pain intended… wishing you the best, you are not alone, we are here for you. Less be victors and not victims. It is what it is, it’s time to turn the page to live a normal life with a new virus under control…hugs

[Loa111]

Welcome & sorry to hear you have HIV. It is a terrible shock, even these days when the treatment is excellent .I was shocked when I found out I'd HIV, but a couple of weeks later when I found out I'd a CD4 of 22 and AIDS, I was terrified! Luckily everyone on this forum helped me & explained to me not to worry about the AIDs classication at all, that the meds will help me recover, and they did.

Actually none of my ID Docs every used the term "AIDS" to me, they call is "Advanced HIV", which sounds much nicer.

Anyway, the good news for you, and you may not feel this yet, but you will eventually...you will eventually kind of forget that you have HIV, you take a pill (2 in my case) daily, go to the Docs a few times a year, get bloods done, a quick discussion of test results, and that's it! It will become so normal to you, that you won't think of it much at all. I often aside from popping the pills, forget that I have HIV, and even when I do think of it, it means nothing to me, since the medication is working nicely!

I hope that helps. Keep coming back to this forums as it is a great place to find encouragement, especially in earlier days.

[numbersguy82]

Hey thank you for reading and for your encouragement. Id like
To join in your peer support group. Can you send me info?

Yes that would be fantastic. Our next support call is next Friday, please send me a private message with your email so that I can send you the link!

[Tonny2]

                     ojo.             @numbers, i think the OP must have posted at least three post before he can PM, i hope he is able too get the info for the meeting…goid luck…hugs

[Jim Allen]

Hey thank you for reading and for your encouragement. Id like
To join in your peer support group. Can you send me info?

Hiya.

In order to send or receive private messages, you first need to post at least three times on the forums.

[PHLApoz]

Thanks for your responses.

I really need support therapy where i can verbalize my feelings. Though my
Anxiety has been lessened it is still there. I know the people who can understand me are here

[Tonny2]

                ojo.        Hi there!…now that you have posted four times , you can PM with who ever you want…we understand you and hopefully we can make you feel better. I said before, it takes time to digest your diagnosis… we are here for you.

[PHLApoz]

Update

It has been 2 months and two weeks since I have been taken Biktarvy and I am glad to share to you that my viral load is less than 20/mL and that my cd 4 count is 249. That was fast!

Thank you for sharing your stories. It made me realize that there is hope in living with HIV/AIDS.

[Tonny2]

           Ojo.         Congratulations!!

[PHLApoz]

Update: my latest cd4 count went to 301. That was fast.

[Tonny2]

              ojo.            hello there!… Thanks for the update and remember, your biktarvy only suppresses virus, and that’s the most important thing that you have to concentrate in. Your soldiers would increase with time. Usually, I pay more attention to my cd4 percentage, and not my cd4 absolute number. anyway, I’m happy for you now try to leave your knife and the fullest because there is life after HIB diagnosis… Hugs.