POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => I Just Tested Poz => Topic started by: Dale Parker on April 29, 2009, 05:13:32 pm
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Just got back from my follow up visit with the Doc.
The good
My chest x-ray came back fine (except for the usual smoking stuff).
He also told me I could get a part time job. I get so friggin board at home and can use the extra cash. Hopefully the students haven't taken them all.
I can also exercise (bike, swim and work out). Maybe I can get that bubble butt afterall.
The Bad
I asked for my percentages (these were prior to starting meds):
CD4 is at 3%
CD4 to CD8 ratio 0
I gonna have to work on those.
Still have thrush so I got a script for two more weeks of fluconazole.
Things that make you go HMMMMMMM
When I had my confirmation test done the report came back as follows:
HIV 1/2 Screen Reactive
HIV 1/2 Supplemental Reactive
HIV Western Blot Weakly Reactive
HIV p24 Antigen Screen Reactive
HIV-1 p24 Antigen Confirmed Reactive
Since most of you are in the USA or other countries I don't know if your test reports are the same. Apparently ours goes in progressive order and gets more specific as they go down the list.
The Western Blot result has even the doc stumped. He's checking with other specialist to see what they have to say.
I asked if there was a need to redo the test and he said no.
He asked if it was possible that I could have been reinfected within the last 4 months or so. I said no. I haven't fooled around with anyone since late August or early September of last year. He went for testing and came back negative.
Has anyone got a explanation.
I go back for follow up blood test in two weeks.
Thanking you guys and gals in advance:
Dale
My doctor said that he has written a few articles for this site. Is there any way I can find them by typing in his name?
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The good
He also told me I could get a part time job. I get so friggin board at home and can use the extra cash.
Welll,.... If your feel you are up to it go for it. I know how I felt in October of 2003 with 5% and 16 t-cells. I continued to work fulltime, and never missed any work.
I looked like hell, and I got to tell you, it was rough, and I knew what my job expected of me, back then. Just make sure to eat right, and get enough rest. And by rest, I mean at least 8 hours of ( good) sleep a day.
But be prepared, if the part-time job is too rough to handle, you may have to give it up , until your numbers get better.
Take care----Ray
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Hey Ray:
Thanks for the advise. I have noticed that I don't have quite as much energy as I used to. As for being lack of sleep tired I'm doing pretty good and feel great.
I am looking after my nieces dog (a beautiful 9 month old black lab) for two weeks while they are away. She did manage to wear me out yesterday. Took her to the leash free dog park and we ran ourselves silly. We both needed a 3 hour nap to re couperate. I love animals and it is killing me to try and avoid them. I did use a ton of hand sanitizer yesterday. With H1N1 flue I had to go to 8 stores to find it. Stock up while you can. Next time I'm taking gloves so I can pet them and avoid any infections.
Back in January of this year I took a Employment course (before I knew I was sick). I managed fine learning for 8 hours a day. On the wall they had a bunch of sayings and the one that stuck in my mind was one "Find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." That is secret to surviving work at any point of your life.
Dale
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My doctor said that he has written a few articles for this site. Is there any way I can find them by typing in his name?
Dale -- welcome to our site! If your doc has written any articles for POZ Magazine, they'll hopefully be posted on our site, and include his name. Just enter his name (or just last name, if it's fairly unique) in the search field to the right of the AIDSmeds/POZ logo at the top of this page, and see what comes up.
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Dear Dale,
HIV is nothing to smile about for sure, but it also does not define who you are or who you will be. You are still the person you always were and should likely be able to do all the things you did before sero-converting to positive. I am sure that your smoking does not offer any benefit to your HIV, but i think it is great that your doctor has approved you for going to work and i hope you find a job that will fit your comfort level. Getting 8 hours of solid sleep though is sure helpful.
Your numbers are not good for sure, and i hope that the medications, whatever they may be, when they are prescribed will bring them up gradually. Exercise does help too and recommend it as a benefit to your health. Also while i am thinking about it, do not get hooked on the numbers as being so absolute as they will vary greatly from one day to the next. The HIV test though is pretty solid now days and i was told that the western blot test is like the confirmation test. Also i wanted to let you know that it was good to see the CD4/CD8 ratio. For a normal person the CD4 counts are generally in the 1000-2000 range. The CD8 would normally be around 400-1000. This would create a 1.0-2.0 ratio. Most HIV+ cases show a CD4/CD8 ratio of less than 1.0. Mine was like .25 - .35 for a long time and has grown to a .75 in recent months giving a strong growth indication of things getting better. I am looking for the day that my ratio is a 1.0+ again. One thing for sure though my VL prior to starting medication was 100k+. Exactly how much i do not know as the Veterans Administration does not count beyond the 100K point and so it is labeled as >100K. Since i started meds, though my VL has been <50.
I am sure you will be fine and that things will get better as you get a little further into the meds and your doctor guides you through your immediate issues. I wish you well, and if you need someone to talk to feel free to write.
Respectfully,
randy :)