Author Topic: Diary on Atripla Treatment (Read 15981 times)

brenner · « **on:** March 14, 2011, 03:43:00 pm »

hey guys. am starting atripla tonight. thought i would give a day to day journal on how it is going. in the last 6 months, i have lost about 10 pounds, and I discovered a black lesion on my upper thigh that triggered me to go and get tested. Was also feeling really tired, but was able to function at work and in day to day activities. Went to the doctor for a check up and he did the STI tests. Came out positive for HIV. He recommended I start treatment as the cd4 numbers were on the low side, (257) and a viral load of 262400. So here i am with my first bottle. Pills look really big, like a Centrum vitamin but twice as thick. Just had my last meal for the night and will wait a couple of hours before taking the tablet. I am a bit nervous about the vivid dreams which are part of the side effects, but other than that, I am more excited to just get healthier. Will post tomorrow about how I feel. Have an appointment in 2 weeks for another blood test to see how the numbers are fluctuating.

Also have a dermatologist appointment tomorrow concerning the lesion, which my doctor suspects is kaposi sarcoma. Will let you know about that too.

Take care everyone.

mikeyb39 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2011, 09:44:11 pm »

good luck Brenn,

i'm sure you will do just fine. Try not to be too nervous, I was terrified a few days before and all the way up to the point that I swallowed it, then nothing happened I was kinda worried for nothing. When folks talked about vivid dreams I didnt know what to expect, I was thinking i was going to have horrible nightmares, but I havent had anything like that.

So take a deep breath and i'm certain you will be alright.

mike

brenner · « **Reply #2 on:** March 15, 2011, 05:13:31 am »

DAY 1. Fell asleep after reading a really difficult book to get into...But nothing. no dreams, no nightmares, no nothing. Woke up this morning feeling a bit groggy. my pee smelled a bid 'mediciney' or 'vitaminy'. Dont feel nauseous or weird. Kind of anticlimactic, if you ask me....I was waiting for A TRIP(to) LA and didnt even get to leave Kansas. Oh well. Lets see how the rest of the day pans out, and with the 2nd hit tonight.

mecch · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2011, 07:06:37 am »

Gee dont be disappointed. The less your body reacts the better.

hope_for_a_cure · « **Reply #4 on:** March 15, 2011, 07:50:42 am »

Yea... dont be too disappointed that you did not have an adverse reaction. You may still get some wild dreams in the near future. Its been a year for me this month on Atripla and I just woke up from another one. I never did the diary thing but do remember it being suggested with the literature packet that my ASO gave me. Hope things go well for you!

brenner · « **Reply #5 on:** March 15, 2011, 07:59:32 am »

Dont get me wrong, guys, I am not disappointed at all....besides, its just the first day. Just wanted to journal what i was expecting and what in fact happened. I guess my style of writing came off the wrong way. But really, no side effects at all after the first day. Going to the dermatologist today. Feeling good till now.
Till later.

Maelrod · « **Reply #6 on:** March 15, 2011, 10:06:30 am »

It's good to hear that you doing well, my personal experience happen after my 3r pill. A have a dreams, woke up a 1/2 night to bathroom was for two moths my stomach issues like grogginess, milk and sweet like grease make me sick but good thing I can say now is no problems maybe cuz after a while we learn what and when to eat. Now no problems. Thanks GOD. I hope atriple work well on you too, one more thing don't go crazy w the time you have to take your pill ( personal advise) just need take your pill daily ( for me no matter if I take 2 or 3 hour late if I go out I take little late )
try your best
Mael

brenner · « **Reply #7 on:** March 16, 2011, 03:45:53 am »

DAY 2: Just woke up feeling groggier than usual. Nothing else to say.

Went to the dermatologist, have to do a biopsy next tuesday. He says that is is most likely ks.

mikeyb39 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 16, 2011, 09:19:43 am »

Hi Brenner,
I had that groggy feeling first few days after i started taking it, I called my Dr. and he advised me to take it a littler earlier before bed. I dont go to bed till 11pm, so at first i was taking it at 11pm and the next morning felt groggy. I started taking mine at 9pm and that extra couple hours made a big difference the next day.

just an optiion.

mike

brenner · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2011, 03:56:45 am »

DAY 3: Wanted to take my pill a bit earlier, but I ate a bit later than usual, so will try that tonight. Woke up with no side effects. Got this hung over feeling grogginess, still, but goes away after my coffees.

thelovedones · « **Reply #10 on:** March 17, 2011, 11:01:49 am »

Hi Brenner,

Brand new here and I started my Atripla last night. I want to thank you for documenting your start up with the drug. Reading this yesterday before I took my first pill last night helped ENORMOUSLY.

I woke up feeling groggy and sort of like a hangover. No other side effects so far.

I'll be documenting my own Atripla treatment as well, I think.

Ironically enough, I have a dark spot on my right leg near my knee that looks like KS to me, but my MD said he wasn't sure. I have an appointment with a Dermatologist this month to diagnos it.

all the best to you

brenner · « **Reply #11 on:** March 18, 2011, 04:05:36 am »

DAY 4: All well again. I wont keep posting this if it continues...will only post when something irregular comes up. Back to work on Monday and look forward to it.

thelovedones · « **Reply #12 on:** March 18, 2011, 09:07:02 am »

wishing you continued success

brenner · « **Reply #13 on:** March 22, 2011, 07:50:59 am »

DAY 8: Still nothing. Feeling better and better. Not as tired anymore. Thinking of moving my pill taking time to the morning instead, but will wait another few weeks for that. Just had my biopsy done today. Will find out whether i have ks or not on wednesday next week. will also have another blood test done to check my numbers.

thelovedones · « **Reply #14 on:** March 22, 2011, 07:54:15 am »

quick question - was it your idea or your doc's idea to draw blood and check your numbers next week? the reason i'm asking is because my doc is waiting a month from the day of treatment. is there a standard waiting time? just curious

brenner · « **Reply #15 on:** March 22, 2011, 08:12:46 am »

nope, it was totally his idea...he just wanted to see how the numbers are doing. he also wants me to have a lung x ray done, and to give me a vaccine against pneumonia, so maybe thats why. probably wants my vl to be at a certain level and my cd4 to be higher before we go there....i will ask him next week though..

but then he said after he is happy with my results..we will most likey be seeing each other every 3 or 4 months for updates. works for me.....

thelovedones · « **Reply #16 on:** March 22, 2011, 10:53:37 am »

you sound in much better and hopeful spirits than just a couple weeks ago. i'm very very glad

drewm · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2011, 11:10:00 am »

It sounds as if you are on the right track! Wishing you continued success

brenner · « **Reply #18 on:** March 25, 2011, 02:31:53 pm »

DAY 12: Woke up this morning with the Atripla rash. No big deal actually...its not that bad. just a rash on my arm and legs. not that itchy, but it feels more like when you get prickly heat from the sun. hoping it will leave as quietly as it came. other than that...same as usual. take care guys.

AaronbytheC · « **Reply #19 on:** March 25, 2011, 09:44:15 pm »

day 12... Right on track! LOL

A friend recommend warm baths with Aveeno oatmeal soothing bath treatment... The stuff works great for itch relief of the Atripla rash!

http://www.aveeno.com/skincare/products/soothing-bath-treatment

Good luck with it and keep it up, it will pass shortly.

WillyWump · « **Reply #20 on:** March 25, 2011, 10:06:10 pm »

Way to go Bren. Sounds like you are doing really well, other than the rash thingie, but as Aaron says try the Aveeno oatmeal, I love it and it works wonders on the skin.

Keep on keeepin' on!

-Will

mecch · « **Reply #21 on:** March 26, 2011, 07:17:07 am »

Glad to hear things are well enough. Hope the rash fades soon.

brenner · « **Reply #22 on:** March 29, 2011, 05:55:30 am »

DAY 15: Rash is gone, but i still have an itch on the palms of my hands and around my ankles....never had itchy palms before, but i try to resist scratching. mentally, i feel better and better each day, and even forget sometimes that I have hiv.

thanks for all your posts guys...makes me feel really good when i read them.

will keep updating until the 4 weeks of taking atripla are over.....2 more weeks.

thelovedones · « **Reply #23 on:** March 29, 2011, 08:40:44 am »

Glad your rash is gone.

Confused about your last sentence.....Are you going off Atripla? Did I miss something in the posts? I am a little dim these days so forgive me.

brenner · « **Reply #24 on:** March 29, 2011, 08:48:27 am »

no no no...not going off atripla at all....just wanted to document the side effects for the 4 weeks of taking meds.

i do have to draw blood tomorrow, so next week, we shall find out just how its working for me....im not going anywhere buddy. just wanted to share my experience with the drug for the 4 week period.

hey, how are you feeling? what did the docs say?

thelovedones · « **Reply #25 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:03:09 am »

Like I said, I'm a little dim these days. LOL....I'm really glad you're doing well on the Atripla. Gives me hope.

I feel fine now, HOWEVER until my rash subsides I'm off the bactrim and atripla. I feel a little like an acrobat without a net right now. They want to rechallange me on the Atripla to see if the fever/rash thing comes back to determine if I'm alergic to one of the 3 compounds. They're guessing its the Bactrim I'm alergic to. I'm praying to God that that's the case. I want to stick with the Atripla and get my numbers good soon.

brenner · « **Reply #26 on:** March 29, 2011, 09:44:23 am »

just be patient, my friend, until the lab results come out. once they find whats causing this rash, they will give you alternatives. and just in case it is the atripla, there are other great drugs out there that will help you beat this. i know you have your heart set on Atripla, but just in case it isnt for you, its at least good that you find out early.

please let us know how it pans out.

a few days off the drug wont change anything

OzJock28 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 29, 2011, 05:48:17 pm »

I have to say so far yours is the post that I have viewed the most and dare I say even had a giggle when you sounded disappointed that you didn't get some wildly magical outrageous dream after taking your first tablet.

Please keep posting about your experience with atripla as although I am not on meds yet my doctor has that atripla would probably be prescribed once I start so it's great to read about your experiences and also the fact that we share a close diagnosis date.

J.x

brenner · « **Reply #28 on:** August 26, 2011, 08:33:07 am »

So it's been 5 months now on Atripla. Things are back to normal in terms of my physical and mental well-being. My weight is back to normal, energy levels are also back to normal....sleeping like a baby again, thank god. My doc doesn't need to see me except for the quarterly blood draws.

Life here has really gotten back to normal. A bit too normal, if you ask me!

Now, where's my beer?

B

brenner · « **Reply #29 on:** November 28, 2011, 12:49:13 pm »

8 months now. Finally got to be undetectable. My doctor is very pleased at my results. He still wants to see me every 3 months for bloodwork, and then we may see each other twice a year. My ks lesion is fading from the middle out. It's now a third of the size it was, so that keeps me having faith in my meds. Other than that, life as usual and no big deal.

Champagne for everyone!!!!!!

Sunshine28 · « **Reply #30 on:** November 28, 2011, 04:06:41 pm »

I started on Atripla 2weeks ago. It is really helpful to see how others are dealing with it. your diary has been amazing for me. the only side effects i have had is the grogginess in the morning, otherwise I am fine.
Getting kidney and liver tests done on a few weeks. Hopeful that everything is fine and that everything will turn out for the best

Mad love and thanx

Tar Heel · « **Reply #31 on:** December 08, 2011, 05:59:55 pm »

I was infected in May of 2005- knew it within 4 weeks. Didn't have to start meds till June 2009- Atripla. It's made my lipids go up and I'm on meds for that, but within 2 months, my VL was undetectable and my CD4 was over 400. It makes me groggy and I occasionally have wild dreams but the Atripla has been a blessing for me.

I'm so glad I wasn't exposed until 2005 and modern medicine can now 'control' it. Every time when I hear about the horror stories that people who were poz in the 80's and 90's had to go thru, I whisper a sweet "Thank You!" to my Supreme Being for Atripla.

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Author Topic: Diary on Atripla Treatment (Read 15981 times)