Here’s my story .....dont give up!

[midwestman]

Here’s how it began...

On Nov 10 2006 (after being ill for 3 weeks) I went into hospital with a partial collapsed lung. I was diagnosed with pcp phenomena. due to HIV. I was devastated. The doctors treated my phenomena with bactrum IV and put me on steroids for 2 weeks. I was also put on oxygen. They treated my collapsed lung by inserting a tube into my upper chest and sucked out the air in my chest cavity allowing the lung to come back up. (the pcp phenumonia caused holes in my lung and by air leaking out of my lung, caused the collapse.)
The steroids seem to help clear up the phenumonia and after a week (however did not help the holes in my lung to heal)
Nov 15th 2005 i went home.
 I was home for 3 day and on Nov 19th 2006 I ended up back in emergency with a 100% collapsed lung. I didn't think i was going to make it. pure horror. I couldn't breath. panic.
They took me in emergency and immediately put a chest tube in and there i was back in the hospital, on crazy pain med's (vicodin, dilodid, morphine) also back on oxygen and bactrum IV.
Then 9-12 day later they pull the chest tube and all seems well until the following day. xray shows my lung had went back down 30%. the next day 50%. now they take me to intensive care and perform a "vats". and put back in the chest tube. (a "vats" is a procedure where the spray some kind of powder into your chest cavity causing your lung to scar to your chest cavity. so it will stick.) after being in intensive care for 2 days i am sent to a regular hospital room for 12 days with chest tube, bactrum IV and oxygen. (needless to say, it wasn't easy to get around. chest tubes are beyond painfull.so i was on so much fucking pain meds  i thought i was going to be a junky.)
 Finally after 12 days of hell, they came to my room, pull the chest tube (for the second time) and unlike the first time, the lung collapses imeditly upon pulling the tube from my chest. i was in panic.  unable to breath. The nurse thought i was over reacting. I order them to xray. They bought the xray machine to my room and while taking the xray ( i took a deep breath ) she took the xray and that second i felt my lung come back up. I could breath! she left with the xray and returned in 20 mins and said my lung was 100% down and they wanted to put the chest tube back in!! i said NO. the lung is back up!. I can breath! there is no way that tube is going back in. i was done! They said “it was impossible for the lung to come back up on its own” and the doctor wanted to put the tube back in. I told them "you must xray me again!" " im not putting the tube back in" "Im breathing". 20 mins later they finally do a 2nd xray as i wish and sure as shit, the lung is back up 90%!!. the doctor looks at the 2 xrays.  The first xray the lung is 100% down, The second xray the lung is 90% up! The doctor says he cant explain it. He had never seen this sort of thing happen before... and he wanted to put the tube back in anyway. I said "no, I want to go home" and see what happens.
I been thru too much and there was no way i could have that tube put back in at that moment. It wasn't going to happen. They kept me in the hospital for 2 more day and released me to go home on Dec 7th 2006. the lung seemed to be holding at 90%.  well...i was home for  5 days. and on Dec 13th 2006 went back to hospital for xray. wasn't feeling quit right. They told me the lung was down 60% and they had to put chest tube back in. I collapsed in tears. I was so upset i couldn't even stand. All hope seemed lost. I went back in hospital, made out my last will and took care of legal affairs. (just in case). I was scared. The chest tube was back in for the 3rd time and i was back in hell. After 22 days (Jan 4th 2007) they removed the chest tube for the last time.

Today is October 2nd, 2007 and i have been doing very well. Its coming up on 1 year since i tested pos. Thank "god" for this form. It helps to come here and read and learn. My "walking on egg shells" feeling has lessened however im still nervous and monitor my cd4/vl numbers monthly. Im about to break 200 next test. (fingers crossed) and to all of you who have recently tested poz. Dont give up. There is life after HIV/AIDS. I thought i was doomed but now im living my live and have a positive attitude and look foward to each day. I do not take “anything for granted” and I’m so grateful for each day I’m alive and well.

Nov 2006 tested pos for HIV
Dec 2006 my VL was ? and my CD4 was 20
Jan 2007 i started taking HIV meds Combivir and Ketera (i am also on Bactrum. 1 tablet ever other day)
Feb 2007 my VL was U.D. and my CD4 was 60
Mar 2007 my VL was U.D. and my CD4 was 60
April 2007 my VL is still U.D. and my CD4 is now 61
June 2007 my VL is still U.D. and my CD4 is now up to 91
July 2007 my VL is still U.D. and my CD4 is now up to 101
August 2007 my VL is still U.D. and my CD4 is now up to 151
Sep 07 2007 my VL is still U.D. and my CD4 is now up to 191 (still taking Bactrum once a day)
switching to Atripla next week.

[milker]

Wow I dont' know if I could have endured all this like you did. Thanks for sharing your story.

Milker.

[NYCguy]

Amazing story - made me feel stronger just reading what you've been through and your positive attitude. thanks.

[next2u]

Wow man, what you went through was rough. Thanks for sharing, your story scared the shit out of me and also gave me hope.

[Robert]

    Hey midwestern....

That's quite a story.  It's a lot like mine.  I was diagnosed Oct. 2 2003 (exactly 4 years ago today) with 18 t-cells.  I was at my Dr's office complaining about my breathing (or lack of) and the next thing I knew. I was strapped to a gurney and taken to emergency.  I spent the next 10 days intubated and in intensive care. Then I was transfered to a regular hospital room.  I was released Nov 1.  I was back in intensive 3 weeks later.  My brothers spent Thanksgiving at the hospital with me.  I came home Dec 7 and had "HOME CARE" for the next month.

I started out on the Combivir and Kaletra also.  I had a very psychotic reaction and had to drop it.  NOw I'm on Truvada, Reyataz and Norvir.  I have 598 t-cells, sitting at 38%.  I've been undetectable since March, 2004. 

It's been 4 years and I'm still recovering.  I don't think I will ever be where I was before all this started.  I'm still a work in progress.

Good luck.  I know how you feel.  I also know there is life after AIDS.  I am also greatful for what I have.  My diagnosis was literally a life-changing moment for me.  My life has changed considerably for the better.

robert