Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 02:02:30 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
  • Total Members: 37612
  • Latest: testABC
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772944
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 160
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 0
Guests: 126
Total: 126

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Hello All...glad I came across this site.  (Read 24210 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Brian360

  • Member
  • Posts: 47
  • Just livin' it up until the sun goes down.
Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« on: July 23, 2006, 01:56:13 am »
Good Day...I hope you all are staying cool if there is a heat wave going on in your neck of the woods.  There definitely is here in the Portland, Or. area.

Well finally after a year and a half I finally decided to get serious about taking meds.  I know it's not a good idea but man the first set of meds I was given made me sick, made me trip and made me sh** all the time.  Just coming from the "party scene" I really wanted to sober up.   So I stopped taking them.

I came home and visited the VA, since I don't have a job yet and for the last month I've been taking the following medications: Truvada, Kaletra and Sulfameth.  Recently one of the Truvada "side effects", as listed by WebMd, has really put a damper on my taste buds.  Oh my god everything can taste horrible somedays and it's like almost 80% of the taste of something tastes the same no matter what I eat. It's been going on for nearly two weeks.  The only thing that fully tastes like itself is Hershey's Chocolate syrup.

Will this go away...it says it's only a side effect?  I don't have thrush, already took care of that a few weeks ago.

I'd appreciate any feedback

 
July06: Tcells 0, VL >+750,000
Aug06: TCells 22, VL 214,000
Sep06: TCells 32, VL 34,500
Oct06: TCells 92, VL 9,560
Dec06: Tcells 27, VL 25,000
Jan07: Tcells 43, VL - un-detect
Jan10: TCells 111 - popped to 160 fall 09, VL  undectable since Oct. 07

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2006, 05:09:11 am »
Hi Brian, and welcome to the forum.

I can't commment on your taste problems as I haven't taken the drugs you are on. However, there is a drug section of this website that might give you better information. Check out the Welcome thread at the top of this forum where you'll find links to all sorts of other offerings on this website. This place - forums included - is a goldmine of information.

Looking forward to hearing more from you soon, and I hope your taste buds soon settle down and get back to normal.

Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline Dachshund

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,058
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2006, 06:51:46 am »
First Brian let me give you a big welcome. Sounds like you just recently started back on your meds. It takes the body time to adjust to the powerful little suckers. Hopefully you will be feeling better soon, or maybe you and your doc will decide to do some med adjustment. Keep you doctor informed.

Good Luck,
Hal


Offline Teresa

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,755
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #3 on: July 23, 2006, 08:12:42 am »
Hi Brian,

Welcome to the forums!

Hope your taste buds straight out soon. That has to be just awful!

Hugs
Tersa
Hubby HIV+ 5/5/06
CD4:320
  %: 26.7
 VL: <20
Atripla (started it 8/24/06)

Offline Andy Velez

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 34,126
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #4 on: July 23, 2006, 09:25:41 am »
We're glad you came across the site too, Brian. And that you have spoken up.

Regarding your taste buds not being at their usual, I also suggest you mention it to your doctor. Because you're so new to these powerful meds this might very well just be a part of your personal period of adjustment.

You're always welcome here to ask questions and to discuss anything that's on your mind.

Cheers,
Andy Velez

Offline ImagineFL

  • Member
  • Posts: 365
  • Pornstar Stunt Double
    • My Photo Gallery
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2006, 09:49:29 am »
Welcome to the forum, Brian. 

I We know what you mean about the side effects, they suck!  At first I started out without too much problem, but then the trots started getting more frequent.  I just now include two generic Immodium pills with my doses in the AM and PM.  Just another pill, and a real small one! 

Again, welcome!
Patsy

Offline angels4kelly

  • Member
  • Posts: 305
  • IT JUST IS!!.....OKAY!
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2006, 10:06:00 am »
Welome Brian.

I'm happy you found this forum.
It really has the greatest and most helpful,
caring people.
Stick around here awhile with us!!!

Peace,
Kelly ;D
POSITIVE SINCE-10/1990
CD4-610
CD4%-29.3
VL-UNDETECTABLE
VIREAD,VIRACEPT, EPZICOM

MOST RECENT...
10/9/2006
CD4's-714
CD4%-30%
VL-Undetectable
DIAGNOSES POSITIVE 10/90
SAME MEDS, VIREAD, VIRAMUNE, EPZICOM.

SHOOT FOR THE MOON! YOU MAY MISS,
BUT YOU'LL LAND IN THE STARS :)

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.
 
Failure is not in falling down,
but the staying down

Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2006, 11:24:10 am »
Hey Brian,

Welcome! I am glad you found us and hope you stick around and make yourself at home.

Regarding your meds, I haven't taken any of them, so I can't really say anything other than what already has been suggested.

I'm still taking AZT, 3TC and Crixivan. Yep, an old med regimen for an old fart! (LOL)

I live in Northwest New Mexico. Its been a tad toasty, upper 90s to low 100s. The bad part is the humidity has been up to 50 percent recently. UGH! But, what's a guy to do beside get naked (at home) and loll in front of the evaporative cooler.

Again, welcome and I look forward to hearing more from you. By the way, I love the eye of Horus you have.

HUGS,

Mark
« Last Edit: July 23, 2006, 11:25:48 am by aztecan »
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline purplerain

  • Member
  • Posts: 100
  • finally figured out the pic thing
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #8 on: July 23, 2006, 04:34:12 pm »
Hey Brian,
I 2 don't know much about meds but just wanted 2 say hello and welcome.

JAG

poznoregon

  • Guest
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #9 on: July 23, 2006, 06:47:01 pm »
Hey Brian welcome to the group. I'm suffering along with you in this heat.  It was hot even when I was hanging out at the pool earlier today.   
I take truvada but have not had the side effects you are mentioning. I hope it is only temporary for you.

Offline otherplaces

  • Member
  • Posts: 398
  • Mutant Super Hero
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2006, 12:48:50 am »

Hello Brian,

I just wanted to welcome you to the forums.

We thankfully have a respite from the heat in Chicago, but it was BAD a few days ago...and I don't have AC.

take care,

brian

Offline frenchpat

  • Member
  • Posts: 519
  • Love your friends, don't eat them.
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2006, 01:49:24 am »
Bonjour Brian,

be most welcome to these forums, in the few weeks I have been here I've found them most valuable and the people here simply... incredible!   I hope you'll stay and look forward to your postings.

Pat
People have the power - Patti Smith

Offline OzPaul

  • Member
  • Posts: 415
  • 40 year, Long Term Survivor/LTNP
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2006, 01:54:28 am »
Hey Brian

Welcome to the forums ! I've found our 'family' to be kind, humorous, caring and compassionate. I'll look for to hearing more from you.
I live on the southeast part of Australia where it's winter. It been cool to cold and a bit too dry lately.

Cheers
Paul

Offline david25luvit

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,409
  • Member since March 2005
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2006, 10:07:29 am »
Hey Brian...Welcome to the family, Good Buddy!  I suspect you will find this to be a great place for info and
support...and in the days to come it will be a great comfort.  Like others I can't comment on the particular med's
you're taking but I wanted to welcome you to the family.   :-*
In Memory of
Raymond David McRae III
Nov. 25, 1972- Oct. 15, 2004
I miss him terribly..........

Offline Alain

  • Member
  • Posts: 679
  • I am.
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2006, 10:32:43 am »
.
« Last Edit: November 03, 2006, 08:26:06 pm by cowandalehouse »

Offline newt

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,900
  • the one and original newt
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #15 on: July 24, 2006, 10:56:32 am »
Hello Brian

All the meds (Kaletra, Truvada and the sulphameth) can causes changes in taste sensation! If the problem is worst with liquids (drinks, soups etc) its prob. the sulphameth rather than the anti-retrovirals.

- matt
"The object is to be a well patient, not a good patient"

Offline Brian360

  • Member
  • Posts: 47
  • Just livin' it up until the sun goes down.
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #16 on: July 24, 2006, 06:28:39 pm »
Thanks to all who have responded so far!  I appreciate all the information that's been posted.  Before I got here, I though once you got HIV/AIDS you take go to the doctor, get loaded with drugs, take those daily and pray to the higher being.  I just sat down with my mom and we watched Philadelphia together.  Of course we both were trying to hide our cry at the end.  Anyways, I can't believe the management of the drugs you have to do.
July06: Tcells 0, VL >+750,000
Aug06: TCells 22, VL 214,000
Sep06: TCells 32, VL 34,500
Oct06: TCells 92, VL 9,560
Dec06: Tcells 27, VL 25,000
Jan07: Tcells 43, VL - un-detect
Jan10: TCells 111 - popped to 160 fall 09, VL  undectable since Oct. 07

Offline richfinsm

  • Member
  • Posts: 52
  • Be better to one another
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #17 on: July 24, 2006, 07:04:06 pm »
...
« Last Edit: August 13, 2006, 09:04:43 am by richfinsm »
Positive since 1/85.  Tested positive with full-blown AIDS 5/93.

Offline pozniceguy

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,232
  • Niceguy Dallas
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #18 on: July 24, 2006, 07:07:38 pm »
Brian   let me add my welcome to the forum......sorry to hear about your "taste" problem  It is bad enough to have the shits and other problems but the taste thing is new to me.......  I can tell you when I started 12 yrs ago the meds available were pretty harsh and the side effects were also.. I had the shits so bad that nothing except the "Tincture of Opium " would stop them.....this is an old fashion remedy and most drug stores don't carry it but will order it for you...of course you need a script from DR to get it.......if you dont improve in a week or so ask DR dont let it go too long or you screw up your whole system even worse than it already is.
 If you have looked at some of the other postings on the site you will see one about Lipodystrophy.......read the various comments from people who have been affected by this and consider the possibility of these effects being exaggerated by your meds.....some meds seem to really aggravate this problem.......I and others have gone to various "filler" techniques to overcome the results of the Lypo ...the best thing is to try to avoid it as much as possible.......
Welcome again......there is lots of good info here and one of the best collections of real world experience to be found anywhere
remember the good times...honor the past but don't live there
Le stelle la notte sono grandie luminose, nel cuore profondo del Texas

Offline sfca415

  • Member
  • Posts: 20
  • love this place
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #19 on: July 24, 2006, 07:52:50 pm »
Hi Brian,  Adding my welcome also.  As you said in your second post, treating HIV is a lot more than just seeing a doctor and taking meds.  It becomes a job of sorts.  Like any new job, it takes time to adapt to the new environment, learn the lingo, and feel confident.  Sounds like you're doing the work, checking things out and empowering yourself with knowledge.   Glad you're here and wish you the best.

Rob
cd4+ 617 30% undetec - Jul06
cd4+ 221 17% 32K - Dec01
cd4+ 640 41% 5K - Feb96
current meds: Reyataz+Norvir, Viread, Epzicom, Valtrex, Wellbutrin
+ 1992, first meds 2002: Viramune (nvp), Zerit (d4t), Epivir (3tc) -- (m184v mutation & resistant to non-nukes, so no Atripla)

Offline Eldon

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,664
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #20 on: July 24, 2006, 11:30:55 pm »
Hello Brian it is Eldon. When I started my meds back in Feb 2006, I had no taste at all whatsoever. Over time it took care of itself and now I can sit back and enjoy the savor of a well cooked meal. I'm not taking what you are taking though. i'm on Epzicom and Reyetaz.

Oh, and a warm BIG Welcome to the forums. You found the right place!  8)

Offline JR Gabbard

  • Member
  • Posts: 283
  • Union Jacks
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #21 on: July 24, 2006, 11:54:58 pm »
 Recently one of the Truvada "side effects", as listed by WebMd, has really put a damper on my taste buds.  Oh my god everything can taste horrible somedays and it's like almost 80% of the taste of something tastes the same no matter what I eat. It's been going on for nearly two weeks.  The only thing that fully tastes like itself is Hershey's Chocolate syrup.

Will this go away...it says it's only a side effect?  I don't have thrush, already took care of that a few weeks ago.

I'd appreciate any feedback

 
[/quote]

   I would blame the Kaletra.  When I started it back in October, the first month or so everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, tasted horrible, even stuff I love.  It was all I could do to force down two or three bites of whatever.  Thanksgiving sucked, but I got my tastebuds back for Christmas.  This is truly one of the most messed-up HAART side-effects.  Green leafy helps a little, if that is not a problem for you.  Or, if it is, green tea helps a little if you can get it down.

   Hang in there, dude.  And welcome!  And, I agree with Mark about your Eye of Horus!

J.R.
(Pharaoh and CotN freak!)

   
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth,
The minor fall, the major lift,
The baffled king composing Hallelujah!

L. Cohen

Offline Life

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,389
  • Member 2005
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #22 on: July 25, 2006, 12:15:24 am »
Brian welcome...  Stay the course and see how things pan out...  I am a K boy and never had any of the taste issues, but the "mistaking a fart for something else" has happened a few times...  Glad you found the forums my friend.. ;D

Offline allopathicholistic

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,258
Re: Hello All...glad I came across this site.
« Reply #23 on: July 27, 2006, 09:28:05 pm »
Hi Brian and welcome.  :) For me side effects were very pronounced in the first 2 weeks of starting meds. For alot of people, the body 'adjusts' - I'd say I was one of those people. Hoping the best for you  8)

Alex
(who's on Epzicom, Norvir, Lexiva)

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.