Author Topic: The Meds, They Are A-Changin' (Read 10646 times)

thunter34 · « **on:** February 16, 2008, 03:06:54 pm »

There must be some cosmic shift going on because this seems to be happening for a lot of folks right now, but...looks like I'm due for a regimen change. I've been on Kaletra and Combivir for the last three years and have had to deal with some, ahem...rather shitty side effects. Projectile poop, deep fatigue and soaring cholesterol levels primarily. I spoke with my doc about swapping Kaletra for Reyetaz or going the Prezista route. He was resistant and wanted me to bring in a stool sample to rule out intestinal things before agreeing to any changes. I was preparing to bring in the mother of all stool samples to underline my position...the nastiest, most horrid poo I could muster.

Well...doc called back the other day to tell me that my latest blood draws show my triglycerides are now through the roof (not sure of the exact number right now, but I wanna say "in the 600's"....does that sound right?). He added me a new scrip to try to bring that number down, but has since called back to say, "Forget it. It's not worth going through adding yet another med for sides. This, plus the Crestor, plus your family history of cardio problems, plus your complaints...I've reevaluated and agree with you. We need to dicuss a regimen change."

The "Meds Nurse" lady that we have to talk to is due to call me to make an appointment to decide on what is next. It is likely to just be a Reyetaz switch, but I dunno yet. Regardless, Kaletra is on the way out. I'm hoping to time it right so I can have a month's (or close to it) supply of Kaletra to send to Lisa. I wanna earmark these pills for TnBoy if I can. We'll have to see.

That's the scoop from here.

Dachshund · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:23:00 pm »

You know how much I hated Kaletra, so I'm glad you get to dump it. No pun intended.

Seriously discuss Prezista with the meds nurse. My poopie problems ended withen 24 hours of stopping Kaletra. No diet change or Immodium required.

For god's sake boy cut back on the Burger Queen.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:27:18 pm »

Well, good luck. I've never done Reyataz, but Prezista has been great for me. I'd push for that one if at all possible.

thunter34 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:28:19 pm »

i dunno where i got this rep for having such a horrid diet. i eat pretty well, really. i ate a lot of BK in San Fran, but boy was on a budget that week, ya know?

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:30:30 pm »

Fine. Then post a typical week's menu and let us have a go

thunter34 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:32:25 pm »

Quote from: philly267 on February 16, 2008, 03:30:30 pm

Fine. Then post a typical week's menu and let us have a go

Oh, whatever. I don't have to justify to you!

Dachshund · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:33:13 pm »

Quote from: thunter34 on February 16, 2008, 03:28:19 pm

i dunno where i got this rep for having such a horrid diet. i eat pretty well, really. i ate a lot of BK in San Fran, but boy was on a budget that week, ya know?

Frozen Jeno's Pizza is not a vegetable.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:34:03 pm »

I know what you boys down in the South eat. I'm sure you're shoveling back pork rinds, fried chicken and fried catfish every chance you can in between your Baconators and BK Whoppers.

thunter34 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:36:42 pm »

i don't like the direction this thread is taking.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:38:27 pm »

You could stop it by posting that weekly menu and/or having your nutritionist log on to the board to vouch for you.

thunter34 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:40:57 pm »

Quote from: philly267 on February 16, 2008, 03:38:27 pm

You could stop it by posting that weekly menu and/or having your nutritionist log on to the board to vouch for you.

Well, thus far today I've had a serving of Kiss My Ass along with some Eat Shit and two glasses of Go Fuck Yourself.

Does that sound fairly balanced to you? Hmmm?

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:47:55 pm »

Sounds like we've touched a nerve here. I'll try and be more sensitive to your needs in the future.

thunter34 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:51:39 pm »

northernguy · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:30:44 pm »

Quote from: thunter34 on February 16, 2008, 03:40:57 pm

Well, thus far today I've had a serving of Kiss My Ass along with some Eat Shit...

Hmm, sound like we have a scat cat in our midst

Buckmark · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2008, 10:45:23 pm »

Quote from: thunter34 on February 16, 2008, 03:40:57 pm

Well, thus far today I've had a serving of Kiss My Ass along with some Eat Shit and two glasses of Go Fuck Yourself.

Does that sound fairly balanced to you? Hmmm?

It depends on how many coconut cakes you've had lately.

Hugs,

Henry
(who is happy that Youth Pastor Tim may have the opportunity to switch to some kindler, gentler meds.)

BT65 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2008, 12:33:43 am »

Timmy honey, I worked at a hospital in Alabama, and even there they fried everything, even corn.

lucas clay · « **Reply #16 on:** February 17, 2008, 06:28:41 am »

Quote from: Dachshund on February 16, 2008, 03:33:13 pm

Frozen Jeno's Pizza is not a vegetable.

Damn.
I hope tater chips is. that's what i use to tell the kids.

Lucas

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #17 on:** February 17, 2008, 09:42:00 am »

I don't think I've ever had fried corn.

BT65 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 17, 2008, 09:43:58 am »

I can't remember what they used to call it, but it was almost like a corn hushpuppy.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #19 on:** February 17, 2008, 09:46:04 am »

You sure it just wasn't over cooked corn pudding?

BT65 · « **Reply #20 on:** February 17, 2008, 09:47:52 am »

I don't think so. They were a part of the cafeteria cuisine every single day. They were like little fried corn nuggets. Actually I liked them at the time, and this very moment I have an urge to go to Long John Silver's.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #21 on:** February 17, 2008, 09:52:25 am »

I don't think I was aware that Long John Silver's still was a functioning business entity. What are you craving -- hush puppies? They are divine, that's for sure. If I lived in Atlanta I'm sure I'd be a Crestor Queen myself. I wouldn't even begin to know where to find hush puppies in Philadelphia. I don't even know of a decent place for pulled pork BBQ.

I'd still like to see what Timberly eats. She's so secretive.

BT65 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 17, 2008, 09:57:07 am »

Yes, there is a Long John's about 5 minutes away from my apartment. I absolutely adore hush puppies. I don't think I've had a decent bbq pulled pork since I lived in Alabama. What is Crestor, btw?

Timmy is very closed-mouth. She can't have that wonderful of a diet.

Andy Velez · « **Reply #23 on:** February 17, 2008, 10:05:43 am »

Whoaaaaaaaaa! Tim started this thread to discuss a meds change. He didn't begin it with a request for a dietery evaluation. And he's made it quite clear that is not what he wants.

So I suggest people back off teasing and with giving unsought recommendations.

I don't know what Tim eats and it's none of my business unless he chooses to bring that up for discussion. Which he has not done. As I read it what he's asked for is information and support with regard to changing medications. How about we just stick with that for now.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #24 on:** February 17, 2008, 10:06:07 am »

Crestor is a statins and is used to prevent cardio issues. I would assume Timberly's LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides are sky high due to Kaletra. I know mine went outside of normal range, and in fact still are even though I've been off Kaletra now for almost 2 years, but they were never wildly outside normal, just a tad, so there was never a need to worry. All I was told to do was take fish oil supplements.

That said, I eat very little take out and never order delivery food. I do indulge in a cheeseburger/fries but limit it to about 2/month. When I first moved to Philadelphia, however, I was 2 blocks from the old school cheese steak shacks and was munching one down each week

They're still only 5 blocks from me now, but I've probably only gone twice in the past year.

BT65 · « **Reply #25 on:** February 17, 2008, 10:12:49 am »

I take Lipitor myself. It's worked wonderfully.

I have never had a philly cheese steak sandwich, but they do sound wonderful.

aztecan · « **Reply #26 on:** February 17, 2008, 10:58:34 am »

Hey Tim,

Never done Prezista, but Reyataz was a no-brainer for me until my stomach revolted sans PPI.

I'm curious to see what your drug fuhrer wants to put you on.

HUGS,

Mark

Robert · « **Reply #27 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:34:49 am »

Morning thumper.

I started out on Kaletra and Combivir and it was the combo from hell. I knew the first night I wasn't right. Truly bad nightmares with drones and starships hovering overhead, waiting for me to die. I was becoming psychotic day and night. This went on for 3 weeks before my brothers finally convinced my Dr to change the meds. Of coursse she always broke out into song, "...give meds a chance."

After we finally dropped those meds and added my current regime I've been fine although my cholesterol has never, ever, returned to normal

Reyataz, Truvada and Norvir aren't too bad. Rather than having an exploding ass I tend to be on the constipated side.

I'm glad your Dr is finally singing a new tune.

robert

fearless · « **Reply #28 on:** February 18, 2008, 12:18:29 am »

hey Timmy,

For some reason I thought you had already changed meds recently. I'm having another senior's moment.

Seriously talk to your doctor about Prezista. As the others have said, poopies disappear overnight. For me, the fatigue also went and my vision/perception changed - it was like someone turned the lights up a shade, or removed a dulling filter from my eyes.

Good luck with whatever you choose.

newt · « **Reply #29 on:** February 18, 2008, 06:09:21 am »

Well Tim hello

Some of the lipid stuff may be genetic but the Kaletra is deffo an additional pressure. In terms of Reyataz v Prezista, the Norvir boost is an important contributor and Reyataz uses less. Prezista uses the same amount as Kaletra. Many studys have demonstrated Reyataz is kinder to some, but not all, people on the lipid front. The ARTEMIS study on Prezista showed a much lower rate of abnormal tris on Prezista v Kaletra though (3% v 11%) - trouble is this study used a dose in the study is not the licensed/presribable dose...hmmm

Another concern here is triglycerides, something of a mystery the full story on ARVs and triglycerides. Note that higher tris may well be predictive of future lipoatrophy (I guess as an indicator of disturbed fat metabolism) - see here for example. So perhaps also push on switching the AZT for a tenofovir-based nuke pair.

I have a feeling your doc is an ARV tortoise and not alive to the importance of cardiovascular health for people on combo.

Regards to the South

- matt

jack · « **Reply #30 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:14:01 am »

Reyataz was one of the worst for me in terms of bowell problems(nuclear diarrhea,rancid odors,and crapping in slacks). Prezista is a miracle drug. No sides at all for me . The only drug I have taken since late 80s with no sides.
Since it is a PI there are lipo issues if you are susceptible to those, but not bad compared to other PIs.

thunter34 · « **Reply #31 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:13:41 pm »

Quote from: newt on February 18, 2008, 06:09:21 am

I have a feeling your doc is an ARV tortoise and not alive to the importance of cardiovascular health for people on combo.

- matt

Actually, I have to give him his due with regard to paying attention to my cardio health. Thing is, he is one of those hard line meds disciples that is just resistant in general to hearing and believing in meds side issues. Quick to ascribe any side issue to any other catagory - old age, weight, family history, etc. His mantra: "The meds always work. It's people who fail." Overall, I get on with him great. That's one area where we kinda clash, though.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #32 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:22:14 pm »

Oi, I'd not last long with that one.

BT65 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:29:26 pm »

I wouldn't either. The doc I have now is a young one, but he seems trainable.

Miss Philicia · « **Reply #34 on:** February 18, 2008, 02:38:55 pm »

I'm on my fourth HIV specialist, and I must say that all of them have been very sensitive to these issues. I guess I've been lucky or something, but that's a very good track record there.

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Author Topic: The Meds, They Are A-Changin' (Read 10646 times)