Author Topic: An Acceptable Result (Read 12561 times)

Matty the Damned · « **on:** April 29, 2007, 09:03:00 pm »

Dear Fellow Wantons,

As some may recall Matty the Damned's numbers hit the skids last year. After an interregnum of nearly two years, his long suffering sexual health physican, the diabolical Frau Eva, imposed a treatment regime upon him consisting of atazanavir, ritonavir and trizivir and the standard AIDS victim prophylaxis meds, bactrim and fluconazole.

Yuck.

But it seems that the shit actually works. For some perspective these were my numbers in January:

VL: 123 (down from 1 million+)
CD4 absolute: 90
CD4 %: 10 (up from 5)

My most recent bloods, taken on the 18th April, revealed the following:

VL: <40 therefore undetectable (apparently we're using some new test that can measure as low as 40)
CD4 absolute: 144
CD4 %: 12

These results are sufficient to have me muahahahaing from deep within my lair.

Naturally there has to be something to take the shine off things and predictably my cholestrol results are up the shit. Also my kidney function is quite wacky. It seems Henoch-Schoenlein's Purpura, the auto-immune disorder which laid me low for most of the end of last year and the first two months of this, has done it's wicked work on my squishy bits. Apparently there's quite a large amount of blood in my urine.

I'm actually terrified that the HSP will return. It's a hideous condition (the arthritis which accompanies it is excruciating) for which the only treatment is very strong doses of prednisalone which wipes out CD4 cells and I simply refuse to take it. I've decided that kidney disease is preferable to AIDS.

The bugger, of course, is that I'm probably going to have to stay on the trizivir which means twice daily dosing as opposed to once daily. As far as I can tell all the acceptable once daily regimens include tenofovir which, for obvious reasons, is a no-no.

Anyhoo, I'm reasonably pleased with these overall figures. It's nice to know that they will annoy my legions of detractors.

MtD

milker · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2007, 09:06:22 pm »

Is this a "YOU GO GURRRRRRRRL" post?

Yes it is.

But I will pass on the accompanying picture

This is a pretty good trend, Matty, congrats

Milker.

Dachshund · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2007, 09:08:51 pm »

Damn, you mean to tell me the reports of your death were greatly exaggerated?

gerry · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2007, 09:19:02 pm »

Quote from: matty.the.damned on April 29, 2007, 09:03:00 pm

The bugger, of course, is that I'm probably going to have to stay on the trizivir which means twice daily dosing as opposed to once daily. As far as I can tell all the acceptable once daily regimens include tenofovir which, for obvious reasons, is a no-no.

Matty:

If you don't need the AZT in the Trizivir, you could actually go to a once a day regimen with atazanavir/ritonavir/abacavir/epivir. The abacavir and epivir (the other 2 drugs in Trizivir) can actually be dosed once a day, and is available in the US and Europe as a combo pill (Epzicom or Kivexa). This would of course depend on your previous resistance test results.

Good results!

Gerry

RAB · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2007, 09:26:28 pm »

Matty

Great news about the most recent labs!

The evil Frau apparently has knowledge and a few tricks up her sleeve even "the great one" couldn't have imagined.

RAB

(Who is happy for Matty)

Nadine · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2007, 09:48:15 pm »

Excellent news Matty!

your post put a smile on my face tonight!

much love to you my friend

Teresa · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2007, 10:11:26 pm »

Wonderful news about your CD4s and VL. Hope they get your cholesterol and kidneys back in check soon and lets hope you never have another bout with the HSP ever!

Big hugs
Teresa

AlanBama · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2007, 10:20:26 pm »

YAY Matty!

That's the best news I've heard all weekend long.....congratulations honey!

hugs,

Alan

rocket · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:05:55 pm »

Glad to see your numbers up so much Matty!I hope they can get the other stuff under control also.

bryonut · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:09:26 pm »

mazel tov rabbi!

your doctor should kvel for such a mitzvah. I am happy for you and wish you many more years of good health

Next year in Yerushalaim!
Bryon

RapidRod · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:21:04 pm »

Way to go Matty dear,keep it up. (I'm talking numbers, not your member).

thunter34 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:23:39 pm »

How 'bout a couple o' these?

BT65 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:28:12 pm »

Great news Mattie! I empathize on the cholesterol thing...

I hope your kidneys start functioning! Peace

Queen Tokelove · « **Reply #13 on:** April 29, 2007, 11:32:57 pm »

That's great news, Matty. Obviously the Frau has got you covered. Every time you mention her I think of the Frau from Austin Powers..

...I also believe you are too evil to die and hell doesn't want you yet.

You have too many left on Earth to torment and if you were gone who would I have to worship?

ndrew · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2007, 12:05:07 am »

Another testament to modern medicine! Congratulations!

Drew

Dan J. · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2007, 01:39:28 am »

I agree with Alan, this is the best news I have heard all week!

Dan

Robert · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2007, 02:07:01 am »

Matty.

good news indeed. Not sure what this does for your rep but that's OK. I can certainly live with it.

robert

(ps...if it's all right with you, I'm entering your idea in the t-shirt contest. I love it.)

robert

sweetasmeli · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2007, 02:23:09 am »

Ey up ar kid!

Am still lying in my bed but swishy happy dancing in my heart and mind for you! Relieved to see your numbers going in the right directions. Now about that kidney...I still have a chicken fillet in my freezer, if that's any use?

Hug hug kiss kiss

my fine strapping Blue Mountain specimin!

Muchas squishy love stufff

Your Miss Melia the Magnificent

xxx

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2007, 02:31:36 am »

My lovelies,

Mad props and much thanks to all of you for your kind thoughts.

Gerry,

I would love to ditch the AZT component of my regimen and I will contact Frau Eva at the first opportunity to discuss it. I had tummy and headache problems with the ritonavir/AZT at the start. I found the way to handle this was to take the PI drugs at night. The AZT headache went away of it's own accord after a few months.

It's good to know that there's a once daily dosing option that doesn't involve tenofovir.

Fondles,

MtD

heartforyou · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2007, 03:16:55 am »

Matty,

Hold on to that string.... it is becoming a rope, and that is great news.

hermie

anniebc · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2007, 04:12:56 am »

OH Dear God help us all, there will be no living with the "Fiend of the forums" now that he is bouncing back to health in style.

Big ((((((hugs))))) to you

Jan

(who still knows how to do the "Happy Dance"

cubbybear · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2007, 04:46:39 am »

Hey Baby Bear!

He whom dwells south of the border is sending you furry woofy cubbyhugs! Ditch that AZT crap when you can.

Woofs n stuff.
Papa Bear

gemini20 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 30, 2007, 05:03:13 am »

Steady on Matty, at this rate you might even persuade me to reconsider going back on the bloody pills!

I know it was a difficult decision to go back down the treatment road so I'm really pleased that the numbers are going in the right directions for you - hopefully you can sort out a daily combo that will work as well for you too.

Great news to start the week.

Emma

SASA39 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 30, 2007, 05:36:16 am »

Dear Matty ,
I`m on Sustiva , Epivir and Ziagen ( separated ) as one day regimen.Right before a bed-time.
Wow , with a Sustiva you do not need a Vodka ever.
As someone said "...high as a f****** kite "
Ask frau Eva about that...................
Al
( who also know that Sustiva is verbotten to be mixed with boozey , but you can continue with a bitter lemon

)

Central79 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 30, 2007, 10:09:14 am »

Dear Matty

Congratulations!

M.

mjmel · « **Reply #25 on:** April 30, 2007, 10:45:03 am »

Good News, Indeed! I hope and pray that the upward trend continues and the kidney trouble will clear quickly and painlessly.

,
Mike

puertorico2006 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2007, 11:18:49 am »

Congrats...

aztecan · « **Reply #27 on:** April 30, 2007, 11:20:58 am »

My Dear Comrade,

Great numbers! Keep it up!

I'm glad the arthritis pain seems to have subsided or lessened.

As a well known bard said, "Angels and ministers of grace, protect us, MtD is getting back in the pink."

HUGS,

Mark

JPinLA · « **Reply #28 on:** April 30, 2007, 11:43:20 am »

Congratulations! Very good news!

JP

northernguy · « **Reply #29 on:** May 01, 2007, 01:07:52 am »

MtD, glad to see things are headed in the right direction.

JohnOso · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2007, 03:35:40 am »

Glad to hear about your numbers....i remember they were quite low last year, and you've bounced back nicely.

Good job!

John

cjc · « **Reply #31 on:** May 01, 2007, 10:01:49 am »

Matty, Glad that your Numbers are improving. Sorry to hear about the other problems but hope things will get better. Cristy

jimw · « **Reply #32 on:** May 01, 2007, 03:56:36 pm »

Way to go....that is Great news. Jim

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #33 on:** May 14, 2007, 07:57:49 pm »

So Matty the Damned summoned the courage to ask the nightmarish Frau Eva about the possibility of dumping AZT from his regimen.

Because you know, AZT is like totally the worst stuff in the known universe.

I was hopeful. I'd achieved an undetectable viral load. My CD4's continue to rise. The chicken entrails indicated a most propitious outcome.

But of course the rotten wench kyboshed it.

Apparently she "might consider such a move" if I have another undetectable VL result in a month AND if my CD4's (percentage especially) continue to rise. But until then I have to stay on the hated Trizivir and suffer under that absolutely outrageous burden for at least another month.

Bitch. It's a conspiracy. It's just not fair. I'm going to pout.

MtD
(Who is not hyberbolic in any way)

/edited for a teensy typo goshdarnit/

milker · « **Reply #34 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:02:24 pm »

Quote from: matty.the.damned on May 14, 2007, 07:57:49 pm

Bitch. It's a conspiracy. It's just not fair. I'm going to pout.

What is worse is not the AZT, it's that MtD is at the mercy of a woman! MUAHAHAhAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Sorry Matty, hopefully next month she will give in

Milker.

Life · « **Reply #35 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:20:20 pm »

Matty it is amazing how in 4 months you squashed all 1,000,000 of those naughty bits! Congradulations..

Eric

BT65 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 14, 2007, 08:27:37 pm »

Hello dear:
I'm on Trizivir also and I think that is really aggravating my neuropathy in my feet. They always feel like great huge blocks of ice. Anyway, I hope your CD4s continue on the upward climb!

Peace-
Betty

LatinAlexander · « **Reply #37 on:** May 14, 2007, 09:58:03 pm »

Matty!

I hope your dark side is darker as usual!!!!!

Congrats man!

Alex

emeraldize · « **Reply #38 on:** May 14, 2007, 11:22:58 pm »

Matty
Great news...I'm happy for you. In the event your HSP should return and you would be hit with arthritis again, I wanted to share with you the incredible results my 60-year-old friend Judy (negative) has gotten for her now-previously agonizing arthritis of the hands. A Chinese acupuncturist has been working on her for the last few months and it is amazing. She is pain-free, can wring her hands (just cuz she wants to), has full range of motion, etc. Just wanted you to know it's possible that a pharmaceutical + an alternative medicine treatment might = good outcome for you. Hopefully, you won't even have to consider it.
Em

HIVworker · « **Reply #39 on:** May 15, 2007, 12:06:21 am »

HIVworker is pleased to read that MTD is doing better. He wants to articulate he was concerned until he read this post. He also hopes that writing in the third person suits MTD.

Best,

R

Optimistic · « **Reply #40 on:** May 15, 2007, 12:36:20 am »

I'm happy to see that the numbers are resulting in a upward trend. I hope this will continue to rise. Congrats.

Justin

Queen Tokelove · « **Reply #41 on:** May 15, 2007, 12:58:28 am »

Matty,

I'm glad things are on the mend so to speak and undetectable, nice....^5....Despite not being able to drop the azt, I think Frau has your best interest at heart. I think you are doing better because you are just too damn evil to die, like yours truly.

Ann · « **Reply #42 on:** May 15, 2007, 08:49:17 am »

Quote from: matty.the.damned on April 29, 2007, 09:03:00 pm

Anyhoo, I'm reasonably pleased with these overall figures. It's nice to know that they will annoy my legions of detractors.

Quote from: matty.the.damned on May 14, 2007, 07:57:49 pm

So Matty the Damned summoned the courage to ask the nightmarish Frau Eva about the possibility of dumping AZT from his regimen.

//snip//

But of course the rotten wench kyboshed it.

//snip//

Bitch. It's a conspiracy. It's just not fair. I'm going to pout.

Ah, so Frau never mentioned my emails to her? So loyal!

ANNoyed

hehehe... joking! Fingers crossed she sees fit to drop the AZT next month. We can't have a pout screwing up your charming ~~snarl~~ smile.

Ann
xxx

gerry · « **Reply #43 on:** May 16, 2007, 04:36:37 am »

Hi Matty,

I recall you had posted some info about your resistance test results but I cannot find that thread. I seem to remember you mentioned NNRTI resistance but I could not recall if there were others (or I may be mistaken altogether). The main risk of dropping the AZT is if you have resistance to 3TC (the M184V mutation). This mutation may decrease susceptibility to abacavir (and ddI), and actually increases sensitivity to AZT (or d4t or tenofovir). If this is the case, then you need to weigh that in with against the decision to drop AZT due to side effects and dosing. If you don't have the M184V or any other NRTI mutation, then dropping the AZT should be a very reasonable move (and may actually have some validity because there are some trials in treatment-naive patients that showed greater CD4 increase and less side effects with abacavir compared to AZT as NRTI backbone). Sorry, I know I gave you that idea about dropping the AZT to begin with, but this just came to me as an afterthought.

Gerry

Just John · « **Reply #44 on:** May 16, 2007, 08:09:59 pm »

Quote from: matty.the.damned on May 14, 2007, 07:57:49 pm

Apparently she "might consider such a move" ------ if my CD4's (percentage especially) continue to rise.

Good numbers Matty considering what you've been through, I hope they continue the upward trend.

I was just wondering whether it was possible that you might take a lead from your ancestors and, er, maybe pinch a few CD4's from somewhere?

John

.

Jeffreyj · « **Reply #45 on:** May 17, 2007, 03:45:19 am »

Matrica Baby!
Great news indeed. Sorry to hear about that arthritis(As you know I have a touch of gawd-knows-whatever and it is ugly painful) But you must be happy all in all. Way to go!

Also, the fact you have caught Emma's attention(Gemini20) Well that's just a huge bonus!

Keep going Matty. You are like a drug. I'm hooked on you!

sweetasmeli · « **Reply #46 on:** May 17, 2007, 02:18:02 pm »

Sorry you're stuck with the pooey Trizivir for another month, my giant sugar-coated cupcake. Fingers toe n eyes crossed that your numbers keep behaving - unlike Mr the Damned of course!

- so you can soon be AZT-free.

Quote from: Just John on May 16, 2007, 08:09:59 pm

I was just wondering whether it was possible that you might take a lead from your ancestors and, er, maybe pinch a few CD4's from somewhere?

I haven't got that many but if physically possible I would send you some of mine.

Maybe you should start terrorizing some of the LTNPs, rallying round for some of theirs? Just kidding mister...play nicely!

Miss Melia xxx

Matty the Damned · « **Reply #47 on:** May 17, 2007, 07:17:35 pm »

Goderator Ann,

I knew it! It all makes so much sense now. You're all in cahoots . . . Where's my tinfoil hat?

Gerry,

I have had resistance testing done and there's been some confuzzlement about the results. I'll contact the Heartless Frau and beg her to send me the results.

Jeffrey, Miss Melia and John,

Thanks petals.

I'm certainly considering rolling a couple of the LTNP's for their CD4's. Greedy bastards.

MtD
(Who has to take his trizivir)

emeraldize · « **Reply #48 on:** May 18, 2007, 10:28:10 pm »

You wouldn't have to roll me. I'd send them to you via FedEx if I could. If it were only that easy. I'd be suddenly acceptable for apheresis again and catch up on movie watching!

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Author Topic: An Acceptable Result (Read 12561 times)

Dan J.