Yesterdays doc visit results

[maddalfred]

Sorry to top post, did not know where this might belong.
Update:

Had my HIV doc appointment yesterday with my printed out list of questions.

She told me not to believe everything I have been reading online, that the grapefruit juice thing in combination with my meds does NOT cause any measurable counterproductive effects. (She was adamant that she is on top of all the latest) I can eat or drink anything I want or have an appetite for except the obvious, ie raw shellfish, alcohol, soft cheeses. AND she told me I could continue taking my fish oil supplements and acidophilus culture tabs if I wanted to.

She feels my age and my meds may have caused my eyesight to have gotten worse and recs scheduling an appointment to have my rx checked asap.

She does not want me to double up on the Clonezapam to help me sleep and she added celexa as a compliment for that and for the severe depression. She put me back on a two week follow up to monitor this.

She is not too concerned about my nails becoming suddenly fairly brittle, my toenails developing large white patches on their surface, she believes this to be mainly dietary/stress and in time will correct itself.

She feels a combination of my stress levels and medication are the root of my short term memory loss, suddenly becoming lost while driving on well known routes, (and the resulting panic that induces) not being able to remember having used my shower soap when finishing my daily shower, feeling a compulsion to check and re-check locks, appliances plugged in or unplugged, feeling a need to park in the same spot at work and at home every time, etc.

She was slightly concerned about my dry skin condition, especially on my face, she prescribed another cream with a mile long name: Clotrimazole and Betamethasone Dipropionate cream to be used in conjunction with the cream I already have from the dermatologist.

She was pleased to find that my reports from my heart doctor and the subsequent scans of my legs and chest turned up normal for an old coot my age. Apparently neither my legs or heart are pregnant!

She still feels I need to see a shrink, of the variety who can write prescriptions if needed, but is pleased I finally initiated contact with a local counseling center and have been to three appointments so far.

She feels the oddball new mole looking things at various locations will go away or fade with time, no worries.

In spite of starting on meds for blood pressure management since my last primary care doc visit, it is still slightly elevated but she also feels that should correct more with time.

I run a low grade fever a great deal of the time but do not suffer night sweats, so no cause for alarm there.

She feels my primary care doc may be able to help me manage the bone, muscle and joint pain that seems to have grown progressively worse.

Good news for my blood work, T-cell count finally rose again up from around 300 and change to 401, viral load just inside undetectable. Downside, Hep C is apparently having a good time replicating away, but I still have time to treat that at a later time once my T-cell count gets above and stays above 500 for a few consistent blood draws.

That about covers all this visit.

I had to reschedule my dental and primary care visits, dumb me had them all glommed into the one day and that was NOT gonna work. I see my primary care doc just after work Monday. And I am happy to report that I did get copies of all my records, even though the vast majority of what I see is total Greek to me.

I had a subsequent appointment with Aids Services of Austin and am ecstatic to report that it appears that they are willing to pick up all my med costs for a while in order that I can meet my high deductible new insurance plan thing. They said they would just cut a check directly to the pharmacy and I do not have to act as a middleman! That is major for me as recent house guests turned bums had totally depleted my little emergency nest egg to virtual dust.

Fun times. Wish me luck!

Rex

[weasel]

sounds good 

I take Celexa 40mg one week  80 the next . This works well for me ,I feel great at the moment .

 I would stay away from Grapefruit juice !
 Grapefruit juice may or may not INHANCE your  clonazapram !
or other  HIV meds .

 It does make sense NOT to drink grapefruit juice . Are you addicted to it ?

  Why not drink lemon or lime juice ?

                          just my thoughts , BUT my doctor advizes against Grapefruit juice 

                                                          best to you ,  Karl


  P.S. I hope you take care of your high blood pressure ,without using " Lisinopril "

[maddalfred]

sounds good 

 It does make sense NOT to drink grapefruit juice . Are you addicted to it ?

  Why not drink lemon or lime juice ?


  P.S. I hope you take care of your high blood pressure ,without using " Lisinopril "

Thank you for your input. My HIV doc enjoys a great rep here in Austin from all I have heard and read about her and I personally really do like her. She is very matter of fact and seems to have a sense of humor about her as well.

As for the grapefruit juice, no I am not addicted to it, but I enjoy it immensely. However lately I have discovered Cran-blueberry juice and it has quickly taken over first place in the juices category. OMG that stuff is good! I am not a big fan of lemon or lime juice, I like it ok but it does not like me back very much. I ddid buy some more grapefruit juice and plan to only use it as a "mixer" and not drink near the quantity I had prior to this visit.

Thanx again for your input.

Rex