Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 19, 2024, 03:56:44 am

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772784
  • Total Topics: 66296
  • Online Today: 290
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 2
Guests: 215
Total: 217

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: How long did it take you to get on medication  (Read 3800 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Josenoway10

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
How long did it take you to get on medication
« on: June 18, 2017, 11:19:33 pm »
The one thing that has been causing me so much stress is how long this process is taking. I found out my statues  may 22nd, had my first appointment the 31st. Was given sulfmeth as an anti biotic June 9 and waiting on my second appointment coming next week. My cd4 was 108 when it was checked the 31st with my viral load being in 200 thousands. I still don't know what strain I have either. Is this normal? I'm getting care through a clinic that serves the LGBT community as well as low income so I understand them being swamped but should I take it as my situation isn't as dire as I think or should I be worried? I already have stated to develop symptoms of oral thrush as well. Part of me wants to cry while another part of me wants to stay calm and just hope I get medication before it's too late

Offline Ptrk3

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 2,792
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2017, 12:00:17 am »
It's good that you have been started on the antibiotic to protect you from pneumocystis pneumonia.

You should begin an appropriate antiretroviral regimen as soon as practicable, once any genotype testing or resistance testing is completed.

Your oral thrush, if that is what it is, could be caused by the antibiotic you are taking, so stay calm.

When you next see your healthcare provider at the clinic, definitely insist that you be started on antiretroviral treatment as soon as practicable.

Once you start your antiretroviral regimen, you will be fine.  It is not too late for you to have a full recovery and live a complete life.
HIV 101 - Basics
HIV 101
You can read more about Transmission and Risks here:
HIV Transmission and Risks
You can read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
You can read more about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read more about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
You can read more about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

Offline em

  • Member
  • Posts: 688
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2017, 01:25:53 am »
how long did it take to get on medication?

My ID doc started me on AZT when my t cells dropped to 200 after a few years or so of being at 600?

Everyone is different? I found out about HIV relatively early in my in my infection I guess.

I used fluconazole tablets for the thrush and it cleared up, and that was over twenty years ago I had thrush. MY ID doc recommended  I use salt water to  gargle with. when it was really bad I used vodka would not recommend that I almost passed out from the pain? but that was the early nineties a long time ago. it should clear up once you are taking modern meds. I started taking norvir when it was first tested then  my t cells were in the single  digits. everything changed. the thrush should  pass. then you should have many years of life ahead.

antiretroviral treatment as soon as practicable. ( good advice ) your numbers should rebound I know mine did .

I hope you the best

 
 
« Last Edit: June 19, 2017, 01:31:26 am by em »

Offline paintedroom

  • Member
  • Posts: 375
  • Dx`d July 2016
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2017, 03:31:50 am »
 Hi Josenoway,

How you`re feeling is entirely understandable by try not to get into the extremes of worry.There are many here including myself who had lower cd4`s than you(50 in my case) and are making great recoveries.
I was started on ARV`s almost immediately(got cd4 count on a friday and was started on ARv`s the monday) upon getting cd4 count.I think cd4`s decline by 50 - 80 per year on average so they won`t disappear overnight and you are on the very important antibiotics.
I can only really echo Ptrk`s comment - "When you next see your healthcare provider at the clinic, definitely insist that you be started on antiretroviral treatment as soon as practicable." - you have to be measured and firm.

Keep us posted as to how you get on and try to keep calm.when you start on ARV`s,you KNOW you are on your way back to good health and that can happen very quickly.

P.

Dx`d mid July 2016
8/8/2016 - CD4 50     VL 50,000
5/9/2016 -  CD4 150
13/9/2016  VL  undetectable.
March `17 - CD4 193   VL undetectable.
March  `18 CD4 214    VL undetectable
March 2019 CD4 325  VL UD
Genvoya - Changed to Biktarvy feb 2021

Offline harleymc

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,523
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2017, 04:20:49 am »
Let me see I was diagnosed in 85 and AZT monotherapy was offered to me in 1989. But that's snot the answer you wanted to know about.

I'm a great advocate of same day dispensing, but the reality is a few weeks one way or the other will make no difference what so ever.

Online Jim Allen

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 22,193
  • Threads: @jim16309
    • Social Media: Threads
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2017, 04:45:41 am »
Indeed, agree with the above.

OP you are over worrying and that is somewhat understandble this is new to you.
However a few weeks is not going to change the road ahead, in the past starting treatment was based on your counts, we now know better and starting treatment is recommend regardless of lab results, but a few weeks is not a delay to stress about and to be honest its really good you are being seen so soon.

Jim
HIV 101 - Everything you need to know
HIV 101
Read more about Testing here:
HIV Testing
Read about Treatment-as-Prevention (TasP) here:
HIV TasP
You can read about HIV prevention here:
HIV prevention
Read about PEP and PrEP here
PEP and PrEP

My Instagram
Threads

Offline Mightysure

  • Member
  • Posts: 449
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2017, 01:34:11 pm »
I have to preface this with I went to a private doctor. It took about 2 weeks after results came back. The main reason it was so soon was because I was eligible for genotype testing, so it was really a guessing game on which regimine to start me on.
But don't worry. If you're  typing this from your home and not a hospital bed, you're going to be fine until you get your prescription. And if something does indeed take a turn for the bad, then meds wouldn't have done much to stop it. So, just relax. You're going to be fine.

Offline kentfrat1783

  • Member
  • Posts: 421
  • Instagram: kentfrat1783
Re: How long did it take you to get on medication
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2017, 08:42:43 pm »
Hi,

It took me about a month after being diagnosed to get on Atripla. 

The reason for that is I was in the hospital for 7 days with PCP and the doctors (over 6 of them) were more concerned about getting that fixed first.  Then my followup with my ID doctor wasn't until 2 weeks after I go out of the hospital.  And then took a week to get the Rx mailed too me. 

I had some slight side effects due to the meds but the major ones only last a few weeks.  Now the odd dreams are odd but nothing that scares or wakes me up.

I have yet to get the 3 month blood work results after start the Atripla so I don't know how much it is helping.  I'm so looking forward too & dreading Sept 26th.  My CD4 count started at "2" and I'm unsure of my viral load but I'm being optimistic that things will greatly improve.

In the end of the day, when you start your ART Rx's is your choice and what your ID doctor thinks is best.  Then again the sooner you start is the better. 
Date - CD4 - Percent - VL
08/23/23 - 366 - 26%
06/20/23 - 349 - 21% - UD
04/15/23 - 229 - 19% - <20
11/14/22 - 486 - 24% - 73
10/12/22 - 316 - 19% - <20
06/20/22 - 292 - 21% - <20
01/25/22 - 321 - 22% - <20
09/22/21 - 278 - 19% - <20
02/02/21 - 225 - 19% - <20
06/08/20 - 257 - 20% - <20
03/17/20 - 285 - 19% - 101 (2.00)
12/17/19 - 290 - 20% - <20
09/17/19 - 218 - 16%
06/18/19 - 173 - 16% - <20
03/13/19 - 170 - 16% - <20
January 2019 - Started Triumeq
12/05/08 - 174 - 18% - <20
08/28/18 - 166 - 15% - <20
05/08/18 - 106 - 11% - <20
03/05/18 -   90 - 10% - <20
12/11/17 -   60 -   8%
09/07/17 -   42 -   6% - 54 (1.70)
May 2017 - Started Atripla
05/11/17 -    2 -    1% - 169,969 (5.23)
OI's: PCP
Dx`d May 11, 2017
Location: US

 


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.