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Author Topic: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow  (Read 4495 times)

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Offline CalvinC

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  • Posts: 218
Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« on: June 07, 2013, 08:56:57 pm »
Hi all.

I posted about three months ago that my numbers were changing and that after seven years I was being recommended to start meds. (The thread is here: forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=47975.msg582743#msg582743)

So, I qualified for a new trial and I am starting Elvitegravir / Cobicistat / Emtricitabine / Tenofovir (or its updated version) tomorrow.

Funny, it feels like I'm being propelled, far and wide and away, to this place so new I can't even imagine it, for good or ill. Not much trepidation but a sense of a newness that is, oddly, exciting and a bit high-voltage. And wherever I do go, I know for certain I will not be coming back here,  ever. The bravest of new worlds. Onward.

Offline leatherman

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Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2013, 12:02:04 am »
I was being recommended to start meds.
woohoo! that's good new. welcome to the club and best wishes!

You know you should really feel empowered ;) now as action is finally being taken to stop the HIV in your system. This is a really good decision that protects your health and well-being from here on out. :D
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline texaninnyc87

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  • Posts: 251
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2013, 12:06:24 am »
im on that med regimine also (stribild) and have had great success with it. my numbers have improved drastically, quickly, and ive had little to no real side effects. hang in there!
Dxd: 9/11/12
Blot confirmed: 11/12
12/12 cd4: 280 (20%) vl: 129,000
1/13 $tribild
2/13 cd4: 350 (26%) vl: 80
4/13 cd4: 510 (29%) vl:: 35
6/13cd4 350 (31%) vl: 21
9/13 cd4 492 (30%) vl: ud
12/13 cd4 846 (36%) vl: 100
1/14 cd4 480 (31%) vl: UD
3/14 cd4 650 (33%) vl: UD
6/14 cd4 410 (35%) vl: UD
9/14 cd4 439 (38%) vl: UD
12/14 cd4 551 (37%) vl: UD

Offline gadawg1979

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  • Posts: 142
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2013, 01:05:43 am »
It is amazing how fast it becomes just an everyday thing.  You will not longer have the stress of wondering when it will happen.  I am on Complera and well it is just an everyday thing with dinner now.  Its my mid meal snack.  :P
Diagnosed March 2012
Initial CD4- 156 VL 200K (started Complera) Genotype test no resistance
First labs on meds CD4- 246 VL 2K Taken after 30 days on Complera
90 Day labs VL 306 No CD4 Drawn
8/21/2012 CD4 474 VL Undetectable (40) %20.6
11/27/2012 CD 4 522 VL Undetectable (40)
2/14/2013 CD 4 464 VL Undetecable (30) 19.6%
6/8/3013 CD 4 528 VL Undetectable (30)
9/24/2013 CD 4 546 VL Undetectable (40)
1/30/2014 CD4 560 VL Undetectable (40) 22 %
6/19/2014 CD4 584 Vl Undetecable (30)

Offline CalvinC

  • Member
  • Posts: 218
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2013, 12:55:25 pm »
Thanks for the support, all.

Texanniny, the trial is a slight variation of the combo you are on. The Tenofovir, I believe, is being tweaked to see if the new version is easier on the kidneys. That's all there is to that.

Day 3 and I'm just fine. I thought that on the first day I'd get woozy or something. But I have felt absolutely fine. *Today* I feel a little tired in a relaxed sort of way, but that might be because I was up late from work on Sat night and slept fitfully (as I always do when I work late).

Am I right to assume that if there are side-effects they should begin to show up sometime around Week 2?

Offline texaninnyc87

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  • Posts: 251
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2013, 12:58:51 pm »
the only ones i experienced (slight nausea and a little buzzed feeling) were very mild and only came up during the first week. i wouldnt expect too much if you havent had any issues already, but everyone is different. my doc had been careful to monitor my kidneys but i didnt have any issues.
Dxd: 9/11/12
Blot confirmed: 11/12
12/12 cd4: 280 (20%) vl: 129,000
1/13 $tribild
2/13 cd4: 350 (26%) vl: 80
4/13 cd4: 510 (29%) vl:: 35
6/13cd4 350 (31%) vl: 21
9/13 cd4 492 (30%) vl: ud
12/13 cd4 846 (36%) vl: 100
1/14 cd4 480 (31%) vl: UD
3/14 cd4 650 (33%) vl: UD
6/14 cd4 410 (35%) vl: UD
9/14 cd4 439 (38%) vl: UD
12/14 cd4 551 (37%) vl: UD

Offline leatherman

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  • Google and HIV meds are Your Friends
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2013, 01:08:32 pm »
Am I right to assume that if there are side-effects they should begin to show up sometime around Week 2?
only if you're part of the less than 10% that have side effects ;) ;)
http://www.gilead.com/~/media/Files/pdfs/medicines/hiv/stribild/stribild_pi.pdf
see pg 9, table 2
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

Offline CalvinC

  • Member
  • Posts: 218
UPDATE: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2013, 11:17:29 am »

Two months later and, yes, what was all the fuss about?

In the trial, for the first two months, my blood was tested every two weeks. The meds took me to undetectable in the first two weeks. Bang. CD4s back above 500. Percentages excellent. Zero side effects.

I almost feel guilty for not having physical reactions. In fact, my whole course of hiv has been like this. I didn't have any adverse reactions when I sero-converted (so far as I can vaguely recall, of that time period) and the past seven years not on meds have been quite fine. The negative side of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I suppose it likely won't.

Offline mecch

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  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2013, 12:42:46 pm »
Funny, it feels like I'm being propelled, far and wide and away, to this place so new I can't even imagine it, for good or ill. Not much trepidation but a sense of a newness that is, oddly, exciting and a bit high-voltage. And wherever I do go, I know for certain I will not be coming back here,  ever. The bravest of new worlds. Onward.

You'll be fine!

I'm a little bit surprised that after 7 years living with HIV, starting haart seems so new and unimaginable a place.    ???

Anyway, that was a good run without meds and now you'll have the advantages  ;D
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline Since2005

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  • Posts: 434
Re: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #9 on: August 15, 2013, 10:19:51 pm »
Good luck to you - wish you the best!

Offline leatherman

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  • Google and HIV meds are Your Friends
Re: UPDATE: Well, here I go: starting meds tomorrow
« Reply #10 on: August 15, 2013, 11:41:08 pm »
I didn't have any adverse reactions when I sero-converted (so far as I can vaguely recall, of that time period)
even though it was a while ago, I've thought about this and know that I didn't have any seroconversion problems at all either (sometime in early 85) That's another one of those things like side effects - a large part of people who turn HIV poz don't have sero-conversion issues either

The negative side of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop, and I suppose it likely won't.
oh, the other shoe will eventually drop. LOL but it'll be that clog, pump, or sneaker over there; if won't be the remaing shoe in your hand that drops. ::) :o ;D LOL

great to hear that you're doing well. keep on truckin' LOL
leatherman (aka Michael)

We were standing all alone
You were leaning in to speak to me
Acting like a mover shaker
Dancing to Madonna then you kissed me
And I think about it all the time
- Darren Hayes, "Chained to You"

 


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