URGENT: My dad has HIV of CD4 20! Need advise!

[Jeremiah]

Hi all,
       Yesterday, my 56 years old dad was diagnosed with HIV of CD4 of 20, which I believe is very low. He have been losing a lot of weight and sleeps a lot recently. His next appointment is 2weeks from now. Just afraid in 2weeks many might happen, hence this urgent post. By the way his doctor given him 3 medicine named VIREAD, EPIVIR and STOCRIN. Are they going to work fine?

      I desperately need advise for what should he do? Should he excercise.. if yes how? What type diet and meals should he adopt? And please advise on the intake of vitamins and minerals?(Example: Vit C 1000 mg, etc etc).. Please indicate if I miss any thing out. Im so lost and have no idea what to do. Please do help me as soon as possible. Thank you.

    PS: Im a newbie in HIV, I only started learning about it today. If anything I should know, please do so.

[Matty the Damned]

Hi all,
       Yesterday, my 56 years old dad was diagnosed with HIV of CD4 of 20, which I believe is very low. He have been losing a lot of weight and sleeps a lot recently. His next appointment is 2weeks from now. Just afraid in 2weeks many might happen, hence this urgent post. By the way his doctor given him 3 medicine named VIREAD, EPIVIR and STOCRIN. Are they going to work fine?

      I desperately need advise for what should he do? Should he excercise.. if yes how? What type diet and meals should he adopt? And please advise on the intake of vitamins and minerals?(Example: Vit C 1000 mg, etc etc).. Please indicate if I miss any thing out. Im so lost and have no idea what to do. Please do help me as soon as possible. Thank you.

    PS: Im a newbie in HIV, I only started learning about it today. If anything I should know, please do so.

Chill babe.

If your dad takes his pills, he will be fine.

20 CD4 cells is very low but if Pa is diligent in his therapy that count will shoot right back up.

There really is no vitamin/mineral regime that will make any difference to his HIV. As for diet, he should eat a normal balanced diet. Rather than fussing about such things, find out if Pa is taking prophylactic medications like Bactrim and Fluconazole. These will protect him from nasty infections whilst he waits for his immune system to come back on line.

Most of all:

Keep Calm and Carry On.

There's no need for a fuss.

MtD

[emeraldize]

Hi Jeremiah,

Matty's advice is good and if you've not visited the tab above "About HIV/AIDS" you might wish to do so to add to your learning.

One of the best things you can do for your dad (and yourself) is let life go on as normal in your house---whatever that normal is.

What a lucky parent he is to have a thoughtful child---that is medicine money can't buy.

Em

[WillyWump]

You're dad should be fine. We have several members on here who started with CD4's below 100 and they are doing very well today.

Make sure dad takes his meds diligently.

Also, as MTD states he needs to be on some type of prophylctic meds to prevent infections. Do you know if he has been prescribed any of these? If not you need to get these asap.

-Will

[Assurbanipal]

Hi Jeremiah

It's great that you are taking care of your dad.  Lots of us here have had low tcell counts and gotten better -- I didn't get diagnosed until I was already in the hospital with pneumonia, but I'm quite healthy today.  I was almost age 50, with a tcell count of 22.  You can see how I did in my signature line.

The most important thing your dad can do is to take his meds, including medicines to make sure he doesn't get pneumonia or other diseases. 

If you want to read up on HIV, check out the lessons Emeraldize referred to.  In case you can't find them easily in the tabs, here's a link
http://www.aidsmeds.com/articles/Introduction_4702.shtml

Welcome to the forums,

Assurbanipal

[Jeremiah]

Hi there.

Thank you all for the reply. Talking about  Prophylctic meds, Is co-trimoxazole one of that? And regarding normal balanced diet, anyone mind sharing theirs? Or is that a food list of what to be eaten and avoided? Anyway, Im very much convinced my dad will get better after reading so much from this forum.  Thanks all !

[Miss Philicia]

Hi there.

Thank you all for the reply. Talking about  Prophylctic meds, Is co-trimoxazole one of that? And regarding normal balanced diet, anyone mind sharing theirs? Or is that a food list of what to be eaten and avoided? Anyway, Im very much convinced my dad will get better after reading so much from this forum.  Thanks all !

1) yes co-trimoxazole is a prophylactic medication used to prevent pneumocystis pneumonia, a primary opportunistic infection associated with AIDS

2) normal balanced diet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthy_diet

[zach]

jeremiah, first i think its great that you are so supportive, more than anything else you do that is most important imo. and yes, co-trimoxazole prophylaxis is standard care.

http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/plhiv/ctx/en/

a normal diet just means normal for me, no list involved except the menu. he may find some foods no longer agree him; due to hiv or the meds. cross those bridges as you come on them. he's got nowhere to go but up, and everything will improve incrementally.

[OneTampa]

Jeremiah,

First welcome to the Boards.

I also agree with what others have said.

Providing the support to your father will boost his well-being and prove immensely helpful. He should also be absolutely diligent in following the doctor's instructions and taking his medications. He should be fine.

Additionally, I want to commend you for your concern and care for your father.  You are a wonderful child.

And finally, I am a 27 year HIV positive survivor who when diagnosed had a CD4 count less than 80. I am now 58. So please know that hope can match reality for survival.

Take care.

[Assurbanipal]

Hi Jeremiah

Hope your father is doing well. Glad to hear he is on co-trimoxazole; it is often referred to on the forums here as Bactrim (one of the names it is sold under).  I was on it after I got out of the hospital and it kept me from another pneumonia bout.

I was thinking about your question about nutrition and supplements.  In your dad's case he might want to ask his doctor if it would make sense to take a vitamin D supplement and, if he doesn't get much calcium in his diet through milk or other sources, a calcium supplement.

That's to protect his bone health.

There's been a lot of studies about problems with bone health (osteporosis) with HIV and many of them seem to point a finger at insufficent levels of vitamin D. And then when you are on Bactrim you are supposed to limit your sun exposure to avoid getting a rash -- but that tends to reduce the amount of natural vitamin D you take in as well.

Bone health also seems to worsen with long untreated HIV and with older age.  And for some reason, the process of starting to heal your immune system by starting HAART may further mess up the way your body uses vitamin D to protect your bones too.

So. based on his age, his  low tcells, the fact he is on Bactrim and that he is just starting meds, a vitamin D pill and perhaps some calcium might be a good thing. But have him talk it over with his doctor -- the internet is a great source of ideas to talk over with your doctor, but it isn't a great idea to just act on them without a discussion.

Best
A