POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: LatinAlexander on August 26, 2006, 08:36:50 pm
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Hello all:
I am gonna begin finally my HAART (Combivir+Efavirenz) ...Just wanted to share with you this moment..I am so afraid... I am taking a step that I know I cannot go back from. From this moment on, I'll take pills forever. From this moment on, my life will never be the same.
Thank you all for readin these words...I know you all can say that I am such a whimp...And you know what? I AM...
Ok. Just one more minute to go...
Here we go: Combivir: First dose....
Done.
I'll report back in 4 hours, when it's Efavirenz time...
Alex
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:) You are stronger than you know.
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Hey Alex...well here's to wishing you the best on this new chapter, you're going to be just fine. I am not taking meds just yet, but I can imagine how you are feeling at this time! But from what I have read once the regime begins, most people feel relieved. So keep us updated on how you are feeling (emotionally and physically), and by all means, share anything and everything- that's what familiy is for!
One last thing. You said, "from this moment on, I'll take pills forever." Not necessarily! Research is progressing in leaps and bounds, and it seems that non-pill therapies are around the corner (anti-Tat, Ribozyme, Denditritic Cells, Etc.) which will make taking meds a thing of the past- not to mention the possibility of a cure which is most certainly out there. So...courage! I feel very hopeful that great things are on the way. J.
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Best wishes to you Mr. Alex on this part of your journey, u got guts!! And I agree with J220, things come in waves and one is soon to hit the shore!
Andrew
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Hey Alex,
Sending good thoughts and energy your way.
Terry W
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Hello Alex, it is Eldon. You are one step closer to SUPRESSING the virus and regaining control. I wish you the BEST and remember to take them as your Doctor has prescribed them, On Schedule!
Sending positive thoughts your way in Bogata!
Le deseo el mejor con su nuevo régimen de la medicina.
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ha... "supressing the virus" took me THIRTEEN years on medicine. My viral load didn't become undetectable until last month.
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Alex,
Sending you good thoughts.
My hubby has been on his meds since May and hes doing just fine. No bad side effects and I hope you have the same good experience that he has had.
He started on Atripla Thursday and so far so good!
Hugs
Teresa
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.
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Hey Alex...
Good luck with the meds. Hope everything works out for the best for you, as I'm sure it will
Corey
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Alex,
I'm hoping for a smooth transition for you.
Be well and follow your schedule :)
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I'll report back in 4 hours, when it's Efavirenz time...
Hey Alex it's 12.30 am :o time to take your Sustiva.
good night
Jacques
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THANK YOU ALL (jkinatl2 , j220, ndrew, texasguy, Eldon (Awesome spanish :P ), philly267, Teresa, Cowandalehouse, cph9680, IzPoz Chanel , Jacques (Tjank you for reminding me) ) FOR YOUR WORDS AND SUPPORT!!!!!!!!
Well, I decided not to stay at home, so I went to see a movie alone. I am back, taking a look to those 3 pills from Efavirenz... I decided to experiment with myself a little bit. So , I'll try to stay awake for one hour, and see if anything happens...
Ok. Here we go...
1...
2...
3...
Done.
I did not get anything else on my stomach from the moment I got my Combivir 4 hours ago (My doctor suggested I should take those with dinner), so let's see what happens.
GOD BLESS YOU FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT WITH ME, IN A MOMENT OF FEAR OF THE UNKOWN.....
Alex
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Ok Everyone...I am felling sleepy...My stomach has begun some strange burps... Perhaps it is just me going psycho...Anyway, I wanna sleep. If I have any dream or wake up, or anyother thing, I promise I'll report it...
C ya
Alex
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Alex-
Wish u well on starting ur meds. It took me forever to adjust to mine. Just take them as ur doc perscribed and u will do fine...Trust me
RobT
9/27/2005-1st test results
Viral Load >1,000,000
CD4 204
CD4%age 18
CD4/CD8 ratio .23
11/24/2005- Sustiva/Truvada
04/18/2006
Viral Load 140
CD4 402
CD4%age .21
CD4/CD8 ratio .39
06/27/2006
Viral Load 42
CD4 409
CD4%age .21
08/01/2006
Viral load- undetectable
CD4 493
CD4%age .33
Next lab: 09/01/2006
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Alex,
I hope you are sleeping well as I write this, what with the time zones between us.
I am sure it is difficult for you to start taking meds when you actualy feel fine; it is not "normal" for anyone to take medecine when all seems ok. But waiting for the first signs of this disease is probably worse. More scary than taking the meds themselves.
As much as it totally sucks, this living with hiv experience is also a jouney into self discovery. Coping with the news of being positive calls for a major adjustment for all of us. Four years into this thing I am finding that there are a lot of smaller adjustments to make, almost on a daily basis. Most of the adjusting I have to do is psychological: fears about lots of things, self image, etc. The only way for me is to take them one at a time.
I believe that you will adjust to this new thing in your life that those drugs are and wish it won't take long. Try and relax - I know it is not easy at times - as not every burp and fart is due to hiv or the meds ;). Though your body now hosts an unwanted guest, it is still the body you had before as well, with all its beauty and strength, and the things you never liked about it too ;D Don't let anxiety get the better of you and trust yourself.
stay well :-*
Pat
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Hello Alex,
Hopefully, you are sleeping soundly !!! Wishing you the best !
Take care-----Ray
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Alex,
Hope you had a restful nights sleep!
Hugs
Teresa
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Alex, the following day, after taking meds I made sure that third eye just above my nose had not developed.. I walked around for weeks just touching my forhead being sure I was not going to turn into some 3 eyed wonder... Hope your doing well.... No doubt its weird idea of having to survive on a jar of pills. But the pills are only half the equation.. Mental is just as important. NOTHING IS FOREVER Alex, even the pills we take now... Pretty soon it will be in the form of tanning lotion SPF / AIDS block 1,000,000.. Remember, nothing is forever... Your going to do just brilliantly.. ;)
Love
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(Thank you Mon amour Frenchpat, J.R.E., Teresa, Ena Eric (OMG, I love you comments about the tanning lotion and the third eye, LOL, Yes you are gay, and we share the same sense of humor :D :D )
Good morning everybody:
It's been 15 hours now since I began. My alarm activated this morning at 7 am, so I woke up, got the combivir, and went back to the bed. I had some dreams (I dreamt I was the CD4, struggling against the virus) but It wasn't so vivid. Actualy I barely remember it. I woke up like 3 times trought the night, and my head felt damn heavy.
Right now, I feel like an stupid. :D Do not get me wrong, It's just that I have this slight headhache, my head feels heavy and I feel a little bit like out of my body, like trying to control it with remote control.
Now besides that, and being only the first morning, I hope that everything continues like this.
I'll keep u updated tonight dear family
Alex
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Alex,
Did you order your kewl kick ass Rainbow Pill Box yet? Its really neeto... ;D
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Alex,
you are doing great! Just relax and go with the flow....you are going to be fine.
Hugs,
Alan
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Hey Alex
Good start, my friend! Keep on going!
Hug
Coen
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Good evening everyone:
Today..was a normal day. Only the little feeling of being outside my body and ocassional burps...nothing besides that. I have completed my first 24 hours...But this is not over yet, Ladies and gentleman... I have a biz trip tomorrow in the night , and a lot of biz meeting on Tuesday.... So let's see what is going to happen.
I have already taken my combivir. I'll go to sleep, and will get my Efavirenz at midnight...
THANK YOU ALL (Eric, AlamBama, Bobik)
Alex
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Alex, sweet dreams my friend... Take your time with this new aspect and things will just fall into place for you my dear friend... Knock em dead on your bis trip!! Just like what your meds are now currently doing to your little buggy friends....
Safe travels,
Love
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Alex,
Good luck with your business trip. I know you will do fine!
Keep us posted how your doing.
Hugs
Teresa
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Thank you Teresa and Eric (And everybody else reading)
Well, It seems perfectly happy time is over. Last night, I had some crazy short dreams, that would keep me half awake, half slept... I woke up this morning, and have my head with the heavy sensation. My stomach nausea is increasing... Let's see what happens... I'll post tonight from another city in my country
Thank you all!!!!
Alex
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Alex,
So sorry you had a rough night.
I just wish that everyone had as good as luck with their meds as hubby does.
Sending you good thoughts that things improve.
Hugs
Teresa
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Alex, Big Hug... Safe travels... Your a tuff kid.... Its way to earily in the game. Do what you Mom tells you when your late for dinner!! Tuff it out... Let the meds do their thing and let your body adjust with time... Keep talking and letting us know how you are doing....
Your Pal always,
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Good luck with your treatment. I am doing great! ;D And so should you! ;)
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Hey Alex,
Are you eating with or before you take your meds? If not, try it. It may lessen the stomach upset.
But don't fret too much if it lingers for a bit. I take AZT and 3TC too (the ingredients in Combivir). It took several weeks, but the tummy rumbles finally subsided for the most part.
Hang in there young man. You can do this.
HUGS,
Mark
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Hi Alex. For nausea, try pressing your thumb firmly on your inner forearm tendon, 2 inches down from the wrist crease. That is "pericardium 6", an accupressure point that has good anti-nausea success rates. Press firmly for 60-90 seconds. I use it to kick nausea's ass and it works super for me. I can't even remember the last time I had nausea from meds. Keep us posted. :-* Alex
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J/o ing helps the nausea.. You can get though this Alex! Steady as she goes....steady as she goes. You will be fine!
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Giggles Jeff... ;)
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Ok, ok everybody... I know I am a bastard for not writing last night...But this was my first biz travel, knowing i'm + and taking meds... So here goes the story
Last night I managed to travel to the other city in my town. I was a good boy and got my Combivir at 7 pm, and was not hoping to eat anything else, just to take my Efavirenz at 11 pm, and be ok, so I could wake up today at 5:30 am. But... when I was walking out of my rom, I went face 2 face with another person from the company, and guess what? A BUNCH OF THEM SAID "Why do not we go to eat Asian food altogether?"....Damn it...Couldn't avoid it. I had to go...
So we went to the restaurant , I got a salad... That was at 10:30 PM...At that time I was already afraid...So, no choice...Go back to the hotel, wait until midnight, and take my efavirenz in the bathroom (I was sharing room with another person from the company)...So far, so good...
This morning, my alarm rang at 5:30 AM...And there goes my stomach upside down... When I woke up , and my roommate saw me, he said something like "Jesus, what were you doing last night?? Look at your face!! you look like if you were drinking and doing drugs!!!"...So I balmed just the short sleep time, and trying not to lose control, went to the bathroom, to take a shower...It was true!!! I was completely pale, with eyes as crystal balls, and looking shitty...No time to complain, had to go on...I had a biz breakfast...
So got myself dressed, and went to the restaurant for the meeting. Thank God I was still able to speak normaly, but I felt my stomach was in my throat, and I was dizzy...But when I was in the middle of breakfast, suddenly I felt sooo lost..As if everything would be turning around me...Then, I managed to survive the breakfast, excuse myself, and run away to my room for a few moments... Jesus, I was not feeling good, and thought about canceling all my other meetings...I felt like I had drunk 2 bourbon bottles...I could barely walk...But I had to go on.
After that, It was time to take my next pill, which I did. I put together all my will (which is not a lot, actually, :) ), and went to my meetings...Thank God everything went smoothly from that moment on...
I have just arrived home...I was sooo wiling to look to these forums...but It was dangerous, I was ALWAYS with someone...
THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE... (Specialy Teresa, Eric, Juan, Mark, allopathicholistic (Please, I'll need a pic, because I cannot seem to find my own forearm tendon :P ), JeffreyJ and Eric (Yes again, so what? :P)...), and to everybody else ho has been reading this thread...It's been only 72 hours...I'll sleep tonight, get my pills, and keep you updated...This meds party has just begun...
ONCE AGAIN, MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL
Alex
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Hi Alex,
I see it was a rough morning for you. However, "inspite of" you made it through. It was good that you continued on and went to your other meetings; and the rest of the day was fine with you.
Have the BEST Day.
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allopathicholistic (Please, I'll need a pic, because I cannot seem to find my own forearm tendon :P ),
here you go:
(http://images.medscape.com/pi/editorial/conferences/2002/2160/art-2160.fig1.gif)
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Alex,
It does indeed sound like you had a rough day, but you made it through it...YAY :)
I'm hoping that today you are feeling much better...hang in there my friend, God does not give us more than we can handle...I truly believe this.
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Alex,
so sorry the road has been bumpy.... I hope it gets better today and everyday after.
You say you don't have much will ??? ??? ??? You have LOADS!! I would have packed up my bags and gone home or at least sulked in my room, saying "to hell with the business!!". Frankly, you are obviously stronger than you think ;)
take care
Pat