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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Mugume256 on December 07, 2019, 07:02:55 am

Title: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: Mugume256 on December 07, 2019, 07:02:55 am
Hello how are you, been on tdf 3tc efv before and now on dtg but been having issues with consistency in sch , experience issues with concentration, memorising and even other neuropsychiatric issues of headaches , stomach upset, depression
So i was wondering if anyone  who has  reached higher ed(uni) asking for what advise you can give me , in regard to be on arvs and still keep my grades up
What meds are you on
Do the meds someone is on make a difference thank you in advance .
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: lightalltheway on December 07, 2019, 05:32:30 pm
HIV Medication should not put you off pursuing your education and/ or career. Life capacity is greater and it gives upon demand, so keep asking.

As long as you are UD, I can assure you that you will be fine. I finished my PhD with a CD4 count as little as 90.
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: harleymc on December 07, 2019, 08:01:29 pm
Completed 6 years of studies . I'm not the sharpest pencil in the case but still passed everything I put effort into .
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: joemutt on December 07, 2019, 08:18:45 pm
My friend got his PhD while poz and on meds without problems.
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: leatherman on December 08, 2019, 08:12:55 am
been on tdf 3tc efv before and now on dtg but been having issues with consistency in sch , experience issues with concentration, memorising and even other neuropsychiatric issues of headaches , stomach upset, depression
.....
Do the meds someone is on make a difference thank you in advance .
a few quick questions: what else are you taking with dtg? how long ago did you make this switch? did you have these issues before the change in meds?

the side effects you mentioned are very possible with efv. Many people have no issues with this med while many other people have mild side effects from sustiva which are lessened by taking the med at night but unfortunately there is another group that has quite bad reactions to this medication. The bad side effects are what you mentioned and could very likely disrupt your education not to mention your daily life.

while others are correct that you should be able to do whatever you want (take nearly any job, get any education) while taking ARVs, if you're having issues like these you need to discuss the matter of all these side effects with your doctor
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: Mugume256 on December 10, 2019, 09:34:55 am
Thank you for the response , i appreciate it.
I was born with hiv, began on an azt combination on which i had poor adherence , was switched to efv regimens but id say i later learnt it was the way i took it that made me uncomfortable (took it the whole time with a heavy meal) for some reason i felt much better that way though it was also difficult( hearing loss, excessive sweating, weight gain, poor memory and bad moods
Later figured out a better way of taking it 2 hours before food( but made me soo small physically, and dehydrated and i didnt have physical strength for so much ) so i switched to atripla ( but depression, imsomnia, suicidal tjoughts made a change)
Then dtg( but im on the verge of abondoning it) i dont sleep well, im depressed , suicidal(bse of the meds ), fatgue, headaches, breathing problems , energy levels at the end of the day , bad sleep ... been enduring all this two years
There some upsides though , my memory improved so much got a couple of good grades , gained weight generally but the bad side gives me alot of discomfort so im planning on switching on my next visit.
I take mine with a heavy meal at lunch..
Im also a beliver in achieveing my education dream but its taken me along time in sch as well as costs but been fortunate not to have issues paying but it worries me alot and i wonder how other people have been able to do it
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: Altenburger on January 22, 2020, 08:13:32 am
Quote
Quote from: lightalltheway (https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=73474.0) essays (https://essays.agency/) on December 07, 2019, 05:32:30 pm
HIV Medication should not put you off pursuing your education and/ or career. Life capacity is greater and it gives upon demand, so keep asking.

As long as you are UD, I can assure you that you will be fine. I finished my PhD with a CD4 count as little as 90.

I successfully survived 4 years at college. It seemed unbearable, when fellow-students called me "reckless" though... I recall some college life situations that taught me a lot, especially, the emotional balance. I also drank a lot before and then it took me several months of rehabilitation to understand that HIV medication and alcohol can aggravate my health condition.
Title: Re: Experiences with attaining higher education while on arvs
Post by: Jim Allen on January 22, 2020, 08:16:58 am
Hi Altenburger,

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you had a rough time in college.

As you are new to the forum can you please open a new topic and introduce yourself to the other forum members. How are you getting on? What treatment are you currently taking, what are the results looking like? etc.

Thanks

Jim