Just found the board this week

[hope_for_a_cure]

I was diagnosed with HIV / AIDS in March of this year and I would say that I am actually dealing with things pretty well at this time.  I was living in the greater Washington DC area since the 1980s and did have my share of fun I must say.  I am not here to blame anyone for my past actions and now will deal with the consequences of my choices. 
 
Night sweats did occur off and on over the course of the past few years but were sporadic and I did not pay much attention to them.  It was this past winter when I noticed a huge change in my health.  The company I had been working for went out of business in 2008 and I had been without work for over a year.  The stress of trying to make ends meet w/o work added to this I am sure.  I could only afford to eat once a day and significant weight loss was the obvious result.  By the time January of 2010 came around I had pretty much at my low point.  Nothing left (i.e., furniture, family heirlooms, silver, etc) to sell and the house was very cold.  I did find some part-time work here and there which helprd a little.  My home was close to sliding into foreclosure at this point.
 
I developed a skin rash in February and when I noticed it spreading all over my lower body I went to a 'walk in' clinic .  The doctor gave me a shot of cortisone and prescribed prednizone pills as well as a cream.  The rash did go away.  My gums were sore and I had what I thought was a sinus infection so I pulled all of my available money together and went to another doctor (my regular MD) and he gave me a strong antibiotic as well as something for thrush.  The winter weather was brutal and all I wanted to do is stay in bed and sleep.  I figured the antibiotics were causing me to feel so drained. 
 
It was when I made a trip down to see my family (small town in the south) in late February that I found it impossible to enjoy any food.  Everything tasted bad and the smell of food made me nauseous.  I was dropping weight like crazy.  My family took me to a doctor there and I was rushed to the hospital for tests.  My chest x-rays were not good, diagnosis was pneumonia.  I was put on oxygen, IV, and was really close to death.  It hurt to just roll over in bed.  I was down to 130 pounds and did not recognize myself when I looked in the mirror.  It was horrible.
 
I started treatment (Atripla) on March 22nd.
 
My family helped save my life.  I will say its a strange feeling when you think you are going to die.  Material things dont mean much at that point.  I did sell my house in DC and am now living back in the rural south.  My elderly mother is going blind and I am living with and taking care of her at this point.  I will say that I am feeling MUCH better and have put on 30 pounds.  The results of my latest blood tests are not back yet but I feel sure there is improvement. 

Its nice to find a forum where I can share this.  I will post updates as time goes on.

[leatherman]

I did sell my house in DC and am now living back in the rural south

Welcome to the forums from another pozzie in the rural south (South Carolina).
Being the hospital, perhaps dying of pneumonia is an eye-opener that's for sure. Glad to hear you got diagnosed properly, treated properly and are feeling better. 

[veritas]

cure,

Welcome aboard! Atripla is an effective, easy to take medication. You'll do fine. You'll celebrate when you get your first lab showing ud vl.

v

[hope_for_a_cure]

Thanks guys!  I dont let my condition consume my day in a negative way, not one to have a pitty party.  The progress I have already made during the past 2 months is amazing.  I feel great for the most part.  The side effects from Atripla have been minor.  I did have some rather strange dreams during the first week or so when I started my treatment.  I failed to mention that I am still taking Bactrim per my doctor's request.  Thrush is under control with Fluconazole.  I refuse to let this destroy my life. 

One thing that helps me is the fact that I am in the position of 'care giver' for my mom.  She needs somebody with her at this point as she is not able to drive due to her macular degeneration.  I have a new purpose which keeps me rather busy.  Further, the fact that I am a middle aged man, in my opinion, gives me enough maturity to accept facts without reacting as emotionally as I would have if this had hit me in my early 20s. 

By the way, my cd4 count was 4 when I started treatment. 

[Hellraiser]

Thanks guys!  I dont let my condition consume my day in a negative way, not one to have a pitty party.  The progress I have already made during the past 2 months is amazing.  I feel great for the most part.  The side effects from Atripla have been minor.  I did have some rather strange dreams during the first week or so when I started my treatment.  I failed to mention that I am still taking Bactrim per my doctor's request.  Thrush is under control with Fluconazole.  I refuse to let this destroy my life. 

One thing that helps me is the fact that I am in the position of 'care giver' for my mom.  She needs somebody with her at this point as she is not able to drive due to her macular degeneration.  I have a new purpose which keeps me rather busy.  Further, the fact that I am a middle aged man, in my opinion, gives me enough maturity to accept facts without reacting as emotionally as I would have if this had hit me in my early 20s. 

By the way, my cd4 count was 4 when I started treatment. 

Atripla is a helluva drug and it IS extremely fast acting or seems to have been in the cases of most on here.  I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at your next blood draw.  Mind if I ask what your initial Viral Load was?

[hope_for_a_cure]

I am not sure what my viral load number was. 

I left a voice mail with my doctor's nurse this weekend to advise me of the latest results when they come in and will get a definitive answer this coming week.  At the time that information was given to me, I was a very sick man in the hospital (I realize that is a lame excuse but its true).  Once I speak with the lab or nurse I plan to track my progress in detail.  The cd4 count of 4 stuck in my mind and was disclosed by my physician's PA who had pretty much given up on me.  Her exact quote was "your T-cell count is 4 and this is going to cost you over $1,000.00 a day".  She is a cousin of mine and was more concerned about the financial stress I was putting my family through than getting me to a specialist.  She came into my hospital room and gave me a lecture when what I really needed at that time was a bit of encouragement.  I dont plan to contact her about this matter due to that inappropriate event.

That entire experience was like something out of the twilight zone for me.  The doctors that initially saw me obviously were not very experienced in the treatment of HIV / AIDS.  They did get me admitted into the hospital where I was diagnosed and then I obtained the name of one of the best Infectious Disease Specialists in my area.  My initial blood work was done at the hospital while I was under the care of those GPs and their PA (cousin).  It was obvious that those doctors did not know what to do with me. 

Now I am under the care of a specialist and he is quite encouraging. 

[roy100]

Your story and mine are so similar, and also the time frame astonishes me.
Its as if I was reading my own story.
Please do read my previous post, which are just a few because I am knew to this forum.
I was diagnosed March 30Th, and been on medication for 1 month and 3 weeks, feeling a lot better, my new tests will be at the end of this month.

I also have a mother to take care, she is 93 years old, and a diabetic brother loosing his eyesight.

Hang it there and hope the best wishes for you, I will pray for you, because I know of your suffering , I know how it feels. Hope the best for you

[leatherman]

At the time that information was given to me, I was a very sick man in the hospital (I realize that is a lame excuse but its true). 

It was obvious that those doctors did not know what to do with me. 

don't feel bad about not knowing all those numbers, especially when you were so sick. Thankfully the meds are working and you'll have plenty of time to get to understand the virus and the meds, along with learning to track the trends of your VL and cd4 counts.

of course, the hospital staff can't be totally knowledgeable about HIV - they have all those other illnesses and problems that they have to know about and probably fewer people present themselves with HIV than say cancer. You're always much better off with an Infectious Disease doc; but don't let that stop you from learning all you can. Treating HIV needs to be your job that you use your doctor, your lab results, and your knowledge to do the best job.

[hope_for_a_cure]

Thanks!  My blessings outweigh my problems. 

The fact that I was able to sell my house and make some profit after paying off the mortgage will allow me to repay my family.  I do not have health insurance.  The pharmaceutical company that makes Atripla is providing this drug to me w/o charge.  The doctor I see leaves his private practice each Friday to see patients at the clinic where I go.  I do pay full price for my Bactrim and Fluconazole which is nothing compared to what the Atripla would cost.  That 1 & 1/2 years of no income has qualified me for this assistance.  I count my blessings each day.

I did give up my independent lifestyle and the adjustment to living in SC after 27 years of being away is substantial.  Its a small price to pay as the financial related stress is gone and I am needed here.  It was never my plan to ask family for financial help but thank God my mom was in a position to do what she did. 

I plan to fight this disease with all I have.  There is much to learn and I will take things one step at a time.  Thanks again for the words of support. 

[leatherman]

I did give up my independent lifestyle and the adjustment to living in SC after 27 years of being away is substantial.  Its a small price to pay as the financial related stress is gone and I am needed here.  It was never my plan to ask family for financial help but thank God my mom was in a position to do what she did. 

what a small world
(even if you are way over there on the other side of the state almost LOL 2hr 45 min drive from Ft Mill).

I moved to SC after 25 yrs in Ohio. Although I had to make the move because my partner died, and after a yr with a roommate I (and my dogz) were about to become homeless. Thankfully, my Mom and her hubby made room for us and I'm able to repay that by helping out on the property as the hubby is over 70 and his dealings with prostrate cancer hasn't been going so well over the last couple of years.

I'm glad to hear that you've got good arrangements for the meds and for a doc

and i very much agree with what you and roy were discussing over in the other thread. As long as you make sure to take care of yourself, focusing on helping/caring/etc for someone else - even a pet - is a good positive way to live. It takes the focus off of dwelling on the negative and gives you positive goals and accomplishments to help keep moving your own life forward.

best wishes to you!