Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 05:40:42 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772946
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 441
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 2
Guests: 414
Total: 416

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.

Author Topic: Another New Guy on the Block!  (Read 6434 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline DiabloII

  • Member
  • Posts: 21
  • Life is a Battle Field
Another New Guy on the Block!
« on: September 30, 2012, 09:15:53 pm »
Wanted to say hello to all!  Diagnosed June 6, 2012 after having some major health issues.  I cried all day!  I wanted to give up right off the bat!  I didn't know where to turn for answers or advice!  I called a friend out in California who has been poz for quite a while and told him.  He listened to my as I sobbed and played the what if game and then he told me to get my crap together that I can either choose to be a survivor or I could just give up!  He told me about this site and told me to learn everything I can!  I'm trying.  I started out with an HIV doctor who turned out to be a J A!  He was more concerned about me prosecuting the guy who infected me!  He informed me I was resistant to many of the meds but started me on 4 different med twice a day.  The jerk didn't read my file and didn't realize I was allergic to sulfur drugs.  One of the meds had sulfur and after three days of the meds, I was hospitalized for a severe reaction.  Needless to say, the crap hit the fan when I went to see him next!  He admitted he didn't see that I was allergic to sulfur!  After a few choice words, I fired him.  I then went to a new specialist who performed many different test to determine what I could take.  The one thing the two doctors had in common was that I needed to start on meds as soon as possible.  I'm still somewhat ignorant of the VL and CD4 but they told me that one was already at 300 and that was not good.  My new doctor consulted with other doctors and finally they decided that Atripla plus Isentress was best for me.  Three weeks ago I started taking the meds.  A week later, I'm in the hospital again!  Apparently, the Isentress did not go well with the Atripla for me!  I have been on the Atripla alone now for a week.  It is doing some weird things to me but I am managing!  I take it at night to lessen the side affects.  I still had a sever rash, looked like a boiled lobster at one time.  I'm now on day 5 of the Atripla alone and I seem to be doing ok.  I go in two weeks for my blood work to see how things are going.  I am looking forward to it!!  I am finally feeling better and seem to be getting my energy back!  I hope it is working!  Hopefully I will not forget to get a copy of my test results so I can post.  Maybe then some of you whom I have been reading may be able to shed some light on things for me!  THANKS for being here!!!  I know I'm not alone!!

Offline WillyWump

  • Member
  • Posts: 7,367
  • EPIC FIERCENESS!
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2012, 10:17:31 pm »
Yikes what a shitty roller coaster it's been for you. I cant believe you had such an idiot doctor, but thankfully you've gotten rid of him. Sounds like your new doctor is on top of things a bit better.

When you say the Atripla is doing some "weird things" to you, what exactly is it doing?

The 300 probably refers to your CD4, and while that is low, it's not critically low. The main thing is you are on meds now and your CD4 numbers will improve over time.

Glad you are feeling better. Please keep us posted on the numbers when you get them.

oh, and welcome aboard!

-Will
POZ since '08

Last Labs-
11-6-14 CD4- 871, UD
6/3/14 CD4- 736, UD 34%
6/25/13 CD4- 1036, UD,
2/4/13, CD4 - 489, UD, 28%

Current Meds: Prezista/Epzicom/ Norvir
.

Offline DiabloII

  • Member
  • Posts: 21
  • Life is a Battle Field
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2012, 11:23:50 pm »
Thank you Will!

Just having weird dreams at night.  Feeling buzzed about 30 min to an hour after I take it.  Hot flashes, and of course the rash.  However, the rash has cleared up!  I will keep you posted!  Thanks again!

Offline wolfter

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,470
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2012, 12:16:02 am »
Welcome to the forums.  I always advocate for finding a doctor who is a perfect fit.  Glad you had in internal fortitude to know you could fire that idiot.

Some of the initial side affects should lessen over time.  Continue to reach out, we have a wealth of knowledge to share.

Take care and best wishes.

Wolfie
Being honest is not wronging others, continuing the dishonesty is.

Offline Leopardo1

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2012, 12:36:06 pm »
i dont believe in those meds they screw you over more overtime.. just positive thinking, exercise,and good eating habits and good sleep.
good luck !

Offline weasel

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,906
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2012, 07:18:27 pm »


    Howdy   DiabloII  ,
                               I hope you had a fine day .

        Getting a good doctor will be a good thing .  I started on meds 8 years ago and my first doctor was a J A   also  :o

     Now things are great for the  most part . I  have become accustomed  to the whole HIV way of life .

    Hope to hear  more from you    :)

                                                                    Weasel 
" Live and let Live "

Offline drewm

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,248
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2012, 08:10:23 pm »
Welcome to the forums!  ;)
Diagnosed in  May of 2010 with teh AIDS.

PCP Pneumonia . CD4 8 . VL 500,000

TRIUMEQ - VALTREX -  FLUOXETINE - FENOFIBRATE - PRAVASTATIN - CIALIS


Numbers consistent since 12/2010 - VL has remained undetectable and CD4 is anywhere from 275-325

Offline DiabloII

  • Member
  • Posts: 21
  • Life is a Battle Field
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2012, 09:24:16 pm »
Thank each of you for the great comments and encouragement!  I am so glad a friend of mine steered me to this site!  Thank you each and everyone!!

Offline WillyWump

  • Member
  • Posts: 7,367
  • EPIC FIERCENESS!
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2012, 10:15:18 pm »
i dont believe in those meds they screw you over more overtime.. just positive thinking, exercise,and good eating habits and good sleep.


 ::)

Good luck with all that wishful thinking.

POZ since '08

Last Labs-
11-6-14 CD4- 871, UD
6/3/14 CD4- 736, UD 34%
6/25/13 CD4- 1036, UD,
2/4/13, CD4 - 489, UD, 28%

Current Meds: Prezista/Epzicom/ Norvir
.

Offline buginme2

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,426
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2012, 10:54:03 pm »
i dont believe in those meds they screw you over more overtime.. just positive thinking, exercise,and good eating habits and good sleep.
good luck !

First off, welcome!

Don't listen to this advice.  All the positive thinking in the world isn't going to a damn thing for you.  I guess all those millions of people that have died of AIDS, I guess that was their problem, not enough positive thinking.

Anyway back to the topic at hand.  It's good to hear you switched doctors and now are with one you are more comfortable with.  One thing you will find with HIV is you need to be involved in your own care and step one in that is finding a doctor you are comfortable with.

I am also on Atripla.  Each of the side effects you have mentioned are common and I experienced in the beginning also.  Have comfort >they go away<.   Although every once in awhile an odd dream does surface but usually they are quite interesting.

Good luck, you'll do fine
Don't be fancy, just get dancey

Offline tednlou2

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,730
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #10 on: October 03, 2012, 03:20:49 am »
Welcome to the forums.  I am glad to hear you're getting some energy back.  Since many do have allergic reactions to drugs like Bactrim, docs should always ask.  My doc didn't ask, when I was put on it.  Luckily, I didn't have an issue.  One thing I've learned from having the hospital put me on mono-therapy, which caused resistance, is that you've always got to question and review all medicines and procedures.  A med assistant gave me the wrong hepatitis vaccination.  That didn't have major consequences, but reminded me to always question what drug/injection I am given.

Anyway, all the best and keep in touch.

Ted

Offline mecch

  • Member
  • Posts: 13,455
  • red pill? or blue pill?
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2012, 06:42:28 am »
i dont believe in those meds they screw you over more overtime.. just positive thinking, exercise,and good eating habits and good sleep.
good luck !

I don't believe in Internet Trolls who are allergic to capital letters as well as science.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2012, 02:24:00 pm by mecch »
“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

Offline DiabloII

  • Member
  • Posts: 21
  • Life is a Battle Field
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #12 on: October 04, 2012, 11:18:03 pm »
Again, thank each of you for your kind words in great information and advice!  I am doing much better and even feeling better! I go in about two weeks to get new blood draws again to see how the meds are doing.  I'm optimistic!  Yes, I have had some interesting dreams.  Fortunately nothing that caused me any distress.  I was sharing with a friend just this morning that the dreams seemed quite vivid at times.  However, they tend to be very interesting and even somewhat entertaining at times!  Now that the rash seems to have went away, if the dreams are my only worries (side affects) then it wont be so terribly bad at all!  Thanks again everyone!  Peace and happiness to all!   :)

Offline vaguesbleues

  • Member
  • Posts: 97
Re: Another New Guy on the Block!
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2012, 12:26:58 am »
I'm glad to hear that your experience with the meds has been going so well!  I'm also on aTRIPla, and while the first few nights were...well...trippy to say the least, I've found that the side effects become less and less as time goes on.  I've been on it for over a year now, and only have weird dreams a few nights a month now, which I can usually trace back to having eaten dinner too late in the evening and too close to when I take the medication. 
3/10/11 - HIV-
4/26/11 - Inconclusive WB
5/19/11 - HIV+, VL < 50, T-Cell 747 (30%)
6/13/11 - VL 345, T-Cell 841 (30%)
8/23/11 - VL 50,100, T-Cell 1155 (19%) - CMV
9/18/11 - Started Atripla
11/7/11 - VL 489, T-Cell 881 (31%)
2/8/12 - VL Undetectable!, T-Cell 772 (34%)
8/8/12 - VL UD, T-Cell 1070 (42%)
11/5/12 - VL UD, T-Cell 1174 (35%)
3/18/13 - VL UD, T-Cell 972 (28%)
10/4/13 - VL UD, T-Cell 1025 (34%)
2/9/14 - VL UD
7/31/14 - VL UD
1/29/15 - VL UD, T-Cell 1027 (32%)
9/15/15 - VL UD
10/21/16 - VL UD, T-cell 765 (39%)
4/28/17 - VL 29
8/17 - started Genvoya
10/27/17 - VL UD, T-cell 880 (35%)
3/30/18 - VL UD
9/28/18 - VL UD, T-cell 980 (34%)
4/19/19 - VL UD
10/18/19 - VL UD
10/22/20 - VL UD, T-cell 1005 (35%)

 


Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.