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Author Topic: I'm scared ....  (Read 2686 times)

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Offline Maggie

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Poz since 1992, member of Aidsmeds 2002
I'm scared ....
« on: October 16, 2009, 06:46:01 pm »
I've been poz since 1992.  I didn't have to start meds for 10 years after that (2002).  I have been on a few different regimens since then - my counts would go up and then they were discontinued.

My last regimen that I was on (Viramune and Truvada) worked well for several years until my kidneys tried to shut down - I was sent to the ER and they rehydrated me.  (That was a year ago).

I have still been off meds - then after having my regular HIV labs drawn plus the CBC, etc. the doc. office called the next day saying to go to the ER.  I was dehydrated again.  I was put in overnight for rehydration.

Today I went for a followup.  At the time of my last draw (last month) I had shingles at the same time.  My Tcells are 473, the CD3+CD4 helper cells are low at 27 (they are always low), the CD3-CD8 suppressor is high at 52, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (H/S ratio) is low at 0.5. 

On the basic metabolic panel, it shows that even after the most recent overnight hospital stay after rehydration my creatinine is 1.21 (high), the chloride is 114 (high) and C02 is 18.2 (low).

Also, my weight is really dropping (but I did tell him that with the shingles, I just haven't felt like eating) - so of course this could be the reason for the weight loss.  (Still, I'm scared about that "wasting syndrome" that I have read about).

He wants me to drink lots of fluids, eat better, and have another BMP done in 2 weeks.  He mentioned something about acute tubular necrosis. 

I'm scared to death that my kidneys are going to fail. 

I know that after all these years that I should be more knowledgeable about my HIV labs, but I'm not. 

I'm so scared that after 17 years of living with HIV, that I'm nearing the end .... I'm just so scared. 

I don't really know what I want anyone to say .... I really don't.  Mainly, I'm just scared. 

Offline Maggie

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Poz since 1992, member of Aidsmeds 2002
Re: I'm scared ....
« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2009, 06:57:54 pm »
I forgot to mention that my VL is undetectable.

Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: I'm scared ....
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2009, 01:07:26 am »
Hey Maggie,

I certainly understand you trepidation about your kidneys. I had kidney infections as a child, then was on Crixivan for 11 years, which caused me to have kidney sludge (not quite stones, just gravel).

I also note you have been to the E.R. twice for dehydration. That is much more common than people realize.

People don't drink until they are thirsty, and by that time, they are already dehydrated.

My doc had me drink a gallon of water a day when I was on Crixivan. It really helped clear up my kidney issues.

I became so used to drinking that much, that I usually still do it today. I really feel much better for it.

Since your doc mentioned that you should drink more fluids, I thought I would let you know it had worked for me.

Hang in there and keep us posted.

HUGS,

Mark
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline Maggie

  • Member
  • Posts: 56
  • Poz since 1992, member of Aidsmeds 2002
Re: I'm scared ....
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2009, 11:39:04 am »
Thank you Mark for the encouragement and advice - I'm really trying to increase the water.  I still know that I'm not drinking nearly enough .... so no time like the present to start I guess!

Thanks again Mark!

 


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