POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Pre-HAART Long-Term Survivors => Topic started by: bear60 on February 26, 2009, 09:37:05 am
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Dear Friends here at AidsMeds
Another friend of mine has been having health problems. He has been HIV positive since 1985 and is (only) in his early 40's. He has survived an incredible number of opportunistic infections (TWO bouts with PCP) but is also infected with Hep B.
Today he is in the hospital trying, once again, to recover from a serious health problem. This time its his liver. His doctor ( I was there when he was told this) said to him that the Cirrosis is bad enough that he would be considered for a liver transplant. His liver basically stopped functioning and his kidneys shut down. He wasnt making urine and his chest cavity filled up with fluid. He had to have the fluid drained off. He is now making utrine and by some miracle his liver function has improved a little. He was munching on a cinnamon bun and chatting when I saw him but his color is ghastly and he looks to be 9 months pregnant.
Please send him all the positive energy you can spare. His name is Bob. We are hoping he will survive this.
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Will do. Sorry you're having to go through another health crisis with a friend -- you've certainly been hit by more than your fair share recently.
Stay strong.
xoxo
Peter (who will be following this thread closely)
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Dear Joel,
Sending Bob all the positive energy I can muster.
Hugs,
Ann
xxx
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Peter and Ann: Thank you. I know your positive energy is helping. Every little bit helps.
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Hey Joel.
my thoughts are with your friend today.
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Hi Joel,
Sending your friend well wishes and positive thoughts as well as a huge bear hug for you. <<HUGS>>
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Man.
I'll be thinking of him All the best to him.
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Joel,
I'm so sorry you're going through this, and that your friend is in such dire circumstances. I'll be thinking about both of you and sending positive energy, lots of it.
Luv,
Betty
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Thanks Sharkie, Texan, Crag, and Betty. I know your thoughts make a difference. Thank you.
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Joel,
Offering up prayers, good thoughts and positive energy for your friend Bob. I hope he can survive this illness, he is still a young man.......
Love,
Alan :'(
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Joel,
I am mustering up and sending as much positive energy as I am able for Bob.
He will be in my thoughts as well. As Alan said, I hope he can beat this. He is still a young man.
(((((POSITIVE AND HEALING HUGS)))))
Mark
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Joel,
Sorry to hear about your friend.
My thoughts are with you and Bob.
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I'll be sending along all the positive energy I can for your friend, Bob.
You both will be in my thoughts.
Hugs & Stuff
AA
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hey joel;
my prayers go out to you and your friend. My God look upon you both and give you the strength that you both need to pull through this. it sounds as if he is a very strong person and as i said in my poz influrence on life one of those that can be and is a good example of what i mean.
may God love shine down and embrase you both.
roger
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Thanks Alan, Mark , AA, and roger.
Well, the good news is that he has been discharged from the hopspital. I guess all this positive energy worked.
I will keep you updated after I see him again.
Again thank you for your support. It means so much to me.
Joel
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Wow Joel, that's great news! I'll keep sending positive energy in hopes that he continues to improve and stays out of hospital... and maybe not even need a transplant.
Hugs,
Ann
xxx
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Oh darn.
I just got the news that he was not discharged yesterday. We were planning a trip to see him and found the latest email from Don, his partner, saying that the doctors decided to keep him in the hospital. Its his kidneys. They are "acting up".
So....back to square one.
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Joel,
I'm sorry he didn't get released, it's so frustrating thinking your going to be released from the hospital only for the doctors to change their minds but I'm glad they are keeping a close eye on him. I'll keep on sending positive energy that this may just be a bump in the road.
AA
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Sorry he didn't get released.
Better to have happened at the hospital than on the way home.
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The roller coaster ride is not over yet.
Saturday, yesterday, he was finally released and went home. As soon as we see him, I will try to give an update.
Thanks Ron.......yes, if anything happens at home its much harder to deal with. But....I think he probably would rather be at home.
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"there is no place like home.."
-Dorothy
That's true. When I was in the hospital, the first thing I greeted the Doc and nurses with was..."I want to go home"...
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I talked to both Don and Bob today. Bob said he did not want visitors today even tho I offered to bring him some goodies from the store. He said his kidneys are functioning and he can crap three times a day.
His was pretty "doped up" when I saw him in the hospital. Today he says he is thinking more rationally.
We told him that we had made reservatiuons to go to the gay campground for leather weekend in August again this year and hope he can come. Last year he went with us and had a great time.
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Hi Joel,
It's great to hear that Bob really is at home now and I hope he continues to improve. Here's to August's leather weekend!
Ann
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Joel: thinking of your friend Bob and hope you're dealing with this OK :)
David
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Hi Honey
Are you back from New York? Have a good time?? Maybe we can have lunch next week.
Joel
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Hi Bear60,
Lots of positive energy to your friend from me too.
Bless,
L.
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Joel and Bob, sending you both positive energies , you're in my thoughts,
Joe.
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Please have courage, im with you guys.
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Today, Thursday, I have bad news.
Bob is already BACK in the hospital. That sure was a short stay at home.
So, we really need all the healing thoughts we can get going his way. He is in the hospital of the Univ of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Read the thread I started in "Off Topic" for a healing circle this weekend.
Thanks
Joel
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Today is Monday the 9th of March.....
the update on Bob is that he is still in the hospital but is doing better and may go home tomorrow....
he said his kidney and liver function is about normal...for him that is...since he has very little liver function left
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Wed march 11th
I just got this email from Bob's partner:
Not sure yet when he will be released; he wants to go home of course, but I want to be sure that the plan for taking care of him at home is in place. That was the problem last time; no plan for what to do if there are issues. and I don;t want to get home and then just have to bring him back in a couple days.
We have a great new doc who works with patients to help them with this and even better turns out he knows Bob's sister Kelly, so he is taking a very personal interest in helping us. They're also changing his meds around, adding ritalin to help him be more alert and Marinol to help with appetite and naseua.
I'll keep you posted.
Thanks for the invite for dinner the other day. If Bob is still here over this coming weekend, maybe will be able to do something Fri or Sat night.
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I Hope All The Best An Will Keep You An Friend In My Thoughts An Prayers!!! Dwayn20 AKA(Scooter)
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Thursday March 12
I just got this email from Bobs partner....
"After a pretty scary Sat and Sun, Bob started to improve on Monday and is now back home and doing much better. "
Isnt this great. I do hope it lasts...and he can stay at home.
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The good news is that Bob is (still) at home.
I talked to Steve yesterday and he thinks Bob is having blood sugar problems. Because he is arguing with Don about (taking) his meds.
Anyway, we are going to see him tomorrow.
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Saturday March 14
Kurt and I just got back from seeing BOB. Iam so amazed at the improvement form the last time I saw him...which was in the hospital. His color is better and he was not at all "doped up". He was having lunch when we arrived about 1 pm. We sat and talked and watched TV with him until about 4 or 5. From what I gather he slept really well last night and has liver and kidneys functioning ok. Naturally its a step at a time. One day at a time. But today was good.
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It's great to hear that he is doing much better. Keep us posted Joel
Hugs
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Thanks everybody for you positive energy.....here is todays update on Bob:
Things continue to progress in the positive direction. Bob has a cold so that has him under the weather. Was tapped today, 5 liters, so he feels
a little lighter.
Lot of doctors visits this week; no real news yet there, as all the lab work wasn't in yet, but given the positive trend, things look very hopeful.
Next week is a light week in regards to visits. He's busy planning for Easter dinner with the family here and the spring garden.
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Time for another update on Bob. 3-26-09
He had a fairly bad weekend. He had episodes during which he did not know where he was. Well, guess what. It was his meds being out of balance again and he was ok after the doctors adjusted his meds. (Dont ask which ones cause I dont know exactly but it has to do with his liver and kidney function.)
As of Tuesday he was himself and even went outdoors to the garden. He is trying to plan an Easter dinner for his family there at his home. Isnt that great!
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Thank god the adjustment helped. I am sending poz thoughts your way!
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Joel,
That's wonderful news! So glad to hear Bob is back on his feet. :-*
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Fran and Texan.....thanks. It is amazing that he is able to get out of bed and go outdoors. I am so happy that he has been able to rally somewhat.
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I hope your friend continues on the road to recovery,expect some set backs..it's called getting the kinks out..love and blessings.. :)Bobean
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:( hey sorry to hear about bob. you know for you to be there for him says alot about you. you really are a true friend to be by his side. i have one friend like you and i know that if i ever end up in hospital he too would be there. I got to tell you that it is he (and my trust in My God) that keeps me strong and going. I will send my prayers and love to bob and to you to because you ask only for bob I think you to deserve special prayers to keep you strong and healthy for your friend.
So in closing I send hugs of peace and love to you and bob. My God bless the both of you and St. Jude keep you and your friend in good health
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Update on Bob, Apr 3, 09
Bob has pulled through another incredible challenge. His counts ( this refers to his liver and kidney function) appear good. His CD4 counts has never been above 200 for the last 10 years.
When I spoke to him last night he sounded really good and he is indeed planning to prepare a big EASTER dinner fior his family. Then, after Easter, I am going to go out to his house to do some painting. Seems he has now noticed the bedrooms need new paint. Lol. Well I guess if you spend enough time in one it kind of takes on new meaning...new paint , new energy.
Isnt that great?
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new paint , new energy
i'm a firm believer that painting (ie painting walls) is theuraputic ;D - for the painter, and for whoever uses the room. ;)
Send Bob "Hoppy" Easter Greetings and Best Wishes for the shindig he's planning. ;)
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That's fantastic, Joel. Here's to the continuation of Bob's improvements.
Ann
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Good news!
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Joel ,
I am sending good thoughts and prayers !
Glad to hear your friend is doing better
Carl
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So glad he is better Joel! That's great news.
Happy Easter!
hugs,
Alan