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Congratulations, Ron!! I hope you have been on several sites and posted your story. I am so tired of hearing the denialists say how toxic the meds are and how they do not extend the lives of those on the meds!! I know from my research the mis-information and right out lies of these people has turned others who have had bad experiences with some meds, to go off them completely, instead of working with their doctors, or even finding a new doctor, and taking REAL control of their HIV status!!! Thanks for your story, Ron, J. Todd DeShong www.dissidents4dumbees.blogspot.com
Hi, I started very soon, three and a half months after being infected. I started with 1100 CD4, 0,80 CD4/CD8 ratio and 64.000 VL. That was 3 years ago. Since then I've always been above 1300 CD4 (1750 in last labs), no VL and CD4/CD8 well over 1. No major side effects from meds. I am lucky my doctor proposed me to start so soon (some other doctors were not agree at that time) and I am glad I did. I don't know how well could I deal with the idea of wait and see while my CD4 and my health getting worst year after year. Starting soon, in my view, is also good to assume you do have HIV, to face it and to take better care of yourself. We'll see the man and the woman walking on Mars!!!
Don't over fret men about your T-Cells bouncing back... they will in due time. Having dealt with deadly AIDS and lymphoma twice in the early 90's before the meds came out in 1996, I was down to 40 T-cells and and host of other AIDS hell going on... here to write this hopefully supportive share on what I've survived. Mine are now at 580... Go figure? I didn't expect to see my 43rd birthday, 3 months ago I hit 64. WhooHoo! Who knew? I had this hellish cold over the Christmas holidays and as awful as it was and as awful as I felt, that cold did not affect or cause a drop in my T-Cells... my doctor says his job now is to keep his eye on the ball about any age related health issues that could arise in my senior years. I teach dance twice a week and take a class and do deep water pool therapy post back surgery in 06. TMI? We are all living in an era where HIV medicines abound, dermatologist who can erase facial wasting and correct lipodistrophy with surgery that most insurance companies will now pay for... at least that is the case in California. Help is out there if one seeks it out. I found out I was Positive in 1984 when the Elisa Test for HIV detection became available. Hang in there guys... we can all have long lives with HIV... Eat WELL and EXERCISE ... those two things make a huge difference with how your body reproduces new T-Cells. They may not be what they were, but they sure will be what you need. Live on! Ron
I spoke with my doctor about this today after he showed me an article in a medical journal about this very subject. I started early, when my counts were in the mid 400s. I am very glad I did. My doctor is now considering approaching those of his patients who are between the 350 and 500 CD4 levels to discuss beginning treatment. I have seen too many people not bounce back from low CD4 levels even though their viral loads are undetectable. If I had to choose, I would again choose to begin meds as soon as my CD4s dropped below 500. This isn't about "Big Pharma," its about continuing to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Ok we understand that bigpharma want to sell more drugs for our safety, of course. Why no one push them to find the cure ? I do not know if we have to believe that Yamamoto has found the therapeutic approach to cure hiv infection ( from The Journal of medical viroloy - january 2009 - ), but one thing is sure, GcMAF is unpatentable and will not be developed by any drug company. If a company cannot own the molecule, they will not spend money on it. So a cheap, effective and safe drug will not make it the market.
Interesting Info. This makes it clearer that early treatment has profound benefits.
Bob
I was once at zero t-cells and a viral load off the charts, lived through a bout of cat scratch fever a 45 day hospital stay and wasting sydrome. I am here to say my T-cells are now in the 500's no viral load and I am doing GREAT, gained my weight back excepy my butt, lol but im working on that,So please don't ever give up the drugs now are great I have been on many and I mean many finally found the right cocktail for me that my body tolerates and if your doctor isn't willing to work with you to find out the best cocktail for you then you need another doctor.20 years I have had AIDS. Peace to all, Zeitgeist .com
February 13, 2009