Sunday, September 17, 2017

September 17, 2017



It's been a long while since I last posted.

Lots have happened since.

I met new people who are into risky sex and I indulged in it myself.

Tested positive for STDs like gonorrhea and chlamydia...YUCK!

I keep telling myself that I should stop, but the sex was absolutely fantastic with CF.

I don't have the will to say no.

I hope to find the courage.

Last CD4 was June 2017

My CD4 numbers are stable and I remain undetectable.

Monday, April 13, 2015

April 4, 2015

I went to get my labs drawn Saturday, April 4, 2015.

It took a few days to get my results.

CD4                    429
CD4%                   24
CD4/CD4 ratio  0.57

Viral load undetectable


Saturday, January 10, 2015

January 3, 2015

Happy New Year!

Since my last blood test, I've been taking multivitamins, Selenium, Vit B supplements with my Atripla every single day.

I haven't changed anything else.  I have not returned to the gym nor change my eating habits.

I went to get my usual three month blood test done on 1/3/2015 and here are my results.

CD4                    522
CD4%                   24 
CD4/CD8 ratio   0.68
Viral Load          undetectable
Still, I wish to have better numbers.  I should add exercise and better eating habits for next time.

 

Monday, September 8, 2014

September 6, 2014

Saturday morning, I went to get my blood work done.
I didn't expect to do rectal and oral swabs for GC and Chlamydia tests too,
  but what the hey.
Of course, both will come back negative since I haven't had a hookup in months!

I am hoping for better test results on my CD4 this time around.

Last time, it was 474.
The one previous was 541.
I would be happy if it turns out to be over 500.

The blood draw was uneventful.

Hours later, the results are available on my health provider's web site.

As expected, my STD tests all came back NEGATIVE.
CBC, renal function tests, electrolytes are all normal.

Liver function tests are still slightly elevated, but slightly lower than before

Even my cholesterol level is lower
Triglyceride level is significantly lower too.

Monday, September 8, 2014

After work today, I checked my email.
I got a blood test result ready for viewing.

My CD4 is 369.
CD4% remains at 21, same as last time.

My CD4 is trending down.  From 541 in February, to 474 in May to 369 in September.

 Date               Result        %
2/04/13              261
4/11/13              281
7/02/13              350
9/10/13              371
2/03/14              541         25
5/27/14              474         21
9/06/14              369         21

I haven't received my HIV RNA viral load test result yet.

It has been undetectable since September 2013.  I hope it continues to be undetectable.

I am not thrilled.  I was really hoping that my CD4 is higher this time around.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

My viral load remains undetectable. 

Awesome

I plan on doing things differently to increase my cd4.

I will take supplements and increase my protein intake.

I need to decrease stress as much as possible, get plenty of rest too.

Also, I need to exercise more.

I hope it works!





Thursday, May 29, 2014

May 29, 2014

5/27/14
I meant to go to the lab to get my blood tests done before work.
Well...it didn't quite work out that way.

I didn't get up early enough, so I decided to not have anything to eat the whole day.
I went to work and by noon I was starving!

I hadn't had anything to eat since 10pm the previous evening.
I asked to leave work early, which was granted.

It was already 1pm by the time I got to the hospital for my lab work.
Surprisingly, there weren't many people waiting.
I registered within a few minutes.

The lab tech must have been new.
He used a 25g butterfly to draw blood.
Since there were several vials, it clotted on the last one.
He needed to use my other arm to draw the last vial of blood.
Sure, why not? Grrrr....

The following day, 5/28/14, I got some of the blood tests back.
CBC, lytes are all normal.

No syphilis.  No surprise there since I don't have sex anymore.

My CD4 went down slightly.
It was 541 the last time on 2/3/14.

Now it is 474.
CD4% went down from 25% to 21%.

Cholesterol is high, triglycerides are very high.  Yikes!

Today, 5/29, I got my vial load result.

Undetectable.

Great!

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Gained a bit of weight

I have gained quite a few pounds!

I'm much more stout than I have ever been.  I think I gained at least 20 pounds in the last year.

I haven't been the same since my diagnosis.
I definitely let myself go.
I stopped going to the gym.
Been eating lots of carbs, mostly for comfort.

I've also lost interest in sex.
I just lost my sex drive altogether.
Part of it is the guilt I have of passing on the virus.

I feel like a diseased pariah.
And didn't think of myself as attractive to anyone anymore.

I bought new pairs of pants since most of my pants no longer fit.
I also bought larger shirts, T-shirts too.

I need to get my act together.

If I don't start taking better care of myself,
I have a feeling that HIV may not be the thing that will kill me.

I might die of a heart attack instead!


Sunday, January 26, 2014

January 22, 2014

I have a new health care provider.

I met with a registered nurse who coordinates HIV care for this new health care provider.

We did the obligatory health care assessment and interview.
The usual questions were answered.

I got my blood draw, chest x-ray done.
Picked up my prescription.

The following day, I got an email stating that I can access my lab results online.
Cool.

My CD4 is up!

It is now 541.

Viral load is pending.  I was told it could take 7 days for the results to get done.

I am happy.

PS:  viral load is undetectable.