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.

September 10, 2013

I went to see my doctor at her new office.
I felt like such a dork looking for her building.
It had a big sign that has nothing to do with her specialty
So, I thought it wasn't her office.

Also, the building didn't have the street number on it.
Frustrating...
I called her phone answering service but the guy who answered the phone was no help.


I happened to see my doctor coming out of her car in front of the building.
I told her, this must be your new office!

It was an uneventful visit.
Filled out some paperwork.
Then she gave me requisition slips for my blood draw.

I went to the lab for my blood work.
I signed in and took a seat.

I started playing "Candy Crush" on my phone to pass the time.
I noticed that it was taking longer than usual for my name to get called
I didn't mind since I was having a blast playing on my phone.
I noticed that people who walked in after me where getting their labs drawn and leaving
before me.

So, I went up to the desk and sure enough, my name got passed over
I complained.
I got called next.

Got the blood drawn and I went home.

The following day, I got a voicemail from my doctor.
That's strange.
I just got the blood drawn the day before.

I immediately thought, I may have to get the blood draw repeated.
Must be some error or something.

I called my doctor.
She said she has my results.
Wow. That was quick!

My CD4 is now 371
My viral load is 23

July 19, 2013

My doctor called to give me my test results.

My CD4 went up.  It is now 350

My viral load went down.  It is now 130.

My liver test, ALT is slightly elevated at 64.  My doctor wasn't worried.

So far, so good.

No adverse symptoms and I don't feel sick at all. 

Knock on wood.

July 2, 2013

I got a call from my doctor that she is leaving her group and will establish her own practice.
I have been seeing her since January and we are still in the early stages of getting to know each other.
I like her, but I hope I won't have to switch providers.
We shall see.

I told her that I will be getting my blood work done.
She had ordered for me to get my cd4 and vl blood draw for the 3 months after starting ARV.

So, I went to the lab today.
It was my day off and I had absolutely nothing planned.
I needed to rest anyway.

I had thought about going to the gym
I ended up not going.

I took a nap instead.

At least I got my blood work done.

June 16, 2013 Father's Day

I went home to my parents' house to celebrate Father's Day.
It was nice to see my sisters, my brothers and their children.
I played with my little nieces.
I got to eat Ilocano food, which I haven't done in a very long time.

It was nice to be home, surrounded by people I love.
I was wishing I could them them about my status.
But, I didn't have the courage to do so.
I am afraid to make them unhappy.

I am doing the best that I can.
So far, I am healthy.
My CD4 is in good shape. My viral load is low.

There is no reason to make them worry.

I do love them very much and I was happy to be around them today.

I should visit more often, especially to eat my mom's Ilocano dishes.

4/11/2013

After work on April 11,2013, i drove over to the lab and got my blood drawn for viral load and cd4 levels. 
My doctor had included other lab work such as CBC and metabolic panel.

So, several vials later, I went home.

Today is June 13, 2013.  I went to see my doctor to get the blood work results from April.

This blood work is for one month of being on Atripla. 

My CD4 went up 20 points to 281.

My viral load went down precipitously to 1710.

I am very happy for these results.

My doctor mentioned that my other blood work was fine.

I am encouraged that my medication is working.

I hope to keep it in that direction.

I am experiencing some minor side effects, which are not the common side effects found in people who take this medication.

I have the usual fatigue, which is common. But, I have been having numbness of my left pinky finger as well as mild tinnitus.

I told my doctor that these are minor and I don't want to change my regimen.

She agreed and we both decided to just keep an eye on these and other side effects.

It they become worse, I do need to let her know.

Otherwise, awesome news!

I will need to go back to the lab the first week of July and then go back to my doctor the following week for my 3 month follow-up.

I am hopeful that by my 3-month anniversary of taking Atripla that I will be undetectable in viral load and my CD4 will be higher than 281.

Fingers crossed.

Here's an article about aging people with HIV disease.  An interesting read.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/nyregion/spared-death-aging-people-with-hiv-struggle-to-live.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&