aliveboy2004 0 #1 November 7, 2005 Well guys, it’s been quite a while now since I made a real “on topic” post. Went searching back and found this one from May 04 – “No, I had made the decision NOT to tell tandem passengers about my HIV status. Sorry, I don't consider it any of their business. The risk of HIV transmission from a tandem jump is virtually "0". As stated in earlier posts, passengers should be more concerned about a tandem instructor's alcohol consumption prior to jump or what their mental attitude is. My mental attitude is now very positive (oh, how I hate that pun!) - OK - it's GREAT!! I am being careful with my passengers and still not taking any unnecessary chances with anyone. I sincerely want to thank message friends from threads ...Part1 and ...Part2 (nbblood, ripple, vallerina, dmbale / freakyrat, Keith, weakmindedfool - gonna jump with you one of these days - I promise!!) Since my circle of friends that I can share with this is fairly small, I have to share it with you guys. Just got my results from my second blood test (will be getting one every 3 months) Tcells (good guys) UP from 385 to 435. Viral load (OHHHH bad!) DOWN from 14700 to 5190!!!!!!! AND to top things off, chlosterol and tri's DOWN to nornal levels. Looks like I'm gonna make it for another month. ” Also now want to add in a big thank you to all my new buds that I have been communicating with on this subject. Thanks for all the support in interest. For one of you in particular – last time you told me your numbers they ere fantastic – don’t know how you’re doing it, but whatever you’re doing it’s working!!! But now it’s time for a general update. This has actually been a pretty stressful year for me – lots of personal upheavals and problems in general. I have been trying to keep stress levels down and the attitude up but it hasn’t been easy. First of all, I am still jumping and doing tandems and still loving it, and have definitely decided to continue doing both. TEST RESULTS: The good numbers started to decline and the bad numbers started to go back up for the august and novermber blood tests. In March the T-cells were down to 290 and viral load was 12000. My doctor said to come back in 6 months for a recheck. Well, went in early Sept. and she said that it looked like I was in a downward spiral and that it was time to start meds. Had a vacation coming up and decided to start them when I returned home. I knew that they would be starting eventually, but didn’t expect it so soon. It wasn’t easy to put on that happy face when the whole mindset is in a complete and utter depression. At least by delaying the meds for two weeks, my vacation wasn’t ruined. Started taking them the day I returned and was sick for the next two weeks – headaches, nausea, cramps, diarrhea, couldn’t sleep, extremely vivid dreams. One kind of pill in the morning and afternoon and the other kind of pill just before going to bed. It’s been a little over a month now and most of the side effects are mostly gone except for the sleeping problems. I cut back on jumping when I was feeling bad, but now back at it and still doing tandems. I took another blood test on Oct 27th – about a month after starting the meds. Got the results back a week later (usually a 2 and half week wait). T-cells up from 290 to 315 and viral load down from 12000 to 400. That is getting down into the ‘non-detectable ‘ range. Believe me when I say that I sat down and cried for awhile. Just wanted to give all of you an update and to let you know that I am still doing tandems, loving it – and so are my passengers. As a little side note – I finally broke down and told my regular doctor about the HIV thing last summer when she prescribed some antibiotics for me - and she just looked at me with a non-concerned look on her face and said “You do know that HIV is just considered to be a chronic condition these days – don’t you? You are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or old age before you die from that!” How times are changing. Take care out there and be safe. Aliveboy2004 [:) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #2 November 7, 2005 Quote“You do know that HIV is just considered to be a chronic condition these days – don’t you? You are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or old age before you die from that!” How times are changing. I find that nothing short of amazing. Plus the research has bled over into helping people with MANY other diseases. Best of luck to you! Glad it's going so well. Before I got my current job I of course had to go get a very in depth physical. I found it hard to believe that you still have to sign a consent form to take an HIV test. I thought people would be a bit more non-chalant about that sort of thing by now. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiaKrembs 0 #3 November 7, 2005 I aparently missed your previous threads... Very glad to hear that the meds have helped and you are still enjoying and living life to its fullest! Good luck to you! g Raddest ho this side of Jersey #1 - rest in peace brother Beth lost her cherry and I missed it .... you want access to it, but you don't want to break it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #4 November 7, 2005 QuoteGot the results back a week later (usually a 2 and half week wait). T-cells up from 290 to 315 and viral load down from 12000 to 400. That is getting down into the ‘non-detectable ‘ range. Believe me when I say that I sat down and cried for awhile. Just wanted to give all of you an update and to let you know that I am still doing tandems, loving it – and so are my passengers. As a little side note – I finally broke down and told my regular doctor about the HIV thing last summer when she prescribed some antibiotics for me - and she just looked at me with a non-concerned look on her face and said “You do know that HIV is just considered to be a chronic condition these days – don’t you? You are more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or old age before you die from that!” How times are changing. That is so cool!I only work in a lab. It's great to hear from a real person about this stuff. BTW, the particular mutations we are looking at now came from a patient whose virus was strangely resistant to HAART. But a whole new generation of protease inhibitors came out & one of them knocked the viral level down. I got to meet this guy & talk to him. He looks quite healthy. Mostly because he's a really smart, together guy & never forgets about taking his meds. That's why he's still been healthy all these years. Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SpeedRacer 1 #5 November 7, 2005 (this is all published data so it's oK)Looking over the guy's record, what happened was he got put on HAART in August 1995. He had a VERY resistant virus which had some known resistance mutations and a few unknown ones. they tried a series of different drugs, some of which worked a little. But then in December of 2000 they started him on a combination of Ritonavir and Lopinavir (protease inhibitor combination). It knocked the CRAP out of the virus. His viral count dropped from something like 7000 or so to around 900 in like a month. When they tested him again in June the virus had been knocked down below detectable levels. And of course his T cells started to climb back up as well. No AIDS for this guy! Speed Racer -------------------------------------------------- Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aliveboy2004 0 #6 November 7, 2005 I am on Combivair in the morning and afternoon and Sustiva(600mg) at bedtime. Thanks for all the work you are doing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thegreekone 0 #7 November 8, 2005 GREAT NEWS! be well and continue to keep us posted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReBirth 0 #8 November 8, 2005 QuoteI find that nothing short of amazing. Plus the research has bled over into helping people with MANY other diseases. My bro got diagnosed with Leukemia about a year ago. Caught it at a physical because of white cell count. They put him on some new chromosomal therapy pills that elliminate the mutated cells in your bone marrow without harming the normal ones. He had some side effects the first couple weeks, but it's been about a year and his blood tests have all come back normal and he's never shown any symptoms of the disease. The stuff is amzaing these days. Not to get political but big thanks for the chromosomal meds goes out to the stem cell researchers of the world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
