HIV meds or Not???

I was interested to read an article in this months Positive Nation Magazine about weather to take HIV antiretrovirals or to rely on 'Natropathic' treatments

• You can down load a copy of this magazine here: http://www.positivenation.co.uk/ or ask for a physical copy - every one who is HIV Poz can get a copy sent in the post every month.

I was interested because although I went on the meds and did not at the time dispute that I should, I have been in contact recently with several who do not take meds and do not want them despite for some, their CD4 levels going down below the level where it is recommended you start

And indeed some who have found that on 'Natropathic' treatments their CD4 levels have risen to a manageable level - but their virus load has not dropped as this seems only to happen with HIV antiretro's?

I think it is important for everyone with HIV to make their own decisions about meds and of course I do believe that your state of mind is so very important for your immune system so if you are not happy to go on meds you may not take them religiously as they have to be taken and also may be further stressed at the thought of havign to take them?

I have to say that I went on meds as by the time I was diagnosed my CD4s were already under the level that I should start.

And while I did not find it easy at first as I was scared of them - to be honest taking the meds I am on at the moment are now no problem at all ( mild digestive problems at times that means I sometimes need to be near a loo)but really nothing so bad I can not cope with easily - and I feel 100% better on them - I feel I have got my life back!!

I knew I was not well before I went on them but I did not realize how low I had become until I started he meds and started to feel so much better

And I know that this is not due to any placebo effect - I have faced many mental/emotional challenges in my life and am very self aware and I know that I feel better on the meds because I am better.

But who is to say alternative therapies do not work?

I have met some who are on them and are still alive and relatively well many years after HIV diagnosis who believe they do.

I am interested to know what others think?

Veritee

Medications and Plans

Talked to our niece yesterday - the respiratory doctor - and she said that Septrim is the right drug for him to be on.

Septrim may be an old medication but she said it still works for pcp pneumonia. Thank goodness we have a neice that knows as she is a doctor and in this area of work. Thank you for what you are doing to help us!

But I am also concerned that he is not yet on HIV drugs, which I think will be his best chance of beating this.

On one hand why do I care?

He has totally betrayed me and there is no way I can go and see him today and I do not know when or if I will feel able to go and see him.
For one thing I know that right now if I did I would hit him, yes, I would slap him hard in that hospital bed probably scream and rave at him and it would not be fair on those other poor patients in that bay. They don't need that disturbing them when they are so ill.

On the other hand I need him to get over this crisis, so he can come home to me and help me sort out all the things we have to sort out.
We need to sell this house - which also entails chucking out incredible amounts of junk we have accumulated, and I am just not physically up to doing this on my own.

And we then have to try to get enough for this house to buy Caja a small flat but one big enough for her to have a flat mate to help her pay the bills, and us a small place we can live in until he dies, or I do.

Where I live will have to be near the hospital, within 5 miles. I just can not drive or travel far when feeling unwell and I guess I will feel ill one day? And I need to be near enough to get to the HIV clinic at Treliske for checks and treatment, near enough to meet the people from the positively Kernow group and counsellors etc, and of course near enough to the hospital that if I need procedures or to be admitted it is near enough for me to get there if feeling ill and near enough for me to be able to do this on my own without having to get a friend or my daughter to drive me. I want to disrupt Caja's life as little as possible - we have interfered with her life too much already and others lives.

A tall order as anywhere I live will have to be within 5 miles of the Royal Cornwall Hospital, and house and flat prices are expensive that near to Truro.

But I am going to try.