Dr. Wohl---I read this question and your response and felt compelled to add my two cents. I was in a similar mental state when I found out I was HIV+ almost four years ago. My T-cells were at 228 and my VL was 30,000. My doctor wanted to start me on meds right away. I followed his direction and started meds but also saw a therapist to work through my anxiety and fears about this new chapter of my life. Now almost four years later, I have been on a very tolerable regimen of Viramune/Truvada for the past two years. I had to change meds a few times due to side effects (nausea and muscle soreness) but eventually found the right one to get me undectable. I feel fantastic and probably look better now than I did four/five years ago. My doctor kept telling me not to look back on what I saw in the 1980's and 1990's as a reference point for my recovery and treatment. That eventually helped and after time passed, I realized that the medicines do work and that they are tolerable. The whole process of accepting the HIV+ diagnosis and choosing a treatment plan can seem overwhelming but you can get through it and have a good life on the other side.

Those 2 cents are worth a million to many. Thanks!

DW