Hello i have been HIV+ for about 7 years now and have been opn medications for about 6 years, i also am on blood thinners for blood clots that happened about a year ago and on pain killers and lyric for nerve damage caused by Nero SYLIPUS. its been about 4 months since i have stopped takeing my HIV medications. and am wondering aprox how long of a "life expectancy ". 1 will the syphilis possible become active again 2 what time fraim dose it normally take for the hiv to over com the body?

Hello and thanks for posting.

It's impossible to accurately predict what your life expectancy might be after stopping HIV medications- much depends on your lowest ever (nadir) and current CD4 count as well as your viral load. After interrupting HIV medications, the CD4 count pretty quickly returns to it's pre-treatment level (usually in a matter of months). If you had a prior AIDS diagnosis, it's likely that you'd return to that level of immune function.

What I'd ask you is why you stopped your medications. Have you also stopped your blood thinners? Was it because of side effects? Or was it just plain old fatigue from taking pills? Was it because of complications and pain from the neuopathy? I'd tell you that no matter what, stay in contact with your doctor. Just because your not taking medications doesn't mean that care providers don't or can't, er, care. It's also entirely possible that if side effects of HIV medications were a problem, that newer medications might address the problem. Even, in the end, you really desire not to take any further medications, palliative and hospice care can very effectively reduce unneeded pain and suffering and anxiety.

I hope that helps. Stay in touch, BY