Response from Mr. Vergel
I remember when I first tested positive. It is very overwhelming. There is so much to learn so fast. There are so many options to chose from. And there is so much fear.
Your T cell level is great, but your viral load is moderately high. Treatment will bring your viral load down quickly. Talk to your doctor about all your medication options, the side effects expected, etc before you decide which combo is best for you and your life style. We have close to 20 medications now, so there are many choices and some work better than others in each one of us.
Try to eat well balanced meals with protein ( meats, nuts, cheese, eggs, milk, etc), vegetables, fruits and minimize sugars and refined flours. Exercise with weights and do cardio 3-4 times a week. Take a multivitamin twice a day with meals. Manage your stress somehow by going to support groups, getting some counseling, and doing things you enjoy.
If you want to get empowered, read and go to seminars. Call the main HIV agency in your city and get in their mailing list to be notified for seminars. If you want to read, this site (thebody.com) is great. There are books also like Dr Jon Kaiser's "Healing HIV" . I also love Dr Lark Land's work (you can read a lot of it at www.larklands.net)
Give yourself some credit for reaching out. Take one day at a time. I promise you it will get better. I have lived with HIV for 20 years and I can tell you it eventually becomes part of your life and you learn how to co-exist with it without too much conflict. It can be a wake up call for you to be healthier and happier.
You are not alone. There are almost 1 million of us in the US. Keep reaching out when you get too overwhelmed to make sound decisions!
Nelson
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