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Blixer
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Timeline Question
#169791 - 01/13/06 03:34 PM
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I was just informed of a positive HIV test result this past Monday. I'm scheduled for a followup visit with an HIV specialist next Tuesday. In the meantime I'm wondering when I was infected and how long it has been. What led me to be tested was a progressive swelling of lymph nodes that begin in November in my neck and moved into the groin area about 2 to 3 weeks later. The neck nodes have stayes about constant in size after swelling. The groin nodes have continued to slowly enlarge. Is this likely indicative of a recent infection or is there any way to know. Prior to this I had no symptoms that would have indicated any type of problem.
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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MsLola13
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When I went to the doctor - we did my bloodwork and talked. I went back two weeks later and I asked him if by looking at my blood work results, could he give me an idea of when this happened. He said by looking at my counts, (low viral, high t-cells) that he figured I had been infected a year or less. He said obviously he can't pin-point exact dates but told me his educated guess would be within the past 12 months.
Hope that helps :)
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Blixer
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Thanks! I figured I would know more after seeing the doctor. Although I did have a friend that regularly tested every 12 months. He had always tested negative. When he did test positive the very first blood work indicated a T cell of like 150 (officially aids) and viral load off the top end of the scale. All indications from past tests were that he had been pos 15 months MAX.
And I know that really, all of this doesn't make any difference. I guess it is just trying to put some meaning to things.
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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debtex
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Hi,
how are you doing? It hard to indicate exactly when infection occured....but it has been learned that with "recent' infection, usually w/in months--your tcells will drop drastically and your viral load will be outragously high at first. (this is why your friends viral load was off the chart).... but over a short period of time, your tcells bounce back up and your viral load will drop. Its usually during seroconversion that your numbers are all out of whack.
I hope mentally you are doing ok. Have you ever been tested prior to this positive test? although whats not important as to "when" you were infected as much as it is better for you that you now know.
Please keep us posted how things go at the doctor.
love and prayers,
debbie
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Blixer
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Thanks for the encouragement Debbie! I was one of those that didn't get tested like I should have. My last test was five years ago. It was negative then. You know, when you find out that you are positive, all of those times you put off testing because you were afraid don't make sense. I now understand that knowing sooner is better than knowing later. I know that knowing when it happened doesn't really matter now.
I shall make a posting on my results from the doctor. So far I'm doing okay. As you know, it's not easy but I'm not one to give up or let something get the best of me. I think I'm looking at this realistically.
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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debtex
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I think you have a very strong head on your shoulders. I can sense your strength. You sound as though you have a very good support system. I'm glad to see you reaching to others. Talking to other positive people really help to make you feel so not as alone sometimes. (sometimes they dont even have to be positive people to be a huge support to you).
You will do just fine at your visit. Do you plan on having a friend go with you?
Dont think it was foolish of you for waiting five years. at 23 years old, knowing I had put myself at risk in the past.....I would have NEVER been tested if i did not get confirmaiton that my x was dying. Sometimes we all tend to think we have been careful enough, or safe enough. I know it was atleast 2 1/2 yrs before I knew that I was infected. but you really have to figure....it doesn't matter how long you have been infected....because I have met people who may have been infected for up to 20 years (and have known for ATLEAST 15) to be positive, and have VERY low (sometimes undetectable!!!) viral loads with normal tcells. and you dont really sound as though you've had any medical complains...other than the lymph nodes, right? (and really I wouldnt worry about that either)...weird thing about hiv--i have this one lymph node behind my ear. and when I was on my medications....it was not there (but weirdly--noticed before I took them), went away on meds. but when I stopped taking meds--the lump is back again. !! Oh wait, dont let any WW's ASSUME that because they have a LUMP, it must be them too! (everyone has lymph nodes, sometimes they will swell).
please keep me posted on your doctors appt.
much love and prayers,
debbie
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Blixer
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Thanks again Debbie! I went to see a movie this afternoon. (I hadn't done that in quite a while... I was always too busy... so one good thing is this "reality check" might let me get a few things back in perspective for myself) But I did have my first real crying spell in the movie. Maybe that was one of the reasons I went. I knew I could kind of be to myself there in the theatre. It wasn't a major cry, but one that I had needed. Up to this point I've had several times when I felt the tears close but never flowing. And of course I was thinking how I had really screwed up my life this time and I was a bit angry with myself because I knew better. Like you mentioned, I had always considered myself to do things that were not too risky and not too often figuring that I was lucky enough to dodge the bullet those few times. Well, I wasn't.
In terms of health problems the nodes are basically it. They are swollen pretty much all over and you are right that the WWs out there should not take any of this as a sign for them. The ONLY way to know is get tested. When I went to my doctor she basically even said that she didn't think it was HIV. (this was one time I really wished she was right). It may not be connected at all, but this all started back in October with a sinus infection that moved down into my chest and then just kind of hung around (no fever, no other syptoms or problems, I felt great). After three weeks I had a pretty good cough. So I went to a doctor (not mine because mine was unavailable). I got some antibiotics and decongestant adn all seemed to pretty much clear up. A slight cough remained. Then just before Christmas I noticed additional lymph node swelling and that was when I headed back to the doctor. Ironically, had she not done an HIV test I was going to stop by Walgreens and get a home one. But bacially there have been no real medical issues and only fever one weekend.
I will let you know about the doctor visit.
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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Hey Blixer, how was your doctor visit buddy? hope everything went well.
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Blixer
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Thanks for asking... the visit is Tuesday afternoon... of course, I probably won't know much until more blood work is done.
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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debtex
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Hey Blixer...
Its Wednesday!! How did it go? I know for ME...the first visit had to be the scariest. (because for some foolish reason...I went in their TOO cocky about this....) although...that was almost 11 years ago (wow...I cant believe that)... and although I didnt walk out of that visit that day so cocky or fearless about hiv.....I am fearless for the most part about it today.
i'm sure you didnt get any results...but what did you think of your doc?? did he provide you with reassurance. do you feel comfortable with him/or her?
hope you are doing well.
love and prayers,
debbie
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Survivor
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Debbie Debbie Debbie!!!!! I made a new friend!!! Hes really really nice and has a great attitude towards HIV and all that knifty stuff!! Can we go out and play now???
Please can we can we can we can we?!?!!?!
Ratboy
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Blixer
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Thanks for asking Deb! The visit went fine. I left with much less apprehension. I'm actually starting to feel like my old self again. I do believe that the group I'm going to is one of the best in St. Louis. I was impressed with the way the place was run and the doctor I got to talk to. I didn't see the "main" doctor this time which I wasn't surprised. Basically all they did was draw blood, check me out, and answer questions. I guess what was so comforting was that their attitude was that this isn't a crises. We are going to work on this thing and you may eventually be on meds, but let's take it a step at a time. Basically they drew the blood and said we will see you in six weeks. My results will be back in about two weeks and I can go in for a consultation at that time if I want to go over the numbers. But unless there is something way out of whack in the numbers I won't go back until March. The doctor wasn't even all that concerned about the swollen lymph nodes. He said my chest and heart sounded good. My ears and throat look fine. It all took about an hour and of course in the blood work they are going to test for lots of different things to determine where I am and that there aren't any other types of infections lurking in my system.
Still lots of stuff up in the air. I've got an opportunity to change to a job that is much closer to St. Louis (where I'm going to the doctor) but I'm not sure about the stress of changing jobs right now. Also, the job I have is very secure. I could probably finish my career right where I am without any worries.
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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Blixer
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You are so funny Eric!!!!! Take care! Thanks for helping me smile the past few days!
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David
Sustiva, Epivir, Videx EC
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