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Dr. Appointments
#26339 - 01/04/02 12:15 PM
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I am recently poz...I was wondering what the average appointment with the dr. is like. What do they do, I know that they take 3-5 viles of blood but do they do anything painful etc. Basically how bad are the visits?
I have only recently been infected and not planning on taking meds until they develop better ones in the next 3-4 years or hopefully a theraputic vaccine.
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eafire
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Reged: 12/01/01
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Posts: 10
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While I tested positive about two years ago, it's only about three months ago that I started meds & seeing the doctor regularly etc. Here's what I've learned from my experience:
- First off, the first couple of visits were, by far, the worse. First of all, they took something like EIGHT Vials of blood the first few times (the number of vials varies depeding on which tests your doctor ask for -- me: I wanted to be tested for everything, so maybe my numbers ((of vials)) was higher)
- Next, the thing I found most troubling about the first few visits is my doctor spoke all of the jargon that I had no idea about. T-cell count, viral load, white blood cells -- lordhavemercy, somebody get me a cocktail --- I was a wreck!
Still, to answer your question: nothing painful; nothing intrusive; and, once I got over the shock of having blood drawn (I think I'd lived my whole life and only had my blood drawn maybe twice a year by the Red Cross) things went well.
There are TWO AREAS where I feel compelled to offer advise:
1) I know you say the medical side is being handled by your HMO, but TRUST ME -- the BIG DIFFERENCE in how people are being cared for has to do with who their doctor is and what he/she knows. Please take my advise and QUIZ YOUR DOCTOR! Seriously. HIV is too serious a subject to have some fool who is studying-up on the topic. Work to make sure you've got the very best doctor you can afford. It makes a huge difference. Key questions to ask your doctor include: "How long have you been treating HIV+ patients", "What do you know about the latest HIV medications" (and don't accept general answers); "How regularly will I be able to see you"; "What ways will I have for contacting you when I can't get an appointment". ASK ASK ASK!
2) Study Up! Trust me, the LAST THING I wanted to do was learn all of what I call the "aids-speak". You know all of the words associated with being positive. I have to tell you, I picked up the lingo in no time. It's important that you do as well.
Do all that and you'll be a lot less scared more quickly. If you want any other advise, feel free to drop me mail at eacd4@aol.com
eric
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Abby
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Reged: 12/30/01
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Posts: 11
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Hmm, everyone has a story to tell. My doctor is the New Zealand Specialist, so I know that I am in safe hands. I love my visits (every three months as I was only dignosed in June 2001) my doctor has a great sense of humour and its a great Q&A time. I keep a list of things to ask him. I think its really important to feel comfortable with your doctor.
Im not on meds either, and my number one goal is keeping myself so healthy that hopefully I wont need to, but if I do, like you said it will be at least a couple of years down the track and they will have some supa dupa medication.
Look into Homeopathic remedies to address any symptoms that may arrise. Eliminate stress (easy to say, hard to do). Take care and if you need to chat, you can email me.
See you
Abby
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You have to feel more in control. Read up about HIV. You can be in charge if you get educated! All he/she will do is help you! So your first meeting is a time for you to ask questions. Also they need (YOU need) to find out your CD4 count and viral load. these will tell you if you have to start treatment. Is your doctor an hIV specialist? You should only go to specialists. Get a reference from an AIDS organization. Or just go to the following search engine and see if your doc is listed. http://www.aahivm.org/new/referral.html
You see you have to like your doctor--it's going to be a long relationship and you have to trust and like your doctor.
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