Here it is the first week in September 2015 and it seems the medication changes are not going as well as I would have liked. If you have been following my journey living with HIV, you will remember that on May 22nd, 2015 I was put on the following combination for treating my HIV:
Even with this medication
change I have still managed to gain weight. At least I have not gained as much
as I did for the eight months I was on TRIUMEQ.
Since my last entry in My
Continued Journey Living with HIV my Primary
Care Physician has set down with me and we were able to go through my
medication list to determine what I REALLY need verses what all my other Doctors
had me on. Instead of taking close to 20 pills twice a day, I am now only taking
8-12 pills twice a day. Since I have continued to gain weight we are going to
meet again to see which of the pills I am on that may be continuing to
interfere with my body’s metabolism. I will be meeting with my PCP on the 9th
of September to determine which pills may be switched out to a better fit with
my symptoms from fibromyalgia, peripheral neuropathy, blood pressure, heart
issues and multiple back issues. Together we have gone through 3 different
medications to find one that will help me with the insomnia, but none of them
have worked. I have been able to keep the Diabetes Diagnosis under control with
my diet so NO pills for that one. Praise God for that one.
September and October are
going to be busy months for check-ups. I will be seeing my ID Doctor this month
so we can check my CD4 and Viral Load. I have been undetectable for 6 years
with a very high CD4 of almost 3000. That in itself is a wonderful victory over
this HIV disease. I will be discussing my options for different
medication. I pray we find the perfect combination so I quit gaining all this
weight. In October I will be seeing my Heart Specialist for testing and scans.
I am praying that nothing has changed much since my visit in March. I fear that
that will not be the case since I have gained almost 50lbs since last October.
I have been fighting the
depression that is trying to creep back up on me. Let me tell you it seems like
a never ending battle. I know there are those out there in the “Church” world
that would say if I were trusting in the Lord I would not be going through the
depression, but they would be severely wrong. I have spoken with my Pastor
about it and he assured me that it is okay to not be okay sometimes. When you
are going through traumatic changes in your life’s journey, you can experience times
of self doubt, fear, depression, loneliness, and even feel as if there is no
hope. I do however, TRUST in GOD fully because HE has never left me or forsaken
me. I know things will be okay, but right now I just feel like the WARRIOR
CHILD needs to cry a little and go rest in the ARMS of the ALMIGHTY GOD. It is
during times like these that I am reminded of Twilla Paris’ song “The Warrior
is a Child”. Yes I feel like a warrior because of all the struggles I am going
through with my body and my mind. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that GOD
will once again bring me into a peaceful place and let me know that He will
help me get through this time.
Thank you for taking the
time to follow my journey living with HIV. I
will continue to update as I visit all the Doctors over the next two months.
May God richly bless your
life and may my journey encourage you that just because you may have HIV – HIV does
not have you unless you give it permission too.
Blessings and Peace, David
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