My continued Journey living with HIV

I wanted to check in today to let everyone know how things have been going lately.

About two months ago I was contacted by the IDI Clinic at OU Hospital that they would no longer be accepting my insurance. As you can imagine I freaked out. I ended up calling my DHS Case Manager who informed me that she had other clients that that has happened to since the first of the year. I am on Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage of Oklahoma so I never thought that would be the case since I also have Ryan White which covers my co-pays at the IDI Clinic. In the state of Oklahoma the IDI Clinic at OU Hospital is the only place that Ryan White covers. Luckily the pharmacy at OU still accepts my insurance and ADAP helps me with my co-pays.

Needless to say I had to find a new ID Doctor. Although I now have to pay the $40 co-pay, it turns out it is the GREATEST thing that has happened to me since finding out I am HIV Positive. My new ID Doctor got her training at Dow University in Pakistan, her fellowship at Drexal University in Pennsylvania, and her residency at Lincoln Medical Center in New York and she actually cares about every aspect of my health – NOT just HIV. She even said that she needs to monitor other things that happen to my health because of the HIV and the medication for HIV. She said because she gives me the medication for HIV she needs to monitor my health because of the side effectsfrom the HIV medication. My previous ID Doctor said she only gave me one pill and that was all she was concerned with. I am truly blessed to have this new IDDoctor. She has already run other tests on me and is learning what is actually causing a lot of my health issues. 

It is so nice to have another Doctor in my group of Doctors that cares about my health. God has been so good to me to get me all the Doctors I have. I now have the BEST PCP, Heart Doctor, HIV Doctor, GI Doctor, Thyroid Doctor and Kidney Doctor.All my Doctors work together to keep me in the best health I can be considering all the things that have been going wrong with my health. I am currently without a Neurologist because mine moved out of state. I also currently do not have mental health doctor because the ID Clinic quit taking my insurance. With the help of my new ID Doctor I should get these two issues resolved shortly.

This month will mark a new leg of my journey living with HIV because my new ID Doctor is starting me on a different HIV medication. I am super excited to be getting switched to an HIV medication that is less harmful to my bones and kidneys. As of August 2016 I will be taking Genvoya for the treatment of HIV.

I have had great results with Atripla another one of Gilead’s Medications for HIV. However, the time has come to move on to a new medication that will be better for my overall health. I will be updating my journey in a couple of months when I have had time to see how my body adjusts to this new regimen. For now I just have to say one more time how thankful I am that God has brought this new ID Doctor into my life.

I may have HIV – But HIV DOES NOT HAVE ME!!

God is good all the time.

Blessings and Peace,

David