Living The Pozitive LIfe

My latest blood count: CD4: 464 taken 24 March (up from 303 taken on 20 Nov) CD4%: 16.4% up from 16% However, the VL reading taken on 20 Nov is not ready yet, hence it's still at 38 at the last test in July 2014. I also overloaded on my HDL cholesterol and my weigh has been steadily increasing, both of which are a result of better appetite as my CD4 picks up. I hope to receive the latest VL when I go collect my medication next month. It should be out. Took too long.

I walked out of the hospital lab with a brown envelope sealed and marked "Private & Confidential". March 5, 2012. As I sat down at one corner in the hospital, I carefully opened the envelope, hands tembling, and pulled out some pieces of A4 papers. Not much text. It was March 5, 2012. As I read the papers, my world crashed down on me. I was speechless. I was dumbfounded. I was mindfucked. I couldn't talk. I couldn't move. I couldn't breathe. That day was March 5, 2012. I couldn't believe my eyes. I read and re-read time and again the copies. Not only were they identical - they only have one word: REACTIVE. REACTIVE REACTIVE REACTIVE Nothing else. The clock stopped on that day - March 5, 2012. I spent the next 2 weeks crying in isolation. Not knowing what to do. Not knowing what my future holds. Not knowing what has become of me. Not knowing how to continue on living. I was suicidal. I thought of ending my own life. I even thought abo...

This morning was my routine bi-annual checkup, I only see my doctor twice a year now if I'm all well. I'm super anxious today apart from being quite happy and positive, no pun intended, because I'm waiting to hear how my viral load is after 15 months on med. In July, here's the numbers so far: CD4: 303 CD4%: 14.4 VL: 38 But as I was feeling under the weather the day my blood was taken, my doctor ordered another test in Nov. Here's Nov: CD4: 303 (no change) CD4%: 16 (point something I can't recall) VL: results unavailable yet I am quite positive that in November my VL could have been suppressed to Undetectable level. Signs and number are looking really good for me and I can't wait to find out what my VL reading was when my blood was taken in Nov. Sadly, 2 tubes of blood were spoilt as they can't test for my blood sugar and cholesterol levels.  But that's the least of my worries because I am so close to Undetectable in July and I am really, really hope...

Keep calm, go get tested. It's the best gift you can ever give yourself. Love yourself, because knowing your status can save your life, and others around you. We can all put a stop to this, if we work together. Stop spreading HIV. Put on a condom, insist on one. Don't let the heat of the moment makes you think it's okay to go bare. NO IT'S NOT OK! So, please. get tested. In conjunction with World AIDS Day, peace be with you all.

990 days ago, I started medications after falling critically ill and had to be admitted.. Before medication, my VL was 244K down from 2.2million copies where I believed my CD4 held up pretty well fighting off before surrendering. First VL reading a year ago was 350. Yesterday blood was taken from me for VL, I hope it will be down to double digit, or even undetectable. That will be a wonderful Christmas present for me when I go back to my doctor next month just before Christmas. I pray everyone of you is well and good :)

Tonight Dr Nason Tan wrote:- " Nase Tan Only those of us intimately affected by HIV can readily appreciate the social processes that structure the stigma and discrimination people living with HIV face. The relationship with HIV can be described as being like “one who watches in the darkness of night a mounting invasion it feels but cannot see". - Martin Choo  Despite medical advances and understanding of HIV since the 80s, we now know the disease doesn't kill but stigma does and we haven't been able to change that still. Why is that so? We are most effective when we demonstrate solidarity and wage battles for our rights, including our rights to life, health and love. The more people are willing to talk about HIV, especially those with it, the less discrimination we will see. We should be able to mention in one same breath like, 'Oh, I have underlying diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and HIV." without fear. " Thank you Dr Nase for understan...

So I just gotten my latest blood results taken in July.  Looking at the results, despite a slight drop in CD4 as I was sick when my blood was drawn, regardless, what is important is the percentage, which in July was 14.4%, which has doubled a year since starting medication. In retrospect, I started medication in Sept 2013. A year on, VL has dropped from 244K copies to 350 copies at last test (last VL test taken in December 2013, while my next VL is due in November later this year (this chart has some error as there's no latest count so it assumes the count by dividing it by 2. I have feedback this bug to the creator of this app).  Overall, my CD4 % has been steadily increasing from 7 to 11 to 13 and now 14.4%, which I am really happy that my medications are working for me well.  I don't experience any more side effects from medications as my body has learnt to adapt to it in the last year. I have only switched manufacturer for Stocrin (efavirenz) as...