Report back from a long time survivor, given another lease on life... report back

[Guest guest]

Well, I have been lurking for many years, harping in only

rarely, but I thought maybe it was time to pipe back in and give an update on

my situation, and give a little hope. My history in a nutshell, diagnosed

May 13, 1985, (130th Station Hospital Heidelberg Germany), Active Duty

Army. Dianosis was made after suffering for 3 months with a can of “walking

pneumonia”. (For a dramatic tale ready my chapter in Conduct

Unbecoming by Randy Shilts). At that point I was given 3 months to live,

you remember the 80’s AIDS patients dropped like flies.

Started drug therapy I in 1993, overseen by a conservative

and holistic healer, Dr. Lawerence Boly, (now of UCSF), he not only started me

on HIV meds, he also prescribed Yoga, a high protein, high carbo diet, vitamin

supplements. I lasted about 18 months on each cocktail, till my viral

load would slowly start to climb and my t-cells drop.

Fast forward to February 2006, T-cells hovering at

below 20, PCP for 3 months, weight 150 dripping wet. Resistant to ALL

drug theories approved for human use, and few trials I qualified for, (what few

trials there were). It was obvious that this was it, the PCP was not

responding ro treatment, and Dr. Boly came to me and explained That there was

nothing left, except possibly one drug, in early development, that he might be

able to arrange for me to get. No promises he said, but nothing to lose, right?

Dr. Boly was able to contact friends, and found an early

study of this “new class of drugs”. And it was a miracle.

Within days of starting the drug I was feeling better. My viral load when

I started was OVER 1 million. At 2 weeks in it was less than 180,000, and

at 4 weeks it was below 100,000.

I steadily got better, regained strength, and felt

better. By 2 months my T-cells had started to rise, at 3 months my

t-cells were near 150, and I was strong enough to have a party to celebrate “3

Digit Health”. By 6 months my VIRAL LOAD was around 300, and

t-cells went above 250. Another Party, “To life above 250”. A

new lease on life. Now my viral load still hovers at around 300, and my

t-cells are nearing 400.

I have not had an OI all year, but the good lord has

reminded me there is more to fear than that, I have had an appendicitis, kidney

stones, a slipped disk, and so on, NORMAL THINGS any 41 year old deal with.

So I am on Prezista (300 mg) twice daily, ritonavir 100mg

twice daily, emtricitabinet tenofovir 200/300, t-20 injection twice a day, and

the trial drug.

Other than being sick to my stomach for the first 3 weeks,

(ritonavir) and a horrible metallic taste in my mouth, again blamed on

ritonavir, I have had no side effects, and have only gotten better.

Now that I am healthy again, what to do with this summer in

the sun? I am already planning a train trip to Yellowstone, … but …?

Count

your blessings, and alwayas give THANKS

Jeff

Herwatt

Chief Learner

ItCanGetWorse.INFO

2261

Market Street #98

San Francisco,

CA 94114

jherwatt@...

AIM: jherwatt

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415-378-9619

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