Introduction from a Serial Lurker

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone.

I thought it was time that I introduced myself. I've been lurking in the shadows

for some time now and it's time to emerge.

I'm Mel (short for Melvyn) Stainton and I live in south London in England. I was

diagnosed HIV+ in 1991 along with my then partner. I am on lots of medication

and like many others on this site have several different ailments. I am

monitored several times a year with different consultants at my local hospital.

This is good as I know that I am getting the best treatment available.

I don't personally know anyone else poz at all. This is unfortunate as it means

I don't know anyone else to share experiences with. The partner that I was

diagnosed with died in '94 but we never really talked about how we felt about

contracting the virus, possibly because, for the short time he was alive after

hearing the diagnosis, much of the time he had a form of dementia called

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy(MFL).

I have a partner now who is neg. We had a Civil Partnership ceremony in 2006. We

have just celebrated our 5th anniversary even though we have been together for

16 years.

My current medical status is that my viral load is undetectable and my CD4 count

is fairly stable at about 300.

Also, I have Type 2 diabetes which is treated with insulin and Metformin.

I have a damaged heart. My tricuspid valve doesn't close properly. This is being

monitored.

I have Emphysema. Happily this is not too much of a problem as it is

comparatively mild. So I can get about relatively well.

My Hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease) is fairly stable at present but is also

being monitored.

I get opportunistic illnesses now and again due to my fairly low immune system.

I've had things like pneumonia, shingles (on the eyes - ugh! horrible) and

presently I'm trying to shift a urinary tract infection which has been hanging

around since the start of November.

My medication consists of the following, although there may be differences in

drug names between the UK and the US:

Thyroid

Carbimazole 20mg Once a day

Heart

Bumetanide-1mg

Atenolol-50mg-

Ramipril-2.5mg-

Pravastatin-40mg -

Glyceryl-Trinitrate spray

Diabetes

Metformin-1000mg-Twice a day

Insulin NovoMix 30 -Twice a day 34 Units(am)/40 Units(pm)

Vitamin D-25ug

Emphysema

Seretide 250 evohaler - When required

Anti-retro viral

Atazanavir - 400mg

Kivexa (abacavir 600mg

+lamiduvine 300mg)

Well that,s my introduction. I hope that gives you an idea of what I'm about,

although it seems mostly to have been about my illness. I'd like to think I'm

more than that though.

Big Hugs all round

Mel