Compromised-Wake Up Call

This is the sickest I've been in a just over a year and it's kind of hanging on longer than I would like it to. I had almost forgotten that my immune system is at about a third of what a normal human beings is. I've been impatient and expecting a lot more of myself to get healthy, but I'm just coming to the realization that this will be a very slow process. I'm also on experimental drugs, so I have no idea of the how successful my therapy will be.

My CD4 or T cell count is getting better for sure but definitely below normal. Normal would be between 700-1500

If the number of CD4 cells in that drop of blood ever drops below 200 CD4 cells, you are classified as having AIDS. Simply put, experts have found that when your CD4 count drops below 200, your body's immune system is no longer strong enough to prevent illness and infection. Some of the most serious of these illnesses and infections are said to be AIDS defining.

Mine were at 169 when I was really sick and now at around the high 300's which is a hell of a lot better and I keep myself in shape, well at least try to. The real good thing is that the virus has become undetectable in my blood, so the drugs are working. The regimine is just a matter of discipline and I'm very disciplined with taking my pills. I haven't missed a single dose since I started over a year ago. The drugs I take are pretty heavy duty. One of them "Sustiva" is a real trip literally. I'm finally getting used to it, but it was a very scary drug in the beginning. You had to becareful and not take it with fatty foods or it would make you start tripping. The first time I took it was on Halloween night two Halloweens ago.

Nervous System Symptoms: Fifty-three percent of patients receiving SUSTIVA reported central nervous system symptoms (see WARNINGS: Nervous System Symptoms). Table 7 lists the frequency of the symptoms of different degrees of severity and gives the discontinuation rates in clinical trials for one or more of the following nervous system symptoms: dizziness, insomnia, impaired concentration, somnolence, abnormal dreaming, euphoria, confusion, agitation, amnesia, hallucinations, stupor, abnormal thinking, and depersonalization.

abnormal thinking, and depersonalization. That's scary shit! I had a couple of bad episodes of depersonalization where I thought I was dying and getting absorbed into the Universe, but not in a good way! It actually set off panic attacks which I'm now taking medication for.

Man...I have a lot of baggage, but I fight to get better. If I didn't have some financial assistance through S.F.General and UCSF Medical I really don't know what I'd do! I probably wouldn't be alive right now blogging away... I'm supposed to ride tomorrow and I plan to, but I'll take it a bit easier than I usually do. The mental health benefits outweigh the physical at least in my book.