General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis is what's scaring the hell out of me.
Most people that know me here know that I am HIV positive (I had full blown AIDS in 2005 & bounced back to only being HIV positive in 2009) For those who are not familiar it has to do with your CD-4 count. 200 & below is full blown AIDS. Above 200 is HIV Positive. The higher your CD-4 count the better your immune system.
Since about 2010 my viral load has been undetectable & CD-4 count anywhere between 400 & 760. It was 760 3 months ago when I was tested. Two weeks ago it fell to 280 with a viral load of 180. This puts me in a semi danger zone with my immune system.
The medicine I was taken is odefsey. For some reason it's just not working anymore with my system this was verified by further testing. Since they confirmed it does not work with my system, my Doctor changed my medicine to symtuza.
I took the prescription symtuza to the pharmacy only to be told my insurance requires a pre authorization (this took another 3 days to get).
Here we are to today, my Pharmacist called me & said their supplier does not have this medicine & Pharmacies around our area doesn't either.
So Here I am elderly and with a low immune system & this other virus just lurking around.
I have decided to stay in my house & have friends do my shopping for me & then I'm just going to hope for the best.
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)Safe, virtual
William769
(55,124 posts)Zoonart
(11,749 posts)that in Spain , those fighting the COVID-19 virus have been having success with KALETRA (lopinavar/ritonavir), which is an AIDS drug and a protease inhibitor.
I'll see if I can find the link.
William769
(55,124 posts)Maraya1969
(22,441 posts)Zoonart
(11,749 posts)Researchers in TRMS talking about his current research into COVID -19
Focusing on protease inhibitors....so this could be the way to stall and cripple the spread before a vaccine is readied.
Skraxx
(2,965 posts)William769
(55,124 posts)Skraxx
(2,965 posts)Just hang in there, sounds like you're doing the right thing. Stay inside, rely on your friends to help you and you'll be ok!
Squinch
(50,773 posts)Tumbulu
(6,267 posts)and those of us who have been barely hanging in there are finding it a harder and harder task.
It sounds as though you are taking the best precautions. I would add wiping down new packages and cartons (with anything reasonable, vinegar on paper towels if you have none of those sanitizing wipes).
William769
(55,124 posts)Tumbulu
(6,267 posts)If you would like me to share the protocol that I am using when I have to go out in public for supplies or whatever, about twice a week I have ventured out in the past month, let me know.
Like you I am high risk, but have to go out at times. Im using my old bio secure system.
Which, here I am bragging, but what the hey, I am the only one who never infected a fermentation or culture with a virus. The only one! So, my systems worked! Lets hope that they work for me now. I was so careful of the cultures that I tended. And so proud that I kept them healthy.
William769
(55,124 posts)Tumbulu
(6,267 posts)Turns out that other people are doing this too.
Hoping that you stay well my friend ( hoping that it is ok to call you my friend), Im sort of down in the dumps over this and fears of what is coming is so sobering and terrible.
If this link does not work, Ill copy and paste the whole thing. Its just that it is long because I go on and on.
William769
(55,124 posts)Tumbulu
(6,267 posts)I feel so vulnerable right now.
LizBeth
(9,946 posts)I too am in a precarious position due to job, location and age. They need a skeleton crew where I work. I have money I can live off for a month or two and I see no reason I can't hunker down myself. Take our bodies out of the mix.
The best to you. I hope you get the medicine, like today. Hey, I had a prescription sent to me a month ago. My insurance likes to send me my pills. Is that an option? Or is this medicine going to be this hard to get.
William769
(55,124 posts)MerryBlooms
(11,728 posts)William769
(55,124 posts)Especially the virtual one's.
frazzled
(18,402 posts)I've been using Instacart for several years to order groceries and household supplies for my elderly mother (in her area, included stores include Kroger's, Target, Costco, CVS, and several others; your area may vary). It's worked out quite well, with deliveries usually occurring within 2 hours.
A few days ago they sent an email describing their new health and safety precautions for the people who do the shopping and delivery. And a new option to request that orders be left at doorstep. To get free unlimited delivery (minimum order of $35), you need to get a yearly membership. I believe it was $80. That sounds like a lot, but it will save you much more on delivery fees if you end up using it for 4 or 5 months.
William769
(55,124 posts)Thanks!
AnotherMother4Peace
(4,225 posts)to the door, & spray deliveries, mail, etc. We have people in our house that would have a very difficult time with the pneumonia associated with Corona virus.
Also I'm tipping extra money for deliveries, etc.
irisblue
(32,829 posts)I started b/c my arthritis & winter were not a good mix.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)Your doctor maybe able to request it.
Yes, stay in a much as possible. Stay safe.
William769
(55,124 posts)Thank you.
Claritie Pixie
(2,199 posts)I am hoping they will help you get it. You need to be taking it if you know it will be effective with your strain of HIV. Not taking it will only allow your viral
load to go up and impact your immune system and then you'll be even more susceptible to COVID-19 complications.
Good idea to stay in anyway. Take care
William769
(55,124 posts)Claritie Pixie
(2,199 posts)You've been through so much fighting back from AIDS we have to make sure you get your meds.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)I wish you all the best.
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)I hope you succeed in finding this quickly somewhere.
What a nightmare we are living in.
Kaiserguy
(740 posts)stay safe.
dewsgirl
(14,961 posts)Doreen
(11,686 posts)Stay safe.
somaticexperiencing
(311 posts)lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)all the way around. Friends are good to have - glad you have some backup and support.
It's good to see you back. Have seen a few other "old timers" stick their head in, hope y'all stay awhile.
I'm elderly and have underlying heart and lung issues, so I'm in self-imposed social isolation. Maybe I'll take this time to do some housecleaning. Maybe not. Probably not.
Take care. Stay safe.
greatauntoftriplets
(175,695 posts)Spanky's regime is one big clusterfuck.
-- happily virtual
William769
(55,124 posts)totodeinhere
(13,034 posts)comes from China. I wish you the best. I hope you can get your meds soon.
RestoreAmerica2020
(3,433 posts)Paz.. i
marble falls
(56,358 posts)in touch.
bronxiteforever
(9,287 posts)Take care-sending positive vibes.
Just_Vote_Dem
(2,790 posts)Love reading your posts, and I hope things improve rapidly for you!
William769
(55,124 posts)AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) Which BTW my Doctor is connected was able to go through their Pharmacy (Mail order), so I will have it on Monday. I feel so much better now.
Sunriser13
(612 posts)So glad this seems to be coming together for you to get your necessary medication...
Hugs!
sheshe2
(83,336 posts)sorry that I am not always around. taking care of mom.
so sorry I missed this.
love you, Bill.
GoneOffShore
(17,309 posts)crickets
(25,896 posts)Thinking of you and wishing the best -- we'll all get through this somehow.
LuvNewcastle
(16,820 posts)Take care, and stay strong. You've already been through a lot and you can get through this, too.
mcar
(42,210 posts)William769
(55,124 posts)mcar
(42,210 posts)Sending good vibes that this new medication does the job for you.
GentryDixon
(2,944 posts)I'm sorry you are going through this.
William769
(55,124 posts)Yes, I'm a hard person to forget.
Bill
sinkingfeeling
(51,276 posts)William769
(55,124 posts)grantcart
(53,061 posts)backtoblue
(11,323 posts)Maraya1969
(22,441 posts)to help you.
Sending warm thoughts to you.
samnsara
(17,570 posts)JohnnyLib2
(11,206 posts)Best wishes in all ways.
Socially distant hug!
TDale313
(7,820 posts)Thinking of you 🙂
JennyMominFL
(218 posts)I have had tcells as low as 105 and i dont even want to tell you my viral load when i was diagnosed. My T cella have rarely been above 200 in 30 years. I am healthy though. I have some hope that my HIV meds ill help me fight the coronavirus but who knows. I have t seen my specific meds, Isentress and Truvada mentioned, but I am hopeful.
uppityperson
(115,674 posts)Cha
(295,903 posts)I hope you can get the medicine you need to take soon.. in the mean time I'm grateful you have friends to shop for you. That's the wisest course of action, imv.
I went out this evening to Costco because I'm late to the Pandemic Crisis.. I haven't been stocking up on anything. Well, it's a jungle out there. I feel like we're in a very bad sci-fi movie. Costco was sanitizing the handles of the carts and everyone was buying the store out.. many shelves were almost bare. They were out of my staple of 4 lbs of quinoa!
I take the bus so you never know if you're going to touch the wrong thing or what. The bus driver uses hand sanitizer when he touches something different like helping me with my suitcase. I had a little pocket size sanitizer that I whipped out about 3 times.
It's a bizarre transition from going about ones business to switching to pandemic mode almost overnight! To friends!
Demovictory9
(32,323 posts)johnthewoodworker
(694 posts)gembaby1
(251 posts)There really is no excuse for this. There is no reason they should be out of the medication unless they havent been producing enough of it. Is it new? HIV is serious and I cant believe that they would be playing around with this. 😤
Anyway, you are doing whats best for someone in your situation and I pray that you stay well and get your medicine soon. Thinking of you. Hang in there. Blessed be. ❤️