Author: hivblogger

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1, 2, 3, and an apology

hivblogger

Up to the Royal Victoria Hospital again this afternoon for my, now standard, weekly check up. First the results: Viral Load 5 October 2010 – 250 21 October 2010 – 1,100 11 November 2010 – 8300 CD4 count Don’t have dates but it is 110 and 6% – so that is all much of a muchness. What these results mean For those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning, this will be obviously not the best thing at all. With the viral load rising, and me taking the anti-retrovirals it seems that some drug has failed. … Continue reading 1, 2, 3, and an apology

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIVLeave a comment

1, 2, 3, and an apology

hivblogger

Up to the Royal Victoria Hospital again this afternoon for my, now standard, weekly check up. First the results: Viral Load 5 October 2010 – 250 21 October 2010 – 1,100 11 November 2010 – 8300 CD4 count Don’t have dates but it is 110 and 6% – so that is all much of a muchness. What these results mean For those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning, this will be obviously not the best thing at all. With the viral load rising, and me taking the anti-retrovirals it seems that some drug has failed. … Continue reading 1, 2, 3, and an apology

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DVD, Music, Support2 Comments

When I go… will they cry?

hivblogger

Last night was difficult – I’m not quite sure why, but it was. I was watching the last episode of Series 1 of Queer As Folk (American version) with my friend Andrew. Right at the end of this episode is the scene where Justin Taylor, played so excellently by Randy Harrison, ends up as the victim in a vicious homophobic attack. Justin is taken to hospital, and there is a lot of crying, not just on screen – but in the audience. I said something then that I possibly shouldn’t have. But I’m repeating it now to see what others … Continue reading When I go… will they cry?

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Drugs, Health3 Comments

Frightened, but it came ok in the end

hivblogger

Last Friday night I was frightened, very frightened. I couldn’t stand light. It got so bad that I couldn’t even have the ‘light’ from the led on the BT Broadband home hub was too much when I was hiding under the duvet in the spare room of my friend Andrew with a very sore head. He was very worried about me – and after another fainting in his front room, which had been preceded by me not being able to speak, which was quite awkward when I was attempting to make a ‘honey drink’ (and had fainted – and Andrew … Continue reading Frightened, but it came ok in the end

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, PVL-MRSA, SupportLeave a comment

Another week, more treatment, lots of support

hivblogger

It’s another week, and I’ve not had anything put up on this blog for ages, but it’s not because nothing has been happening – quite the opposite in fact. Life has been moving on. I have been working away and getting on with various things. However, last weekend I felt a bump on the back of my neck, and on Thursday I fought through the rain, gale force winds and awful traffic to make it up to the Gay Men’s clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. I thought it was probably a recurrence of the now dreaded PVL-MRSA … Continue reading Another week, more treatment, lots of support

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smiling and whistling under all difficulties

hivblogger

As you know, last week I was called up to the Royal Victoria Hospital for an appointment. There was something more virulent about the MRSA that had caused my abscesses earlier in the year. The results show that what I had was PVL-MRSA. Or to spell it out… Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, MRSA. This is particularly nasty. And has meant that I have had particularly nasty abscesses that have had to be drained in emergency surgery, both times. The particularly nasty side effect that has come up now is that since we are trying to prevent me getting this form bacteria again, … Continue reading smiling and whistling under all difficulties

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MRSA yes, but a more virulent strain

hivblogger

This morning, I received a telephone call from one of the doctors at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital where I received the treatment for living with HIV. After getting the abscesses removed, a sample had been sent off for further testing. Apparently one of the reasons that I have had these attacks more often than most is that the particular strain of MRSA that I have is more virulent than usual. Further update tomorrow after my the appointment that was made today. Continue reading MRSA yes, but a more virulent strain

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Health, HIV, news, scam1 Comment

another HIV scam

hivblogger

The HIV Support Centre‘s news page has the following story, thought others might want to hear about what scams are out there for people living with HIV. The Food Standards Agency warned against ‘Miracle Mineral Solution‘ claims that it cures cancer and HIV. On the Mirror‘s website Andrew Penman writes: The Miracle Mineral Solution cure that could make you very sick Meet Jim Humble, a “bishop” who reckons that he can cure the sick – by getting them to drink bleach. For around £10 you can buy a bottle of Miracle Mineral Solution online. According to Humble’s website, it has … Continue reading another HIV scam

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2½ hrs out of work for medical reasons – I think not!

hivblogger

This afternoon whilst attending the treatment room once again – well it is still daily – one of the nurses asked me if I was working… Funnily enough, I said , No, the doctor gave me a ‘line’ for 4 weeks – and it would be odd to return to work without her agreement The nurse then asked how often do you come here? Couldn’t you work and come here? I then explained, nearly in words of one syllable, that I was attending (see not quite one syllable…) for the dressing to be changed daily during Monday to Friday. And … Continue reading 2½ hrs out of work for medical reasons – I think not!

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abscess nearly healed

hivblogger

It is nearly a month since I was in hospital for surgery to remove an abscess caused by MRSA. I am glad to report that according to the nurse at my local health centre the wound has very nearly healed over. I have been advised to use Tea Tree oil shampoo/shower gel. Whilst it doesn’t smell altogether lovely, it is at least better than having to have salt baths every day. I would like to say a big thank you to all the staff at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital who made my short stay so pleasant, and to all at … Continue reading abscess nearly healed

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