Category: Drugs

Belfast, Drugs, Health, HIV, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment

rvh clinic needs to rethink working practices

Michael McFarland Campbell

I was up at the Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday for my regular checkup. The visit is now pretty routine, with a regular way of working: arrive, check in with the lovely receptionist, sit in waiting room (for ages) see consultant have blood taken for testing head down to pharmacy for prescription Now, my appointment was at 2.30pm but I was finally seen by my consultant at 3.45pm. Then had a long wait for the bloods to be taken. When I was finally called for the bloods by the nursing staff, I pointed out that I would not be able to … Continue reading rvh clinic needs to rethink working practices

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Drugs, Health, HIV, Northern Ireland life, politics1 Comment

time to call a halt on the war on drugs

Michael McFarland Campbell

For many politicians there are many policies to which they refer as “Wars on X”. In recent years, most notably we have the “War on Terror”, and the “War on Drugs”. When the former was used by President George W. Bush,

to denote a global military, political, legal and ideological struggle against organizations designated as terrorist and regimes that were accused of having a connection to them or providing them with support or were perceived, or presented as posing a threat to the US and its allies in general. It was typically used with a particular focus on militant Islamists and al-Qaeda” militant Islamists and al-Qaeda.

(from War on Terror (my emphases in bold)) Continue reading “time to call a halt on the war on drugs”

Adherence, Drugs, Food, HIV, Recipes, Support1 Comment

May 1, 2010

hivblogger

It’s been quite a while since  I posted here. The main reason was that everything came to a head at the end of March, and I ended up being admitted to hospital with an abscess caused by MRSA. This was actually quite a good thing as this resulted in a number of things happen. Whilst in hospital: I restarted my antiretrovirals (Truvada and Viramune) the abscess was drained my clinical psychologist arrived down (instead of me going to visit him) my social worker arrived came in to talk about what would happen next there was a referral to the Psychiatric … Continue reading May 1, 2010

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, newsLeave a comment

February 24

hivblogger

Well it is nearly eleven months since I found out that I was living with HIV. Yesterday, I was up at the HIV clinic once more. Results CD4= 160%, 8% Viral Load = 60,000 On diagnosis, my CD4 count was 100, but my Viral Load was 29,000. Meds With the news that my viral load was more than double what it was when I was diaganosed – I rethought the issue of medication and was prescribed the same combination as the last lot I tried. That is, Viramune and Truvada. I took them last thing at night last night and … Continue reading February 24

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Adherence, Drugs1 Comment

December 31 – Final Day of 2009

hivblogger

A year ends… It is the last day of the year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Nine, the year that will go down in my life as being the year in which I was diagnosed HIV positive. The year that everything changed. Whether the change is for the worse or better is still to be worked out in my life. …and more drugs From Sunday night I have been suffering from pains in my chest and continued joint pain together with a headache. I’ve hardly been able to eat anything. And some nights I’ve been shivering. Eventually, like usual, … Continue reading December 31 – Final Day of 2009

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, news1 Comment

December 24 – Christmas Eve

hivblogger

Well, it indeed has been a long time since last I posted here. This is not because nothing was happening, but more I was trying to work out what to say. So here is a go, Results The results from the last time I was up at the clinic (well the time before last week) are as follows: CD4 = 140. Viral Load = 220. Meds Following much thought, and in conjunction with the consultant at the hospital – I have decided to come off the meds for the moment. I have not been regular in taking them and in … Continue reading December 24 – Christmas Eve

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, news, Viral loadLeave a comment

October 21

hivblogger

Updates from the Clinic

Yesterday I made my monthly visit up to the HIV clinic.

Results

The results from the blood taken at the previous appointment were:
CD4 count 150 – 10%
Viral Load 9,600 Continue reading “October 21”

Drugs, HealthLeave a comment

October 19

hivblogger

This morning I went to see my GP. I had made an appointment last week to see him as I had run out of my antidepressants. I’ve now got another supply for 28 days. When I told him of my continuing pains in my knees, elbows, and other joints he prescribed an anti-inflammatory gel. So that’s two prescriptions. 20mg Citalopram & Ibuprofen gel 5%. Into the HIV Support Centre for some advice and an aromatherapy massage later on in the afternoon. Tomorrow has me up to the HIV clinic once more. Will try and update from in there on what … Continue reading October 19

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