Being prescribed a new medication always means learning about what side effects there may be, and how the medication should be taken. This is why patient information leaflets are a vital part of the pharmaceutical industry. (However much they annoy … Continue reading Patient information leaflets are important
Those of us who have long-term chronic conditions quite often have to take multiple tablets daily. Sometimes, it becomes difficult to remember what you have taken and what you have not. I started off better recently with a pill box … Continue reading Fewer tablets to take – this will make life simpler
The third step of humility is that for the love of God one should be obedient to a superior in all things imitating the Lord of whom the Apostles says, ‘He was made obedient even unto death.’ The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7: Humility, translated by Abbot Parry OSB, Gracewing, 1990. In recent weeks and months, I have been re-reading The Rule of Saint Benedict, with a view to putting the principles of his rule into practice in my own life. A couple of Sundays ago I was on a Zoom call with the House of Initia Nova Benedictines … Continue reading Meds: a matter of obedience — thanks St Benedict
Since I have been on dialysis, I have been having real difficulty with adherence for my HIV medication. This has been because of the regime including 1 tablet once a day, 1 once a week, and 1 once every 96 … Continue reading Change in medication
Yesterday, I had my latest trip to the Guide clinic at St James’s University Hospital in Dublin. The doctor annoyed me by constantly touching my leg – so much so that I told her, If I touched you, the way you are touching me, it would be assault.” Fortunately, this made her stop and think. I have been debating whether I should let the clinic know officially. The clinical information that I received were the results of the blood test from my visit in November. Viral Load is undetectable still – which is great news. CD4 level is 573. Again … Continue reading Results and no meds collected
Eviplera to Stribild Today I am making the change from Eviplera to a newer drug which is four-in-one called Stribild. It is made up of four drugs: elvitegravir which is a type of antiretroviral called an integrase inhibitor; conicistat a … Continue reading Change of meds…
It is hard to believe that it is about three-and-a-half years since I started taking Eviplera. Looking back it is clear that at the beginning I did know that it was meant to be taken with a meal, but somehow along the way I had forgotten. I had reverted to type and took it last thing at night before heading to bed. This means that it is not working as well as it should be, so the last time I was at my HIV clinic in Dublin, there is talk of me changing to a drug that does not need to … Continue reading Maybe less than a week to go on Eviplera
Stigma experiences, well-being and medication adherence in gay men living with HIV If you live in England, Northern Ireland, or the Republic or Ireland and are over 18 years of age, been living with HIV for over a year, and … Continue reading QUB research into stigma in gay men living with HIV
UCLA student Derek S. Hernandez tells us of events that are happening around LA for World AIDS Day 2013, and asks what each of us can do to stop the global HIV–AIDS pandemic. Continue reading World AIDS Day 2013 in Los Angeles, California
With a hospital appointment clashing with the funeral of a friend, today was not the day for further delays to happen during a routine appointment at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Sadly, a simple schoolboy error ended up winding me up. At least I don’t have to return for six months… Continue reading Over thirty years of experience and it’s a schoolboy error that delays my day!
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