Two busy days

12 November, 2012 Michael McFarland Campbell

Yesterday and today have been two very busy days. I’m staying with a friend over in Bedford for a little holiday. It’s respite for Andrew and me both. Yesterday, being Remembrance I was out on parade with Bedford District Scouts, and today I was with their Deputy District Commissioner at the funeral of one of the County’s Vice Presidents. Respite is always important. Those who look after others need time to recover themselves. A break from the constant care and support that is given. One difficulty for me is remembering to take my meds. I haven’t missed yet – but … Continue reading Two busy days

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More results: more good news

13 September, 201213 September, 2012 Michael McFarland Campbell

The school children who sat public exams back in May and June only had to wait until August to get their results. Me? I had to wait a little longer for the results from my blood tests at the Royal Victoria Hospital. So how did I do? Well I am pleased to say that the results are good. CD4 = 180 (12%) Viral Load = undetectable The Eviplera seems to be working well so we’re always hopeful that my CD4 count will go above 200 at some stage. It’s never been there yet since diagnosis and I think the lowest … Continue reading More results: more good news

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Clinic visit: the results, drug news

29 March, 201225 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

Well, as I said earlier, I was heading up to the RVH for my regular check up at the HIV Clinic. I got the results of the blood tests that were done in January. In the words of the consultant, The Viral Load is completely suppressed. And the CD4 count is up to 170 and 11% so it is still rising. This is great news. It is not the 200 that I am working towards, but it is still progress. Potential new meds regimen Other good news is that he plans to take me off my current meds and switch … Continue reading Clinic visit: the results, drug news

Adherence, HIV, Support2 Comments

WAD2010 – another day being unwell

1 December, 201025 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

Well, I had hoped to get into town, collect some red ribbons from The HIV Support Centre and get up to another meeting today, but this was not meant to be. I obviously needed my sleep – I slept mostly until 1.30pm. So much so that friends were becoming concerned. I’m intending on going into Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union to watch Rent. It will be the only time that I will be out and about today. But at least I am still here. Taking my meds – though in the excitement I had forgotten yesterday and had to jump … Continue reading WAD2010 – another day being unwell

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1, 2, 3, and an apology

25 November, 201025 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

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

Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, MRSA, PVL-MRSA, Support, Viral loadLeave a comment

Another week, more treatment, lots of support

13 November, 201025 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

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

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

May 1, 2010

1 May, 201025 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

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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February 24

24 February, 201025 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

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

Adherence, Drugs1 Comment

December 31 – Final Day of 2009

31 December, 200925 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

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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December 24 – Christmas Eve

24 December, 200925 July, 2015 Michael McFarland Campbell

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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