Category: Adherence

Adherence, Blogging, CD4 count, Drugs, Exercise, Food, health, HIV, News, Viral load1 Comment

Do we get to get your autograph now…?

Michael McFarland Campbell

It has been a goal for many months, indeed it has been a goal since I was diagnosed back in March 2009. Suffice to say the goal posts have moved now… but what happened in the Royal yesterday? Up at the HIV Clinic in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast it was great to see new faces,  a few old ones and ones that have been there most days that I have been up. New social worker With Corinne having retired in June, there was a new social worker who has been in post for some months, he was very pleased … Continue reading Do we get to get your autograph now…?

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And I nearly forgot my meds…

Michael McFarland Campbell

Having said on UTV last week about how good I have been about taking my meds, it was rather unfortunate that today I nearly forgot about them. Fortunately, of course, I had my rather wonderful husband Andrew on hand to ensure that I didn’t forget. He’s so good that my consultant at the Royal Victoria Hospital has commented in the past that she would like to prescribe an Andrew for all her patients. Well a big thank you to him and next week I should be able to report to my consultant that I’ve only missed one dose in months… … Continue reading And I nearly forgot my meds…

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Two busy days

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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