HIV Meds & Hospital Beds

"Going on meds doesn't mean I am going to die. It means that I am not letting the virus attack my immune system without a weapon to defend itself. I am going to try to control it and not let HIV run free inside of me." - Robert

This was originally posted on March 4th 2010

I wanted this blog post to be about my experience starting HIV/AIDS medication. When I was first diagnosed I was told time and time again that my counts were always good and I didn't need to start taking medication right away. This helped feed the denial of my HIV status. Not having to take medicine on a daily basis and keeping busy made it easy to sweep my diagnosis under the rug.

In 2007 I switched my infectious disease doctor because I lost my health insurance and my job. I was limited with the options I had and chose to go to the Jonathan Lax Center and Philadelphia Fight, located in Center City Philadelphia.

The first time I walked into the Lax Center I didn't know what to expect. It was different than the previous doctor's office I went to. I remember walking in and being greeted immediately with a hello from the woman behind the desk. It was welcoming and warm and from that moment on I knew I found my home. I was waiting for five minutes and was already laughing with the receptionist and other patients. It was the next step towards accepting my HIV status.

I remember being introduced to my doctor for the first time. He was different from the other doctors I went to before. He was compassionate, caring, he listened and answered questions I had. He made me feel like I was important and not just another patient. He filled me with confidence and gave me the hope I needed to continue this fight against HIV/AIDS.

I had just lost my job, I had no car and I needed a change. A big change. I remember the doctor sitting me down after a few months and asking me about the possibility of starting medication. Like many who are about to start meds I was hesitant, especially after being told my counts were so good for so long. I had convinced myself that starting meds was the beginning of the end.

He explained the different kinds of meds and how much they have advanced over the years. I looked at starting meds as my chance for change. So I started taking Atripla [efavirenz/tenofovir/FTC]. It was a single pill once a day. Who could argue with that? The doctor informed me that there was a possibility of some side effects and that some are normal. He then gave me a prescription to get filled, and out the door I went to embark on this new adventure.