Pictures of old, showing that the love & care for the "red ribbon" has taken roots in our team of hospital health workers & today, even apart from one another, time has not erased in me the mission to continue getting connected to present communities.
MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY 2022!
DRUG RESISTANCE - CAUSES and PREVENTION
HIV drug resistance means that the infecting HIV virus is able to replicate or mutate even when one is on HIV medication.
Causes:
1- Poor or non-adherence to ART, that is, missing scheduled doses; also, improper taking of ART as in with ->
@FriendPatatas Hello, you're welcome! Wishing you a joyful and blessed Christmas, and may the coming year bring good tidings of better world health and community situations for all! Take care, and greetings all!
Hello, holidays are here again for everyone to think different activities. many for sure are thinking to travel.
Here are reminders:
Have a complete dose of vaccination; CD4 not below 200 preferred; see travel requirements; prepare adequate medicine supplies, add extra; label->
and place in container. Inform provider of planned travel, get referral clinic. get info of health status of destination; observe health protocol; careful w/ water & food; and take along emergency meds.
Have time to enjoy your family / social groups.
Take good care, stay safe.:)
@AWashappy Hello, it is recommended with urgency that those w/ low CD4 PLWH should get the vaccine. Antibody response w/ vaccination is weak compared to higher CD4 levels. It is therefore impt. to get a 2nd dose in a shorter time & a need to take the booster dose.
Get provider's advice. TC.
2021 WORLD AIDS DAY
Another year of CELEBRATION! Celebrating not the disease condition but the SPIRIT of the PLHIV/PLWH in living up with faith, courage and strong will to overcome all struggles and hoping that the BEST is COMING!
Congratulations!
Let us also congratulate all ->
@armhan0885 Hello, the possibility to complete researches for HIV cure is strong as the stage of human clinical trials has progressed, waiting results of safety in some, efficacy in the other trials, and commercial preparations with FDA final approval, all hopefully in the near future. TC
@sbut_t avoid fried & fatty foods, junk food, alcohol, smoking - nicotine is toxic; do some physical exercises; have vit. D in your diet or expose to few minutes sunlight.
Relax and don't forget to consult your health-care provider. Take care.
Crea Elevation:
One of the concerns brought to my attention is the elevation of blood creatinine w/ shifting LTE to DTG med. ex. a 1.8 mg/dL. (Normal level is 0.9-1.5 male & 0.6-1.1 in female, adults) This shouldn't cause much worry as some ARV drugs have this initial effect. ->
@sbut_t Hello, normal serum level of SGPT is 7-56 units/L; 2-3x this numbers is a mild elevation; we consider high & severe with above 500-1000.
With LTE, there is no problem as the combi does not cause significant liver damage.
Elev. can be controlled with diet-more vegies & fruits;->
@don_bran0386 Hello, the crea supplement is given to give strength to muscles in gym work-outs to improve performance esp. for athletes. If you have no history of liver disease/ hepa, alcoholism,heavy smoking that may have caused some liver damage,this supplement will not affect crea level. ->
@camiguinislan@PLHIV_angelrafa Hello, yes water and other fluids from fruits/juices, food that may amount to 2-3 liters(8-10glasses/day) to hydrate adequately, improving circulation, distribution of nutrients & drugs; as well as flushing out toxins & excesses. Fluids replace losses in sweat/urine/secretions.
3.
& also helps eliminate excesses/toxins thru the urine, thus helps reduce drug side effects.
Other factors that may cause crea elev.: are high protein diet(red meat);excessive physical exercises. Advise to eat more vegies,legume protein; do light exercises, less muscle work. TC
2.
It will normalize when the body adjusts to it; though if prolonged, or getting higher, it may lead to kidney damage.
To prevent crea elevation, always have adequate hydration, 2-3L/day; a glassful water w/ ARV dose. This helps absorb & distribute drug by blood circulation ->
Happy Sunday!
It is nice to share info that one of our co-Advocates, CouragePinas serves the concerns of some members of our community in STI consults & treatment (ex. wart tx & others), HIV testing w/ linkages made to other treatment Hubs.
Pls. refer to their page: @CouragePinas
VIRAL BLIP
When viral load that is undetectable (UD) for a time becomes detectable, with increased VL, then returns back to UD level, this is a "viral blip". It is usually not a concern as this can only be a laboratory error in the test. There may be true VL increase due to ->