Subscribe to this blog's feedSo I meet with my new doctor last week. My favorite doctor, Dr. Kagan, finally and inevitably moved from clinician to researcher. I knew this would happen. I have a special affinity for science geeks, and given the changing face of HIV/AIDS, it is inevitable that the smartest, most curious, most invested in science doctors leave the field of practice.
Especially when they are dealing with low income people such as myself. I wish I had a nickel for every time I was in the waiting room when a person of severely compromised intellectual and emotional capacity was screaming for more Oxycontin in the next room. And given the abysmal nature of the US healthcare system, doctors who take Medicaire/Medicaid patients must double and triple book simply in order to financially survive.
So I meet my new doctor the other day. She’s fun. She is also my first ever female doctor. Which is disconcerting, because I will be discussing issues relating to sex, to pooping, to that thing on my public bone that comes and goes. Stuff like that. But I was relentless with her, though I feared, being Indian, she would be taken aback by my forthright attitude. Better now than later, right? I always ask to be treated like the nastiest skank ever to offer a blowjob for cash in the airport bathroom. I require RPR testing, a complete STD panel, liver tests, all that. She was fine with all that, though pop culture references sometimes escape her (try explaining what a “skank” is when you have used yourself as a reference).
Oddly, I have not been at all sexually active since I had PCP. These last months have been spent sleeping, taking pills (rarely), eating when I can, what I can, and trying to escape the clutches of boredom-based depression. But as soon as my body is in shape, and my energy level goes just a touch higher, I intend to re-enter the dating pool. Or, as I live in Atlanta, the dating Pond. Seriously. Not a pool.
She was good, she laughed several times. She agreed with me regarding my assessment of the state of scientific progress (lots of stuff, but still carrying the baggage of drugs past). We discussed my haphazard drug regimen (I’m just trying to outlive the Star Trek Franchise) and we talked about the future.
To that effect, I got my results from my August blood work.
With less than ten or so doses of antiviral drugs (each dose gave me at least two days worth of sickness) my CD$ count went from zero to 114. My viral load went from over a million to twenty thousand.
My virus is so stupid.
So I got a genotype test, and my doctor promised to take me off of AZT as soon as possible. Which is good news, since I have been on that rat poison, on and off, since 1994.
So the lesson here, I suppose is, even a little effort… even the tiniest amount of adherence… can make a profound difference. Sometimes it’s not about following all the rules. Sometimes it’s about staying alive, and being as happy as possible.
It’s a quality of life thing.
My quality is improving.
Next month? Who knows. I like this new doctor so far. Someday, I will be able to pronounce her name.
Comments (7)
I'll be you went to my old doc, when I lived in Atl. She had a hard name to pronounce and was great. Good news on you numbers too
Posted by atlantamr | October 2, 2007 4:14 PM
Posted on October 2, 2007 16:14
"...she laughed several time"
Of course she did. You're a funny guy.
My Dr is also a woman. She's tops.
robert
Posted by robert | October 4, 2007 1:49 AM
Posted on October 4, 2007 01:49
My goodness....114 T-cells? Call them all HIVworker. They should kill the bloody virus.
Good for you JK. I hope you get off the rat poison soon.
R
Posted by HIVworker | October 6, 2007 9:26 PM
Posted on October 6, 2007 21:26
Just a reminder that your public needs you!
You're one of my favorite distractions....
Posted by ken | October 13, 2007 4:30 PM
Posted on October 13, 2007 16:30
Hey Jono - one thing NEVER changes with you, your brilliant sense of humour - Oh! & your gift of writing like one of the best ever!
Our family doctor (in private practice) is also an Indian woman ... only, the poor lady wouldn't survive on our once in 4-5yr visits (we're regular ZAPPER users) so I referred a family of hypochonridiacs to her & they + their staff may as well move in with her, because they're there so often. :)
Love & light ALWAYS and in ALL WAYS,
@nnie / Durban
Posted by @nnie | October 18, 2007 1:59 AM
Posted on October 18, 2007 01:59
Hello. Today, November 1, 2007, was the first day I read your blog. I enjoyed reading it. I write something sort of similar almost nightly; a five item "gratitude list", and/or a letter to a friend, or one of my prisoner pen pals, some who have AIDS and some who just look nice.
Dr. Kagan was my doctor too. Well, He was sort of my back-up doctor. When my insurer fraudulently terminated me, I began going to Grady IDP more regularly, since I had gone there off and on all along. They are so overwhelmed there these days, that it is good to have a back-up. This is my 21st year with HIV.
Because of you I at least know WHY I can't call Dr. Kagan for a second opinion now. I had avoided calling Absolute Care ever since I noticed his name was no longer in their ads.
Anyhow, it seems we have at least those two things in common; our names, and missing our former doctors. I wonder what else? From what I can tell from reading your blog and your little picture, you seem too young for me to try to date.
It has been awhile for me on that too. I hope your night sweats improve, or perhaps just that some other nighttime activity could lead to such profuse sweating. Take care of yourself.
Jonathan
Posted by Jonathan | November 1, 2007 10:18 AM
Posted on November 1, 2007 10:18
I have been reading your blog for 6 months now; I am not exaggerating when I say you are one of the most talented authors I have ever read. Sincerely gifted...in a way that probably tortures your soul. Amazing. Anyway, enough of me sucking up :) But I agree, it absolutely is a quality of life issue. Many doctors/friends/negative/parents/ do not understand this at all.... 'Just take the medications' they all say.' Uggh.
I just got back my numbers as well; I generally make it about three weeks into a regimen before I feel worse than I should, and the quality of life issue creeps in again. Wouldn't you know it though, those three weeks gave me back 200 T-cells. Less poison, less toxins, higher CD4 count...THAT makes sense to me. I doubt I will ever think it healthier for me to be on constant medications. But I do what works for me.
Your writing touches a personal chord with me and my relationship with this disease more than anything/anyone else ever has. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I wish you happiness, and if you ever come to Los Angeles, you have a place to spend a night or 4.
.peace
Brian
Posted by Brian | November 10, 2007 3:52 AM
Posted on November 10, 2007 03:52