A Pill a Day
A Pill a Day Keeps the Doctors Away
Have you ever had a side effect from a medication, like rashes, panic attacks, anxiety or even yellowing eyes or skin? Well, let’s just say I have experienced all of them. I think this is something those taking HIV medications have in common.
Who likes medications? I hate them and at the same time I love them. It’s just funny the hate-love relationship I have with the medication because of the side effects caused by them. I started taking the anti-viral medications three years ago and I’ve gone through my share of anti-viral cocktails. Sometimes the meds work and other times they just make thing worse. The biggest issue for me was the onset of depression brought on by the meds. I found it hard to cope. Even taking a shower proved to be a difficult task. One minute after turning on the water, I was in tears and three minutes later, I’d be laughing. Soon there after, I decided to stop taking my meds for better or worse. Then in September of 2008, I moved to California from Miami, and decided to give the meds another try because I was ready at this point: a new city, new juncture.
So two months ago, I paid my doctor a visit and told him I was ready to start taking a new cocktail. However, I felt it made more sense for me to start with an anti-depressant just to prevent some of those side effects specially, the anxiety and panic attacks!
That way my brain would be a little more balanced and able to handle the side effects of the new medications. Time passed and the anti-depressant began to work, which made it possible for me to take the new antiviral cocktail prescribed by my doctor. Right now, I take Reyataz, Truvada and Norvir. The jaundice comes from Reyataz which is caused by the Bilirubin the reddish-yellow bile pigment in my body that is very high and turns the retina from white to yellow.
Now a few months later, even my skin has begun to yellow. I'll take yellowing eyes over the panic attacks any day. My jaundice might not go away, but the medication is working and is actually helping me. You know they say an apple a day helps keep the doctor away. Well in my case, three big ass pills a day, is pretty much keeping the doctor away and me from getting ill. Beside, I rather go to the club than to a hospital, LMAO. In time, I expect the yellowness to settle down (not go way) and I can be happy with that.
So my advice to you guys taking HIV medications is, don’t give up: talk to your doctors, and find another way to take your medications! Like an anti-depressant for example, it helped me! It’s all in your mind, if you think positive thoughts about the ordeal of having to adjust to life with medication. The hope is that it will eventually all work out and allow you to live a healthy and productive life. Occasionally, I have my moments of bad thoughts like everybody else. but I find myself being more positive about life in general.
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