This is what's scaring the hell out of me.

[William769]

Most people that know me here know that I am HIV positive (I had full blown AIDS in 2005 & bounced back to only being HIV positive in 2009) For those who are not familiar it has to do with your CD-4 count. 200 & below is full blown AIDS. Above 200 is HIV Positive. The higher your CD-4 count the better your immune system.

Since about 2010 my viral load has been undetectable & CD-4 count anywhere between 400 & 760. It was 760 3 months ago when I was tested. Two weeks ago it fell to 280 with a viral load of 180. This puts me in a semi danger zone with my immune system.

The medicine I was taken is odefsey. For some reason it's just not working anymore with my system this was verified by further testing. Since they confirmed it does not work with my system, my Doctor changed my medicine to symtuza.

I took the prescription symtuza to the pharmacy only to be told my insurance requires a pre authorization (this took another 3 days to get).

Here we are to today, my Pharmacist called me & said their supplier does not have this medicine & Pharmacies around our area doesn't either.

So Here I am elderly and with a low immune system & this other virus just lurking around.

I have decided to stay in my house & have friends do my shopping for me & then I'm just going to hope for the best.

[Jamastiene]

1. .

Safe, virtual

[William769]

5. Thank you & have missed you.

[Zoonart]

2. Don't know if this will help, but I read

that in Spain , those fighting the COVID-19 virus have been having success with KALETRA (lopinavar/ritonavir), which is an AIDS drug and a protease inhibitor.

I'll see if I can find the link.

[William769]

19. Thanks.

[Maraya1969]

50. That's great! A two for one!

[Zoonart]

53. Rachel just had Dr Ho, the famous HIV

Researchers in TRMS talking about his current research into COVID -19
Focusing on protease inhibitors....so this could be the way to stall and cripple the spread before a vaccine is readied.

[Skraxx]

3. What about other medications? Genvoya, Stribild etc? Is there a reason you can't take them?

[William769]

8. Waiting to hear back from the doctor.

[Skraxx]

13. I'm sure he'll be able to provide a substitute, there are a lot of good medications out now

Just hang in there, sounds like you're doing the right thing. Stay inside, rely on your friends to help you and you'll be ok!

[Squinch]

4. Wow, William. I am sorry. Stay safe. That is a good decision.

[Tumbulu]

6. I am so sorry William, this whole utterly preventable catastrophe is one heartbreak after another

and those of us who have been barely hanging in there are finding it a harder and harder task.

It sounds as though you are taking the best precautions. I would add wiping down new packages and cartons (with anything reasonable, vinegar on paper towels if you have none of those sanitizing wipes).

[William769]

10. Good advice. Thanks

[Tumbulu]

66. I used to work as a microbiologist and I have systems that work to prevent contamination

If you would like me to share the protocol that I am using when I have to go out in public for supplies or whatever, about twice a week I have ventured out in the past month, let me know.

Like you I am high risk, but have to go out at times. Im using my old bio secure system.

Which, here I am bragging, but what the hey, I am the only one who never infected a fermentation or culture with a virus. The only one! So, my systems worked! Let’s hope that they work for me now. I was so careful of the cultures that I tended. And so proud that I kept them healthy.

[William769]

67. I am open to all suggestions.

[Tumbulu]

68. I wrote these notes up and made them into a post

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213103103

Turns out that other people are doing this too.

Hoping that you stay well my friend ( hoping that it is ok to call you my friend), I’m sort of down in the dumps over this and fears of what is coming is so sobering and terrible.

If this link does not work, I’ll copy and paste the whole thing. It’s just that it is long because I go on and on.

[William769]

69. Thank you my friend.

[Tumbulu]

70. Oh thank you, I cried seeing your response

I feel so vulnerable right now.

[LizBeth]

7. That is a tough spot to be in and sounds like you have a right on plan.

I too am in a precarious position due to job, location and age. They need a skeleton crew where I work. I have money I can live off for a month or two and I see no reason I can't hunker down myself. Take our bodies out of the mix.

The best to you. I hope you get the medicine, like today. Hey, I had a prescription sent to me a month ago. My insurance likes to send me my pills. Is that an option? Or is this medicine going to be this hard to get.

[William769]

12. I'm not sure yet about the medicine.

[MerryBlooms]

9. .

[William769]

20. Always love hugs

Especially the virtual one's.

[frazzled]

11. Have you considered signing up with a grocery delivery service

I've been using Instacart for several years to order groceries and household supplies for my elderly mother (in her area, included stores include Kroger's, Target, Costco, CVS, and several others; your area may vary). It's worked out quite well, with deliveries usually occurring within 2 hours.

A few days ago they sent an email describing their new health and safety precautions for the people who do the shopping and delivery. And a new option to request that orders be left at doorstep. To get free unlimited delivery (minimum order of $35), you need to get a yearly membership. I believe it was $80. That sounds like a lot, but it will save you much more on delivery fees if you end up using it for 4 or 5 months.

[William769]

14. Good suggestion.

Thanks!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

23. Do it early. Usually Vons delivers next day, now it's next week. I keep Lysol spray next

to the door, & spray deliveries, mail, etc. We have people in our house that would have a very difficult time with the pneumonia associated with Corona virus.

Also I'm tipping extra money for deliveries, etc.

[irisblue]

26. I use them too

I started b/c my arthritis & winter were not a good mix.

[Iliyah]

15. Have the pharmacist said when they expect to have it?

Your doctor maybe able to request it.

Yes, stay in a much as possible. Stay safe.

[William769]

17. They are waiting to hear from the supplier.

Thank you.

[Claritie Pixie]

16. Please contact Jansen about getting Symtuza (link inside)

https://www.symtuza.com/cost-savings-support

I am hoping they will help you get it. You need to be taking it if you know it will be effective with your strain of HIV. Not taking it will only allow your viral
load to go up and impact your immune system and then you'll be even more susceptible to COVID-19 complications.

Good idea to stay in anyway. Take care

[William769]

18. Thank you for the link.

[Claritie Pixie]

21. You're welcome. Please let me know if you're successful.

You've been through so much fighting back from AIDS we have to make sure you get your meds.

[smirkymonkey]

22. Take care of yourself William.

I wish you all the best.

[pnwmom]

24. I am so sorry to hear this William769!

I hope you succeed in finding this quickly somewhere.

What a nightmare we are living in.

[Kaiserguy]

25. Sorry to hear about this

stay safe.

[dewsgirl]

27. I am so sorry to hear you're having such a hard time.

[Doreen]

28. My heart goes to you.

Stay safe.

[somaticexperiencing]

29. Take good care. Sound like you are. Wishing you good health.

[lillypaddle]

30. That sucks

all the way around. Friends are good to have - glad you have some backup and support.

It's good to see you back. Have seen a few other "old timers" stick their head in, hope y'all stay awhile.

I'm elderly and have underlying heart and lung issues, so I'm in self-imposed social isolation. Maybe I'll take this time to do some housecleaning. Maybe not. Probably not.

Take care. Stay safe.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. It's like an outbreak of shittiness.

Spanky's regime is one big clusterfuck.

-- happily virtual

[William769]

46. ...

[totodeinhere]

32. I think that more and more people will be facing this situation since so much of our medication

comes from China. I wish you the best. I hope you can get your meds soon.

[RestoreAmerica2020]

33. Stay safe my friend! Take care.

Paz.. i

[marble falls]

34. Wish I could help. Please take care. Please keep journalizing this nightmare for us. Please stay ...

in touch.

[bronxiteforever]

35. My heart goes out to you.

Take care-sending positive vibes.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

36. Hang in there William!

Love reading your posts, and I hope things improve rapidly for you!

[William769]

37. ***********************UPDATE**********************************

AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) Which BTW my Doctor is connected was able to go through their Pharmacy (Mail order), so I will have it on Monday. I feel so much better now.

[Sunriser13]

47. Way to go, AHF!!!

So glad this seems to be coming together for you to get your necessary medication...

Hugs!

[sheshe2]

49. Good news, my dear.

sorry that I am not always around. taking care of mom.

so sorry I missed this.

love you, Bill.

[GoneOffShore]

60. That is good news!

[crickets]

62. I am so glad to hear it!

Thinking of you and wishing the best -- we'll all get through this somehow.

[LuvNewcastle]

65. Glad to hear it, William!

Take care, and stay strong. You've already been through a lot and you can get through this, too.

[mcar]

38. Like you need this stress

[William769]

39. You my dear always help to relieve my stress.

[mcar]

40. I have missed you around here

Sending good vibes that this new medication does the job for you.

[GentryDixon]

41. I remember you.

I'm sorry you are going through this.

[William769]

42. Thank you.

Yes, I'm a hard person to forget.

Bill

[sinkingfeeling]

43. I'm so sorry. Can't your pharmacy expand its area of search?

[William769]

44. AHF Pharmacy has taken care of it.

[grantcart]

45. Stay. Strong

[backtoblue]

48. Hoping with you

[Maraya1969]

51. I'm sure you will be fine but I understand your concern. Glad you have friends

to help you.

Sending warm thoughts to you.

[samnsara]

52. we are all here with you....(((hugs)))

[JohnnyLib2]

54. Just caught on to the problem; truly happy to read the update!

Best wishes in all ways.

Socially distant hug!

[TDale313]

55. Be safe. These are genuinely scary times.

Thinking of you 🙂

[JennyMominFL]

56. HIV + for 30 years

I have had tcells as low as 105 and i dont even want to tell you my viral load when i was diagnosed. My T cella have rarely been above 200 in 30 years. I am healthy though. I have some hope that my HIV meds ill help me fight the coronavirus but who knows. I have t seen my specific meds, Isentress and Truvada mentioned, but I am hopeful.

[uppityperson]

57. Best wishes to you, Bill

I've missed seeing you here, with one or the other of us absent. And worried about you, good to hear from you.

[Cha]

58. Dear William..

I hope you can get the medicine you need to take soon.. in the mean time I'm grateful you have friends to shop for you. That's the wisest course of action, imv.

I went out this evening to Costco because I'm late to the Pandemic Crisis.. I haven't been stocking up on anything. Well, it's a jungle out there. I feel like we're in a very bad sci-fi movie. Costco was sanitizing the handles of the carts and everyone was buying the store out.. many shelves were almost bare. They were out of my staple of 4 lbs of quinoa!

I take the bus so you never know if you're going to touch the wrong thing or what. The bus driver uses hand sanitizer when he touches something different like helping me with my suitcase. I had a little pocket size sanitizer that I whipped out about 3 times.

It's a bizarre transition from going about ones business to switching to pandemic mode almost overnight! To friends!

[Demovictory9]

59. stay safe.

[johnthewoodworker]

61. As Red Green would say; "Keep your stick on the ice. I'm pulling for you."

[gembaby1]

63. Dear God,

There really is no excuse for this. There is no reason they should be out of the medication unless they haven’t been producing enough of it. Is it new? HIV is serious and I can’t believe that they would be playing around with this. 😤

Anyway, you are doing what’s best for someone in your situation and I pray that you stay well and get your medicine soon. Thinking of you. Hang in there. Blessed be. ❤️

[jpak]

64. Vibes and virtual hugs my friend

[MrsCheaplaugh]

71. Be safe. NT