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I will be approaching my 10 year anniversary on TDF/TAF - Ask Me Anything
I started with a Clinical Trial in 2014 which many have seen/followed that path on here. It was a double blind study of TAF vs TDF. I believe at some point, 2016, I have officially been on TAF during the clinical trial. That ended in 2021. I was actually doing pretty good on the clinical trial, though have faced a range of health issues over time.
Since 2022, my condition for my health has only declined. While I want to blame the TAF for some of these symptoms, I also blame myself:
- I've had 2 neck surgeries since 2020
- My weight has increased a lot. In 2020 it was about 188lbs, 2021 it went up to about 220lbs, 2022 it went to 250lbs and then this year 2023 it was to 272lbs. I did find it a little odd this kept happening. I have also been less active though since 2019 when my neck issues almost left me paralyzed.
- I'm at the end of 2023 and I have seen my weight go down a bit to 258lbs, this was due to some at home exercises and a better diet.
- My diet is absolutely horrendous since 2020 to be frank. Ease and access to Door Dash deliveries has made it worse for me (I've now recognized this and started to cut back on the bad stuff).
- My Blood Pressure did go up pretty high this year. At one point in time, it was at 177/113. I should have been in the ER at this point but I did not. I did start Blood Pressure medication (Amlodipine at 10mg). It has helped and I'm at a better stage where I have seen as low as 136/90. I still think it can be better, though it does fluctuate. Some fort of exercise + better diet/routine will get me there I believe (It will just take time).
- I am having some weird neurological issues where, if I am outside or sometimes just sitting down, I feel very "off". I don't know how else to describe it. I'm not sure if it's coming from my neck issues or from liver or heart issues or even from the medication. I was doing good walks from 2021-2022 (usually 1-2 miles daily, even late evenings) then end of 2022 came along and I was not well. 2023 was challenging to walk because of these off feelings (clearer skies seem to trigger them more, and I've gotten feelings where I am afraid I was going to collapse/pass out while walking, I am also facing night vision issues). It got better in the spring/summer time before getting worse again in the fall/winter.. right around the time my Blood Pressure had it's huge spike.
- When I was on the clinical trial, I was in a good habit of at least doing my 10,000iu Vitamin D3 daily, along with MK2/MK7, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Zinc, B-12, etc. I seemed to have let that slip these past couple of years and only took it "whenever I felt like it", which often times led me to not taking it for months at a time. I am trying to get back to this routing because I believe it at least helped me to a degree.
- I've had a lot of dental problems, which I do believe the lack of Vitamin D3 is a contributing factor now. I have many teeth now that need fixing up, but money is extremely tight now so I need to take this one at a time. On top of this, my neurological issues with that "off" feeling makes it impossible for me to drive, so getting to a dentist has been extremely challenging to say the least.
- I've considered STOPPING my medication for Chronic Hepatitis B (but still unsure) since it's been so long and a lot of this is in my blood stream now. On the plus side, I just got my TAF refilled for a year so I am good until November/December 2024 (though technically I have to refill and pay the copay each month but can do so now until then). I honestly would like to reach for a cure at some point, but it's a stretch until I get health under control. I'm also not wanting to do anything crazy for the cure that would cause sides (such as getting on interferon). Plus my last hbsag reading was fairly high, it seems to have increased as my weight went up. I'd like to get this lower.
Overall, I still feel very fortunate to find this group and get and give all the advice I could give. I feel like 2024 could be "my year" after all this time... I just need to reminder myself to make the right decisions for myself.
Since 2022, my condition for my health has only declined. While I want to blame the TAF for some of these symptoms, I also blame myself:
- I've had 2 neck surgeries since 2020
- My weight has increased a lot. In 2020 it was about 188lbs, 2021 it went up to about 220lbs, 2022 it went to 250lbs and then this year 2023 it was to 272lbs. I did find it a little odd this kept happening. I have also been less active though since 2019 when my neck issues almost left me paralyzed.
- I'm at the end of 2023 and I have seen my weight go down a bit to 258lbs, this was due to some at home exercises and a better diet.
- My diet is absolutely horrendous since 2020 to be frank. Ease and access to Door Dash deliveries has made it worse for me (I've now recognized this and started to cut back on the bad stuff).
- My Blood Pressure did go up pretty high this year. At one point in time, it was at 177/113. I should have been in the ER at this point but I did not. I did start Blood Pressure medication (Amlodipine at 10mg). It has helped and I'm at a better stage where I have seen as low as 136/90. I still think it can be better, though it does fluctuate. Some fort of exercise + better diet/routine will get me there I believe (It will just take time).
- I am having some weird neurological issues where, if I am outside or sometimes just sitting down, I feel very "off". I don't know how else to describe it. I'm not sure if it's coming from my neck issues or from liver or heart issues or even from the medication. I was doing good walks from 2021-2022 (usually 1-2 miles daily, even late evenings) then end of 2022 came along and I was not well. 2023 was challenging to walk because of these off feelings (clearer skies seem to trigger them more, and I've gotten feelings where I am afraid I was going to collapse/pass out while walking, I am also facing night vision issues). It got better in the spring/summer time before getting worse again in the fall/winter.. right around the time my Blood Pressure had it's huge spike.
- When I was on the clinical trial, I was in a good habit of at least doing my 10,000iu Vitamin D3 daily, along with MK2/MK7, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Zinc, B-12, etc. I seemed to have let that slip these past couple of years and only took it "whenever I felt like it", which often times led me to not taking it for months at a time. I am trying to get back to this routing because I believe it at least helped me to a degree.
- I've had a lot of dental problems, which I do believe the lack of Vitamin D3 is a contributing factor now. I have many teeth now that need fixing up, but money is extremely tight now so I need to take this one at a time. On top of this, my neurological issues with that "off" feeling makes it impossible for me to drive, so getting to a dentist has been extremely challenging to say the least.
- I've considered STOPPING my medication for Chronic Hepatitis B (but still unsure) since it's been so long and a lot of this is in my blood stream now. On the plus side, I just got my TAF refilled for a year so I am good until November/December 2024 (though technically I have to refill and pay the copay each month but can do so now until then). I honestly would like to reach for a cure at some point, but it's a stretch until I get health under control. I'm also not wanting to do anything crazy for the cure that would cause sides (such as getting on interferon). Plus my last hbsag reading was fairly high, it seems to have increased as my weight went up. I'd like to get this lower.
Overall, I still feel very fortunate to find this group and get and give all the advice I could give. I feel like 2024 could be "my year" after all this time... I just need to reminder myself to make the right decisions for myself.
Time sure does go by quick. Next year May will also be my 10 year anniversary of taking meds on and off. I thought there would be a cure by now. I think I asked you this before but have you check your testosterone or any other hormone levels. I think a lot of your problems sound like low testosterone.
1 Comments
Hi Jason.. I do recall we have interacted a lot in the past (crazy how time flies for us all). I think My T level has also fluctuated as well, though I never gave it much thought either. I do know I have some pretty bad diet habits and this contributed to some bad habits. Now that I'm in my mid 4os, perhaps I revisit this as well. Thanks for your response and yes I agree, I too thought there would be a cure by now. I've been offered clinical trials for a chance at a cure but honestly, since there is no guarantee I tend to stay away from them.
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