Why No Recent Post?

Why no recent post you ask? Okay, maybe you didn't ask... but I'll tell you anyway. Guess you could call it... life happened.

Between work, running LifeLine and now shutting down LifeLine, things have just been plain busy. When you spend 8 hours a day on a computer at work (mortgage, truck payment, and food are somewhat critical for one's survival), stop by the thrift store after work to handle client service requests, then come home to do non-profit work on the computer, manage several community websites as a volunteer, and spend some necessary time on my one paid website, the rest of your "free time" is most certainly NOT spent on the computer.

I am currently on a sabbatical from the GLBT community... being rather disappointed in the lack of assistance from the remaining board members of LifeLine. Everyone just walked away and left it up to me to deal with. I've learned some valuable lessons during this time, and am going to work very hard not to repeat them. I hope there are folks who have started work on World AIDS Day 2007 for Salem, but unfortunately I haven't heard about any plans.

Healthwise, had a scare a couple of months back after a lovely outpatient procedure. Some precancerous polyps were removed, and as a result I get to experience a lovely outpatient procedure once a year for the next several years, if not longer. Had a rough time with kidney stones last year, who returned for a reunion 2 weeks ago. As a result of the CT scan, docs found 3 cysts that also had to be dealt with. Every experienced a shot of cortisone? How about 3 shots? Try 6 needles... one to drain, and one for cortisone. You get the picture. Let me tell you... it hurt like a son of a bitch.

Quarterly lab work still is a wonderful thing... zero viral load and CD4s in the 900s. An obvious improvement from 162 back in 1996. Lipoatrophy is holding steady, although I miss my chubby cheeks... both sets! One major concern is how I will handle work, or more accurately, coworkers, if the lipo gets much worse. I will cross that bridge when, or if, needed. Researchers now know that Zerit (d4T) and Retrovir (AZT) cause lipoatrophy due to damage of the mitochondria at the cellular level. I was on Zerit for many years, while before and after Zerit, I was on Retrovir for shorter periods of time. Haven't been on Retrovir for over a year since I asked my doc to switch from Trizivir (Retrovir, Epivir, Abacavir) to Epzicom (Epivir, Abacavir). The trade off was starting Viread (Tenofovir). Current combo is Reyataz (Atazanavir), Viread, and Epzicom, for a total of a four med combo. 3 pills once a day, compared to the 18+ back in the late 90s. I do have one question though... who in the hell makes up med names? Some linguistic freak? Or possibly an English major with a twisted sense of humor?

Hoping to be able to finish some gardenyard projects before the rainy season starts in late October or November. Once it starts, it will rain until January or February. Welcome to the Pacific Northwest...

So there's an update, although it may be considered TMI for some. Take care and peace out!