My second week on Lamivudine/Tenofovir/Efavirenz was pretty much great. Although the only drug that is really dominant I can say is Efavirenz. I take it every 9pm and around 10-10:30pm I already go to sleep and I usually wake up again in the middle of the night (around 12mn or 2am) with the feeling of NUMBING SENSATION & HOT FLUSHES (it's like heat is trying to push its way through my skin) I just usually find a comfortable place to sleep which is in our living room and turn on the Fan in full power and within an hour I fall asleep.
Other than the numbing and hot flushes I don't feel anything unusual not until on the 19th just the morning before the 30th AIDS Candlelight Memorial Celebration. I tried an old pants in my closet which was not cleaned fro more than a month and 30 minutes after.....
Rashes started to appear on both inner thighs... Since I see it as a cause of some allergic reaction I took Antihistamine right away and observed for further changes.
Celebrated the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in the afternoon. Because I was so busy with the event I was not able to notice any changes not until I went home around 8pm and noticed the rashes still spreading now in both my arms and feet.
That day Monday (May 20,2013) I immediately called my boss and asked permission that I will be absent and head straight to my treatment hub to seek consultation. Immediately the resident physician assigned to me started and IV Heplock and started on Hydrocortisone 200mg and Chlorphenamine Maleate to prevent further allergic complications.
My laboratories were all normal. In the afternoon my doctor advised that I go home and take some rest and prescribe some medications for my allergy. Our main attending Doctor advised me also to seek a second opinion from a dermatologist to really rule out any possible underlying condition.
Next day Tuesday (May 21,2013) I went to SM City Iloilo to look for a Dermatologist on duty in a Skin Clinic. I sat down and then discussed what happened prior to the occurrence of rashes. She also examined my rashes and concluded that it's similar to insect bites and so probably it was Dust Mites from the old pants that I tried. She prescribed some topical Hydrocortisone and Some Antihistamines and then I head straight home to get some rest and to prepare to go to work again the next day.
May 22,2013 went to work and basically had a great day and didn't feel anything unusual. My rashes are starting to fade away.
May 23-29,2013 I can say that my body is partially adjusted to Efavirenz, I just feel the usual NUMBING and HOT FLUSHES but other than that I'm feeling perfectly fine.
I'm done with my 3rd week and I can say that I feel better now.
This ends my ARV diary for my 2nd and 3rd week of trial.
JaKe Positive. BE SAFE! +)
