I started taking Lamivudine-Zidovudine and Nevirapine as my cocktail last May 9. Up to this moment, I don't know how doctors can conclude if a PLHIV should take Nevi instead of Efav or other ARV. I guess I still have to research some more, or prolly ask other positive people.
The doctor said that I should keep track of reactions such as rashes, fever or flu-like symptoms and stop taking Nevi when that happens. Luckily, I did not have any of those reactions. However, I experienced those effects of the ARVs that are written on the pamphlet that I received. I'd feel really dizzy during the first few days. I'd throw up just because I don't feel good, plus the fact that I feel like I'm always hungry. The problem was, I started losing appetite so I'm either hungry OR throwing up. I'd always feel full even after eating a couple of spoonful of food. Damn, this feels like a massive hangover after a drinking binge, maybe the feeling of being pregnant.
I somehow got over those effects gradually, up to the point that it's very tolerable. Yes, I can walk on the street without thinking, "This might be a good place to vomit" or "Am I drunk? I didn't even drink."
I'm on my 29th day of taking Nevirapine, and I'm still okay. Lucky!
Regarding my adherence to ARVs, there was one time when I slept the whole night and woke up at around 1AM. I am taking my medicines every 10AM/PM. And voila, first time that I took them late. I vowed for that to never happen again. Okay, maybe a couple of times but I must not make it a habit to forget to take them. I should not be that stupid.
There are also times when I'd be stupid and all that:
(1) the meds slipped from my hand while I'm in front of the sink and my heart stopped while looking at those tablets rolling towards that unforgiving drainage. My impulse was to cover the drainage it gobbles up all those tablets. Haha. The monster ate one of my Vitamin C tablets.
or:
(2) the meds slipped from my hand while I'm inside the bus. I panicked and quickly looked for it, thinking that other passengers might step on it or something. Luckily, the tablet landed on my shorts. Haha.
The doctor also advised me to refrain from eating chicken, eggs and seafood to single out reactions from the medicines. Not eatinf seafood is totally fine with me since I am allergic to most of those shell-clad bastards. I can also live without eggs for some time too; my mom told me that when I was 7, i'd eat sunny-side-up everyday. So yeah, I can handle that.
The problem is with the chicken. Mama likes to cook chicken as it is easy to prepare and has lesser cooking time when compared to red meat. And I like to eat chicken too. Fried, adobo, pininyahan. Goddammit. As difficult as it it for me not to eat street food, I obliged. Come on, I am scared of rashes, more than the other side effects. Haha.
I dreamed about eating chicken at KFC. From ordering a one-piece chicken (plus mushroom soup and macaroni salad), eating it (along with a lot of gravy) up to actually feeling full and happy because of what I ate. I was that desperate to eat chicken. Haha.
After 29 days of not eating that white meat - I have to laugh victoriously because I ate chicken at Bonchon with a pozzie I met from Twitter. And god, that was the best tasting chicken I ever ate.
I do not wish to change meds right now, I am completely fine with the hangover-like effects of my combo. Heck, I woke up a couple of times with massive hangovers, so this is nothing new to me. I am kind of relieved that I can still experience "hangover" without drinking alcohol. And I do not want to switch to Efavirenz. (Sorry >_<)
