It is encouraging to read of excellent docs. My initial HIV doc is certainly good. My only complaint is that I am a whole person, not just the one virus active within me. And all he considers seems to be HIV.

My PCP of 15 years or so is retiring this year too. Doubt I'll bring my reduced sugar banana/nut bread, but who knows... Perhaps I should... Thanks @PeteBromleySpiegel for the idea. My PCP has for decades been the drummer in a local band, I am hopeful they won't retire too as I enjoy their shows; and my doc is the band "glue".

So in early August I have my first visit with Doc Gray here in MKE; and reading his profile I think this might work out well. Specialists are essential, but I need a doc who considers the entire me, not just one condition; and helps me make better choices on the collection of care needed to manage this aging body. For example, my VL has settled at 680 (give or take a couple of points). My CD4 has settled at 660 (similar give or take). Definitely not undetectable but arguable my genetics combined with my immune system has HIV reasonably under control.

Starting ARV's, when I consider the advise of my Dr Pharmacist (who I trust), means I have to stop another medication that has helped me for many years. HIV is the newcomer and so I can't afford to consider that as if nothing else was going on. Lots of other crap was already there.

My medical goals are clear. I definitely favor quality of each day over the quantity of days I will live. I have lots of information regarding longevity of my ancestors and almost all males live to their upper 80's. One made it to 90. I am well into my 76th year. So treating HIV so that XYZ is better 20 years from now seems stupid.

At this point I would rather 10 years of "sort of a hospice" rather than endure the worst of one condition just to control "a little better" another. When I was young and wet behind the ears I used to say silly stuff like "if I die...". That isn't an option, I will. That IS life. So I'm done with the "just one more tomorrow" and instead look to enjoy today. Glad to be here everyone.

My id pcp was supposed to retire next month so figuring that I would not get invited to her retirement party next month decided to be my usual off the wall self and took a pan of sugar free brownies with sugar free icing to my checkup on the 11th .

We both cried because we have see each other tru my father dying, then mutha dying 23 days later and eventually my husband who she actually got to know because I insisted that he go with me to a checkup to see what all went on . ( I was husband's caregiver so I was usually present at his checkups at the VA so figured that he needed to know what went on at mine . )

Once we had wiped away our tears of joy I asked for a foto so here s the id pcp I have seen the last 30 years

Yes... My GP also handles my HIV care, and in the event that he needs another opinion, he refers me out to one of the world's top 10 HIV doctors for advice. He's also proven to me through his actions when I was in distress that he's in the profession because he genuinely cares, and from my experience, doctors like that are hard to find.

Blows my mind when I pick up my Biktarvy & the Walgreens receipt says, "your insurance saved you $4,782.60"!

In South Africa public hospitals and public clinics provide Arv,s for free. There are certain public clinics that have doctors that have specialized in Hiv. Many public clinics have nurses that are trained to take care of hiv positive individuals. Blood work is conducted yearly at public labs. I can truly say the kind of medication we receive is good. I am a living testimony of that, cause I was one foot in the grave when I was diagnosed. 2 yrs of treatment I can say I am OK, but gained a lot of weight. I am now battling with weight, atleast my viral load is undetected, cd4 count is increasing but very slowly. I am greatful