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Suggest Treatment For Mycobacterium Infection In A HIV Positive Patient

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Posted on Thu, 12 Mar 2015
Question: I have a 42 year old brother who has hiv/253657?iL=true" >aids, recently diagnosed. CD4 count 30 and viral load up in 700,000. He started treatment immediately and his CD4 count has leveled off to 100 and viral load undetected. He also was diagnosed with mycobacteria in early December 2014. He started a cocktail of 4 antibiotics for a 2 months period. Unfortunatley he only tolerated the treatment for 5 weeks. He lived in the eastcoast and had a number of side effects that prevented him from having success with the treatment (He had nonstop hiccupps, and could not eat- he threw up everything, so he lost a lot of weight). So after 5 weeks the doctors suggested for him to look into hospice. THe question is: We brought him out to the west coast where it is warmer, he stopped having hiccups and is eating more. HE still takes HIV meds, and a medication for his nerve pain on feet and other parts of body; Should we take him off hospice and start looking for a primary doctor again or is this common for a patient who was told he was at the end of his life. He has lived so far 3 weeks after he was told he had no more than two weeks to live? please answer/ thank you.
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Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (30 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Get another opinion

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

I am sorry to hear about your Brother. Having hiv/253657?iL=true" >AIDS and having a mycobacterium infection is life threatening. I recommend that you seek another medical opinion. His CD4 counts and Viral loads sound good so they can control the AIDs with these medications. Since he is in better position now and in better health another try at the mycobacterium would be possible. You should take him to an infectious disease specialist who specializes in HIV.

Good Luck

I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions or if you need additional information
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
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Answered by
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Dr. Ronald Schubert

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 2407 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Mycobacterium Infection In A HIV Positive Patient

Brief Answer: Get another opinion Detailed Answer: Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns I am sorry to hear about your Brother. Having AIDS and having a mycobacterium infection is life threatening. I recommend that you seek another medical opinion. His CD4 counts and Viral loads sound good so they can control the AIDs with these medications. Since he is in better position now and in better health another try at the mycobacterium would be possible. You should take him to an infectious disease specialist who specializes in HIV. Good Luck I hope this answers your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns and questions or if you need additional information