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Norman Sartor I was diagnosed with symptomatic AIDS in December of 1995 with a CD4 count of 54. Viral load was unknown then as Health Canada had no testing protocol and was only evaluating various HIV assays. In February, 1996, I commenced AZT, the only Health Canada approved treatment at the time. Over the next ten years, my antiretroviral (ARV) drug regimens included AZT, 3TC, Saquinavir, Zerit, Norvir, Viracept, Sustiva, Fuzeon, Viread and Kaletra. As well Celexa, Septra, Marinol, Bactrim, Losec, Teveten, Pariet, Crestor, Lipitor, Welbutrin, Prozac, Hydrochlorothiazide and Lorazepam were prescribed to deal with ARV side effects. Symptoms I experienced included weight loss, oral candidias (thrush), hyperhydrosis (night sweats), hematochezia (bloody stool), onychomycosis (nail fungus), lipoatrophy (body fat loss), herpes zoster (shingles), anemia and gastric acidosis. Fuzeon called for a regimen of twice-daily hypodermic subcutaneous injections although after ten years of ARVs and drug related lipoatrophy, I had little body fat. There were persistent injection site reactions (ISRs) such as redness, swelling and hardening of the skin. I participated in a clinical trial in May 2005 sponsored by the Canadian Immunodeficiency Research Collaborative to evaluate using the Biojector™ CO2 injector rather than standard hypodermic needles. Again, the ISRs persisted. While taking Fuzeon I was also taking Kaletra, Viread, Viracept and 3TC. After years of research into HIV/AIDS, nutrition, and a decade of ARV regimens, pills, serums, needles, CO2 guns and most of all, drug side effects (except death), I stopped taking AIDS drugs on May 16, 2006. From August 2006 to January 2007, there was a 49% decrease in my viral load and a 38% increase in my CD4 cell counts. I am over 18 months drug free, and during this time have saved provincial health plans $85,000 (2007 value) in medication costs. Fuzeon alone is $2,650/month. Readily available monthly supplement costs for Selenium, NAC, Tryptophan and L-Glutamine range from $100-$120. My results are not unique and many people with HIV are living quite well without medications. Viral load and CD4 count, the blood markers utilized to assess health and determine therapy, do not necessarily make for a healthy individual. With a decade of ARV therapy and so-called ‘good numbers’, I was not healthy. I experienced high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, abnormal liver functions, the onset of osteoarthritis, duodenitis, peripheral neuropathy, nocturia, lipoatrophy, and the progression of Hepatitis B to grade 2 severity. Most of my side effects have eased and for the first time in ten years I have presented normal liver functions. Hepatitis B is a pre-existing condition and is kept in check with proper diet. Doctors should know that there is a more humane approach to HIV/AIDS management by treating us rather than the disease. For more information on the nutrient program developed by Dr. Harold Foster, his book, “What Really Causes AIDS” is available free of charge at hdfoster.com. Sincere regards
Norman Sartor © 2008 by Norman Sartor and the Alberta Reappraising AIDS Society | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||