HIV/TB Study

I may have mentioned before that I have been attempting to get into a few studies that Vanderbilt is doing. I finally got approved to be in the HIV/TB study. The prerequisite was that I had to be healthy, HIV-negative candidate. I got flagged twice because of liver enzyme function test came back marginally high. I attribute the elevated levels to my very poor diet while living on the bus. I have since changed my diet but I still had elevated levers of liver enzymes. To put it in perspective, the normal range for the enzymes are as follows: AST 0-40 and ALT 5-55 , my original scores were AST 45 & ALT 77. This isn't bad, if I had hepatitis or something my ALT could be in the 600 range. Second attempt to lower levels got my AST down to an acceptable 36 but my ALT only came down to a 71. I had purged my body, ate only raw carrots, raw apples and raw asparagus for three days with little change. So I called my brother Keith up who had some cleansing pills and I read online for Liver cleanse and Liver flush. Let me tell you, If something is going to "cleanse" you it isn't going to be pleasant. But I really wanted into this study. I consumed vast quantities of vegetables again along with a gallon of cranberry juice, a gallon of grapefruit juice. After 2 days of that I fasted for half a day and then took 4 tablespoons of Epsom salt (a magnesium salt) mixed it with water and chugged it down. Allow me to be clear here, Epsom salts taken internally is a Very powerful laxative. It will cause your insides to feel like they are boiling and it will clean you out. Not the ideal treatment for someone living on an RV with yet to be completed plumbing. Luckily Walmart restrooms are 24 hours. After a couple of hours of this bliss, I then pour myself a cup of olive oil and squeeze two lemons into it. I down this mixture which had an oddly settling effect on my stomach. The purpose of this was to force my bile ducts to release large amounts of bile to flush out my liver of fats and cholesterol and other toxins.
The thing is that this all worked. I went back yesterday for another blood test and they said my levels were in the acceptable range. My ALT had dropped from 71 to 46, well under the 55 maximum limit.
I check into the hospital next Tuesday to begin the study. I will be there for 3 nights. Here is what I understand the study to be. They are testing a new TB drug for HIV patients taking a particular HIV drug. They are using me as a control study, HIV negative but they will give me the TB drug, observe me for 3 days, let me leave the hospital, I come back in for blood work a few times. Then in 15 days they give me the HIV drug (they refer to it as the get high pill, because of the way it makes you feel) I come in a few more times to give blood, then I have another 3 night hospital stay where they give me the TB drug again and they observe me. After all that is said and done they will pay me $1000. All in the name of science.
This is such an awesome opportunity...I get to see first hand a scientific study being performed, I get to be a part of something that is important, and I get compensated. Another pretty cool life experience coming my way.
I snapped this little self portrait at the bus stop today. It has been windy and overcast. I meant to get the cool little yellow car in the picture but my melon of head is in the way. Bus pulled up so no re-takes. This is after one week of being shower free.

A benefit of staying in the hospital, besides working plumbing, hot meals and air conditioning will be unlimited Wi-Fi. I will be able to work on my blog properly. I will try to document the study to show people what it is like being a guinea pig. I am excited to be a part of this.