How much do you know about HIV?

from JoeUser Forums


SO JU user Ive been blogging on here now since May this year. I've shared a little of my life about living with this virus. Is there anything you want to know? Is there anything your curious about? What experiences have you had when it comes to do with HIV?
blogging
4,837 views 26 replies
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hey Mano! Thanks man.. heres one right back for ya!! xox
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
You are my first HIV friend. But i dont really have questions. I just love reading what you want to share with us. =HUG=
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top

No, I know how you contract it. 


Years and years ago (back in '89, I think), I knew someone who had full blown AIDS.  I saw him in a restaurant and he looked so bad I gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.  My bf at the time refused to kiss me afterwards, saying that I "could have got it from him". Another time, I was in the Bronx and saw that a homeless man had fallen and gashed his head.  I held my kleenex against the gash until the medics got there, and the policeman that responded told me I had put myself at risk.  I didn't get any blood on me; I had no open cuts or sores (not even a hangnail) on my hand...and we didn't even know this person had HIV for sure or not. 


People are paranoid out of ignorance, P.  Some people act paranoid to mask prejudice.  I'm neither ignorant nor prejudiced.


 


 

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
People are paranoid out of ignorance, P. Some people act paranoid to mask prejudice. I'm neither ignorant nor prejudiced.


Thats one of the reasons I adopted you
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
People are paranoid and ignorant it's true, that's why i think you've had a great idea to post this article. I believe you can educate people about HIV through your own experiences.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
I saw him in a restaurant and he looked so bad I gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. My bf at the time refused to kiss me afterwards, saying that I "could have got it from him".


I suppose you could have, if your lips were razor sharp, which sliced open his cheek causing him to bleed profusely into open wounds in your mouth.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

I suppose you could have, if your lips were razor sharp, which sliced open his cheek causing him to bleed profusely into open wounds in your mouth.


That's a possibility, I suppose.....or I could have nicked his cheek with my vampire-like fangs and swallowed enough of his blood to put me at risk.


 

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
I meant to comment earlier today but I was pretty busy. I don't have any questions at the moment, but be sure, if I have one, I'll ask you. I do like the .gif you posted very much. Awareness is one of the best ways to combat the virus. I think the most poignant part of the animation is the "You cannont get HIV by being a friend". That covers most everything and it needs to be spread.

Take care and thanks for sharing this post and promoting awareness.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
You are my first HIV friend


Happy to be that Island Girl!

we didn't even know this person had HIV for sure or not.


UNiversal precautions Dharma.. now days you really gotta treat everyone as having it.. and be careful.. but sensible about it as well.. there is easier things to catch than HIV.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
Some people act paranoid to mask prejudice. I'm neither ignorant nor prejudiced.


I like tha Dharma.. it is even displayed here on the net.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
Some people act paranoid to mask prejudice. I'm neither ignorant nor prejudiced.


I like tha Dharma.. it is even displayed here on the net.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
I believe you can educate people about HIV through your own experiences.


that is my aim
Is it working??
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Awareness is one of the best ways to combat the virus. I think the most poignant part of the animation is the "You cannont get HIV by being a friend". That covers most everything and it needs to be spread.


Im glad your my friend Chip.!!
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
Id like to know the average life span after diagnosis now, compared to what it used to be....


Well I think the average lifespan now is different for different countries.. I guess in Africa where there is little to no treatment the lifespan is low. But in western cultures where the meds are available the lifespan is the same as those of healthy people.. they can keep us alive longer now.. if you arent resistant to the drugs. But I think it is all based on individual stuff. I have had this now for 15 ys. I was told I had 6months to live when I was first diagnosed. It is now considered a managable disease.

your views on the best way to stop the spread of it,


Other than education... hmm that is a hard one cause there is so much that people are still not aware of about it's spread. Ill have to think about that one LW..

Why? Because we convince ourselves these things happen "to other people," but wont happen to us. How can we overcome that?


Well we all think we are invincible and it happens to everyone else but us. Im an example of that.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
They were going to do a segment on Sunrise this morning about an Australian who had developed this Gel for (I can't remember if it was prevention or cure or maybe just treatment) AIDS (or HiV)
unfortunately their website doesn't have any information as yet and I think I missed the actual segment because I don't remember it.

Gee I'm helpful today -- What you're doing here is a good thing PB
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
an Australian who had developed this Gel for (I can't remember if it was prevention or cure or maybe just treatment) AIDS (or HiV)


havent heard about it?? would be interesting.
Thanks Trina.
xo
Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top

I know that people in this country know how to stop it but aren't doing what it takes to not get infected.....


Link


That makes me sad....

Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
It doesn't make me sad that people are ignorant about it...because its all over the media. It's all over in school. People know how to not get HIV/AIDS...but they choose to do those things regardless of the facts.

HIV/AIDS isn't about blood transfusions anymore, you know? It's about bad choices. I guess as someone who isn't going to choose to participate in behaviors that could put me at risk for HIV/AIDS, it bothers me that we spend so much money on research for a cure, when its usually (not always, mind you...I do understand that) irresponsible behavior that leads to contracting the disease.

I'm not saying that I don't value human life, because I do. I guess I think its sad that people die for just one bad choice, and there's no second chances when it comes to HIV.

I guess I've never known anyone personally who had the disease either...I think I'd be mad at them at first...but then...know that what he/she really needs is all the support they can get. I can't imagine having to live with it every day...

Phoenix...I think you're a brave, insightful man...I don't know if I could do it.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
Oh...I thought of a question...

How compromised is your immune system, Phoenix...(hope that's not too personal)? Do you get ill more often than you used to? What changes do you notice?

I have absolutely no clue...lol
Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
Phoenix i really do think you will do a great job educating people, look at all the questions!!! C'mon time to get to work

xoxox
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
How compromised is your immune system


Well thanks Marcie for the questions!

In a healthy individual the T cells or the cells that provide immunity are over 500.. in my case the last count was 260 that was after being sick and going to hospital and restarting medication after a short break. The highest they have been for me is 480 and the lowest is 17. My immune system is compromised. Funnily enough I was always a sick kid. But since having HIV I have had less colds and flu. I've asked about that and my dr has told me that because of the compromised immunity my immune system is working on that which is more threatening to it at the moment which is the HIV. As my immunity improves then apparently I will notice more colds and stuff that I have not had for a while.

Saying that I have to really watch myself and not put myself in situations where I can get sick. A cold could be lethal and an infection can render me in hospital, as I recently found myself.

What changes do you notice?


The changes I have noticed the most is fatigue, and mostly side effects from the medication that I am taking. Sometimes it is worse than having the disease itself.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
Another point that I want to make is sure we know how not to get infected but in some countries it is taboo to wear protection or to even think about it. That is a sad fact about this disease. The education that we have in the west is not always relevant or accepted in other countries.
Reply #25 from JoeUser Forums Top
I hope you don't think I was rude by saying what I said...

And I do realize that lots of non-western countries have no idea what is even making them sick...and how they got sick.

But...I just think that in most places, there is no excuse!