Very sensitive subject, HIV.

[Krimangel]

Sorry to post this here and it may be inappropriate but it has been on my mind and I needed a place to put it out on.

In the past week I have found out that a roommate of a guy I saw for a very short time has been diagnosed with HIV. And it has gotten me to thinking how awful this is. I didn’t really know the guy, met him a time or two, I have heard of how sexually active he was as well as into the drug use. And I am just sad not only for him and his son, but also all the potential people he could have infected and they not even know. I think this is an awful disease. And I don’t know of the medical advancements to prolong life, but it scares me. I take these things to heart and really put myself in these peoples shoes… it really makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. I have even gone so far as to set up a time to go and get tested, not that I had any encounter with this man but you never know.

Have any of you guys known anyone who has been infected, if so and you don’t mind sharing tell how they are handling it.

[Doglover]

im sorry for this person you know. I don't know anyone with HIV.

[shawnsgirl]

I do not know anyone personally who had been infected with HIV. Although I'm sure I do know people that may have the virus I just was never made aware. I did come across a lot of people while doing home health nursing. I was surprised by the number of young adults that contracted the disease. One woman was infected from her own husband who had many affairs unbeknwonst to her. Luckily, she was well beyond her 40s so there children were already grown. I still think about her and admire her strength and courage throughout the disease. She did divorce him by the way... She really dealt with the situation far better than I ever witness anyone ever dealing with this. Her constant remark was at least I am in good with the man and when I die I will have a place beside him. That former husband of mine he won't and I can live in peace because of it! I just admired the fact that even though her husband was an adulterer, broke her heart, and eventually killed her she didn't let it eat at her or the way she treated others. She lived life and did what she could until she was too sick to do it. She told me once I don't need my past eating at me when I already got this disease..and she would chuckle...Still, My heart broke for her everyday because it could have been me literally in her place.
My ex husband cheated on me, one person was a drug user. Luckily as far as I know he never contacted any sort of STD's, but I got tested every 6 months for two years because of it. Luckily, I'm completely healthy.

[lizardbnorton]

I had an uncle die of Aids when I was about 10. I have gay uncles on both sides of my family. My mom's brother's partner is the one who passed.

[SerendipityCrafts]

The only person I knew to have had HIV was a highschool friend's brother. He passed away and I heard of this through another highschool friend.

[Doglover]

[quote=shawnsgirl] One woman was infected from her own husband who had many affairs unbeknwonst to her. quote]

That's just awful!

[TangoWedding]

I had a good friend of mine get tested positive for HIV. He had a very hard time with it, became suicidal and all. I even had him try to slit his wrists in my bathroom. Luckily, I caught him before he could cause any real damage.

The drugs he was on for the HIV made him VERY ill - mentally and physically. He was a wreck. I felt horrible for him.

About a year later, they did another test and found out the previous test was false...he didn't really have HIV. It was insanity. We were ecstatic and pissed off all at the same time.

He attempted to sue the people who gave him the false positive because of the havoc it caused him in his life....but he was tested at a free clinic and they couldn't be held liable for malpractice. It was infuriating.

At least he's ok...but still.

I have a couple other friends who have HIV, too. (These for real..heh.) They are living with it and doing activist work for it...and taking it all in better than I ever could. They're some of the most passionate, strong people I know.

[Doglover]

I had a good friend of mine get tested positive for HIV. He had a very hard time with it, became suicidal and all. I even had him try to slit his wrists in my bathroom. Luckily, I caught him before he could cause any real damage.

The drugs he was on for the HIV made him VERY ill - mentally and physically. He was a wreck. I felt horrible for him.

About a year later, they did another test and found out the previous test was false...he didn't really have HIV. It was insanity. We were ecstatic and pissed off all at the same time.

He attempted to sue the people who gave him the false positive because of the havoc it caused him in his life....but he was tested at a free clinic and they couldn't be held liable for malpractice. It was infuriating.

At least he's ok...but still.

I have a couple other friends who have HIV, too. (These for real..heh.) They are living with it and doing activist work for it...and taking it all in better than I ever could. They're some of the most passionate, strong people I know.

OH GOSH! No wonder he was getting so sick!! he wasn't even sick. Is he okay now after stopping the meds?

[TangoWedding]

OH GOSH! No wonder he was getting so sick!! he wasn't even sick. Is he okay now after stopping the meds?

Oh, yes. He's all good now...married a great lady and is happy finally! :whoohoo:

[SouthernQueenBride]

HIV can be a very scary thing! I personally do not know anyone personally who has it or like someone mentioned above, was not made aware. But it is amazing how prevalent it is. This was just SOOO weird that this was posted here b/c Brandon came home yesterday from the hospital (He is an intern) and told me that he had to deliver the news to a young girl in high school that she was HIV positive. She had contracted it from her boyfriend who had it and she did not know. He told her first by herself and then gave her the opportunity to bring her mom back in the room and told her at the girl's request. He has had to do this a few times before but NEVER to a girl who was only about 16 and has her whole life ahead of her. He came home and told me about it and I almost started crying!

It is just important to get the word out to EVERYONE (Esp. young adults and teens who may or may not be sexually active) that UNDER NO circumstances should they EVER have intercourse without proper protection! It is just so scary! You can never tell who might have it or not!

Krimangel - I know this must be difficult but remember he probably needs a good friend like you! Hang in there honey!

[Krimangel]

So I Went About A Month Ago Now, Not Long After I Wrote This And Went And Got Tested, Not That I Had *MUCH* To Worry About But I Have Been Stupid In My Younger Years... So I Went (worked My Self Up So Much I Darn Near Had A Panic Attack :notsure: ) On The 24th, (they Wound Up Poking Me A Total Of 4 Times Before They Just Pricked Me In My Finger, Aparently I Have Small Vains) they Told Me It Would Take 2 Weeks To Get The Results Back...

So 2 Weeks Was On The 8th, I Do Have A tendency To Worry About Stuff So So So Much, I Have Been Worried Sick About This... So Finally My 2 Weeks Has Past. :whoohoo:

I Call... I Get The Front Desk Lady Who Informs Me They Are In The Process Of Moving And Their Phones Were Not Working In The New Place, But If I Just Wanted To Try And Catch Them At Their New Location Then I Could Try, And Its Not Just Like They Are The Only Ones In This Building Complex Thing (its Hard To Explain) So I Drive Down There. There Is Not A Car In The Parking Lot...

I Call Again On Wed. The Little Lady Tells Me Again That They Are Moving, And Will Be In Training And Now They Are Not Going To Be Giving Results Until Next Tuesday...

So Tuesday The 16th I Call... Get An Answering Machine... Leave My Name And Number... Nothing :realmad:

Thursday Call Same Thing Leave A Message Nothing.

They Dont See People On Fridays.

At This Point I Dont Even Care What The Stupid Results Say I Just Want To Know.

So I Call Again This Morning...

***i Get A Person***

Finally I Go Down There And Get Lost In The Building But I Got My Results And I Was Nerved Up Over Nothing, But I Feel A Huge Weight Has Been Lifted Now That I Know 100%. :bbredface:

Breath Just Breath.

[Nekochanpurr]

Wow, thats awful that they weren't orginized enough for that! Seriously, those tests are a SERIOUS thing to worry about.. >.<. I'm glad you are okay. :) We all did dumb stuff when we were kids.. its what you do best when your young, lol.

[NicksBride]

I am so sorry to hear about this.
My great friend is gay and he found out recently that he had HIV, it is just devestating. He is taking alright. But I can't imagine what anyone is going through. Its just a horrible thing to have happen!

[gennymac]

I worked for a large pharma company in the late 80's and early 90's and we had a number of compounds in development for HIV/Aids.........as well as Herpes.

In one of my very first jobs with this company I handled intake calls from doctors/pharmacists who were asking for information on the drugs the company sold. (Drug Information). My third call on the new job was from a pediatrician who was calling to find out the correct dosage of the only product on the market at the time for Aids. Pediatrician ........... the patient was 3 years old (same age as my daughter) and both the mother and the daughter were in the doctors office during the call. Things have drastically changed from those days. So I handled the intake of the pertinent information, weight, height, race, gender, etc. These calls were then turned over to a PharmD who worked with the incoming callers to determine best dosages, etc for each patient.

I don't know how much this group knows about this disease, and at the time, most of us knew much less than we do now. But the one thing the medical community knew then was route of transmission - meaning, how a patient actually got infected with the disease. A 3 year old child would not have gotten this from birth - maternal transmission during birth - it had to come from another source. The child had no history of blood transfusions, the mother did not test positive. There was only one way for this baby to have gotten infected. Through some sexual contact with an infected person.

I passed the call to the Pharm D, and shaking as the realization hit me (like a sledgehammer) of how this could happen to a child of that age, and knowing - before the mother knew - that she had more trouble than just the positive test - I got up from my desk, threw up and cried till I couldn't cry anymore. My boss at the time who took the call and handled the dosage calculations, also had a daughter of the same age, took me outside for a long walk. We both cried over the future of this mother and child. That was my first experience with HIV/Aids. I worked for that same company for 18 years.

During my time there I was later privy to the CDC data that came in from each county/state health department across the nation. With each weekly report we could actually see the numbers for each county across the country on positive tests, ages, races, gender - no names or personally identifiable information was ever published by the CDC.

The heartbreak for us was seeing the numbers being reported on the west coast in otherwise healthy adult males, then the gradual slide into the female population, then the slide into the teens and little ones. To see the numbers climb with the early teens and small children was a huge wake up call about the reality of prevalance of child sexual abuse. There simply was no other way for these children to become infected, except for the small number of blood transfusions. We watched as the numbers spread across the country into small villages and rural areas, saw the ages in those areas........ it was an emotional nightmare for many during those early years because of the social backlash against the patients, the truth about treatment access and medical care, not to mention the devastation to families.

I have dear friends and family who have been lost to this disease, many who have been lost to cancer, heart attacks, the list goes on for all of us.

The truth is that we control how this disease is spread - each of us makes a conscious decision to be a part of the solution or the problem every time we take a partner. Not to get on my high horse - but this is a socially transmitted disease and the actions of one can literally cause the death of thousands.

Get tested, stay clean, be safe and keep those you love safe - even those you have never met.

Sorry - this one hit a very old and very painful nerve with this bride to be.

[Krimangel]

When I Worry About Things, They Really Hit My Heart, In This Case I Started Out So Selfish, I Played What If's.

If I Am Infected Then I Wont Be Able To Have My Wedding, I Wont Be Able To Have A Child, Why Me Blah Blah Blah... Then After A While I Stoped And Thought No One Deserves This. No One. And If I Had It I Knew It Was From My Actions That I Could Have Controled... Then I Thought Of The Kids, Like You Talk About, Or The Wifes Who Had Cheating Husbands.. Or Reverse.

I Thought Long And Hard About All These Other People Who Had No Control Over It, And Then I Felt Even Worse.

It Really Breaks My Heart, It Was The Longes Month Of My Life To Wait... But I Think It Was Totally Worth It.

I Think People Dont Understand You Dont Have To Have Signs To Have It... When I Told Fh That I Got Tested He Said, But I Am The Only Person You Have Been With For 4 Years Now, And I Dont Have It... I Said How Do You Know Have You Been Tested ... Well No.

I Just Think Everyone Should Be Tested No Matter What!

[Smashingpennies]

People also need to be aware that if you get a false positive you CANNOT GIVE BLOOD! When my husband and I went to have blood tests done, just to be safe, his came out as questionable, he went in and got retested and was negitive but he is now unable to give blood at all even to me. We have the same blood type and what not. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY. My great aunt passed away from Hepatiates about 2 years ago, she had a transfussion before they were screening for stuff and it really limited her to what she could do.

[septemberbride06]

I don;t personally know anyone with HIV either but It is very sad, especially the story of the little girl :( It breaks my heart.
I usually get tested every yr. or so (not that I suspect my hubby to be doing things behind my back).

[70707Bride]

I don't know anyone with HIV. Last semester I had to do research with a group about HPV. Men can have it and transfer it without any symptoms. It is also very important to get tested for that too.

[frenchie]

That's horrible - how nerve-wrecking it must have been to wait for those results, I'm glad you're not infected!

HIV is so awful :(
Thankfully there are ways to avoid getting it - of course it's not always surefire but if you're faithful, and are with someone trustworthy, and don't do drugs, you can avoid AIDS...

[Measha]

It's a very scarey thing. One of my male cousins was diagnosed positive. He is gay and into the club scene, had some issues with Meth. Luckily he was retested some months later and it turned up negative for HIV. He was tested "correctly" both time from well known hospitals / clinics, so they weren't sure how to explain it. We were just relieved and thankful either way.

What's scarey is that right now in America, staph. is killing more people than Aids.

[Qtlilone22]

Glad everything worked out ok. The best thing to do is stay safe! Measha I know what you mean about the Staph disease someone who works at a school near mine apparently has the disease. :sorry:

[Nekochanpurr]

What is Staph diease? Ack, sorry for sounding stupid, but i've honestly never heard of it..

[Krimangel]

Staff infection is caused by a bacterium called Staphylococcus. There are different types ranging from simple boils to flesh-eating infections. The most common type of infection, cellulitis, affects the skin’s deeper layers. It might begin as a small area of inflammation – tenderness, swelling, or redness on the skin’s surface, or as an open skin sore or ulcer. This type of infection is usually treatable with antibiotics. Over the years, the bacteria, identified as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), have grown increasingly resistant to antibiotics.

I myself have had many bouts in the past with cellulitius, i have scars on my body from the hard "core" that comes out, i was 19 or 20 with my first one, i know that it is said to be on children alot. and if that is the case i feel so bad for them, i as a grown woman could barly deal with the pain, it would hurt even with a feather like touch. poor kids.

[Nekochanpurr]

Wow, thats crazy.. I'm sorry you had to go through that! How would you get it though..?

[Krimangel]

From What They Say Its Just Bacteria. I Couldnt Figuare Out What It Was From I Had About 5 Or 6 Of Them In About A 6 Month Ot A Year Span, And When I Moved Out Of My Moms House I Havent Had One Since. The Dr. Didnt Say Much About It Had Me Wash My Sheets And Clothes Real Good, And Just Hoped It Stayed Away.

[Nekochanpurr]

Ack.. No fun at all. I hope they don't come back! :(

[Krimangel]

Nothing For About 3 Years Now :) , But These Kids Now Are Geting An Infection So Bad They Cant Even Fight It With Meds And Are Dying From It, The Whole Thing Is So Sad.

[Measha]

Yup. FMIL is a nurse, and was talking about it the other day. There are several strains now that meds don't even effect.

Maybe it was a "morbid" thing to bring up, heh. Suppose it's my way of saying no matter what seems bad out there, there will always be something else...and something after that. For us to get past. And science keeps finding more and more answers for what used to be the "end all" of things.

Ok, so maybe I can't word it just how I want, but it was a lot more hopeful thought that it came out as. Heh.

[thetsakid]

I work at a homeless shelter and we have people that come in with it. Some of them don't care and they continue to live like they don't have it, which includes having unprotected sex with people that don't know they are HIV positive. Some others though feel as that was a change in their life and they now are very careful to even where they work. They tell their friends and their mates so that they can make the decision to be with them or not. I think each person handles it differently.