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when I first learned I had HIV I thought it was the end of the world I thought I oh I was going to die a horrible death now I live undetectable do I believe the science and go through life like I did before HIV I should have still protect the other people and myself from the spread of HIV now I'm just confused
I have been diagnosed in 2011 march that I am hiv positive. Couldnt believe that and in 2017 August went to do the test they came back the same and I started taking my treatment. When I tested the viral load was undetectable and is still is undetectable. My question is what causes one to still test posotive if the virus cannot be detected in my body and is there any medication that one can take maybe to completely kill the sleeping cells that might be containing the virus
This is an incredibly dangerous article and should be removed at once. It tells many inaccuracies. undetectable isn't nearly the same as being negative. The viral load can fluctuate and being undetectable one month doesn't mean you will be a month or two down the line. There are also can be different load contents in blood compared to semen. This article is shameful and makes me sick that people might read it as Gospel.
"Undetectable" is a concession prize for the HIV+, a chance to recoup some humanity and desirability. Accurate, safe and egalitarian guidance was the old "assume everyone is positive". That got dropped decades ago, in favor of "DDF Clean/UB2" and now a dozen different kinds of "status". Things would be best if we could go back to the original. Better for + people looking to live normal lives, better for - looking for a safety philosophy. No gold stars for the ub2 crowd there.
The problem is people can claim they are undetectable just like they can claim they are HIV negative and both can be lying. You have no real proof either way short of window testing. "Undetectable' means nothing. The second problem is that there are blips, there is sudden treatment failure etc. You don't know what a viral load is even if you believe a person is "undetectable" in the first place.
I've been absent of any measurable viral load for several years; however, I still don't seek sex with anyone. We cannot forget there is a tiny risk of transmission to another person, but the greatest concern for me is cross, secondary infection with another strain and other diseases like Hepatitis. Even with great numbers, we still have a suppressed, altered immune system that weakens normally with aging.
Myself having an undetectable viral load has indeed helped to feel better about myself and my health, BUT no way has it eliminated the need to still practice safe sex. As you mentioned in your article, there are many other STDs that can cause health issues. As for me, I will keep using the condom.
ranger#1
It is really a very sad event that the medical world says it cannot measure HIV viral load below
January 15, 2023 • North Carolina