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I'm 63 years old, and have been living with H.I.V. for the last 15 years. I've been undetectable for over 8 years, and look and feel younger today than I did 12 years ago. When I show people the picture that's on my 2013 I.D. and then compare it to the picture that's on my previous I.D. from 8 years before, they can't believe it. I look 10 years younger in my current picture than I did in my previous I.D. picture. I guess it's kind of a Benjamin Button syndrome.
33 yrs poz, the last 15 yrs living with aids with a host of medical problems I do not dwell on. I am truly blessed to still be alive after all these years given all of my friends from the 80's have since died. God has a plan for me, as he has made it possible I receive the very best healthcare, prescribed the latest meds on the market, and the strength to survive the beatings I endure from a homicidal/suicidal son. Turning 60 yrs old, I don't know how my body has been able to adjust to this hell
I have been positive since at least 1985 as of the start of the LA Men's std first 600.I have been told I would be dead in a year in 1996. Since then have received two Master's Degrees. Recently, I received my first social security retirement check not disability. I am now a writer and artist. The past 2 years have been as boyfriend to a man HIV neg. He had been the executive director of one of the leading HIV research org. His knowledge is why I am able to be w/someone who is neg. and loves me
I don't even remembre anymore my life without being sick. At the very beginning of the pandemic it was consider being related with being old.The fist articles that came out was of young people with conditions that only had being observed at an old age. This alienated young people even more. At that time being old was almost like a sin. Most of the efforts were put on a cure. In a way what is being done now is a result of past reactions. Nobody expected people to survive at that time.
I participated in this worthwhile project at the 2012 International AIDS Conference in DC and was very glad I did. They were wonderful people to work with and their message is more and more valid every day with so many of us long term survivors over age 50 now.
55 yo, coming up on 30 years + ... because I am on Medicare, I am thrown out of all Ryan White and state public assistance programs -- about $300/month loss of assistance-I have not been able to recover and am sinking fast.
I was very happy to read this article. I am a long term survivor of over 31 years and with what my physician has stated that he does not know what is in store for us with the natural aging process accelerated and the unknown long term effects of our cocktails we need to congregate and share notes of experiences and things that helped us survive and things that are detrimental to our continued survival. I am proud of what you are dong with this research and reaching out to us.contact anytime
Richard
I am currently 68. My CD-4's are 933 at last test, and VL is undetectable. I was diagnosed (+) in 1986, and my (carefully reasoned) assumption is that I was infected in 1980, 35 years ago, when I lived in San Francisco. Life went on, I got VERY sick in the 90's with KS and some other awful things. And yet, here I still am, standing, walking, breathing, and just enjoying growing older mostly as anyone would at my age. I am not merely grateful, I hope I can offer hope to others! "Excelsior!"
December 15, 2015 • Bay Area, CA, USA