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December 13, 1984, I received bad blood during childbirth. My daughter, born C-Section is alive and thriving. I am 76, alive and thriving and self publishing: “DON” “Diary of a Nurse- Sunny’s Story” Former DIrector of Nursing (D.O.N.) Living 39 Years with HIV Infection “ Namaste ????
I am a 51 year old gay man diagnosed with HIV & AIDS since 2002. I've survived the excruciating DECADE of Death where I watched HIV+ men die from lack of medical care/ability to pay for ARV meds. It was self preservation to care for these older gay men. I was BLESSED to find my husband & 20 years passed before HIV took him in 2019. Why isnt the discussion about the long term mental hurt of PWA? Lonliness abounds & sadly, Dating today is choice from an app.-UGHHH
My physical health is quite boring. Bad pain in my feet, but that's it. Where I'm struggling is with looking after my husband who has stage 4 cancer. I've had to give up full-time work and finances are a huge struggle. It's doing my head in. If you'd asked me two months ago I would have been on top of the world. Today I've lowered the bar just getting through this will count as success. Love you all. Besos y abrazos a todos.
Diagnosed 23 years ago, poz 26+ years. My military career ended & my life spiraled. But I pulled myself up & got a great job (still there,) finished my degree & have truly lived a good life by any standards, HIV or not. I suffer from some of those long term issues listed (and others). IMHO, ID docs don't take those "medically insignificant" but troublesome issues seriously which affects QoL. There's the answer to aging well IMO. Just because it won't kill us doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated.
This is certainly an uplifting article, and I am happy for those for whom aging with HIV is without many limitations. However, there are a lot of us LTS's who are suffering from several side effects and comorbidities. I am one of those people. I was infected with HIV before there was even a test to diagnose it and I did all I could to survive along with my partner, who lost the battle in 1994. I took all of the drugs, starting with AZT. I wish I could say that I am living a good life.
I've been pos since 21, I'll be 51 in a week, I never expected to be here today. The biggest challenge i face is stable housing. HOPWA is a great program, but it is only as good as the people running it in each city.In middle Tennessee HOPWA reps lack the basic knowledge of PLWH. HIV has become BIG business.Man running the programs have lost sight of the community,PLWH have not been included with the decisions especially when it comes to HIV Criminalization n Tennessee, ASO don't always know best
Thank you Robert, I got the kidney problems among others. Definitely not allowed enough space to make a comprehensive comment. Like I said in previous comment, infected with HIV in 1985. I know some are doing well, but you don't hear enough of those whose QOL keeps declining to the point that death sometimes (ok many times) feels like the best option. I have tried to find the statistics showing how many people diagnosed in 1985 are still alive today???
TundraDude
I was diagnosed w/ HIV February 14, 1995. At one point, I was taking 30 pills a day. My lowest CD4 was 35. Viral Load was 980,000. Fast forward to 2011, I was diagnosed w/ stage 3 anal cancer. Had 2 months of chemo & radiation, but the 2 year’s healing from 3rd degree burns “down there” were hell. By 2015, I was cancer free. After that, my CD4 & VL took off. I’ve been undetectable now for 9 years. CD4 is 725. I take Triumeq, once a day. I’m 57. Other than depression, I feel great.
March 18, 2024 • Central Georgia