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Bewildered, confused and somewhat depressed chick from south Africa trawling the internet for sites on HIV and AIDs. it's been a month since i tested positive , am on Truvada and stocrin (sustiva), i guess it takes a while for whoever has to verify or vetoe on membership to actually do that --- a relief too in that i'm not trying to broadcast this to the whole world. i must say that it's even harder to get a south african site that offers some chat / networking window. It's been a month as i said but i still have no idea what the hell i'm supposed to do with myself as an HIV positive person. Went through some weeks in the beginning where i couldnt sleep or even get up from my bed...and i just got angry everytime my doctor or my family kept giving the HIV is not a death sentence perp talk... i'm the one who goes to bed and wakes up with it every day, i'm the one living with it, going through it... and to have to explain my ups and downs is also tiring... sometimes i just need people to shut up and let me carry my cross or atleast fgure out how to carry it. i'll losing my internet connection signal in a bit, hopefully i'llbe able to connect through the usual cannel with the forum and can chat. hope you dont mind that i just picked you to do that stupid rant. I just took my blue pill an need to li down. Question: You smoke, drink? i've been handed a very ong list of cant haves an cant dos and the smoking is particularly hard when i'm at work and have to deal with the pointless stupidity and smallmindedness of the men and women i work with. I might not be able to get through to The POZ forums as often as most people, so i'd ask anyone who want to e-mail to do so. spillion200@webmail.co.za
"When we are free of the stigma, we will be free of the fear." i thank you for this thought. i hope for everyone to have a freedom from fear. peace be with you friend.
I want to get in touch with people living with aids. Am a Ugandan aged 48. Otherwise its been great to stumble on this web site
Well said ANN!! As I have grown older with HIV 17 years positive, I grown more quiet and secluded about my status. When first dx I told everyone, friends, family, strangers. As the years have passed I've watched those friends and family distance themselves from HIV. When I try to talk about it, the nonverbal cues make it a tad uncomfortable to continue with the conversation about my status, health, daily challenges. So I'v grown quieter. As for my gay friends, they too avoid the subject and keep a quiet, comfortable distance. I feel at times that my extended network is just watching and waiting to see what happens to me...as they can see I'm still the same, but they have changed. As for work I was told some years ago that I could never work in critical care as nurse, due to invasive procedures well my now quiet demenor and not chatting openly about my status has landed me a job in critical care. My boss knows my status and thats all that needs to know. By keeping my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open, I'm moving ahead.
Dear Ann, I just want to say that I really appreciate reading your blog. I am a case manager in Pocatello Idaho and I have been reading your words for a while now. You are very inspirational to me as a care giver as you help me to understand what my clients must go through every day of their lives. Thank you for your thoughts and feelings that you are so willing to share to help others. Hope all is well with you and that hopefully you are now in housing. Take care. Jo
Hi, i am newly diagnosed... a week ago. i am just... at this moment standing next to you. Today i disclosed my status to two people i knew. True that i wasn't very close with them (guy and girl) we were co workers long time ago, but they heard i was sick and were suspecting and asked me about it. I disclosed, first because i needed to... to keep this inside of me was a bomb. Second cause even if i wasnt very close to them.. they got near and worried... when my "closer" friends just fade away. I trusted and i said it. Then i feared about it :(... and though if i had done a bad choice. I wasn't wrong, they were nice and understanding, got shocked, cried, were affraid but like good friends, they didnt leave. They standed next to me and say... it will all be all right. I like your post, there is a part when you say "We who live with HIV are your neighbours, your friends and lovers, your parents and children. We could be standing next to you in the check out line. We could be your lawyer or teacher. We could be you. We are you, because you live with HIV too" and i totally agree. In this world we ALL live with HIV, some of us suffer from it, some of us carry it. Those who suffer or carry are not necessarily infected nor hiv +, but we know someone who is, we deal with someone who is and we dont know or we will be carrying sometime if we dont protect. True is that world was designed for all of us to be together, and what affects me, also affect the live of people around me and they affect the lives of others around them. We are all interconnected, so the only way to manage this... is to accept us, and stay together, there is a need for us to come out to the light, in the right time, when we feel like doing it. Because bringing light to the world, can make of it a better place... and we can find our right place to be... and our exemple will help others. Only when we understand ALL THE WORLD LIVE WITH HIV, we can understand there is nothing to fear... and once we can understand that.. others will start to understand us. I loved your blog, thanks a lot. your friend.
Cute map of The Rock too. Seems like you can count the roads on 2 hands
Dental Lake Worth
There is little evidence that HIV can be transferred by casual exposure, as might occur in a household setting. For example, unless there are open sores or blood in the mouth, kissing is generally considered not to be a risk factor for transmitting HIV. This is because saliva, in contrast to genital secretions, has been shown to contain very little HIV. Still, theoretical risks are associated with the sharing of toothbrushes and shaving razors because they can cause bleeding, and blood can contain large amounts of HIV. Consequently, these items should not be shared with infected people. Similarly, without sexual exposure or direct contact with blood, there is little if any risk of HIV contagion in the workplace or classroom.
February 11, 2010