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12 Comments

tyler st james

Hi Anne I've been reading your advice and comments and your blog for a few years now - having tested positive about 4 years ago myself(one of the 1st things I did was google positive forums and this one was the most ..well..human I guess)Im in Western Australia - and I just wanted to say a big Thank you!!! - you put a smile on my face with your insights and your unapologetically frank and honest approach is like a cool breeze on a hot day!!! I suppose your very busy with answering other fan mail so I won't take up too much of your time - just thought I would say how much I appreciate all the good work you do for everyone - you have a really good attitude and it does rub off on people - just know that! thanks - kindest regards - Tyler - Perth - Western Aust (please don't hold that against me - It's not my fault I was born here!!! - Im really English on the inside!!) xxx

December 12, 2012

angel

thats ridiculous! in our culture big labia are almost a prerequisite for marrige. we're encouraged to pull them at puberty so tht they grow nice and big for our husbands to play with when we get married!

May 8, 2008

Dragonette

Hey Ann I love your blog, please don't stop writing, and not only on current affairs. I'm glad cosmetic surgery exists, because asides from all the superficiality it promotes, it does do a lot of extermely beneficial things, also for us pozzies if we get serious damage from our meds and we are not able to deal with it. I wouldn't like to be forced to correct this damage - but then again I wouldn't like not to have the option to do that either. But I guess that woman didn't feel she had an option. Maybe there was just no way she could see herself as acceptable. We are coming to the point where for some people, cosmetic procedures are an obligation rather than a possibility. For example, there is a program here called Extreme Makover, where people get quarantined for months to do all kinds of painful unnecessary stuff because they have a low self esteem (and some floppy bits, but mostly low self esteem). It's just a more extreme reflection of a general state of mind really: we live in a society that demands quick fixes, and surly chopping things off or tucking them in is easier than making small painstaking internal changes. We are brainwashed by a constant need to be perfect - not just physical perfection imposed by Vogue & Elle, that's only the tip of the iceberg, but on every platform we are told to appear young (or "age gracefully"), sexy, sexual, vibrant, succesful, wise, cheeful and above all happy. Simply being OK just doesn't cut it anymore. In a sense even Poz magazine tells us to be successful and beautiful and proactive and sexual and social and adventerous, cheerful and above all Think Positively even with HIV. One is not able to use a chronic disease as an "excuse" for imperfection anymore, it simply must be that you are not trying hard enough, you are not "positive" or motivated enough, to overcome it and be as glamorous as your negative peer - who is in turn doing his/her best to keep up with celebrity/advertisment glamour on all fronts. But then again this also has a good side - would not like to be told to be sick and tired simply because I am in fact somewhat sick and tired, but also fed up with the constant tirade of positive affirmations and self improvement messages. Like your signature "it just is OK?" - why the hell can't we just bloody accept it? Maybe cos we're never quite sure of being loved for who we really are and not for an image we work hard to maintain. ~PS. Really hope things work out for you & C.

May 6, 2008

jack

I had HIV drs pushing ADs on me for years. I was not depressed and knew it,so I didnt take them. Several years ago I realized I was depressed and started taking Lexapro. Recently I mixed my med bottles up and by mistake did not take my lex for 4 weeks. I discovered this yesterday. The depression and overall mental pain I experienced the past two weeks was much worse than anything I had experienced prior to lexapro. There is no way I could ever stop taking Lexapro,there is no way I would ever go through what I went through the past two weeks. I was unable to function at my job, I was thinking about suicide(something I had never thought of before)all day long,every action by myself or someone else was immediately a negative,everything was dark. I could never go there again and now know I have to take this shit till the day I die. I really worry because one of my 23 yr old daughters is taking lex. Now, I must add, Lexapro does work and when on it I am never depressed no matter what happens. I am always positive and upbeat. I guess my point is, these drugs really work, but just like everything else that makes you feel good or different there is a hangover when you stop. I did not have this reaction when I stopped prozac,of course comparing prozac to lexapro, is like comparing weed to heroin.

May 5, 2008

Skeebo

On September 21, 2005 I joined Aidsmeds and my lessons on things I did not know began. Here, months short of 3 years, I still manage to pick up very useful info. You mean to tell me women lift weights with their lips? Shit learning so much in such little time makes my head hurt. Wondered what happend to you because you had not been blogging. I know you had mentioned in another blog about you personal life and I was hoping that was going good. Sorry that was not the case.

May 5, 2008

Snow

Hey Ann- Sorry you have been feeling more down than up lately. Hopefully, your doc can help you get things figured out soon. People worry about some strange ass things. Now, if there was a problem with everytime she peed her lips fell in the toilet water,(there's a vision) I can see worrying about it and getting surgery, but really, how many people are ever going to see them? Who wants to look like everyone else anyway? Nice to see you back! Take care!

May 2, 2008

Ann

Hi Peter, I've been wondering when you were going to start blogging! I'm not on any antidepressants - I've always avoided them. I planned on talking to my doctor about it this past tuesday when I had my clinic appointment, but he wasn't in and I ended up seeing a registrar I've never met before. I didn't really want to discuss it with someone who doesn't know my background. Poor guy, I was having a weepy day and burst into tears when I found out I had to see him instead of the Wiz. Not my usual way of dealing with things! Anyway, I decided to talk to my GP about the possibility of antidepressants to help me deal with the Mirena - which reminds me, I need to ring for an appointment. (I've neglected to so far... hehehe) I'll let you know what happens.

May 1, 2008

Peter Staley

Great to see you back Ann! I'm probably going to start blogging soon, and agree with you that covering current affairs, and not just our own lives, is one way to make the process easier and more rewarding. Sorry about the depression. Are you on an SSRI? I've used them in the past when I've needed them, and they helped immensely (regardless of what Tom Cruise says).

May 1, 2008

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