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Looking for personal stories for HIV class THANKS!
#262948 - 05/08/12 12:14 AM
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I'm currently taking a course on HIV and have also recently bought a great book by Carl Zimmer called "A Planet of Viruses." I have grown increasingly interested in the HIV and for my final project I would love to get some personal stories on coping with the virus and AIDS (if applicable). I have a set of 10 basic questions, so feel free to answer as many as you can. Also, if you want to arrange to message privately, please let me know.
In advance I thank you for reading my post and taking your time to answer my questions. I think your feedback will be a great help for myself and all the classmates to whom I will be sharing your stories with.
The questions are the following:
1) How was the testing process?
2) What kind of thoughts/feelings did you experience?
3) What has your experience with medications been like and what types of meds have you been on?
4) What people/groups/agencies have been the most helpful and supportive?
5) The least?
6) What has your experience with stigma been like?
7) What have you come to learn about yourself and/or the world as a result?
8) How have your family/friends/loved ones dealt with this?
9) What is your biggest strength?
10) Biggest fear?
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tcocoa
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Regular
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Reged: 07/19/07
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Posts: 46
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First of all, I was a 37 year old married mother of two teenagers and pregnant with my third child when i found out i was poz i was also devastated when i found out and i wanted to die!!! She is now 15 years old and negative(yaaaay) I never had to actually face any stigma because i was in a marriage and my ex husband who also tested negative never once thouhgt of leaving me. I was afraid i had infected him because we were together almost 4 years before i found out. I did not start out taking meds, only thru my pregnancy to prevent transmission to my unborn child. I actually had been experiencing great health until my divorce last year. The one thing that irritates me is the way the government has criminalized this disease thereby making people afraid to get tested for fear of finding out they are hiv poz and infecting others and afraid of being prosecuted. this type of laws does nothing to reduce infections all it does is instill fear and stigma. I have a very supportive family and the ppl who are my true friends are still in my corner. the one time i took meds , i never got sick from them or had any side effects.. this disease is 90% mental and 10% physical. attitude is everything when it comes to survival. fortunately i have only been on meds classified as NNTI. Never been on any protease inhibitors. I never had to depend on any agencyies for help as i married very well but now that im single im finding it hard to get help with the basics. what i have found through this almost 16 yr battle is that im stronger than i thought and that the people all over the world are very uneducated and judgemental Someone can die from cancer and get sympathy but a person with hiv/aids doesnt rate the same compassion. I was not a drug user, gay male,and i am from the suburbs of nj and i was in monagamous relationships or so i thought. and i still contracted this . my fear is dying before my daughter turns 18.
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Vauban
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Newbie
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Reged: 05/28/12
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Posts: 3
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1) Back in 86 or 87 when I first tested positive the result was a death sentence. Now folks think this is a manageable, chronic disease-it is not! Imagine being water-boarded everyday for over 25 years!
2) I thought I was going to die. Knowing my wife wanted to have children I offered her the opportunity of divorce-she refused and has suffered beside me for all the years and gave up her dream of having children.
3) The meds are toxic but given the alternatives I continue to take them. To date I've tried 4 protease inhibitors and 6 nucs. I've started my first integrase inhibitor 1 month ago. I asked to be switched because of ongoing dementia and chronic fatigue-despite plasma viral suppression and "normal" CD4 counts.
4) My wife and a handful of close friends have been the most supportive
5) Psychiatrists in general have been the least supportive-they have a tendency to diagnose depression for all your woes
6) I am very selective to whom I reveal my status. I've been treated like a paria in the past and rejection and anger by others isn't comfortable.
7) You've got to look after yourself and be proactive with your treatment.
8) In many respects my loved ones suffer more than I do.
9) Critical thinking skills, intellect, drive, determination-flexibility
10) We won't find a cure for this disease in my lifetime.
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