SallyQ
11-30-2004, 12:47 AM
Several of you seem to be in need of info on first symptoms. I'm not HIV+ but have a friend who is. He had no flu-like symptoms. He had a couple of unusual, opportunistic infections/skin conditions but didn't put two and two together. When he tested positive during his annual HIV test (he's gay and conscientious about getting tested) he was surprised/devastated. He's always practiced safe sex in committed relationships. We were all devastated.
But I really want to reiterate something that I haven't heard much of on this board. Even is someone tests positive, it's not the end of living. My friend still works, still travels, still vacations, still enjoys life, still laughs. He's on a regiment of meds and his doctor said he could live for many decades if not longer b/c of the advancements being made and the new drugs they have. (I mention this b/c so many people seem stuck on a 10 year window for living.) I'm not trying to minimize this virus. Believe me when I say it's tough for him and for all of us who love him. His immune system isn't as good as it used to be. He gets colds and other bugs easier. He has to take a lot of drugs and has been hospitalized once for a couple of days b/c of a bout with a staph infection. I won't even go into how tough this has been on his parents who love him dearly and would switch spots with him in a second if that was humanly possible.
But if someone reading this does test positive, i want them to have hope. Life can go on and it can be good. And for those of you who have gone through the scare of waiting for your test to come back, I hope it will encourage you to be sensitive and kind to those who haven't been as fortunate as you. After I found out about my friend, I took my first HIV test and it was the most God awful wait of my life. I feel fortunate that I didn't test positive b/c, like most people, I've made some stupid mistakes in life. I'm not extra blessed. I'm not special. I'm just lucky.
Sorry this was so long.
But I really want to reiterate something that I haven't heard much of on this board. Even is someone tests positive, it's not the end of living. My friend still works, still travels, still vacations, still enjoys life, still laughs. He's on a regiment of meds and his doctor said he could live for many decades if not longer b/c of the advancements being made and the new drugs they have. (I mention this b/c so many people seem stuck on a 10 year window for living.) I'm not trying to minimize this virus. Believe me when I say it's tough for him and for all of us who love him. His immune system isn't as good as it used to be. He gets colds and other bugs easier. He has to take a lot of drugs and has been hospitalized once for a couple of days b/c of a bout with a staph infection. I won't even go into how tough this has been on his parents who love him dearly and would switch spots with him in a second if that was humanly possible.
But if someone reading this does test positive, i want them to have hope. Life can go on and it can be good. And for those of you who have gone through the scare of waiting for your test to come back, I hope it will encourage you to be sensitive and kind to those who haven't been as fortunate as you. After I found out about my friend, I took my first HIV test and it was the most God awful wait of my life. I feel fortunate that I didn't test positive b/c, like most people, I've made some stupid mistakes in life. I'm not extra blessed. I'm not special. I'm just lucky.
Sorry this was so long.