my mom needs a surgery, and the doctors required a blood test and had my mom sign a paper stating if she tested positive for HIV that they would not do the surgery (which is needed to help save her life). her test results came in today, and along with many other things they tested for, they tested her for HIV...... it was positive. they are giving another one just to be safe. my question is... what are the chances of the test being wrong? if anyone has advice, suggestions, anything, will you please post them. thank you for your time and God bless.



[This message has been edited by FatAndDepressed (edited 08-21-2002).]

Your mother's fate lies about 90% in her own hands and about 10% in the doctor's hands.

Exercise, nutrition, decreasing stress and sticking to the medications as perscribed can allow her to live anywhere from 15 years from now all the way up to a normal life span. New treatments for HIV will be avaliable later this year / early next year, and i the years to follow.. These will provide the posibility for anyone living with HIV to live a full, productive, symptom less life.

There are catches.. Some patients have horrible side effects from the treatments, some develop resistance and have to change their "cocktail" of meds often, and other's have already developed full blown AIDS and it's far more difficult to treat these patients.

Her personal health, the way she eats, her fitness can do FAR more for her than any pill avaliable. There is life after HIV, there is hapiness, and living once you get past the emotional rollercoaster. She is not alone.. Let me refer you to www.positiveconnections.org (http://www.positiveconnections.org) ... They even hold cruises and retreats for thousands of heterosexuals who have been infected with HIV. Both of you keep your chin up, keep hope alive, and I imagine she will live a long, great life. G'luck, take care.

thank you for replying to me adepressedguy, you will never know how much you taking the time to respond means to me. this is a very new experience for me and with me knowing very little about the virus it only makes it worse. i have spent all day on the web reading different things about it, but to be honest with my head as full as it is right now, i still wouldn't understand anything even if it was spelled out for me. thank you for the link, i did go to it and i even saved it to my favorites. maybe once the initial shock wears off i can understand more of what i read. i really do deeply appreciate you taking the time to respond.... i must admit i didn't expect you to be the only one to do so, but you did help me and for that i truely thank you. take care of yourself, and God bless!

[This message has been edited by FatAndDepressed (edited 08-21-2002).]

F & D,
I know how you feel, my dad has been + for 10+ years. The above advice is solid and you should remember, treatment is much better than even 5 years ago. I don't know where you live...but, CA seems to be the best state, (as far as I know) for people living with aids. There are many different support systems available, monetary and emotional, and the best hiv drs in the country are found there. My dad lives in san diego and since moving there his viral load is undetectable and his tcells are <400, both of which are a HUGE deal!! The only thing I would really add to Dguy's comments would be to exercise caution when exposing a + person to situations in which they will come in contact with large groups of people (malls, movie theatres, airplanes, etc.) in enclosed areas...they tend to acquire communicable diseases (colds, flus, pneuomias) much easier than the average person...and in the end, that's what usually pushes them over the edge. Best of luck, You are NOT alone! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/angel.gif

[This message has been edited by ohmyachingback (edited 07-19-2002).]