POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: David_CA on March 04, 2011, 11:19:37 pm
-
Today is the five-year anniversary of Black Friday (my diagnosis). A week or so prior to this date each year, I remember the pending anniversary and reflect back on the years since. That day seems like just a few weeks ago, but so much has happened since then.
Besides the pneumonia and hospital stay, my health's been good. I am certainly more attentive to health issues - regular Dr. visits, trying to eat better, exercise more, drink less, etc. I've met a lot of great people due to my diagnosis. I've been to a lot of fun places (AMG's). I've become closer to my family.
I've benefited a lot from the friendships, support, and help I've received from many here in these forums. I found them a couple days after diagnosis when I was feeling really lost and like a failure do to becoming infected. Thanks to all those here who've helped make my living with HIV better. All in all, life is good.
-
{{{Hugs}}}..I reckon in 20+ years from now you will still be hosting your camp parties and having a ball...at least that is my hope for you.
Aroha
Jan :-*
-
it's always kinda weird to know what to say in situations like this. happy anniversary?
ah, well...you know what i mean.
-
((((HUGS))))
-
i think someone needs to develop a "Happy Aids-aversary" line of cards for occasions like this. ;D I don't know anyone, especially those who have been dx'ed with AIDS, who don't remember exactly the date and time and take a moment each year thereafter to reflect on what has been and what might be.
While in the past many people would have passed away long before reaching a 5-yr anniversary after their diagnosis, you've survived a terrible health crisis and have used that as a springboard to take better care of yourself and to live a fuller life. Whether you would have done that with or without the diagnosis makes no difference. The difference lies in that you have used a positive attitude in a negative situation and have moved forward in your life. Bravo! :-*
-
Thanks, all. Tim, happy anniversary sounds just fine; Jan, I'm sure we'll keep on having a ball or two! ;) A couple of things I neglected to mention (thanks for reminding me)... Meds - obviously, if I'd been infected years earlier, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be here now. Another thing that is directly attributable to my diagnosis is school, though that's brought its own stress into my life!
-
I'm so happy that things are looking good for you David! I'm glad to see that this virus isn't stopping you from finding the happiness you deserve in life.
i think someone needs to develop a "Happy Aids-aversary" line of cards for occasions like this. ;D I don't know anyone, especially those who have been dx'ed with AIDS, who don't remember exactly the date and time and take a moment each year thereafter to reflect on what has been and what might be.
I actually am not precisely sure of the day of my diagnosis or even the month. Granted I was so weak when they told me that I was barely walking around on my own and I had kind of come to the conclusion beforehand when I started noticing the thrush developing on my gums. It was sometime in June/July/August.
-
Then in that case; Happy Anniversary. What would be the appropriate anniversary gift? And to think, we were all told these relationships would never last and that we'd break up pretty quickly.
-
A week or so prior to this date each year, I remember the pending anniversary and reflect back on the years since.
Thanks to all those here who've helped make my living with HIV better. All in all, life is good.
This is the anniversary week for me too David. It was this time last year I was in that damned hospital bed hooked up to IV and an oxygen tube in my nose. I also want to thank those here who provided helpful input. I think we will both remember early March in this way for the rest of our lives.
Glad to read that 'all in all, life is good' for you. I can honestly say the same for myself at this point.
-
Congratulations on 5 years of being positive! :)
-
"All in all, life is good"
Congratulations on another 5 years.
-
I have now been diagnosed HIV-positive for 8 years (almost to the week), and on treatment for 6 and a bit years...which also means (this is the real saddo nerdy part) I have been posting here for 6 and a bit years.
Here's to the future for everyone, whatever it holds.
- matt
-
Happy Anniversary David and thank you, for helping us to live better, through your contributions.
-
David,
Happy 5th -- let's keep the years racking up.
Hugs,
Mike
-
Hi David!
Doesn't the time fly? Congrats. For some reason, I thought you were here before me!!
Regarding more time flying, my computer says it's 11:01a.m. and yet Bocker and Joe's posts are 12+.
We are moving at some kind of new speed on the forums, heh? Perhaps there's a correlation with the new server?
Em
-
I still remember when you joined David and I still remember the night you posted about having PCP. It was a bit of a wake up call too, because your numbers weren't extremely low at the time. Your posts have always displayed a certain compassion and understanding that I've enjoyed. And, I still can't believe you take your Atripla before work; that's some beastly shit for real.
As you know already, I'm glad you're here.
-
happy annivrsary seems like an odd phrase but great it's that you are moving forward with your life.
I 've decide to call my upcoming 8th (in three weeks) "My Live Long and Prosper Anniversary"
Hoping many more happy anniversaries for you.
-
I have a reserve of fine alcohols for special occassions.
Bootles that benefit from aging, that I have been keeping for special occasions. some of them for more than 20 years...
I thought I'd opened one on my UD day, but, hey, things turned out differently.
So, I took the occassion of YOUR anniversary to open one up !
It is just DIVINE.
Cheers !
Eric
-
David I am right here with you on five years. Time flies, best to you on the day!
-
Congratulations, David -- glad you are here!
Cheers,
Henry
-
I actually am not precisely sure of the day of my diagnosis or even the month. Granted I was so weak when they told me that I was barely walking around on my own and I had kind of come to the conclusion beforehand when I started noticing the thrush developing on my gums. It was sometime in June/July/August.
In the poz personals, I've noticed several people choose the option, "I don't know when I was diagnosed" in the field where you state how long you've been poz. I always thought that seemed strange. I thought, How would they not know when they were dx'd? I could see not knowing how long you've been infected. But, your response helps to explain why many say that.
David, glad things are going well 5 years later and I wish you many, many more.
-
Besides the pneumonia and hospital stay, my health's been good. I am certainly more attentive to health issues - regular Dr. visits, trying to eat better, exercise more, drink less, etc.
Glad to hear that everything is going well David ! Onward and forward I say, Stay well !
Ray 8)
-
Ah- I thought you joined when I did, (8 years this summer)! You're just a baby, says the toddler.
Glad life is good for you. I aways enjoy your pragmatism and humor. Stay well and here's to a more healthy, wealthy and happy future for you!
-
Congrats on the anniversary (what an odd congratulations!). Glad all is going well though, it's a very encouraging post.
Also it's funny when you realise how long you have been a member of an internet forum... I've been a member of one other forum to do with movies and so on, realised I'd been on for ten years and know quite a few people on there quite well without ever having me then... ah, weird!! :P
-
I know you'll have many many more ;) ;)
-
David,
Your fifth anniversary means my fifth comes up at the end of September. It seems like such a long time ago to me now. I recall when several of us met for the first time in baggage claim at the Montreal International airport. it was the beginning of my first AMG...and it is usually the vacation highlight of the year for me. I am hoping things will work out for your schedule and you (and company) will join us in Seattle.
Gary
-
Inspirational news. Thanks to you and everyone else for providing this sort of encouragement.
-
Here's hoping you have 50 more!
-Will
-
Its certainly a crappy anniversary but also an important one. But I must belong to the small minority who can't remember the month or the date. Not by heart. It's late April or early May. I do remember when my doctor called to confirm the positive status, a week or two after a suspected seroconversion with the antigen but not yet the antibody. I was trying to go about business as usual, and was on my way to a thrift shop. So I just went anyway, I don't remember what I bought, I was kind of a robot for a few days. Clearly I didn't feel like remembering this date exactly, so for the rest of my life a certain date is not going to bother me. I don't remember the date my dad died, but I was with him.
I have troubles with good dates too, like birthdays. Facebook has been helpful for this!
-
Its certainly a crappy anniversary but also an important one. But I must belong to the small minority who can't remember the month or the date.
Actually Mecch, I couldnt tell you my anniversary either, I think it was around New years but I ahve a hard time remembering if it was 07 or 08 that I was infected. Weird.
-
Five years ... In the old days when I got aids we had to walk to the bath house 5 miles uphill barefoot in the snow to get our Aids , five years aint nothing .
Seriously , wishing you a long happy healthy life .
-
Five years ... In the old days when I got aids we had to walk to the bath house 5 miles uphill barefoot in the snow to get our Aids , five years aint nothing .
Seriously , wishing you a long happy healthy life .
Priceless. This is one of the funniest things I've read in a long time.
-
Five years ... In the old days when I got aids we had to walk to the bath house 5 miles uphill barefoot in the snow to get our Aids , five years aint nothing .
Seriously , wishing you a long happy healthy life .
I bet you had to walk five miles uphill - butt nekkid, never mind barefoot - to get back home too.
Funny shit.
Oh, sorry that's another thread! ;D
-
David, I cannot believe it's only been five years. It seems like you've been around here for much longer than that - and I mean that in a nice way. You're one of our kindest, most level-headed members and I really appreciate that. If everyone was a little more like you, we would have no need for moderators. For that reason, I'm glad you're here. (Although I do wish none of us had the need to be here!) I think I've told you before that I think of you with great fondness.
I recently had my tenth anniversary of being diagnosed (February 22), but I will have been poz for fourteen years in May. And I've been a member here for ten years this month (have no idea of the exact date). I can't believe that either! Time flies.
If you've been poz for five years, you must be close to your five year wedding anniversary too, yeah?
Here's to many more anniversaries for all of us - good anniversaries and ones that are a way of marking another year of survival.
Hugs,
Ann
xxx
-
Hey, isn't the traditional gift for a fifth anniversary "wood"?
;D
-
Thanks, everybody; you are all too kind! ;) Ann, I do try to be on my good behavior; not much is accomplished by being high maintenance. You are correct; we do have a wedding anniversary coming up. It'll be 5 years in August that we were married in Montreal at an AMG, though we'll have been together for 12 years in May. It's hard to believe that members and mods. have been here so long; thanks for keeping things in order! ;)
Five years ... In the old days when I got aids we had to walk to the bath house 5 miles uphill barefoot in the snow to get our Aids , five years aint nothing .
Hell, sometimes I'd be glad to walk 5 miles uphill, barefoot, and in the snow, but it still wouldn't get me to a bath house; there are none around!
Oh, and Steve, what kind of wood do you have in mind?
;D
-
Oh, and Steve, what kind of wood do you have in mind?
Peckerwood would be my guess.
-
Congrats honey, you're one of my favorite guys around here....I echo what Ann says -- I have a lot of respect and admiration for you. You've handled your diagnosis and your journey thus far with great humility and grace, and behaved like the Southern Gentleman you truly are.
HUGS,
Alan
-
Peckerwood would be my guess.
I was just going to leave it all ambiguous-like and let people with robust imaginations run wild. But I must admit, I like Peckerwood. :D
-
Perkerwood
Me not so keen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckerwood
- matt
-
Me not so keen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckerwood
- matt
:D newt, my dad use to call all whites Peckerwoods if they had red-hair, of course I knew early on as a child that this was a racial-slur, however, that wasn't the intent of Joe and SteveInToronto in there quote ;)
-
:D newt, my dad use to call all whites Peckerwoods if they had red-hair, of course I knew early on as a child that this was a racial-slur, however, that wasn't the intent of Joe in his quote ;)
No it wasn't, as the definition can also include small or insignificant.
-
No it wasn't, as the definition can also include small or insignificant.
:-*
-
, however, that wasn't the intent of Joe and SteveInToronto in there quote ;)
Certainly not!! I just thought it was another name for a woodpecker!
-
Me not so keen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckerwood
- matt
I had no idea this had this connotation at all. Now I'm waiting with bated breath for someone to use it in person.
-
The peckerwood gangs are concentrated in California, where some trade in methamphetamine.
-
The peckerwood gangs are concentrated in California, where some trade in methamphetamine.
It started out as a derogatory word used by the African Americans in the South to refer to white men, but the white men eventually picked it up and started using it for theirselves.
-
The peckerwood gangs are concentrated in California, where some trade in methamphetamine.
So no change there then
- matt
-
So no change there then
- matt
Well, in regards to the California State Dept. of Corrections and the Aryan brotherhood prison gang AKA The Peckerwoods......YES it is derogatory, in that respect ;)
-
Peckerwood....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRE69x8dPhg
-
Me not so keen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peckerwood
- matt
See, that's one of the reasons I like these forums; they're nothing if not educational and entertaining!
-
Peckerwood....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRE69x8dPhg
:D :D :D J.R.E too funny ;D
-
@JRE, yer funny :)
-
I'm beginning to dread typing the word 'Biotech' because I'm afraid I'm one day going to mis-type it as BIOTCH. "You know what's hot these days...Biotch." :D :D :D
-
Hey David,
Happy Anniversary!
Glad you're here, and still going strong.
Now, about those nude redezvous in the woods . . . ;D ;D ;D
HUGS,
Mark
-
Hey David,
Happy Anniversary!
Glad you're here, and still going strong.
Now, about those nude redezvous in the woods . . . ;D ;D ;D
HUGS,
Mark
Thanks. As to those 'things' in the woods... you should join us; I know you'd fit right in! ;)
-
Just passed my 3 year mark. Hoping it's only just the beginning of the fight.