Do you think today a 20 year old could live a normal life expectancy?

[rodeo]

My partner passed away in 1988, six years after we both converted in 1982.  He was so frightened of the virus that he chose denial.  

When he died the doctors gave me less than a year to live.

I've lived with HIV AIDS for 29 years.

I started AZT in 1988 and am still taking it (Trizavir component) along with 4 other antiviral drugs, and one more drug to counteract side effects: the elevated triglycerides. I take a max dose of Fish Oil.  My viral load is undetectable for over 8 years now and my CD4 is 580 plus or minus 50 for 18 years.

I am a 60- almost 61 year old manager traveling over 120,000 air miles a year, all over the US, supporting multiple companies with HR, Ethics and Regulatory compliance advice.  This year I spent half of it in a Merger that added 3000 people in four locations to our company.  I trained over 1,000 people in Ethics, Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination,  
I have flattened 2 companies, grown a start-up to over $35 million/year, earn six figures and my 23 years-partner and I are primary caregivers to my 92 year old mother who moved in with us last Feb when my 92 year old father passed.

What's normal to you?  

You get out of life what you put into it.  My first partner lived more in his 45 years than most people live in a hundred.  He wrote and produced Facts of Life, Too Close For Comfort, The Tim Conway Hour, Carter Country and too many others to list.  He did the stand-up comedy warm-ups for the tapings of his shows.  He traveled the world and toured Europe and South America.

In my younger years I was  a military Officer, a night club singer, and have been a manager of people since I was 20 years old.  That's normal for us, and I'm planning on working at least until I'm 70.  

Set your eye on the prize, never miss a dose of medicine, and know yourself.   You'll live an extra - ordinary life span, whether it's  20 years or 70 long.

[surf18]

great post rodeo . very inspiring

[buginme2]

I needed to hear that

[GSOgymrat]

Thanks for sharing your story rodeo. You are living a remarkable life!