POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: texaninnyc87 on January 18, 2013, 12:52:02 pm
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this isnt a personal question, it's hypothetical.
so yesterday i went to this support group for newly diagnosed gay 20 somethings. Im excited to join the group. it's full of crazy characters and seems like a lot of people with some good life advice. it's also full of some people who are really into the whole loud, outspoken, HIV pride, POZ tattoo things. This is a place I am definitely not at and it kind of fascinating for me to see but i noticed one of these guys in particular. he's been in magazines and has multiple pos tattoos. his facebook has his cd4 counts etc. anyways, hes so outspoken about his status but he seems strangely uneducated about the virus? he couldnt even list all of the meds hes been on. hes been poz for just about a year by the way. so, hes not the most credible source at all, but he said something weird that i'd never heard before.
he was talking about how sometimes you can have too many t-cells. like once you go on meds they can spike so suddenly and get so high that its bad for you. he couldnt elaborate really when i asked him how it was bad or what the effects were so naturally i thought id ask all you well educated peoples.
have you ever heard of this or is he just as dumb as he looks?
:)
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short answer: complete bullshit
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have you ever heard of this or is he just as dumb as he looks?
I'd bet on option 2.
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thats what i thought. the moderators of the groups kind of rolled their eyes when he said that which led me to believe that he probably talks a lot without really knowing what hes saying.
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i'd want some extraordinary evidence for that claim, otherwise i'd call bullshit
Quod gratis asseritur, gratis negatur
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_reconstitution_inflammatory_syndrome
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Thats right. Hes probably just referring to IRIS and got a few details wrong.
Gee thats an interesting fellow. Only HIV+ one year and already the covermodel and multiple tattoos?
Well, give him the benefit of the doubt. Also, dumb but cute gets points. Is he cute? ;D
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_reconstitution_inflammatory_syndrome
As someone who has had IRIS, I can assure you that it's not caused by too many cd4 cells. I had probably somewhere between fifteen and fifty when I experienced IRIS.
But it *might* be what the person in the support group was referencing, albeit incorrectly and without an understanding of the mechanisms by which the immune system functions.
It's always disheartening to hear people not only remain ignorant of the virus they have and the pills they take to treat it, but somehow develop an unwarranted arrogance insofar as "teaching" others.
The scientific method, sadly, is in decline in the US. At least outside dedicated university level education. This makes all HIV prevention harder, perpetuates stigma, and - as illustrated here, creates a frighteningly viral (pardon the pun) ignorance.
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When I was newly diagnosed I went to a support group meeting also. I met this guy and I asked him what HIV medication he took. He didnt know. After a bit of questioning I learned he didnt know that much about his own HIV infection. Some people just aren't that interested.
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I must admit i seemed more knowledgable than half the dudes in there, and man had been attending the group for months! I am an info junkie though and have to know absolutely everything about everything.
ive never heard about IRIS so thats interesting to read about.
unfortunately, this guy is the hottest guy in the group. there is a strict no sex or dating within the group policy anyways. besides i have a feeling that this guy would totally get on my nerves after the lust wore off.
thanks for the info!
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Yeah, IRIS is rough, and it is a great lesson towards not neglecting one's cd4 count or going/staying off meds. A jump-started immune system can be a dangerous beast.
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I constantly meet people at ADAP who have no idea what meds they are taking. It sort of escapes me how people can be that indifferent to something that personally serious.
unfortunately, this guy is the hottest guy in the group.
Yeah. We figured that out way up in the OP at the "I noticed one guy in particular" part. Had a feeling it wasn't his outspoken nature that drew you in.
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I constantly meet people at ADAP who have no idea what meds they are taking. It sort of escapes me how people can be that indifferent to something that personally serious.
I've been amazed at how people in my state are not only unaware of what meds they are on; but the ones using ADAP have been indifferent to the waiting list and whether the state was even going to continue funding the program for anyone. ::) Even if ADAP assistance allowed someone to remain healthy with meds and they were able to stay employed, you'd think a demonstration at the state capital (a chance to make your voice heard during budgeting) would be worth calling in one day sick to make sure your access to meds remained for another year.
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Here is an interesting link to The Body web site from a 2001 inquiry about too many T-cells where the person was HIV positive and also had Lymphoma:
http://www.thebody.com/Forums/AIDS/Cancer/Q45412.html