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Author Topic: I need some support  (Read 9215 times)

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Offline 4feet11inches_of_fun

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
I need some support
« on: August 22, 2006, 02:47:43 pm »
I'm an attractive, somewhat well adjusted female in the DC Metro area. I was diagnosed about a year and half ago. It took me being hospitalized with PCP(Pneumonia) to find out. I, like many, was scared to get tested. I knew that I had put myself in some not so wise positions...no pun intended.
I've told a few friends and family members but have not disclosed my status to everyone.  Everyone who does know, has been very supportive of me.  I'm not quite sure why I haven't told everyone. I think it has alot to do with the stigma that is attached to this disease.  I would like to be able to be honest and not feel shame. I did not ask for this.
I feel like I wanna share my story with others so that I can either help them prevent ending up in the situation that I'm in or help them to cope with it. I'm sure I'm NOT alone in this. I'm not really sure how true the stats are. But I do know that there's a great many black women in DC who are going through what I'm going through. I know that in order to help others, I have to start by helping myself. My diagnosis has affected me socially as well as mentally. I dont have a support group.   Chardonnay is my support. Can anyone direct me to any support groups in DC?

Offline Ann

  • Administrator
  • Member
  • Posts: 28,134
  • It just is, OK?
    • Num is sum qui mentiar tibi?
Re: I need some support
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2006, 07:13:54 pm »
Hi 4'11", welcome to the forum.

I've moved your thread from the Activism Forum to the Living Forum where you'll get more replies. Now that you've found us, you don't have to feel so alone anymore. I don't know anything about support in the DC area, but I'm sure someone here will be able to point you in the right direction.

If you haven't already, please check out the Welcome Thread at the top of this forum. In it you'll find links to other sections of this website, like the Lessons and the drug info. Feel free to come back to the forums to ask any questions you may have and of course feel free to come here to vent. We're like a family around here and you're most welcome to stick around and make some friends.

Hope to hear more from you soon,
Ann
Condoms are a girl's best friend

Condom and Lube Info  

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Offline angels4kelly

  • Member
  • Posts: 305
  • IT JUST IS!!.....OKAY!
Re: I need some support
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2006, 08:14:53 pm »
Hi 4'11", ;D
I'm happy you found these forums!
I swear I felt so alone, not lonely, but alone when I first came here!
This place is simply awesome and so is everyone here.
I no longer feel alone...REALLY!!!
Everyone here has just made the biggest difference in my life.
Even in the short time I've been coming here.
I have no doubt my Higher Power led me here ;D

I really hope you'll stick around and see what I mean.
IT VERY WELL COULD BE MAGIC...LOL

Peace,
Kelly
POSITIVE SINCE-10/1990
CD4-610
CD4%-29.3
VL-UNDETECTABLE
VIREAD,VIRACEPT, EPZICOM

MOST RECENT...
10/9/2006
CD4's-714
CD4%-30%
VL-Undetectable
DIAGNOSES POSITIVE 10/90
SAME MEDS, VIREAD, VIRAMUNE, EPZICOM.

SHOOT FOR THE MOON! YOU MAY MISS,
BUT YOU'LL LAND IN THE STARS :)

Knowing others is intelligence;
knowing yourself is true wisdom.
Mastering others is strength;
mastering yourself is true power.
 
Failure is not in falling down,
but the staying down

Offline Life

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,389
  • Member 2005
Re: I need some support
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2006, 08:26:15 pm »
Hello 5ft! (rounding)

Welcome to the forums here...  Disclosure is something everyone does in their own good time, on your terms and not someone Else's.  Take your time, but know that a support circle around you is a great thing to have and will help you move out of that cocoon.   One sure way is developing friendships right here and testing the waters.   As far as support groups, I found mine thru the ASO (Aids Service Organization) in my area.  Certainly DC will have a bunch of these groups for you to interact with... I had to laugh a bit about the Chardonnay quip.  I wish I had that option, but I don't, I get what I need right here...   Hope to here more from you in due time...

Love

Offline LatinAlexander

  • Member
  • Posts: 599
  • Bogota, Colombia
Re: I need some support
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2006, 10:29:46 pm »
Hello HOTTIE!! :D

WELCOME!!!!!... You ARE NOT ALONE. I am happy you found us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all here have been trought some very nasty times. I was so shocked about the news of my diagnosis (barely a month ago). .But My God put this awesome place on my way. And I have found a lot of support, on all this people, who has walked this path already.

Chardonnay..pretty classy :)

FEEL A STRONG HUG FROM MY HEART, WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU FEEL!!!! (I just disclosed to my friend number 4)

ALEX
Poz since Jul 19 2006
Initial numbers : CD4-250 VL 3500
First labs after HAART (Dec 04-2006) : CD4-432 VL-<40 (Undetectable)  cd4%=25.11%
Started HAART: Combivir+Efavirenz Aug 26 7:38 pm
Feb 08 2007 - Gradually stopping HAART cause of Myalgia. Protecting Efavirenz. Stopped Efavirenz, ahead with Combivir....
February 17 Combivir stopped.
April 3 -07 : Started ddi+3tc+efavirenz...
Gay and positive (What a lack of Identity...:) )
Looking for my Ben....

Offline Teresa

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,755
Re: I need some support
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2006, 10:32:49 pm »
Hey there 4'11"

WELCOME!!

Glad you found us. There are a great group of people here.

Hugs
Teresa
Hubby HIV+ 5/5/06
CD4:320
  %: 26.7
 VL: <20
Atripla (started it 8/24/06)

Offline Eldon

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,664
Re: I need some support
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2006, 11:48:52 pm »
Hello 4'11", it is Eldon. I wish to extend to you a warm WELCOME from the forum family. Here you will find love, encouragement, support, understanding, fun, and many of your questions answered relating to HIV/AIDS. Take a deep breath, I was in search of a support group in the past, and I found this site! This site has a lot of information and a great group of people here.

As for your situation in DC, I searched under: www.dogpile.com and I entered a search under "HIV/AIDS support group Washington, DC. Lo and behold I found a site that will help you out tremendously. It is: http://www.aidsindc.org/supportgroups.php.

There are a number of questions that you may have running through your head right now. Feel free to come back and post any questions that you may have.

Again, Welcome!

Offline joemutt

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,167
Re: I need some support
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2006, 01:40:16 am »
Hi 4'11", welcome, this place is much better company than chardonnay and none of the hang overs ;) Be Well, Joe

Offline frenchpat

  • Member
  • Posts: 519
  • Love your friends, don't eat them.
Re: I need some support
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2006, 02:07:49 am »
Bonjour 411,

and a very warm welcome to this truly amazing place. I am glad you foud us quickly, it makes a difference to have support, specialy at the beginning. Take your time and get comfy, this is like a home away from home (and sometimes better than home :D)

Pat
People have the power - Patti Smith

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: I need some support
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2006, 07:13:38 am »
4'11",

Welcome! We have many diminuitive members so you'll fit right in.

Fondly,

6'4" :P

Offline jkinatl2

  • Member
  • Posts: 6,007
  • Doo. Dah. Dipp-ity.
Re: I need some support
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2006, 10:29:07 am »
Holy cow, Matty. You're.... like a person... but bigger.

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

-Kimberly Page-Shafer, PhD, MPH

Welcome Thread

Offline Christine

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,069
Re: I need some support
« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2006, 06:02:18 pm »
Hi 4'11"!

Like the others have said, you are no longer alone. We are here to help! 

Disclosure is a very personal thing. Do what feels right in your heart.

I'm glad you found us!
Christine
Poz since '93. Currently on Procrit, Azithromax, Pentamidine, Valcyte, Levothyroxine, Zoloft, Epzicom, Prezista, Viread, Norvir, and GS-9137 study drug. As needed: Trazodone, Atavan, Diflucan, Zofran, Hydrocodone, Octreotide

5/30/07 t-cells 9; vl 275,000

Offline Matty the Damned

  • Member
  • Posts: 12,277
  • Antipodean in every sense of the word
Re: I need some support
« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2006, 07:18:14 pm »
Holy cow, Matty. You're.... like a person... but bigger.


Hello down there! ;)

MtD

Offline Still_me

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
Re: I need some support
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2006, 10:46:15 pm »
Welcome 4'11",

There are times that I feel alone too. I feel like the few people that I have told really don't understand me/my situation. Thats when I find myself here... reading other people's thought/concerns. This is where I come for reassurance...

Just as you... I know that I am not the only black women that has been diagnosed. It has been 2 1/2 years. However, just as alot of others, I walk around silent. Recently I have found myself sharing it with more people... my family still don't know... but I can tell stangers. {that's progess!!!  ;)}

Anyway... You'll become more comfortable as time goes on. And you will know who to tell and who not to. I follow my gut instints... they are usually right.

And remember... we are always here!!

-dana
Dana

Offline Rightbrain

  • Member
  • Posts: 54
Re: I need some support
« Reply #14 on: August 24, 2006, 12:11:57 am »
Welcome to you 4'11".  You'll find the family here has a wealth of information. 

HUGS

brother joe
If there's a cure I hope I can have all the leftover Sustiva.

Offline kcmetroman

  • Member
  • Posts: 567
Re: I need some support
« Reply #15 on: August 24, 2006, 09:32:12 am »
Hey 411, welcome, and if you want information, 411 is a great start!

Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: I need some support
« Reply #16 on: August 24, 2006, 10:06:48 am »
Hey 4'11"

Just wanted to welcome you here. This is a great place to find support, encouragement and an eclectic group of people who, through happenstance, have become one big, international family.

Glad you found us. I hope you find this place as great as I do.

HUGS,

Mark
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline franfrog

  • Member
  • Posts: 238
Re: I need some support
« Reply #17 on: August 24, 2006, 04:37:59 pm »
Hello 4'11".  I too was diagnosed about a year and a half ago when I landed in the hospital with PCP.  I spent a month in the hospital and have been doing very well since.  Support is a big factor in all of this and you will defenitly receive it here. 
I am sorry I can not give you any support in the DC area, but hopefully you will find most of what you need here also.  Good luck!
7/05 diagnosis cd4- 52 vl -?
08/05 cd4-299 vl-1900
10/05 cd4-249 vl-349
12/05 cd4-349 vl-52
03/06 cd4-454 vl-<50
06/06 cd4-508 vl-<50

 


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