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Author Topic: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?  (Read 27006 times)

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Offline Ann

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #50 on: June 27, 2007, 08:50:41 am »

I fully stand by the viewpoint I stated earlier:
As long as HIV+ folk continue to live in fear because of their HIV+ status, we continue to help perpetuate the very stigma that we find abhorrent, whether we mean to or not. And in developed countries especially, if we are not prepared to be a part of that change we wish to see, then we really have no place complaining about the stigma.


We hide because we have to - and we have to because we hide. It's a vicious cycle, one only we have the power to break.

Ann
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Offline Bucko

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #51 on: June 27, 2007, 01:11:05 pm »
I guess this would be another thread, but in France it's illegal to not help someone that is "in danger". This is subject to interpretation, but you could, if you follow the law, sue someone that is heavily bleeding and you're not seeking help for the person. I don't know if other countries have this in their laws. But let's see i'm bleeding and I disclose that I'm HIV+, and the person runs away and doesn't call for help, it is grounds for suing. Of course, "in danger" is always subject to interpretation...

Milker.

Milkie-
I was gonna bring this up because it shows a cultural trait specific to those who were raised/lived in France, where such things are taken very seriously indeed. I know of no state here that criminalizes non-assistance to those in danger, except as regards children.

This does not mean that Americans are any less considerate of someone bleeding in the streets. But with no laws dictating such action and the propensity for litigious action so ubiquious here I'd bet many would think twice before attempting anything more than dialing 911.

Brent
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Offline Central79

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #52 on: June 27, 2007, 03:47:03 pm »
Milkie-
I was gonna bring this up because it shows a cultural trait specific to those who were raised/lived in France, where such things are taken very seriously indeed.

I think that's more of a European thing, although I know it's codified in law in France, as it is incidentally in the US: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Samaritan_law.

I think it's a situation anywhere where the law is a framework for a civil society, instead of a mechanism of bashing people over the head with, which seems to happen in the US. If the law penalises people for going out of their way, why bother? Otherwise, it's just natural.

On my first trip to the US I went with my family to Busch Gardens. An elderly gentleman slipped and fell over, banging his head and passing out. My dad (a cop) and mum (a nurse) were helping this guy, but all the people rushing in and helping out were European tourists. Even the park's own EMTs wouldn't put their hands on him when they got there.

I'm a big fan of the US, and the people I met there who have become friends - people generous with their time, energy and affection. It really must take something quite punative and systemic for citizens to worry so much about helping out somebody clearly in need.

Matt.
Diagnosed January 2006
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Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #53 on: June 27, 2007, 05:10:31 pm »
Matt,

I agree, when you see cases like this: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-03-23-samaritan-accident_N.htm why bother trying to help? Even if the person that tried to help did it the wrong way, at least she tried and blaming her for this doesn't give incentive to other potential good samaritans.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

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Offline bearby

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #54 on: June 27, 2007, 05:51:41 pm »
I myself have no problem with a person rendering aide to me know of my poz status .
 Now I say that because for  our 17th anniversary my dad bear ( partner ) & I went to a local  flea market & there was a man that made id tags ) in the military style  and they are now worn around my neck mainly because he bought them for me as an anniversary present but to also let those rendering aide of my status because I had one single stainless steel tag designate me as hiv poz ( which had to be done two times because the guy doing it thought that it was pos not poz ) .
 NOW this designated dog tag saved me a bit of time this year when I slipped down a flight of stairs at a hotel and ended up in the hospital unconscious of course and having said  dog tag let them know right up front that when I came to that I'd need meds therefore when I did come to I was given them in accordance with dr's orders which saved me a lot of time trying to explain because they knew of my status right off the bat and didn't have to take blood nor have to ascertain my status from me .
Have you preformed your random act of kindness today ?

Offline Catman

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #55 on: June 27, 2007, 09:42:52 pm »
  Years ago I was hospitalized because of pancreatitis. One nurse drew blood samples and I bled a little when she removed the needle. It was a rare occasion because I usually never bleed like this. She didn't have gloves on and cleaned the blood with an alcohol pad. I told her to wash her hands quickly because you never know when a patient could be hiv positive. She smiled and washed her hands using the sink in the room. I liked the way she accepted my comment and she knew I was right. I would do it again if I had too but thank God I'm not prone to scraps and cuts...or bleeding.
Catman

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Offline ubotts

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #56 on: June 28, 2007, 12:21:24 am »
I was at home when i had an Smith attack..so my lover called the ems and when they came to my home, i let them know i was hiv pos.
Well, these guys were shaking in there boots..They tried to put an IV in my arm
and couldnt suceed..They made me a bloody mess and got it all over my white
couch..There so ignorant. I couldnt believe it..Anyway i got to the hopital and it was taken care of..
Another time, I went to a hopsital in NJ Brick hospital..and the nurse never bother to read my folder...So when she took blood from me without gloves,
i told her to use them..She was making a mess of my veins and there was blood
dripping all over...When i suggested that she use gloves, she responded, Hon,
ive been doing this for years, and i can feel a vein better without gloves..
Then i said isnt it procedure no matter what to wear gloves, especially since iam
hiv positive and have hep C as well..OMG..you should of seen her go into a panic mode....I told her to get some bleach and wash her hands..She was scared because she had paper cuts on the tip of her fingers....She ran around like
a chicken without a head..How could these heath care workers and nurses be
so dumb as to not wear gloves when its now mandatory..........Guess she learned her lesson, thats for sure.. :o Any way, i would and do tell hospital staff
my condition..When it comes to friends, and iam bleeding, I say, dont worry i got
it..Do u have bandaids and peroxide and i go into there bathroom and take care of it myself without saying a word to some friends..So you see, it all depends on
the situation.....Some people dont have to know, only if your going to have sex or they want to fix your booboo..Capessh? ;D
Live Love Laugh and dance like no ones watching.
Laughter is the best medicine, so try to have a laugh everyday..Even if your not feeling your best, think about something that was funny at one time in your life and work with it..   :o)

Offline madbrain

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Re: If you are at an orgy, do you tell ?
« Reply #57 on: June 28, 2007, 04:30:34 am »
No one is talking or asking about STDs, and several people start sucking your cock ... Do you tell ? ;-) ?

Offline lifechanging2007

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #58 on: June 28, 2007, 08:24:19 am »
well i envy you all,

for me disclosing is not an option. i live in lebanon and this subject is such a taboo. and once anyone knows you can say everyone will eventually. I really hope that i won't have to be in this situation
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Offline cayucosguy

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #59 on: June 28, 2007, 03:19:10 pm »
Like Camille07 I always carry latex gloves with me (one pair in my backpack, multiple pairs in each vehicle I have access to) simply because I have run into this situation before.
Disclosure isn't a problem for me.  I am the HIV/AIDS education counselor for my District of California State Parks, and everyone from the Superintendent of Parks to a newly hired Park Aid knows that I am positive.
Just yesterday, I cut my arm while crawling under a co-workers desk (get your mind outta the gutter  :D ) to connect all the cables for a new computer, and she got blood on her arm while trying to assist me.  Thankfully, everyone I work with has been well educated (yeah, I will pat myself on the back for this!) and all necessary cleaning, etc. took place immediately.
The local ambulance and fire companies have my medical history, as well as each of the three hospitals in the county where I live.  Whenever there is a med change, they get that information as well.
For me, personally, not disclosing to any-and-every one would seem like I'm trying to keep others' uneducated about how this virus really works.
Just my two cents.

Offline Bucko

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #60 on: June 28, 2007, 03:59:27 pm »
I was at home when i had an Smith attack..so my lover called the ems and when they came to my home, i let them know i was hiv pos.
Well, these guys were shaking in there boots..They tried to put an IV in my arm
and couldnt suceed..They made me a bloody mess and got it all over my white
couch..There so ignorant. I couldnt believe it..Anyway i got to the hopital and it was taken care of..
Another time, I went to a hopsital in NJ Brick hospital..and the nurse never bother to read my folder...So when she took blood from me without gloves,
i told her to use them..She was making a mess of my veins and there was blood
dripping all over...When i suggested that she use gloves, she responded, Hon,
ive been doing this for years, and i can feel a vein better without gloves..
Then i said isnt it procedure no matter what to wear gloves, especially since iam
hiv positive and have hep C as well..OMG..you should of seen her go into a panic mode....I told her to get some bleach and wash her hands..She was scared because she had paper cuts on the tip of her fingers....She ran around like
a chicken without a head..How could these heath care workers and nurses be
so dumb as to not wear gloves when its now mandatory..........Guess she learned her lesson, thats for sure.. :o Any way, i would and do tell hospital staff
my condition..When it comes to friends, and iam bleeding, I say, dont worry i got
it..Do u have bandaids and peroxide and i go into there bathroom and take care of it myself without saying a word to some friends..So you see, it all depends on
the situation.....Some people dont have to know, only if your going to have sex or they want to fix your booboo..Capessh? ;D

This is the kind of scenario that haunts the Am I Infected forum. The skin protects against HIV infection, even with "small cuts". The risk to the nurse here was HepC, not HIV.

Brent
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Blessed with brains, talent and gorgeous tits.

Blathering on AIDSmeds since 2005, provocative from birth

Offline RapidRod

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Re: If you are at an orgy, do you tell ?
« Reply #61 on: June 28, 2007, 04:32:35 pm »
No one is talking or asking about STDs, and several people start sucking your cock ... Do you tell ? ;-) ?


I don't see what this has to do with thread.

ubotts, I never use a gloved hand to palpate a vein to start an IV. As for EMT's being ignorant, I hardly think so with all the training they go through and unless you've started an IV on someone outside a medical setting then I don't think I would knock them, but rather be thankful you have someone that can arrive in emergencies and get you to the appropriate care. 

Offline kellyspoppi

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #62 on: June 29, 2007, 10:09:00 pm »
milker, i read this thread and have 2 stories to tell, one where i disclosed, one where i didn't. you make the call.

in the first situation, it goes back to the night when my fiance passed away. i don't talk about this night much, but since you brought up this thread, it seems appropriate.

my fiance had been treated for a cancerous tumor on her lung, and since she had gone through lupus before we met, where she was transfused 250 times to keep her alive, her blood was no longer capable of coagulating(sp?).

the docs wanted to do a biopsy of her lung to see what was what, but when they got in there she bled so badley, they couldn't see where the tumor was positioned. so they stopped the test and proceeded to give her radiation to where they thought it was.

after 8 weeks of radiation, xrays showed the tumor to be dissolved. however, what they didn't know was that the tumor had attached itself to the pulminary artery and was slowly deteriorating the artery wall.

the night she died, she sat up, gave one big cough, the artery wall burst and she started bleeding out.

sorry for the graphics folks, but to explain the situation i was in, you needed to know just how bad this was. it was 11:30 at night, my front door was bolted shut,  and here i am waiting for paramedics to arrive, sitting on the kitchen floor with her in my lap, not knowing what was happening, trying hard to keep her nose clear of blood so she can breath, and the doorbell starts ringing. so i leave her laying there to open the door, on the kitchen floor in a puddle of blood,  and the paramedics run in and get ready to start working on her with no gloves.

her hair was short and was wet from having just taken a bath. so as they approached her without gloves, i said  "don't touch the blood". the paramedics took one look at her and said "whats the boys name?"

joanne was small framed and quite frail after all the radiation and interferon treatments.
but in no way was she a boy. obviously they got my message though. they immediately put on gloves and a cop wisked me off to my bedroom where we got down on our knees and prayed for her survival. it was definitely a time i had to disclose, back in 1989. but it was also sad to learn that that was their immediate reaction. i wonder if times have changed at all?

a few years later i was managing my sons baseball team. while coaching third base, one of my players slide into the bag and when he stood up, he had a bunch of blood on his knee. i immediately began to wet my fingers to wipe away the blood to see how bad the cut was. after the game i became frightened by what i might have done to this young boy. this was in 1990 when the info was still scarse about how you could spread hiv.

i remember racing home that night and trying frantically to reach my hiv doctor to see if i could have passed the virus onto this boy. i can honestly say that until that answer was given to me, i would have never told his parents. back then i could see every parent pulling their kid from my team, no doubt.

an incidence that was prevelant for many years before hospitals began using universal precautions, was the number of times i went in for my blood work and the person taking it wouldn't be wearing gloves. i would have to whisper in their ear, get some gloves on please. i hated having to do that.

thanks for allowing me an opportunity to share.

kellyspoppi


Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #63 on: June 29, 2007, 10:17:52 pm »
Thank you for sharing your story, kp.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline kellyspoppi

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #64 on: June 29, 2007, 10:33:12 pm »
 ;D :D

ps. melia

you go girl. my sentiments exactly.

i have been living with hiv for 22 years and this virus has been around for a few more years than that. stgma and i are not friends allies more.

for you newbies, i understand you need time to get comfortable around your new status, but unfortunately, we LTS's have done nothing to help reduce it so that it should no longer be an issue for you newly infecteds.

i am with melia when it comes to stigma and i have made it my personal mission to disclose whenever i can to help reduce what should have been done a long time ago.

one question for you all. how long must you live with a life threatening illness, fearing to disclose, before it begins to piss you off? hasn't enough time and valid information been put out there where folks should know better than to treat you like shit? isn't it time for hiv/aids to be as melia has stated, like cancer, ms, als, etc, etc. where is the mystery?
are we not just as guilty of leading this country to believe we have something dirty?
when is this crap going to end?

enough is enough!

kp

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #65 on: June 29, 2007, 10:49:56 pm »
one question for you all. how long must you live with a life threatening illness, fearing to disclose, before it begins to piss you off? hasn't enough time and valid information been put out there where folks should know better than to treat you like shit? isn't it time for hiv/aids to be as melia has stated, like cancer, ms, als, etc, etc. where is the mystery?

KP,

Your 100th post in this place is indeed an outstanding one and you pose an excellent question, which I've quoted above.

I hope that Milker, Carolann and a number of other members pay close attention to the contributions that you and Miss Melia have made in this thread.

MtD

Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #66 on: June 29, 2007, 11:16:37 pm »
Matty,

I also believe this was a powerful post, and this is why I thanked kp for it. Remember that I have been diagnosed mid-february it's been only 4 months, and although the questions of disclosures having extensively discussed in here and other forums, one may sometimes need personal answers to those questions. You have been through this a long time ago and you may have enough of this, I can understand that, I already have enough of it myself.

I could wear a HIV+ tshirt and maybe that would make my life easier. I don't like living with a secret that I can't share with everyone, trust me. But as of today, being HIV+ is still viewed as a horrible infectious disease that most people who have it just deserve. I, alone, cannot educate the world, so I have to adapt to the world, and do what I can to have it to understand that i'm not a potential murderer. This is only possible to a certain extent, I cannot get the world to embrace me as a normal individual who happens to have what was just few years ago a lethal disease, and still is for many unfortunate people.

I'm getting there, reading the answers so that I can weigh my options. Those forums have already helped me a lot. And yes, I'm sure I'll have more questions, and I'm sure many members will welcome those questions and give me and others answers based on their valuable experiences.

Milker.

/edited because link to tshirt didn't seem to work/
« Last Edit: June 29, 2007, 11:19:02 pm by milker »
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline Matty the Damned

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #67 on: June 30, 2007, 12:09:51 am »
Le sigh.

I don't like living with a secret that I can't share with everyone, trust me. But as of today, being HIV+ is still viewed as a horrible infectious disease that most people who have it just deserve. I, alone, cannot educate the world, so I have to adapt to the world, and do what I can to have it to understand that i'm not a potential murderer. This is only possible to a certain extent, I cannot get the world to embrace me as a normal individual who happens to have what was just few years ago a lethal disease, and still is for many unfortunate people.

It's always about what you can't do, isn't it? "I can't do this", "I can't say that", "I'm not this", "I'm not that." You don't like gay pride, it makes you feel "icky". You don't like meeting people because you're shy.

All of a sudden the mask over your face makes a whole lot of sense. I'd be ashamed of myself too if I shared your mindset.

You say you can't share your secret with everyone, presumably because you're frightened of negative consequences as a result of disclosing. You're scared you'll lose something. The funny thing is you live your life in such fear you wouldn't have great deal to lose if you did disclose to everyone.

Frightened lives are empty ones.

But that's cool. You don't have to disclose. The world will continue to turn and the fight against AIDS will progress without you. We don't need you to help us educate the world. You just go on asking the same question over and over. By all means reap the benefits and advances that other people have fought for whilst you hide away because you're scared.

It's all good.

MtD

Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #68 on: June 30, 2007, 12:16:37 am »
Not everyone can be as powerful as you are, Matty. I have my weaknesses, I need to whine and get comfort. I'm just human. Thanks for your support.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

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Offline ubotts

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Re: If you are at an orgy, do you tell ?
« Reply #69 on: June 30, 2007, 01:13:36 am »
I don't see what this has to do with thread.

ubotts, I never use a gloved hand to palpate a vein to start an IV. As for EMT's being ignorant, I hardly think so with all the training they go through and unless you've started an IV on someone outside a medical setting then I don't think I would knock them, but rather be thankful you have someone that can arrive in emergencies and get you to the appropriate care. 
 

You dont seem to understand..Some of the workers here are not educated as they should be on how to handle someone who is hiv with hep c.. I dont care how long
you have been an ems worker , staff nurse or whatever..All should use latex gloves
when drawing bloods..I dont care if they find my veins better without gloves..thats
crap..Its mandatory for all to protect themselves..and they still dont..Iam trying not
to spread the disease to a ems worker or a staff nurse..I dont care how long they worked in hospitals..they dont know everything there is to know about being hiv or having hep c..In my opinion and what i actually went though was horrendous and unbelievable that medical workers are not informed as they should be about the spread of hiv n hep c..Iam thankful that they tried to help, but very nervous that they
were trying to work on me while shaking in there boots..They should be more educated in this area..In nyc..drs knew better, but i find here in NJ, there not to savvy on this entire topic.. >:(  P.s. this was outside of a medical facility..
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Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #70 on: June 30, 2007, 01:26:54 am »
I think what Rapid was saying is that the risk of infection via skin is extremely low (Rapid please correct me if I'm wrong), so that nurses and EMTs may not always wear gloves, especially when it comes to drawing blood. I wouldn't be surprised that wearing latex gloves all day bother nurses, and that trying to find a vein is easier to do without gloves. I'm not an EMT, so I don't know. But if a nurse draws blood without gloves I won't make a fuss of it. He or She has been trained and knows what he or she is doing.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

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Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #71 on: June 30, 2007, 01:32:51 am »
That reminds me of something.. I had spots all over my body, due to syphilis. I go to the doctor and I have this nurse taking my blood pressure. After taking my blood pressure she asks "so why are you there?" i show her my arm, covered with red spots, and say "for this". She says "oops, I shouldn't have tested your blood pressure". Did she communicate this oops to her supervisor? I doub it. Did she sterilize the blood pressure material? I doubt it.

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline RapidRod

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #72 on: June 30, 2007, 07:19:15 am »
Milker, why would she need to sterilize the B/P cuff for syphilis? Syphlis is a sexually transmitted disease that is not contracted by skin to skin transmission like Herpies.

Offline kellyspoppi

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #73 on: June 30, 2007, 08:04:48 am »
milker and matty,

thanks for your positive comments.

about a month ago, i posted that i had finally disclosed to my employer. this was no small matter. for 22 years i lived this secret when it came to upper management with the insurance carrier i have been employed with for nearly 33 years.

back in 1989, when my dad was diagnosed with lou gehrigs disease, he had planned on retiring that year. his large book of business was to be rolled over into my book of business. however, i doubt seriously, had management known of my hiv status then, that they would have rewarded me my dads book, contemplating my death would be sooner, rather than later.

so i withheld this information from them, choosing to believe that, were they to know my status, they wouldn't follow through with the planned rollover.

i also was involved in a family court dispute with my x-wife over custody of our son. again, i withheld my staus from the court & my x, choosing to believe they would never, back then, believe i would live long enough, and more importantly, nor risk placing my son with me with such a dangerous incurable disease, and with little known yet on how the virus was spread.

that was then, but this is now. as i answered all the questions this reporter for the company newspaper asked me, i felt liberated, to say the least. when we discussed disclosure, and why it had taken me so long to do so, i reminded her that stigma still exists for many living with this disease.

this reporter appeared to be quite young from our conversation (20 to 30), and when i mentioned the stigma issue, she said something to the effect, "everyone knows enough about how you can get hiv now. why should that still be an issue? my friends aren't fearful of those with hiv.  we understand how it can be spread"

which leads me back to melia's original post in this thread, and why i wrote what i posted, in response. are we just as guilty of perpetuating this stigma issue? if we continue to hide behind stigma like some kind of security blanket, aren't we allowing society to continue to treat us like we have something dirty?

if more and more poz's came forth with their stories, especially hetero's, we could become leaders in stopping the spread of aids, by reminding society that aids is spreading more rapidly in our female population, our youth, and even our senior citizens these days.
 
my wife and i go into high schools, colleges, and nursing/social worker class rooms to try to unveil the truth about hiv. we remind them that hiv lives in their community, amongst their parents friends, insurance agents, coaches, neighbors etc, etc. this is the way we feel we can help stop the spread of this disease, by putting a different face on it, like regan and the other women when they appeared on oprah.

it is like the old slogan from world aids day, not so long ago, "hiv stops with me.". 

i realize it takes courage to overcome what has been out there for far too long. we need to take back control of our lives if we are ever to end stigma.

that is my mission, and i hope others will begin to join me in this effort.

kellyspoppi

 

Offline Ann

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #74 on: June 30, 2007, 08:37:41 am »
Milker, why would she need to sterilize the B/P cuff for syphilis? Syphlis is a sexually transmitted disease that is not contracted by skin to skin transmission like Herpies.

While syphilis would not be transmitted from an environmental surface (such as the BP cuff) it IS transmitted through skin to skin contact, when that contact is with the lesions of primary syphilis or the rash of secondary syphilis. This is why condoms are not 100% effective against syphilis, because the lesions or rash are not always covered by the condom.

Just wanted to clarify that.

Ann
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Offline Iggy

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #75 on: June 30, 2007, 11:42:36 am »
My intention is to always disclose but frankly I'm not gonna get a false sense of bravado here and claim that I would always tell.

Yes with EMT and medical professions - I would always tell - not just for their safety but for mine. 

As for a person on the street helping me?  I just don't know.  If I had a bike accident and was bleeding and I had a crowd of people helping me and someone just wrapped my arm or whatever in bandages then - No.  Frankly it's not relevant in my opinion, and there is no reason for me to make a mass announcement.  If It was a bloodier situation and I had someone doing something a little more involved with helping me - then I guess I would, but I kind of question exactly what kind of scenarios this would entail as I think there is a lot of hyperbole going on in this discussion about such scenarios.

Also, I read a few posts here about us needing to get over stigma, but I think we need to remember that includes our own self imposed sense of stigma and the need to sometimes overcompensate for it.  I guess in my mind getting over the stigma also means realizing oneself that having HIV may not be relevant enough in the situation to announce your status.


Offline milker

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #76 on: June 30, 2007, 12:29:44 pm »
Milker, why would she need to sterilize the B/P cuff for syphilis? Syphlis is a sexually transmitted disease that is not contracted by skin to skin transmission like Herpies.

Hi Rapid,

nothing to do with syphilis, but rather do to with the fact that this was a unknown rash. She said she's not supposed to use a b/p cuff in case of a rash, because that rash may be contagious. I didn't know what it was at that time, otherwise I would have gladly said: "don't worry it's only syphilis" :D

Milker.
mid-dec: stupid ass
mid-jan: seroconversion
mid-feb: poz
mar 07: cd4 432 (35%) vl 54000
may 07: cd4 399 (28%) vl 27760
jul 07: cd4 403 (26%) vl 99241
oct 07: cd4 353 (24%) vl 29993
jan 08: cd4 332 (26%) vl 33308
mar 08: cd4 392 (23%) vl 75548
jun 08: cd4 325 (27%) vl 45880
oct 08: cd4 197 (20%) vl 154000 <== aids diagnosis
nov 2 08 start Atripla
nov 30 08: cd4 478 (23%) vl 1880 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
feb 19 09: cd4 398 (24%) vl 430 getting there!
apr 23 09: cd4 604 (29%) vl 50 woohoo :D :D
jul 30 09: cd4 512 (29%) vl undetectable :D :D
may 27 10: cd4 655 (32%) vl undetectable :D :D

Now accepting applications from blowjob ninjas™

Offline RapidRod

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #77 on: June 30, 2007, 12:47:28 pm »
In all the time I was on the department, the only time a b/p cuff was washed, was if it got soaked in blood. I'm not saying we didn't spray antimicrobial sprays every now and then. I remember in the beginning of HIV we use to clean out all unecessary items out of the squad and tape sheets up on the walls before transporting (SOP). On active TB patients, we just put a mask on them. Just think of what a little bit of knowledge through the years has changed. Hell if they weren't sick enough, we sure scared the hell out of them.

Offline ubotts

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #78 on: July 01, 2007, 11:39:22 am »
Rapidrod..The last line u wrote made me smile, Its so true...
Live Love Laugh and dance like no ones watching.
Laughter is the best medicine, so try to have a laugh everyday..Even if your not feeling your best, think about something that was funny at one time in your life and work with it..   :o)

Offline pozredbear

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #79 on: July 27, 2007, 08:59:43 pm »
absolutely, i went in for a heart cath and one of the nurses had a (thank god) scabbed over cut on her finger and they had to pull out a bad IV line to start a new one and she got some blood on it, i was not too worried except for her. turns out she was fine. but yes i always tell, it is just wrong not to and potentially endanger someone elses life, I have been poz for 14 years now and cannot imagine not telling. thanks for reading hope it helped, bearmanron1 @ aol. com

Offline Queen Tokelove

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Re: If you bleed, do you tell? At emergency, do you tell?
« Reply #80 on: July 27, 2007, 09:17:11 pm »
Hmmm, I don't know how I missed this thread. I would disclose to people in a hosptial/ER. I would definitely disclose to someone trying to help me. I know that sounds weird coming from me because I do not usually disclose. But in a situation such as a bystander trying to help, well that would leave me no choice but to because I would not want to risk infecting them. As far as getting blood drawn well the lab I go to knows what I am there for and would think they would figure out that I am poz. Also, they are familiar with my ID doctor, his name is well known. I don't worry about a tech not wearing gloves, like I said they know what I am getting drawn for, if it doesn't bother them then why should it bother me....Just saying...
Started Atripla/Ziagen on 9/13/07.
10/31/07 CD4-265 VL- undetectable
2/6/08 CD4- 401 VL- undetectable
5/7/08 CD4- 705 VL- undetectable
6/4/08 CD4- 775 VL- undetectable
8/6/08 CD4- 805 VL- undetectable
11/13/08 CD4- 774 VL--undetectable
2/4/09  CD4- 484  VL- 18,000 (2 months off meds)
3/3/09---Starting Back on Meds---
4/27/09 CD4- 664 VL-- undetectable
6/17/09 CD4- 438 VL- 439
8/09 CD4- 404 VL- 1,600
01-22-10-- CD4- 525 VL- 59,000
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