want to connect

[diya2014]

hi all,
Am new here and am HIV negative but concerned and generally interested in reading up on everything that i get about HIV. I have loads of questions and doubts to ask u all but i really dont know if this is the right forum or should i move in to some other forum ?
am a female,indian,30years old and a school teacher plus also a freelancer in a neighborhood newspaper.
hoping to connect with you all.
thank you and looking forward.

[Jeff G]

hi all,
Am new here and am HIV negative but concerned and generally interested in reading up on everything that i get about HIV. I have loads of questions and doubts to ask u all but i really dont know if this is the right forum or should i move in to some other forum ?
am a female,indian,30years old and a school teacher plus also a freelancer in a neighborhood newspaper.
hoping to connect with you all.
thank you and looking forward.

If you have questions about HIV transmission or if you think you have had a risk you can ask your questions in AM I INFECTED . If you are here to learn about HIV there is a wealth of information on this site for you to read .

If there is a person in your life that has HIV the Someone one I care about forum is the place to post . We do not allow HIV negative people to post in any other areas of the forum than the ones I mentioned . Thanks .

[diya2014]

Hi Jeff,
i do have a colleague and good friend of mine who is HIV positive(Thats one of the reasons i read up on HIV a lot,although i have always been concerned about this issue)Nobody except me and her mum know about it. She is a divorcee with a kid who is lucky not to get it,although she wasnt on ARTsduring delivery (she wasnt poz at that time)and exclusively breastfed.(thats when her hub gave her the HIV and they broke up. She knew it only aft she had breastfed for 8months. She is naturally verylean(cant blame it on HIV)But she has been getting some bad acne which is bothering her.Is it due to  HIV or jus stress?Also,her cd4 count is above 700 but she wants to start it early so that it never drops down-is that okay?or are the side effects not worth it when you are keeping good health??

[Jeff G]

Hi Jeff,
i do have a colleague and good friend of mine who is HIV positive(Thats one of the reasons i read up on HIV a lot,although i have always been concerned about this issue)Nobody except me and her mum know about it. She is a divorcee with a kid who is lucky not to get it,although she wasnt on ARTsduring delivery (she wasnt poz at that time)and exclusively breastfed.(thats when her hub gave her the HIV and they broke up. She knew it only aft she had breastfed for 8months. She is naturally verylean(cant blame it on HIV)But she has been getting some bad acne which is bothering her.Is it due to  HIV or jus stress?Also,her cd4 count is above 700 but she wants to start it early so that it never drops down-is that okay?or are the side effects not worth it when you are keeping good health??

If she has access to meds is ready for the lifetime commitment of taking meds everyday then its her choice . Side effects vary from one individual to the next but if a person needs the meds then its important to take them faithfully and work with your doctor to pick the combo that is best for you .

Why not suggest she join the site so that she can get the support she needs from like minded people going through the same things .   

[diya2014]

You are right and that makes sense But she has this hitch about opening up that she is HIV positive and talking about stuff.Maybe her inborn shyness plus the indian culture((There is more stigma in this part of the world,defenitely)Am amazed to see people in POZ absolutely comfortable in their skins and leading a very very normal and happy life.She needs to be in here.I shal try to convince her.

[zach]

the decision to disclose or not is an intensely personal one. i regret ever telling anyone, even the ones that don't have some kind of irrational reaction. it's also been my experience that everyone you tell, tells two people, and it grows exponentially beyond ones control.

[diya2014]

Hi zach,
Thats coz many people still treat HIV as scandal or gossip material and cant keep it to themselves,when confided upon :(but communities like these are good outlets for venting out.
How has life been with you,healthwise?Do antiretrovirals take a toll on you?or is it that everybody responds differently?

[zach]

the why of stigma doesn't affect its existence. its all semantics. it is what it is.

not good when i was diagnosed. there are many different drug regimens, side effects vary among patients and drugs.

[diya2014]

I did read most of your posts,especially about the ignorance in your family regarding HIV transmission and also those posts where you had meticulously jotted down all the criteria so well.It seems so easy to avoid oneself from getting infected but at the same time,people continue to get infected in large numbers.i guess its just the moment and the wrong judgement.Can happen to ANYBODY anytime and if people realise that,then all this hue and cry over HIV will end..
With respect to what you said about antiretrovirals,how do HIV infected kids go through it?i gues s the journey must be tougher for them.

[diya2014]

Hi Jeff and others,
This website is a wealth of information and i have read through quite a lot but i still have a few doubts.I hope this is the right forum to address those doubts.
Does breastmilk really transmit HIV from mother to child?it is listed as one of the sources of transmission everywhere but i read an article here abs Hpout breastmilk havin a particular element that stops HIV from binding to the cells,So what is the truth? My own friend is HiV positive but the kid isnt,inspite of being breastfed.
Does Pre cum have enough potential to transmit Hiv?Is there anybody who has been infected by precum?
How did the woman-woman transmission happen in texas when there is absolutely no possibility?
Why is it that some women or men remain Hiv negative inspite of their spouses being positive?Even without usage of truvada or condoms?surprising
i am sorry for such a long questionnaire but would just likd to know.
Thank you so much.

[diya2014]

Oops i should have posted this in the only two forums that iam allowed to but what i have posted now is not relevant to either of them..sorry!

[Jeff G]

Diya ... I have to ask, are you HIV positive and that is why you keep asking these questions ?

Please only post in this one thread or forum . Thanks .

[diya2014]

No Jeff,Iam not HIV positive..These are just general questions.i am sorry if i gave you that impression.