POZ Community Forums

Main Forums => Someone I Care About Has HIV => Topic started by: taylourmade21 on September 03, 2018, 06:14:30 pm

Title: My closest sibling may be HIV pos, looking for guidance
Post by: taylourmade21 on September 03, 2018, 06:14:30 pm

Recently my sibling informed me that they have been drinking heavily, daily, for the course of the summer. One night while my sibling is drunk they tell me that they are HIV positive and that they are going to die not being able to see their young children graduate. My sibling proceeded to say that they have tried to see someone however they are now viewed different or labeled because of the stigma, and they cannot afford the medications. My sibling tells me that they are drunk simply because they don’t want to think or feel or know...
The next day my sibling tells me that they don’t know what happened the night before, I give the recap and then my sibling tells me that they don’t know for sure if they have HIV, and deflects the conversation by saying they would harm the ex-lover that would have transmitted it.
I simply informed my sibling that I love them, and I will always be here to advocate and live with them regardless of HIV. I don’t know if my sibling has HIV or if they will tell me anything else, but if they are HIV positive and come to me, I want to be prepared to offer guidance, support, and assistance in anyway I can.
I am seeking information about paying for HIV treatment, or personal experiences with struggling to pay for medications, as I believe this is a real concern for my sibling.

Title: Re: My closest sibling may be HIV pos, looking for guidance
Post by: Ptrk3 on September 03, 2018, 06:29:50 pm

If your sibling is unsure as to he or she is HIV-positive, he or she should first test for HIV-antibodies.  That is the only way to know.  All other speculation is a waste of time and energy.

If your sibling is, indeed, HIV-positive, there are numerous assistance-programs potentially available, depending on financial circumstances and geographic location.

Perusing this board may give you some ideas:

https://forums.poz.com/index.php?board=27.0

You could also google your location and HIV-programs, which may provide you with more local information.

Title: Re: My closest sibling may be HIV pos, looking for guidance
Post by: 0134580 on November 21, 2018, 09:51:12 am

In my city our local health departments covers the costs