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Author Topic: Life in South Africa  (Read 4638 times)

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Offline Lee2222

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Life in South Africa
« on: July 03, 2008, 10:01:15 am »
Hi Everybody,

I'm from South Africa, and I'm a black 29yrs old and POZ.

I was dignosed on 02 June 2000 and by then life was just tough. I didn't have any medical insurance and I though that was the end of my world.

I didn't tell my family and still don't know cause they are people that normally stigmatize people. My sister would be so excited if she knew about and my Mom would have a heart attack as she is not litterate enough about the subject she still thinks that POZ people have got a life sentence.

I was started my meds in Oct 2006 (Combivir & Stocrin) I'm currently on (Combivir & Kalectra) CD4 -384 Viral Load is Undetectable.

I met someone 2yrs ago and last year he proposed and we getting married next yr Mar he is POZ Negative. He knows my situation and respect my decision for not telling my family. We moved in together last Nov and we are planning our wedding and to have kids.

I'm very happy that I'm so lucky to have all this.

I'm glad to have found this site as it is very informative

Offline dixieman

  • Member
  • Posts: 889
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #1 on: July 03, 2008, 10:34:54 am »
I'm glad everything is working out for you... I think everyone whether they live in Asia, Africa, North & South America, Europe etc... all have the same stigma being placed on them from a disease that is caused by a virus from its nature of mainly being transmitted sexually... so much miss-information, leaves so many people vunerable to contracting this disease. I just wanted to say hello and give you encouraging words... its going tobe a tough fight but, with proper medical, love and guidence from your new found love its not impossible. You and yourself alone can beat this stigma placed by others and have a wonderful, healthy long life!  sincerely, John

Offline chipsir

  • Member
  • Posts: 15
  • Latest Pic
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2008, 10:49:48 am »
What encouraging news, I am very happy for you, today to find love is a real accomplishment, good luck.  Your story also makes me appreciate what I have and how lucky I am to have treatment readily available.  HIV/AIDS has its own unique problems and it just shows how strong each of us can be in the face of such adversity.  I too have never told my mother because she is old and the shock would do her more harm than not knowing the truth.  Good luck to both of you may you have a long and healthy life.
Hugzzzzzzzzz Dennis
Dennis

Offline John2038

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,529
  • Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
    • HIV Research News (Twitter)
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2008, 12:33:00 pm »
Hi Lee2222,

Warm welcome !
Hopes to read you soon.  ;)

Cheers,
John



Offline rondrond

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,729
  • 22 years HIV+ yet a yard could be the death of me
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #4 on: July 03, 2008, 12:39:40 pm »
Hi Lee,

welcome,
ronnie
"I'm not done yet"....Glen Campbell

"I may not be exactly where I want to be, but I sure as Hell am not where I was"
Wynnona Judd

Diagnosed/HIV
1993
AZT
Norvir
1994-2001
Crixivan/Epivir/Zerit
No Meds for 7 Years

04jul07/DVT-right leg/Bi Lateral PE's     
16oct08/DVT-left leg
Aug09 Diagnosed: COPD

05may2015
Un-detectable
Tcells 700
44%

Offline YaKaMein

  • Member
  • Posts: 368
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #5 on: July 03, 2008, 01:40:07 pm »
Lee,
Welcome to the forums. Glad you're doing well.  -YaKa
09/11 Endocrine Consult
08/11 CD4 328 14.9% VL 0
 Disc'd Bactrim DEXA -3.1 Tscore
03/11 CD4 338 14.7% VL 0
11/10 CD4 300 14.3% VL 0 <20copies
07/10 CD4 336 14.0% VL 0 DEXA -2.7 Tscore
03/10 CD4 308 13.4% VL 0 Vit D normal
01/10 Began FOTO
11/09 CD4 274 13.7% VL 0 Chol 173 Trig 131
07/09 CD4 324 13.5% VL 0 DEXA -3.1 Tscore lumbar
03/09 CD4 207 10.9% VL 0
11/08 CD4 227 10.3% VL 0 Chol 176 Trig 156
04/08 CD4 228 9.5% VL 0
01/08 CD4 194 9.0% VL 0
09/07 CD4 176 8.3% VL 0
03/07 CD4 130 9.5% VL 0 Chol 261  Trig 227
12/06 CD4 109 6.4% VL 0
09/06 CD4  88 5.5% VL und desens'd rtd to Bactrim
08/06  Began Atripla
07/06 CD4  59 5.0% VL 145 Chol 117 Trig 104
06/06  Bactrim rash, X2 Dapsone
 EFV & Truvada Chol 128 Trig 131
05/06 CD4  6 (2.0%) VL 78667 only V179D mutation Dx PC MAC

Offline Peter Staley

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,338
  • Founder & Advisory Editor, AIDSmeds.com
    • AIDSmeds.com
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #6 on: July 03, 2008, 06:01:50 pm »
Lee -- welcome to our forums.  I'm glad you found us!

I'm friends with Zackie Achmat, the founder of TAC in S.A., whom I'm sure you've heard of.  Activists like Zackie have successfully pushed to make treatment more available in SA, and I'm glad to hear you're on treatment and doing well.

Congrats on the upcoming wedding!  I'm looking forward to getting to know you here.

Peter Staley
Founder
AIDSmeds.com

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #7 on: July 03, 2008, 06:40:48 pm »
Hi Lee, just wanted to welcome you to the forums.  I'm assuming since you said you're seeing a man, want to get married and have kids, you're female.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.  Anyway, we have a wonderful women's part of this forum.  Please consider joining us.  We're really a good lot.  Hope to hear more from ya!
  Luv,
Betty
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline Lee2222

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2008, 03:40:13 am »
Thank you so much for the warm welcome.  ;D

Life in South Africa at the momentsis pretty bad especially if you poor and poverty stricken. Please don't get me wrong South Africa is a great country to live in, but only if you working, have a car, have a house and are able to maintain them cause we are facing economic crisis as the interest rate are very high and petrol is quite high as well.

People have to drive to get their medicines and public transport is not reliable at all. In the rural areas, people are struggling to get to the clinics or hospitals to get their meds. :(

I must say I'm one of the fortunate people. I have a car, a house and a stable job that paying well. And my med are being paid for by my medical insurance.

The other thing that pisses me off is young girls in my country who deliberately get the virus to receive a government grant and are refusing to get meds cause you only get a grant if your CD4 count is less than 250, and you are consided to have AIDS  ???.

I wouldn't dream of getting terminally ill, life is just to good to get sick  ;)

I'm just happy that there are people like Zackie Achmat to advise the public not endanger their lives for government grants

Offline Lee2222

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: Life in South Africa
« Reply #9 on: July 04, 2008, 03:48:02 am »
An oh, happy independence day to all of you in the States. :)

 


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