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Author Topic: Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated  (Read 5403 times)

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Offline AlHub

  • New Member
  • Posts: 2
Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated
« on: May 03, 2012, 11:55:21 am »
My Dad was put in the hospital and blood work came back that he was + and had a CD4 count of less than 200. A scary time for our family as he has been married to my mother for 20yrs. My mom however is negative. I have really no knowledge on the virus other than the basics. Can someone full me in on after my dad gets out of the hospital, how he will be? Will he be able to resume working? He just started Atripla. Also what do I need to know and pass on to my family members about to virus. All in all we are pretty shocked as nobody saw this coming. Any and all responses will be greatly appreciated. Educate me!

Offline Hellraiser

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,155
  • Semi-misanthropic
Re: Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated
« Reply #1 on: May 03, 2012, 12:05:41 pm »
There is far too much information for any one of us to relay to you here.  However there at the top you'll see treatment and a sub heading called lessons which is a good jumping off point for your education.  If your dad is now on treatment his CD4 will begin to climb and his Viral Load will begun to drop which is what we want to happen.  A beginning cd4 of 20 is not good but a lot of us started with double digits are lower and we're still here.  Right now he'll just need time to heal.

Offline Blue75

  • Member
  • Posts: 53
Re: Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated
« Reply #2 on: May 03, 2012, 08:36:07 pm »
Hi AlHub,

Take a deep breath.  This is a big shock, I know.  I can relate to your mom as my husband of 15 yrs recently found he was pos 3 months ago, and thankfully, I am negative.  I can completely relate to the situation. 

Here's what you need to know right now...it is NOT a death sentence with medication and it is manageable with the meds.  What also makes me feel better is that many people relate HIV to Diabetes (which my father did have).  Your Dad will get out of the hospital, his cd4's will rise, his viral load will go down and he will go back to work.

You and your family does not need to worry about contracting HIV regarding every day living.  You do not have to worry about that.  If he gets a cut, he needs to put a bandaid on.  Make sure that none of his blood comes into contact with someone else's open wound or eyes.  I keep a ton of bandaids, alcohol swabs, rubber gloves, and lysol cleaning wipes to clean up in that case.  Other than that, don't worry about getting infected.  You can still drink after him, use the same toilet, eat the food he makes, everything.  Your mom, will need to use condom protection when having sex and all will be okay.

Check out the learning about HIV on this site.  Take care and keep loving him and supporting him.  Also, let him be the one to disclose to family members that don't know. 

Blue

Husband:
2/14/12 Tested HIV+
3/16/12: CD4-216, VL-56,500
5/4/12: Started Atripla
5/7/12: CD4-184, VL-12,000 (Taken off Atripla after 3 days, awaiting liver testing) Started antibiotics.

Offline AlHub

  • New Member
  • Posts: 2
Re: Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated
« Reply #3 on: May 03, 2012, 11:14:22 pm »
Thanks Blue, it helps to know that other people have go ethrough the same thing. Just want things to get back to normal but I know it takes time. You could have left the part out about my parents having sex. Lol thanks again!

Offline SouthSam7

  • Member
  • Posts: 428
Re: Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated
« Reply #4 on: May 03, 2012, 11:52:59 pm »
Dear Friend,

I was diagnosed with lower cd4 than your father (mine was 188).  I'm confident he will get better.  He's lucky to have a son like you! 

Come back to aidsmeds.com and forums.poz.com.  This is where I learned most of what I know about HIV.

Sincerely,

Sam

Offline Blue75

  • Member
  • Posts: 53
Re: Dad just tested Positive, I need to be educated
« Reply #5 on: May 04, 2012, 12:21:58 am »
Sorry Buddy! But, you did ask & mom is most vulnerable so...gotta keep ma healthy! Sorry, I did contemplate that but you are here asking questions & concerns wanting to learn, that is the biggest risk in you're family based on your post. Trust me, as awkward as it is for you to hear, they need each other.
Husband:
2/14/12 Tested HIV+
3/16/12: CD4-216, VL-56,500
5/4/12: Started Atripla
5/7/12: CD4-184, VL-12,000 (Taken off Atripla after 3 days, awaiting liver testing) Started antibiotics.

 


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