Received A Letter From the County Health Department

[PositivelyYours]

Hello,

I received a letter Saturday from the County Health Department asking me to give them a call for their is an important health matter that they need to discuss with me.  My question is why are they contacting me? Both my regular practitioner and my ID doctor are private physicians? Did someone recently find out their status and gave them my name as a sexual partner? At any rate, I am aware of my status and is seeing a doctor for it.  I am planning to give the health department a call on tomorrow, but I was just curious and wondered how many of you have received similar letters. Happy Holidays!

PositivelyYours

[allopathicholistic]

I am planning to give the health department a call on tomorrow, but I was just curious and wondered how many of you have received similar letters.

PositivelyYours: "Hold the phone!" ... I would get advice from my ASO and doctors first, then call! Sorry to sound paranoid. My ASO (God bless them) knows all the dirt so of course I call on them first for every issue(and considering they're in New York City, that's alot of dirt to know)

[rkeat25]

I haven't heard of anything like this before.  I would take the advice of allopathicholistic and talk to someone first.  If there's a campaign of some such going on, then surely they would know.  But, HIV infections are reported to the state department of health, so they would already have your name on their list, so to speak.

[Buckmark]

Hi,

It could be what you think it is:  a previous sexual partner of yours recently found
out their status, and gave them your name.  I don't know how many sexual partners you
have had recently, so only you know if this is a possibility.  I think it is important to give them
a call, since it could involve a different STD, other than HIV.  You'd certainly want to know that.

Still, allopath's advice seems prudent here:  Contact your ASO or doctor first.

How cruel that the letter arrives on a weekend, when you have to wait to call the health dept.
I guess there is no good way for them to communicate this information to you, but a letter
seems awfully impersonal.   If you really want to hear about impersonal communications of this
type, check out this story:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4498394

Regards,

Henry

[PositivelyYours]

Thanks guys for your responses, but I do not have an ASO.  Can you tell me more about it?  I do have a regular doctor and an ID doctor, but I am not sure what an ASO is.

PositivelyYours

[Iggy]

.
 

[Tucsonwoody]

My ASO told me I could expect a contact from the county health department regarding my status - that was in October and so far - no contact.  So depending on local/state regulations the reason they may contact you can vary it seems.

[skeebo1969]

    Shortly after I was diagnosed the county health department came to my house.   In my area they generally do this.   He wanted to let me know I was HIV positive and also wanted to know my sexual contacts just so they could be made aware of a possible exposure.   We talked for about an hour in which he gave me phone numbers to various ASO's and he even went so far as to telling me that people with HIV today can live a "normal" life.   I told him I had an ASO already and he even told me he had heard that the ASO had a history of moving slow.....  He was right.   He also told me of various assistance programs that were available.   It was totally for my benefit.  When he left he gave me his card and said if I needed any info to not hesitate to call him.

  It was not persecution deal at all.

[bocker3]

Hi PositivelyYours,

While I see nothing wrong in talking to your doctor or an ASO prior to calling, I'm less inclined than others seem to be in thinking there is something nefarious going on here.
A County Health Dept's primary mission is to look out for the Public's Health -- your status is likely already registered (I believe it could be by name or not -- depending on the state).  I may be less suspicious here because I have a Public Health background (although, not working in it at present because it doesn't pay all that well).
Bottomline -- I wouldn't wait too long to call back -- they may have some very important information for you.  Just remember that when you are talking with them, if you don't like where the conversation is heading, you have the ability to end the call.

Let us know what happens!
Mike

[Coffeechick88]

It looks like you are recently infected.  Usually the health department will call if you come up positive.  So, if you haven't had that call yet, it could be they are just now getting around to calling you.  They'll ask who your sexual partners are and then inform them--I don't know if they would mention you by name, but they would ask those people to get tested.  Or it could be a past sexual partner has come up positive and listed you, but I'd bet the first case is true--the government is very slow to follow anything up.

[RapidRod]

I received a call from the State Health Department, then they sent me a packet. All it was about was getting medical help or assistance if needed. The packet had steps in the process and who to contact and their phone numbers and addresses. I never received anything on the county level.

[David_CA]

I received a similar letter back in March, but not through the mail.  Mine was taped to my front door with "Confidential" stamped in red on front of it and my name written below it.  I'm amazed it didn't blow off the door and lucky some busybody didn't come see what it was.  Mine basically demanded that I contact the State Dept of Health or else.  I don't remember what the 'or else' was, but it really pissed me off.  Good luck with what you find out.

David

[Blixer]

It's been almost a year for me and although I was told to count on a contact from my county health department, it has never happened.  And my positive test was confirmed through the state health department.  Makes you wonder about about follow up and support.  Of course, my experience with the ASOs here in St. Louis has not been very positive.  They told me that I didn't qualify for any services, so good luck and sent me on my way.

Positively Yours, I do know that the Memphis area has a pretty good ASO.  It is called Friends for Life.  They were actually willing to talk to me and help me through some difficult times when the ones in St. Louis wouldn't even talk to me.

[PositivelyYours]

Thanks again everyone!

I will be giving the health department a call tomorrow morning to find out the reason for the letter.  Unfortunately, I was battling a bout with depression and was leading a rather promiscuous life, so some of my sexual partners I did not know their first name let alone their last. I know that was foolish of me, but at the time I did not care.  So I won't be able to give them a list of sexual partners and I have had many before finding out my status. 
Once again, Thank you to everyone and I will let you know the outcome of the situation with the health department.

Much Love,
PositivelyYours

[aupointillimite]

I was diagnosed in Feb 2005 and was told that I would get a call. 

Nope.  No letter, no phone call.  No nothing.

I was told that when you spoke with the public health people, all they wanted was phone numbers and not names. 

Of course, considering how brilliantly bureaucracy functions, they probably just got news of your HIV diagnosis and are now charging over the hill to let you know.

Or it could be something like "you ate at a resto where an employee was found to have hepatitis B."

Incidentally, I found out that I was poz through a blood test that I had to get when I tried to join the Navy.  The letter said "test results indicate a potentially serious condition of a personal nature."  I got that letter on a Friday evening.  On President's Day Weekend.

I feel your pain, dude. 

[thunter34]

Well, if it is any further comfort, I had a great experience talking with my HD rep.  He was very down to earth.  He wanted to offer information assistance, ask a few questions (very politely, and with constant reminders that I was free to reply with a 'no comment') and also offer himself as a contact number for additional support if I should need.  Heck, we even spent another few minutes just chatting about plain old, non-STD fun stuff at the end.  The call went a great distance with me.  It was presented in such a friendly, non-dramatic way that it helped arm me with the extra courage I needed at the time to get in touch with those ASO's & such.  Hope you have the same amount of encouragement.

~+

[Basquo]

I was never contacted.  My first poz test was through my primary doc, and he submitted it anonymously because I was such a basket case.  When I went to see an ID doc, he reran the tests a few times but maybe he didn't report them because I had the poz test from my other doc?

[texasguy]

I had a situation like this.  I had tested confidentially for HIV at my local ASO.  Upon receiving the news that I was positive, I went to my personal doc for lab work.  Two weeks later I arrived home from work to find the "scarlet letter" with Confidential stamped all over it tacked to my apartment door from the county health department.  I called them and they insisted I make an appointment to go see them.  I ignored them for a week, and then they called me at home and at work and were quite insistent!  I was so pissed off at that point that I made the appointment.  It was not a good meeting.  I was still emotional from diagnosis, and let them know that my doctor and I had everything medically under control, he had directed me to all the local  resources I might need, and that I was aware who had infected me with HIV and had contacted that individual, and they were not going to get the names of my sexual partners.  Ever.  This was in Dallas, TX by the way.  A city can can't even pave the damn streets much less get public health right.  Hopefully things will be better in your county.  Just thought I would share my experience.    

[PositivelyYours]

Hello All,

Thanks again for all of your comments.  It was just rather frustrating to come home after a day of Christmas shopping and find this damn letter for the health department.  I was like, What the f**K.  In my mind I was thinking what is it now?  I have already had the worst news in my life given to me on August 10, 2006, so what else could be wrong.  At any rate I will give them a call in the morning and I will let you guys know tomorrow evening what the outcome was, so please look forward to my follow-up post.

I love all of you guys! 

PositivelyYours

[thunter34]

I do have to say...despite my good experience with the phone call to the HD, I was rather, er...nonplussed by the 'Scarlet Letter' part. 


                                                           CONFIDENTIAL !!

                                      Fulton County Health Department


I mean....not the most subtle thing, is it?  Might as well have just said:

                                                                  For Your    Only  !!

[aupointillimite]

God, I love living in the City of Richmond.  They probably have no clue I'm even a resident, much less an HIV+ one...

Richmond: Still Recovering from 1865.
Richmond: More Poorly Run Than a Sprawling Third World City
Richmond: It's Like DC, Except Without Corruption as the Excuse For Why Things Can't Get Done!

It would appear that, for once, civic mismanagement worked out in my favor.   

[Coffeechick88]

I was diagnosed in Feb 2005 and was told that I would get a call. 

Nope.  No letter, no phone call.  No nothing.

I was told that when you spoke with the public health people, all they wanted was phone numbers and not names. 

Of course, considering how brilliantly bureaucracy functions, they probably just got news of your HIV diagnosis and are now charging over the hill to let you know.

Or it could be something like "you ate at a resto where an employee was found to have hepatitis B."

Incidentally, I found out that I was poz through a blood test that I had to get when I tried to join the Navy.  The letter said "test results indicate a potentially serious condition of a personal nature."  I got that letter on a Friday evening.  On President's Day Weekend.

I feel your pain, dude. 

Different states must work different ways.  It might have been 2 months or so later and I had a call from a woman named Monique.  I thought, who the hell is Monique, but she called more than once, so I returned her call.  She didn't really tell me much detail over the phone and asked me to meet her at her office.  When I strolled in, she told me what it was about.  She wanted the names and numbers of all my sex partners because she was going to inform them.  I only had one name to give her and I gave the number and since he was my rapist and had a really really bad reaction when I told him he was HIV positive since I was a virgin and had no other exposures, I remember nervously telling her, 'you aren't going to go to the police are you?'  She said no--they'd just contact him, have him get tested, and give him offers for what services were available.  I am not sure now why it is I gave a crap about him, but anyhow, I still was emotional and everything.  She then asked me who else.  When I said no one else, it was if I had to convince her that no, I didn't have 3000 sexual partners that I had conveniently forgot to mention.  She had a bowl of condoms and offered it to me as if telling me to take a peice of candy.  I declined, since it seemed she didn't believe me and I was in no condition at that time to even think about sex.  So the whole encounter was rather straight forward, but not during the given situation.  Oh and to make things even better (she was located in the same building as Planned Parenthood), I had some idiot ask me if I was getting an abortion.  I felt like punching him, but unfortunately I didn't.  I probably would have gotten assault charges, but oh my it would have been worth it......But 6 years later, I amazed at all the positive changes I have gone through since then.  I feel the pain of anyone newly diagnosed and has to go through that.

[Eldon]

Hello Positively Yours...

It is normal for the County Health Department to contact you concerning a health issue. As the others have mentioned, it is possible that someone of your acquaintance was tested positive and they were asked to give the names and numbers of persons whom they were in contact with sexually. It is to notify you to provide an awareness. Common.

"Don't Give Up, Don't Give In... Cause it is ALL within you to WIN!"

[Queen Tokelove]

The health dept. tracked me down even though I got infected in Miami, I kept getting checked on a regular, so when I came back home, I went to the health dept for the usual std check. I'm usually good about getting test results but for some reason, I must of knew because I wouldn't return their calls so they came to my house.

They didn't hook me up with the ASO though, at the time, I was the only str8 person staying in a 4 apt building, where there was someone who was already poz, so when I found out, I went to him and he told me what to do. Those were some of the best times in my life. Funny, now out of all of us in that building, we are all poz except for my friend Max but his lover has become poz recently. He was suppose to have gotten tested recently but I think he backed out. I need to call him since I'm thinking about it. Sorry to stray...

[PositivelyYours]

Hello Everyone,

Thanks again for all of your responses.  I guess I will soon find out what the letter is all about.  I will keep everyone posted.

PositivelyYours

[David_CA]

I should add that as much as it pissed me off HOW they handled the situation, I'm still glad it happened.  Who knows when I would have found out I was poz?  I most likely would have just found out while in the hospital with PCP.  They could use a bit more tact and a lot more common sense about leaving letters on people's doors.

David

[poet]

I did a quick read through (before coffee, mind you) and didn't notice a note to be careful when you contact the department.  I don't know what your state's laws are, but there are a few in which someone could make a legal claim against you for infecting someone with hiv, hence the wisdom of checking first with your a.s.o. or even GMHC in New York for a referral to make sure that you can't be hit sideways with a surprise.  In short, don't be alarmed unnecessarily, but be informed.

My only letter/notice of this sort in NYC concerned parasites (?) which my id's office didn't see at the bottom of the lab results.  Brilliant, no?  I knew something was wrong with my system.  Then the letter arrived, the purpose of which was to try to pinpoint the source of my picking them up.  That was all they wanted to work with me about.  Win

[ACinKC]

My County Health Department called my house and told my then wife my status!!! I had already moved out, so that was a fun conversation.  So far the totals are:

People I have voluntarily disclosed to: 5
People the County disclosed to for me: 1
People my "support group" disclosed to for god knows why: 25 or so
People my ex felt she needed to tell for HER support: 18 and counting


Why is it that the person that HAS the virus has a smaller frigging support group than the people who DONT!!!!

[Coffeechick88]

That is a good point there poet and one that I think is very wise.  There always is the problem when things are very overwhelming--this type of situation can be the case--and you don't always act with a clear, rational head. That is a good thing to do before you go see them to make sure you  know what to say, etc.  I didn't think of the states that criminilize HIV, some don't even require you prove intent to infect, so that kind of state would be extra bad.

[PositivelyYours]

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to give you an update about the letter I received over the weekend from the County Health Department.  I called this morning and spoke with a very nice lady.  She informed me that the State of Tennessee require doctors, labs, blood banks or anywhere that has received hiv positive blood to notify the health department.  Basically she wanted to know my doctor's name and am I receiving treatment.  She also asked me if I had sex with other men and I told her yes.  She wanted to know the names of anyone that I may have come in contact with.  She also offered to assist me with disclosing information to my mother which I thought was really nice.  Anyways, I wanted to let you guys know and once again THANK YOU ALL for your comments!

PositivelyYours

Hello,

I received a letter Saturday from the County Health Department asking me to give them a call for their is an important health matter that they need to discuss with me.  My question is why are they contacting me? Both my regular practitioner and my ID doctor are private physicians? Did someone recently find out their status and gave them my name as a sexual partner? At any rate, I am aware of my status and is seeing a doctor for it.  I am planning to give the health department a call on tomorrow, but I was just curious and wondered how many of you have received similar letters. Happy Holidays!

PositivelyYours

[aupointillimite]

I'm glad to hear you had a good experience with that!

It's pretty rad she offered to help you with disclosing to your mom.

Huzzah for good experiences with the government!

[Cliff]

Glad it went okay.  From what I remember from my phone call, they seemed more concerned with whether or not I knew my status, was getting treated (or knew about ADAP if I didn't have private health insurance, etc..  All in all, it wasn't that bad of a call.  I can understand why they do it.

[allopathicholistic]

Glad to hear this Nice to be wrong in this instance (me)

[Eldon]

Hey Positivelyyours...


Thanks for the update. That is confirmation of what was shared above.

"Don't Give Up, Don't Give In... Cause it is ALL within you to WIN!"

[BlueJ]

I received my notice as a phone call, with a message asking me to call regarding a "medical emergency."  I was on vacation at my parents house at the time, my BF still back in town.  I tried to return the call, and no answer.  I called my BF, no answer.  At this point panic set in, because the message was so general and generic it left everything up to the imagination.

The health department guy returned my call about 15 minutes later, only after my BF did.  Needless to say I was pissed.  When I went in for the meeting with him he asked for I told him how shitty doing something like that was, and he completely dismissed this because it was the best way he could get people to return his call.  Nice.

[AustinWesley]

Hi,

It could be what you think it is:  a previous sexual partner of yours recently found
out their status, and gave them your name.  I don't know how many sexual partners you
have had recently, so only you know if this is a possibility.  I think it is important to give them
a call, since it could involve a different STD, other than HIV.  You'd certainly want to know that.

Still, allopath's advice seems prudent here:  Contact your ASO or doctor first.

How cruel that the letter arrives on a weekend, when you have to wait to call the health dept.
I guess there is no good way for them to communicate this information to you, but a letter
seems awfully impersonal.   If you really want to hear about impersonal communications of this
type, check out this story:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4498394

Regards,

Henry

I think Henry has good advice here.   This happened to me about a month ago only I received an "email'   I thought it was junk email and by the time I opened the 2nd one I was sort of stunned from the nasty dialogue.   So, I gave them a call to see what all the drama was about.   The gal on the phone didn't want to give me the details, but wanted me to come in for some testing.   I told her to forget it unless she told me what was going on.  Anyways, I finally get out of her that someone has given my name to them who apparently tested positive syphilis.   Well, I knew there was no way I could have contracted it, but those people will hound you till you go in for the tests.   

Here's what pissed me off.   I made an appointment at the place and they charged me $15 bucks for the deal.   What is up with that?   Anyways, like I told em I didn't have syphilis and I am certain I know the idiot who gave them my name.   Mostly, this was just a headache and a waste of time for me.  But I think that bunch at this testing site is fairly dysfunctional and unorganized.     While I was walking the halls of shame I saw two other guys come in who didn't have the $15 and were turned away after this crew had contacted them.   

Anyways, I got all off track here, but if you are HIV+ the state already has you on their list.   I think all doctors are legally required to report it although I'm sure some docs aren't.   I don't see what the big deal is?