Diving into this headfirst!!!

[ALH300]

Well I am officially a new number for the CDC to calculate! Infected sometime in 11-06, had a pretty wicked secroconversion in 12/06, fever for a week(101 to 103) , chills, a slight rash, and fireworks coming out of my ass!
Just though it was the flu, lost about 15 pounds!!  That was the only good thing to come out of the whole deal. Never occured to me that I might have HIV, got better in a week or two, then I decided to start dieting and tried to lose more weight, went from 235 to 205 in six months. DUH eating once a day and basically starving myself, really good for someone with HIV!!!
Began searching on the internet because I was having some funky shit happening to my mouth, found a website that had a pic of OHL on it and it looked like what I had!!! I freaked, bought a at home HIV test, sent it in and waited, couldn't wait any longer so I went to the nearest testing center, did two oral tests, both Positive!
They sent in another test for a comfimatory test, had to wait another week but in the meantime my at home test came back positive...then the WB came back postive. Well so here I am 31 years old married with 2 kids. I had already explained to my wife what was going on and she got tested and is neg so far, and our kids are neg!!!!! THANK GOD!!!
Its been pretty weird so far but it gets better everyday, I still think about it everday! Lucky for me I was able to open up to my wife, mom, step-dad, and mother and father in law! Thats has been a huge help they are very supportive!! I am now eating three meals a day, taking vitamins and trying to stop the dreaded "S" word(smoking!!!!) I have really found a great tasting juice too!!! POMEGRANATE, it tatse really good on the rocks with vodka!!!
So now I am kind of in limbo mentally, I have never got really deperessed about having HIV but my first numbers weren't the best they are starting to eat away at me! I know everyne says don't get to worried about your first set, So I am gonna sit back and go with the flow and stay POSITIVE(LOL).  I just secroconverted in December so I expect my numbers will bounce around for a while.
Well I just want to say this forum rocks and the website rocks!! Everyone seems to be pretty cool in this forum!!!
I look forward to meeting and talking to you all!!!


BTW......Anyone from Iowa? LOL

[milker]

Hello ALH,

well with all those exclamation points and LOLs you seem to be in a good mood for now ! You're lucky to have been able to get this off your chest to your family and that they are supportive, this is a big step. But they have to understand that this is not just an announcement, but rather a beginning, they will have to go through blood test results and possibly meds with you, so they have to be prepared for this too.

The first few months are strange, to say the least, you get a set of numbers that you can't really analyze, you have to wait and see, it can be dreadful sometimes, but overtime it gets better

I am glad you found the forums, and as you already know, many people on here are available to answer your questions.

So welcome to the forums

Milker.

[ALH300]

Thanks Milker!  I have outweighed the good and bad about this, and yes it will probably suck at times but other times will be good. Were all gonna more than likely get sick at some point in our lives, and face it we are all gonna die! I am not gonna let having HIV ruin my life....it might change it but sometime change is for the better right? I have a greater appreciation for all the things I have taken for granted all these years....family , friends, my health....etc. I am pretty sure I would rather have HIV then be paralyzed and in a wheelchair the rest of my life. Stay cool!!

[EricMPLS]

would anyone actually admit they're from Iowa?   

j/k --- I'm originally from the Decorah area (far northeast Iowa), though I long ago escaped to Minneapolis.

I'm not really in a position to be offering advice to anyone else, but I think you said it best...  go with the flow and stay positive... err... optimistic :-p

[Bucko]

They sent in another test for a comfimatory test, had to wait another week but in the meantime my at home test came back positive...then the WB came back postive. Well so here I am 31 years old married with 2 kids. I had already explained to my wife what was going on and she got tested and is neg so far, and our kids are neg!!!!! THANK GOD!!!

ALH-

You sound chipper and upbeat, which is a good thing. Try to keep a balance and let yourself feel the lows, too. They are an important part of living with HIV long-term.

I'm relieved about the wife...but the kids? You do understand that you pose no risk to them whatsoever, right? Casual contact cannot lead to infection, including patching up nicks and scrapes with a kiss. Please don't let your status effect your relationship with the most important people in your life.

Brent
(Who has almost no exposure to children, ever)

[Andy Velez]

Welcome, ALH. Glad you have found your way to our site.

It's also good to read that you have had supportive responses from your family.

You're right -- there will be ups and downs both emotionally and physically. You're always welcome here to discuss anything that's on your mind or to ask questions.

Here (and elsewhere) go at the pace you're comfortable with.

Cheers,

[ALH300]

Bucko,
Thanks for the post! I was worried about our kids because our youngest was breast feeding at the time I was infected and if my wife got infected there was a chance for him to get it.

[megasept]

would anyone actually admit they're from Iowa?   

j/k --- I'm originally from the Decorah area (far northeast Iowa), though I long ago escaped to Minneapolis.

I'm not really in a position to be offering advice to anyone else, but I think you said it best...  go with the flow and stay positive... err... optimistic :-p

Why aren't you in a position to offer advice? I am an old-infected guy. Though your humility is a nice quality...Maybe a "new" or younger person could be the most help to another newly-diagnosed.

   -megasept