So sooo confused!!.. pls i want to hear what everyone thinks..

[hope88]

Hi,

I just found out 2 days ago that my brother has Aids. Apparently he was saying that he knew since 2013 but hid it to everyone even to his partner, His partner only just found out 2 weeks ago and not everyone in my family including my mom knows about his illness. He has been in and out of hospital for about a year now and the whole time we were made believe that he had tuberculosis and all sort of infections but nothing about Aids. Today he is in a private hospital again as he is now very thin, skin and bones and is feeding thru nasal tube (milk only until he can tolerate solid food) not walking, wears nappy. Before he was taken to the hospital 2 days ago he wasn't talking and was becoming deaf but know he is talking again and can hear better and looking a bit better again. The doctor said his aids or hiv? Is now stage 4 but he is fighting so there are chances and he also said that if he is strong enough and if his body can tolerate they can finally start him on hiv medications (as far as I/We know he was never treated for his aids/hiv but only for tuberculosis, I don't think he ever had any meds for aids). The thing is being in a 3rd world country and without any help from the gov we are not sure how long we can support his hospitalization and medication financially. We r not sure how long he has to stay in hospital for to get stronger and we r not sure whether once he goes back home again he'd be better not need to go back to hospital again, he's been in and out of hosp and he'd get better and eat again and then few days later very weak again. We r poor, my mum said she is willing to sell our house to support him but that's the only thing we have, my whole family including nieces and nephews live there. Where would they go. I love my brother but I don't wanna lose my brother and lose our house and be living in debts. Am I over reacting? Am I worrying about things that may turn up completely opposite to what I'm thinking?

[intaglio]

You have every right to be concerned about your brother, your family and yourself. Keep in mind AIDS is a spectrum diagnosis, not an automatic terminal condition any more. While your brother is struggling at this time, he has a good chance to reverse his condition and get better.

Take everything one step at a time.

Your brother needs to be stronger to be able to start whatever medical regimen the doctors prescribe. Once he is on a regimen and responding to it, he can regain his health. So, focus now on supporting your family in this emotional time.

The cost of HIV medicines vary greatly. Even though there is no direct government help, your country may require HIV meds to be available very cheaply. Until it is known what meds will help him, you and your family cannot easily plan how to meet this financial obligation. Your brother's doctors will take the financial burden of these meds into consideration when choosing a regimen for him.

Once his regimen has been effective for some time, your brother may regain the ability to work and help contribute to the cost of his meds. Also there may be meds he will only need until his health rebounds. Your family may only incur financial hardship for a limited time.

If you are willing to post what country in which you reside, others may be able to point out help that is available to your brother and your family due to his diagnosis.

[zach]

google

"name of your country here" aso (aids service organization)

for example

United States aso (aids service organization)

See what you can come up with, make calls

Goal is to get him sitting in front of an infectious disease specialist, and onto medication. Find out what your options are.

Good Luck.