User

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
April 24, 2024, 09:01:39 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Forums Index

Stats

Members
  • Total Members: 37651
  • Latest: Toropi_
Stats
  • Total Posts: 773288
  • Total Topics: 66348
  • Online Today: 795
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 1
Guests: 585
Total: 586

Search

Welcome


Welcome to the POZ Community Forums, a round-the-clock discussion area for people with HIV/AIDS, their friends/family/caregivers, and others concerned about HIV/AIDS.  Click on the links below to browse our various forums; scroll down for a glance at the most recent posts; or join in the conversation yourself by registering on the left side of this page.

Privacy Warning:  Please realize that these forums are open to all, and are fully searchable via Google and other search engines. If you are HIV positive and disclose this in our forums, then it is almost the same thing as telling the whole world (or at least the World Wide Web). If this concerns you, then do not use a username or avatar that are self-identifying in any way. We do not allow the deletion of anything you post in these forums, so think before you post.

  • The information shared in these forums, by moderators and members, is designed to complement, not replace, the relationship between an individual and his/her own physician.

  • All members of these forums are, by default, not considered to be licensed medical providers. If otherwise, users must clearly define themselves as such.

  • Forums members must behave at all times with respect and honesty. Posting guidelines, including time-out and banning policies, have been established by the moderators of these forums. Click here for “Do I Have HIV?” posting guidelines. Click here for posting guidelines pertaining to all other POZ community forums.

  • We ask all forums members to provide references for health/medical/scientific information they provide, when it is not a personal experience being discussed. Please provide hyperlinks with full URLs or full citations of published works not available via the Internet. Additionally, all forums members must post information which are true and correct to their knowledge.

  • Product advertisement—including links; banners; editorial content; and clinical trial, study or survey participation—is strictly prohibited by forums members unless permission has been secured from POZ.

To change forums navigation language settings, click here (members only), Register now

Para cambiar sus preferencias de los foros en español, haz clic aquí (sólo miembros), Regístrate ahora

Finished Reading This? You can collapse this or any other box on this page by clicking the symbol in each box.
« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Introduction  (Read 5275 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline poz1970

  • Member
  • Posts: 482
Introduction
« on: October 25, 2007, 12:09:23 pm »
hi

I've been reading these forums for a few months now, and thought it was about time I did an introduction...

I'm a 37 year old gay male with hiv living in Adelaide, South Australia.  In relative isolation, dealing with depression and agoraphobia.

Long story;

I started off as an 18 year old (in 1988), picked up a 29 year old at the only sauna in town.  Hit it off incredibly, second 'date', he disclosed to me (over the phone) that he was positive... at the time, I knew nothing about hiv... I talked to some friends, and they told me that status didn't really matter, if you love him, you love him... So we shacked up :-D

He volunteered at the local aids council, so I did as well, to be with him...  many years passed, life was great, we were happy in domestic bliss, I was working a good job, keep kept my husband in the lifestyle that he'd like to be accustomed to :-)

About 1995 he had a seizure of some sort.. and thats when the downward spiral started for his health, developing KS's all over, becoming more and more frail,..... I gave up working to look after him, going on a carer's pension.  With his disability pension, and my carer’s pension, we managed to live reasonably.

To cut a long story short, he died in my arms October 28th 1998, at 7:30am (ninth anniversary this weekend, so I'm going out for a drink)...

I got back on with my life, or intended to... met a great man, we bonked like rabits etc... broke up, I went on a bender, and slutfest, and got infected sometime around 2002 or so.  I wasn't diagnosed until July 30th 2004 though, with a cd4 of 27... after a few problems with azt induced neutropenia, we've found a drug regime that hasn't screwed me up too much Ziagen, lamivudine, and viramune.. all twice a day...

So for the last 3 years, I've barely left the house, only on pension day, or when I absolutely have to, I spend my day playing computer games, chatting (on gaydar, lol), and lifting weights..

I started doing something late 2006, registered with the positive living centre here, use their food bank, bill assistance, (and occasionally turning up to one of their weekly Friday lunches)..

I have a cat, who I love dearly, and am seeing the great man again (he has two children that I love dearly, and who call me dad :-D and I smoke like a chimney, having major problems with my lungs :-(

I've had good luck in the respect that my bloods have bounced back pretty well, I'm sitting on 651, with a ratio of 0.88, undetectable.  My main problem lately has been my guts, and the occasional day of absolutely NO energy...

So that’s me!

J
« Last Edit: October 25, 2007, 01:35:12 pm by poz1970 »
Logged
"The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals and 362 admonishments to  heterosexuals. That doesn`t mean that God doesn`t love heterosexuals. It`s just that they need more supervision." -- Lynn Lavne

Offline keyite

  • Member
  • Posts: 514
Re: Introduction
« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2007, 12:52:26 pm »
What a story. Thanks for sharing it. Was very sad to read about the loss of your partner in 98. However, glad to hear your combo is working so well, even taking the gut problem into consideration...
Logged

Offline Iggy

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,434
Re: Introduction
« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2007, 12:52:47 pm »
Glad to read the introduction and belatedly welcoming you to the forums!
Logged

Offline komnaes

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,906
Re: Introduction
« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2007, 01:16:19 pm »
Hi J

Thanks for sharing your story. I don't have anything profound to add but just want to wish you the best of luck with your health that will allow you to pursuit whatever you feel like in life.

Cheers, Shaun
Logged
Aug 07 Diagnosed
Oct 07 CD4=446(19%) Feb 08 CD4=421(19%)
Jun 08 CD4=325(22%) Jul 08 CD4=301(18%)
Sep 08 CD4=257/VL=75,000 Oct 08 CD4=347(16%)
Dec 08 CD4=270(16%)
Jan 09 CD4=246(13%)/VL=10,000
Feb 09 CD4=233(15%)/VL=13,000
Started meds Sustiva/Epzicom
May 09 CD4=333(24%)/VL=650
Aug 09 CD4=346(24%)/VL=UD
Nov 09 CD4=437(26%)/VL=UD
Feb 10 CD4=471(31%)/VL=UD
June 10 CD4=517 (28%)/VL=UD
Sept 10 CD4=687 (31%)/VL=UD
Jan 11 CD4=557 (30%)/VL=UD
April 11 CD4=569 (32%)/VL=UD
Switched to Epizcom, Reyataz and Norvir
(Interrupted for 2 months with only Epizcom & Reyataz)
July 11 CD=520 (28%)/VL=UD
Oct 11 CD=771 (31%)/VL=UD(<30)
April 12 CD=609 (28%)/VL=UD(<20)
Aug 12 CD=657 (29%)/VL=UD(<20)
Dec 12 CD=532 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
May 13 CD=567 (31%)/VL=UD(<20)
Jan 14 CD=521 (21%)/VL=UD(<50)

Offline David_CA

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,246
  • Joined: March 2006
Re: Introduction
« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2007, 01:27:55 pm »
Hey J,

Welcome!  It's good to finally 'meet' you.  Thanks for sharing your story; I'm sure it can be hard to tell sometimes.  Take care.

David
Logged
Black Friday 03-03-2006
03-23-06 CD4 359 @27.4% VL 75,938
06-01-06 CD4 462 @24.3% VL > 100,000
08-15-06 CD4 388 @22.8% VL >  "
10-21-06 CD4 285 @21.9% VL >  "
  Atripla started 12-01-2006
01-08-07 CD4 429 @26.8% VL 1872!
05-08-07 CD4 478 @28.1% VL 740
08-03-07 CD4 509 @31.8% VL 370
11-06-07 CD4 570 @30.0% VL 140
02-21-08 CD4 648 @32.4% VL 600
05-19-08 CD4 695 @33.1% VL < 48 undetectable!
08-21-08 CD4 725 @34.5%
11-11-08 CD4 672 @39.5%
02-11-09 CD4 773 @36.8%
05-11-09 CD4 615 @36.2%
08-19-09 CD4 770 @38.5%
11-19-09 CD4 944 @33.7%
02-17-10 CD4 678 @39.9%  
06-03-10 CD4 768 @34.9%
09-21-10 CD4 685 @40.3%
01-10-11 CD4 908 @36.3%
05-23-11 CD4 846 @36.8% VL 80
02-13-12 CD4 911 @41.4% VL<20
You must be the change you want to see in the world.  Mahatma Gandhi

Offline thunter34

  • Member
  • Posts: 7,374
  • His name is Carl.
Re: Introduction
« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2007, 01:49:54 pm »
Hey, J! 

Thank you for sharing your story here.  I've seen you on here for awhile...nice to get a llittle background on you now.

Glad you are here.
Logged
AIDS isn't for sissies.

Offline LACboi

  • Member
  • Posts: 72
  • AMG member since June 2005
    • FaceBook
Re: Introduction
« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2007, 05:00:39 pm »
Hello poz1970 thanks for the introduction and the story, I'm glad your numbers are good now.

Take care of yourself,

jeremy...
Logged

Offline englishgirl

  • Member
  • Posts: 387
  • ACT NOW TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TRAVEL BAN
Re: Introduction
« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2007, 05:29:01 pm »
hi j,

welcome and thanks for sharing your story. hope your numbers and your relationship continue to be good. hope your energy, depression and other problems improve (and that you give up smoking so your lungs get better!) will be thinking of you on the 28th.

xxxx
Logged
ACT NOW TO CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE TRAVEL BAN:
http://campaigning.tht.org.uk/cms/cmsloader?WfJVLp&view=11,301,1385,0,-html

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=17352.0


"I'm not keen on the idea of the afterlife - not without knowing who else will be there and what the entertainment will be. Personally I'd rather just take a rest." Oscar Berger, PWA: Looking AIDS in the Face, 1996. RIP.

Offline Jody

  • Member
  • Posts: 1,961
Re: Introduction
« Reply #8 on: October 25, 2007, 07:24:06 pm »
Hi J...Welcome, I've always noticed your avatar I might say...Glad you are doing better, keeping a good attitude and stress reduction are keys to better health.  So many of us have stomach issues, I know they are a drag...As Debra says do give up smoking if possible, that will help alot as two major weaknesses of having HIV are respiratory and digestive.

Jody
Logged
"Wake up to find out that you are the eyes of the world".
 "Try to discover that you are the song that the morning brings."

Grateful Dead

Offline GSOgymrat

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,122
  • HIV+ since 1993. Relentlessly gay.
Re: Introduction
« Reply #9 on: October 25, 2007, 11:17:44 pm »
Thanks for sharing your story. I'm very sorry your partner passed away. It sounds like you have been through a lot.
Logged

Offline StrongGuy

  • Member
  • Posts: 492
Re: Introduction
« Reply #10 on: October 26, 2007, 01:48:16 am »
Welcome - and thanks for sharing your story. Look forward to seeing you more around the forums!

:)
Logged
"Get your medical advice from Doctors or medical professionals who you trust and know your history."

"Beware of the fortune teller doom and gloomers who seek to bring you down and are only looking for company, purpose and validation - not your best physical/mental interests."

"You know you all are saying that this is incurable. When the real thing you should be saying is it's not curable at the present time' because as we know, the great strides we've made in medicine." - Elizabeth Edwards

Offline aztecan

  • Member
  • Posts: 5,530
  • 36 years positive, 64 years a pain in the butt
Re: Introduction
« Reply #11 on: October 26, 2007, 10:26:55 am »
Hey J,

Howdy. Thanks for sharing your story with us. I'm glad you've chimed in and that you are here.

HUGS,

Mark
Logged
"May your life preach more loudly than your lips."
~ William Ellery Channing (Unitarian Minister)

Offline AlanBama

  • Member
  • Posts: 3,670
  • Alabama: the 'other' 3rd World Country!
Re: Introduction
« Reply #12 on: October 26, 2007, 10:43:01 am »
Hi J,

Glad you made an introductory post, and welcome to the forums!

hugs,

Alan
Logged
"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

Offline pozattitude

  • Member
  • Posts: 909
  • Enjoy
    • to find out more about me....
Re: Introduction
« Reply #13 on: October 26, 2007, 11:10:46 am »
Hi there J,

Thanks for sharing your story.  Nice to have you with us.


Rich
Logged
POSITIVE PEDALERS... We are a group of people living with HIV/AIDS, eliminating stigma through our positive public example.

Offline bear60

  • Member
  • Posts: 4,105
Re: Introduction
« Reply #14 on: October 26, 2007, 11:29:59 am »
Thanks for posting your introduction. Welcome.
Logged
Poz Bear Type in Philadelphia

Offline Robert

  • Member
  • Posts: 2,658
Re: Introduction
« Reply #15 on: October 26, 2007, 11:34:47 am »
Hi J.

i couldn't help but notice  you lurking around these parts either.  i look at your picture every day and sigh.  You certainly look like you're in good shape.  Thanks for sharing your story.  Over in the Long Term Survivors forum is a thread about our
BIOS that contains some of our life stories.

sorry to hear about the agoraphobia.  I moved from the city to the country because I figured if I wanted to be alone I might as well be isolated as well.  It seems to be working although I'm not sure that is such a good thing. Another not-so-wise decision on my part.  Oh well, that's the story of my life and I'm not regretting it.

Welcome.

robert
Logged
..........

Offline allanq

  • Member
  • Posts: 713
Re: Introduction
« Reply #16 on: October 26, 2007, 11:57:54 am »
Hi J,

You've been through a lot, and I hope the future will be better. Wecome to the forums and good luck to you.

Allan
Logged

Offline Peter6836

  • Member
  • Posts: 391
  • Me and my Granddaughter Noa
Re: Introduction
« Reply #17 on: October 26, 2007, 01:58:02 pm »
Thanks for sharing the type of honesty you have showed takes a lot of courage. Its good to have you here.
Peter
Logged
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »
 

Terms of Membership for these forums
 

© 2024 Smart + Strong. All Rights Reserved.   terms of use and your privacy
Smart + Strong® is a registered trademark of CDM Publishing, LLC.