POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: PeteNYNJ on December 03, 2006, 08:54:00 pm
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With so many people dropping out of these forums, I figure it is us to us newbies to post more. So, I will try to do my part. In the past, I mostly came on here to ask a question but didnt really share much about who I am.
Well, my name is Pete. I am 31 and live in West New York, NJ (yes, it is a real town). It is about 2 miles west of NYC (duh). I work for a retail company headquarters located in Times Square. I tested poz a little of a year ago and am adjusting pretty well. I have my occasional Why Me? but I get over myself real quick.
Anywho - I went on a lovely vacation to Virgin Gorda (British Virgin Island) for my friend Michele's wedding. The place was paradise. The second night I had quite a fall due to no lighting , wooded area, and a couple too many cocktails. I was carrying some empty beer bottles back to the villa we were staying in and managed to land on one that went through my left forearm. It was pretty bad. I lost a lot of blood trying to get back to the villa but found the healthcare on the Island to be very good (for a very small island). Plus, yeah British healthcare almost all of it was free. I paid 80 all together which included an ambulance ride, calling a doctor in at 1am to stitch me, valium and vicodin shots, painkillers and antibiotics, plus follow up care. Those in the states know that even with insurance this could run you a few hundred bucks.
One thing that kinda sucked is I had to disclose to a lot of people I am aquainted with (we were there with 25 friends - mostly the bride and groom). I had to tell because I bled so much and was afraid someone would try cleaning it up without the proper precautions. Everyone turned out to be really great and I waited until after the wedding to tell the bride since she would be upset on her big day. It is amazing in times of crisis how quickly people can come together as a group even though they barely know each other. By the end of the tirp I felt I made many new friends.
I was also prould of myself for not letting my injury ruin my good time in paradise. Sure, I wish I could have snorkled more and stuff, but there are other times for that. I also learned that disclosing even when you dont want to and in the worst situation (blood product), people are reasonable and caring. Well, at least these people were.
Ok, enough babbling. The new pic I put on my profile is me on a sunset cruise - not my lovely bandage in the lower right hand corner.
All my best
Pete
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Hello Pete! Nice to meet you and learn a bit more about you. I tested positive 11 months ago. Sounds like you are making lots of progress on things and that is so great! Keep posting and sharing with us.
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hey Pete, thanks for posting. Interesting little trip you had!
Paul
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I was also prould of myself for not letting my injury ruin my good time in paradise. Sure, I wish I could have snorkled more and stuff, but there are other times for that. I also learned that disclosing even when you dont want to and in the worst situation (blood product), people are reasonable and caring. Well, at least these people were.
I had a bloody nose shortly after my diagnosis, and it was at that point that I realized I was a biohazard to all of my friends. Good for you for not stealing the drama at the wedding. :) btw, yer kinda cute.
-joseph
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Hi Pete,
That is a tale to tell, however queasy I am after all the talk of glass and blood... yeesh! Glad to know you made it back!
Bests,
Drew
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Hi Pete!
Thank you for sharing with us. It is good to know you just as wel.
Happy Holidays!
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joeseph
I had an earbleed (because I tried to shave the hair off my ear before a party..dont ask, but everyone waycool about it, almost overly cool) My friends Kim and Kenia tended to the ear but not before they made a big announcement about how important is was to always use rubber gloves with everyone. Their husbands were fine with me swimming in the pool, but only after they somewhow researched that chlorine kills HIV. MY friends super smart husband asked "why don't you just drink chlorine?" "uh, because it will kill HIV and Me at the same time?"
Anyway, thanks for reading and the compliment but kinda cute always rubs me the wrong way. You are cute, boarding on very cute
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AWWW.. :)
*DON'T LOOK AT ME*
Everyday is so wonderfull....
LOL
Actually, it was an out for me. So, in case you were an asshole, I could rescind the whole "cute" statement, and tell you what a dickwad you were. But you're not, so I can't, and I'll go ahead and qualify my overt flirt, by stating, unconditionally that "yer hot". LOL
Hope that rubbed you the right way.
-joseph