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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: JamieD on August 19, 2007, 03:34:04 pm

Title: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: JamieD on August 19, 2007, 03:34:04 pm
I was wondering if there was anyone else who had a preference for either term. If you read medical or scientific literature you will have seen that they have in recent years been moving away from the term "AIDS" to the term "HIV Disease".
I personally think I would rather be told that I have "Advanced HIV Disease" then "AIDS". Living with HIV is not the same today as it used to be. Back then the term "AIDS" meant that you were really hopeless. Today being told that you have a very low CD4 cell count is not such a big deal because in a few months or years you can have your CD4 cells back to normal levels.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: thunter34 on August 19, 2007, 03:40:09 pm
Today being told that you have a very low CD4 cell count is not such a big deal because in a few months or years you can have your CD4 cells back to normal levels.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IERzx5Spic (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IERzx5Spic)


I think there might be something to be said for keeping the term AIDS around.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: JamieD on August 19, 2007, 03:41:27 pm
I can't watch videos. What's that about?
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: thunter34 on August 19, 2007, 03:43:08 pm
I can't watch videos. What's that about?


Don't worry- be happy.


I'm not usually one to post such things in Living With, but I felt compelled.  Are you familiar with our forum member, Christine? 
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: JamieD on August 19, 2007, 03:57:21 pm
Is that Queen Akasha?
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: DanielMark on August 19, 2007, 04:18:05 pm
I have no problem with the term AIDS. It’s an accurate acronym.

I was clinically diagnosed as having AIDS a few years ago but now my numbers have rebounded so I no longer believe that applies to me, regardless of what doctors or clinics might say.

I am not defined by phrases or words, nor do I fear them.

Daniel
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: atlantabro on August 19, 2007, 04:39:17 pm
What bothers me quite a bit is that most people (primarily HIV- folks) don't know the difference between HIV and AIDS. Most assume that it's the same thing.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: JamieD on August 19, 2007, 06:03:31 pm
What bothers me quite a bit is that most people (primarily HIV- folks) don't know the difference between HIV and AIDS. Most assume that it's the same thing.

You're right, the terms are used interchangeably and they're not. Also, even people who have some idea what "AIDS" is really have no idea what it is.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AustinWesley on August 19, 2007, 06:08:22 pm
I can see Atlanta's point.  A lot of people don't know the difference between HIV & AIDS, but AIDS has such a dreadful and negative connotation that I'd welcome "HIV disease" or something less gloomy.

Since my CD4's dropped below 200 on 1 prior occasion I'll always be labeled as someone living with AIDS which seems absurd to me since I've NEVER been sick and certainly no where close to deaths door.

I think the term AIDS is archaic and outdated, not to mention the added stigma it brings.

Lot of people have NO idea they are also technically living with AIDS simply because their CD4's never dipped below 200; however, they may have had a number of opportunistic infections and been quite ill.  

Really it's just a label to me and serves no scientific or beneficial purpose.   It also seems asinine to me that once one has had an AIDS diagnosis they are forever plagued with this Scarlet letter for life even if they may have CD4's above 1000 and other than having the virus are healthy.

Well, that's my 2 cents since I've been a person who has been assigned all of these labels!

Wesley
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: thunter34 on August 19, 2007, 06:11:51 pm
Also, even people who have some idea what "AIDS" is really have no idea what it is.

True.  And judging from your initial post in this thread, I'd venture the same might be said of you.

Read the link below and get schooled:

http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=14051.0 (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=14051.0)


You see...while it might be true in this day and age that you won't die directly from AIDS, it is also still true that- despite your best efforts at adherence and doing the right things, any one of us could at any time find ourselves with a mutation that is resistant to some, many...hell, maybe all regimens.  And all of this assumes that we are in the position to get the meds we need to live in the first place.  Another forums member comes to mind:  tnboy.  

Look it up.

And even if you get the meds and they work for you, with a side effect list ranging from cardio problems to diabetes to kidney failure to dementia to lipo to....(hopefully you are starting to get the picture), not to mention the poverty and stigma that still so often accompanies this disease, it's still rather early in the war to chalk an AIDS diagnosis up as no big deal.

The chances of an AIDS diagnosis ever remaining as "no big deal" in your life are still slim to none.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: thunter34 on August 19, 2007, 06:52:33 pm
I can see Atlanta's point.  A lot of people don't know the difference between HIV & AIDS, but AIDS has such a dreadful and negative connotation that I'd welcome "HIV disease" or something less gloomy.

Since my CD4's dropped below 200 on 1 prior occasion I'll always be labeled as someone living with AIDS which seems absurd to me since I've NEVER been sick and certainly no where close to deaths door.

I think the term AIDS is archaic and outdated, not to mention the added stigma it brings.

Lot of people have NO idea they are also technically living with AIDS simply because their CD4's never dipped below 200; however, they may have had a number of opportunistic infections and been quite ill.  

Really it's just a label to me and serves no scientific or beneficial purpose.   It also seems asinine to me that once one has had an AIDS diagnosis they are forever plagued with this Scarlet letter for life even if they may have CD4's above 1000 and other than having the virus are healthy.

Well, that's my 2 cents since I've been a person who has been assigned all of these labels!

Wesley


The awful truth is a bitch, ain't it?  And having to wear an AIDS label in this day and age- when HIV disease is so much more fashionable- it just seems so....last season.


I see "AIDS" as having purpose(s).  Scientifically, it still describes a syndrome...the bottom end of the sliding physical scale that comes with HIV infection.  And it does so in a way that "HIV Disease" cannot.  At least not for me.  To that end, it has a beneficial purpose for me:  it keeps me in somewhat of a reality check.  I'm still hopeful, but grounded.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: LatinAlexander on August 19, 2007, 08:08:53 pm
I have to agree with Thunter34. Put it anyway: AIDS, HIV+, Hihg Fiver, Inmundodeficiency, whatever. Reality is this: We have a non-curable disease, associated to fags and junkies. Period. Everyday we have , we do not know if one virion is mutating into our final killer, and no money, nothing can do anything.

AIDS is here. Many people STILL dies from AIDS. Very probably, many of us will.

Alex (Who hates reality, but cannot deny it)
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: RapidRod on August 19, 2007, 08:18:13 pm
JamieD, if you don't like the term AIDS, then use the term Advanced HIV Disease. It all has the same meaning. It doesn't really matter to me what term anyone uses. I know what I have and there is no name that will change that fact.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AustinWesley on August 19, 2007, 08:50:22 pm

The awful truth is a bitch, ain't it?  And having to wear an AIDS label in this day and age- when HIV disease is so much more fashionable- it just seems so....last season.


I see "AIDS" as having purpose(s).  Scientifically, it still describes a syndrome...the bottom end of the sliding physical scale that comes with HIV infection.  And it does so in a way that "HIV Disease" cannot.  At least not for me.  To that end, it has a beneficial purpose for me:  it keeps me in somewhat of a reality check.  I'm still hopeful, but grounded.

Initially when I got that Aids diagnosis it did bother me, but I've moved past that.   I hardly consider myself at the "end of a sliding scale."   

I consider myself grounded, but I would hardly consider myself as someone at death's door or at the end of a scale.   If it makes you better to wear labels then by all means you should.

I'd hardly compare HIV to fashion though!
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Queen Tokelove on August 19, 2007, 09:00:02 pm
Is that Queen Akasha?

No, it is not me but a very special lady here in the forums. My name is Michelle....
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Jerry71 on August 19, 2007, 09:03:23 pm
Well I guess I will always have the word AIDS put over my head since my numbers have never climbed over 200 in over two years soon too be three. :'(

So with that said why is there not a forum set up for people Living With AIDS? Then there is also the AIDSMEDS.COM
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Queen Tokelove on August 19, 2007, 09:08:14 pm
It really does piss me off to no ends to be told by someone ignorant, my sister in this case, who works in the medical field, that I am an AIDS infested bitch. I'm sure she knows the difference in the term but uses it to try to make me look bad. I guess what matters is that I know the difference.

My doctor however does not use the term AIDS with me, he either uses hiv or something compromised, I can't think of the correct term for the latter.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AustinWesley on August 19, 2007, 09:11:11 pm
Well I guess I will always have the word AIDS put over my head since my numbers have never climbed over 200 in over two years soon too be three. :'(

So with that said why is there not a forum set up for people Living With AIDS? Then there is also the AIDSMEDS.COM

Well, Jerry I guess you and are at the end of the scale and not worthy of expressing ourselves ; )

Also, great point Queen!   That'd piss me off too and I think your point is a valid one.

Wesley
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Jerry71 on August 19, 2007, 09:13:26 pm
I say we just get rid of the word AIDS and HIV and just be called POSITIVE.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AustinWesley on August 19, 2007, 09:21:08 pm

So with that said why is there not a forum set up for people Living With AIDS?

I think this is an Excellent point Jerry!   
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Jerry71 on August 19, 2007, 09:27:27 pm
Well if you look at the threads on the forums now there are:
Positive Women
I just tested POZ
Long Term Survivors
Someone I care about has HIV
Living with HIV

I mean come on if your Tcells are below 200 and have been for sometime you have AIDS.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: thunter34 on August 19, 2007, 09:29:44 pm
Well, Jerry I guess you and are at the end of the scale and not worthy of expressing ourselves ; )

Wesley


How very subtle of you.  

Quote
I hardly consider myself at the "end of a sliding scale."

And yet, alas, that is exactly the point to which you will return in the event that the meds stop working or you are unable to take them for whatever reason.  Same as me.  Same as many or most of us on this site.

Quote
If it makes you better to wear labels then by all means you should.

If it makes you feel better to attempt passive-aggressive assaults with me, you should reconsider.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AustinWesley on August 19, 2007, 09:36:28 pm
Well if you look at the threads on the forums now there are:
Positive Women
I just tested POZ
Long Term Survivors
Someone I care about has HIV
Living with HIV

I mean come on if your Tcells are below 200 and have been for sometime you have AIDS. It just pisses me off when I log on and the only thing that I can really relate to is the Living with HIV room and the Off Topic room and the Gatherings  section and see a thread like this posted in the Living with section.

Hey Jerry,

You know I understand your feelings!

What amazes me is the ONLY discrimination I've ever faced has come from other HIV+ gay men, mostly on this site!

Anyways, if we in this group can't even be supportive of each other then I don't know why any of us should expect the outside world to be excepting!

But, I think of you as in the same boat as me.

Wesley
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Jerry71 on August 19, 2007, 09:40:59 pm
 :o






Edited to watch my ass.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Dachshund on August 19, 2007, 10:22:12 pm
Initially when I got that Aids diagnosis it did bother me, but I've moved past that.   I hardly consider myself at the "end of a sliding scale."   

I consider myself grounded, but I would hardly consider myself as someone at death's door or at the end of a scale.   If it makes you better to wear labels then by all means you should.

I'd hardly compare HIV to fashion though!

You know you really have a lot of nerve. This is coming from the guy who never misses the opportunity to label long term survivors with  passive aggresive put downs. The guy who raked the entire forums over the coals labeling it AidsMess and putting down anyone and everyone that didn't agree with you. I would be happy to supply you with the links if you need a reminder. Call it what you will, we all have the same disease, you can cute it up any way you like.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Iggy on August 19, 2007, 10:31:26 pm
I was wondering if there was anyone else who had a preference for either term. If you read medical or scientific literature you will have seen that they have in recent years been moving away from the term "AIDS" to the term "HIV Disease".

Correction - no one has been "moving away" from the term - what you are seeing is a reduction in incidence people of hitting the threshold that is marked as having AIDS.

Quote
I personally think I would rather be told that I have "Advanced HIV Disease" then "AIDS".

Not me - my medical charts are long enough without Politically correct b.s. to take up more space.

Quote
Today being told that you have a very low CD4 cell count is not such a big deal because in a few months or years you can have your CD4 cells back to normal levels.

Please don't talk in absolutes about this - you are incorrect to say the least 

Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Iggy on August 19, 2007, 10:33:41 pm
Modified to an oops
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Dan J. on August 19, 2007, 11:13:15 pm
I have always been under the impression once you have been given a Aids diagnosis even if your #'s improve above 200 you  are still considered as having Aids.

Dan
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: bryonut on August 20, 2007, 12:43:48 am
uh, you guys, i don't know how to say this but I uh... I have AIDS  :'(

but anyway...

Dan J, I'm under the same impression as you.

One other question to throw into the pot.. why does it have be called "Full Blown AIDS"? I hate that term. Was there a time when I was partially blown? Half blown? (oh man, I just opened the door for some vile comments)

bry

Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Queen Tokelove on August 20, 2007, 12:51:20 am
uh, you guys, i don't know how to say this but I uh... I have AIDS  :'(

but anyway...

Dan J, I'm under the same impression as you.

One other question to throw into the pot.. why does it have be called "Full Blown AIDS"? I hate that term. Was there a time when I was partially blown? Half blown? (oh man, I just opened the door for some vile comments)

bry



I so hate that term too. And am under the same impression as you and Dan on the 200 thing with the cd4.


(who is too high to be technical right now)
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: RobT on August 20, 2007, 01:05:59 am
When I was diagnosed as haing HIV 2 yrs ago, I felt awlful about it. I still feel awlful. A few mnths after when I broke out in a nasty case of shingles, my CD4s dropped to below 200. I am not sure if that was cuz I was carrying so much on my plate, recovering from my shingles, or just this dreaded disease; I was given the label of having AIDS. My HIV specialist claimed that once I am stuck w/ that label, I am stuck w/ it for life. I did not like being stuck w/ a label that wud define me.
I have since recovered and my numbers have stayed the same, but yet again I am stuck w/ this dreaded label. I rarely think about it much, but I wud rather have a label that does not carry as much negative stigma as the AIDS label carries. I wud rather not have a label at all, but that is again wishful thinking.

Rob
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: xyahka on August 20, 2007, 01:08:35 am
Both terms are ok for me... anyways they are both scientifical. What i hate is the slang people derivate from them to offend us. In Spanish there is this word "sidoso" (coming from SIDA = AIDS). If i hear someone calling me like that... i will hit him!!.

Juan Carlos (in peace with science and its terms)
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Poz Brit on August 20, 2007, 07:07:28 am
According to my Doctor, here in the UK the AIDS label is only applied when your numbers have dropped below 200 and you have had an Aids defining disease, with out the disease and under 200 you are still HIV. Personally I don’t tell anyone my status so why should I worry about the label, I am alive, and enjoying life as best I can.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: BT65 on August 20, 2007, 08:01:18 am
I was diagnosed with AIDS in 1994.  I'm not sure if my doctor still uses that term for me anymore, since I'm obviously in better health than I was then.  I think the term AIDS has a great significance for me so I can know where I stand.  It has a lot of things that go with it, meanings, different things I should be doing etc.  I don't know why it would bother someone to be diagnosed with this, unless they are in denial. 
Peace-
Betty (who's probably not making a lot of sense right now, because it's very early in the morning and I've not finished my coffee).
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AustinWesley on August 20, 2007, 08:35:06 am
Hey Betty,

I haven't had my coffee yet either, but I'm glad that you're doing well now.   13 years ago you had an Aids diagnosis, but are doing well now so that's the important thing.

If that diagnosis or label is beneficial for you then I would say by all means use it in whatever positive way you can.

Dan mentioned the 200 mark.  Yep, if your CD4's drop below that ever you're now living with AIDS forever more.   I'm uncertain, but I've heard some claim that if your CD4 % drops below a certain percentage you also fall into the AIDS club?  The really ambiguous situation is that no matter what level your CD4's are at if you've had multiple or by some definitions one or more opportunistic infections then you also have AIDS.

The definition has changed and never seems entirely consistent to me.   I could care less about the label anymore, but understand why others don't care for it and I can see why some like it.

My understanding was that the AIDS diagnosis dealing with the CD4's below 200 was primarily for insurance purposes and disability claims so that they'd have some generalized standard they could quantify in determining benefits and treatment protocols.

Wesley
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: David_CA on August 20, 2007, 08:46:24 am
According to my Doctor, here in the UK the AIDS label is only applied when your numbers have dropped below 200 and you have had an Aids defining disease, with out the disease and under 200 you are still HIV.

I believe this is true here in the US, too.  At any rate, I have AIDS.  It makes sense, to me, that the term sticks.  Many folks do fine (i.e. no OI's) with a low t-cell count.  Not me.  I have to be different.  I have to get caught up with a nasty case of PCP pneumonia with a CD4 count in the upper 200's.  My husband's count was lower than mine and he was never sick.  This tells me that my immunity system isn't quite as .... something.  I'm not sure if it's not as good, not as efficient, whatever.  I got sick with something that generally effects people with much lower CD4's.  What having an AIDS diagnosis means, to me, is that I have to be more concerned about my immunity system and health in general, that I'm more likely to have another OI if my CD4's drop.  Every day I'm reminded I have AIDS.  Atripla and Bactrim remind me that I'm HIV+.   The fact that I don't have the lung capacity that I used to is a direct result of PCP - that reminds me I have AIDS.  I can feel it when I walk to my office from my car, if I don't park close.  I get winded much easier now, and I consider myself to be in good shape.  I've heard that people usually live through two rounds of PCP and by the third so much damage is done that they don't live.  I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I can tell you having it once changed me permanently, not only on paper (with an AIDS diagnosis) but every time I breathe. 

Search for posts by Christine or dad1216 (and more) and you'll gain a little, if not a lot, of insight.  I know I sure have.  I think perhaps the term "HIV disease" sounds nicer to some and it may carry less stigma or something, who knows.  To me, it just confuses things.  Some are LTNP's, some advance quickly, but I'd say that, at this point in time, most advance steadily, go on meds, and become undetectable, CD4's increase, and they live asymptomatically for years, but others don't have it so well and progress to AIDS very quickly.  Read more in the 'Long-term Survivors' forum

I'm here, although at the time there was some concern from the Dr's as to how well I'd do post-PCP.  I say I'm very fortunate and doing fine, which is mostly true.  Life is good, and it goes on, but I know that it's not the same.  Neither is my diagnosis.  I have AIDS and it's here to stay!

David (who thinks there's a place for the term 'AIDS' but NOT when talking to family members)

Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: dad1216 on August 20, 2007, 10:09:09 am
Call it what you want but giving it a new name does not change the reality.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Ann on August 20, 2007, 11:32:36 am
A rose by any other name....
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: ubotts on August 20, 2007, 12:04:06 pm
I so hate that term too. And am under the same impression as you and Dan on the 200 thing with the cd4.


(who is too high to be technical right now)
  Hi to all..
This is crazy shit..First iam hiv cuz i have 206 tcells, ...later iam labled as full blown aids
because my tcells dropped to 198..........
Later on My tcell are 247, so now iam back to hiv statics..
I feel the same no matter what my numbers say..I don't look or feel full blown when my numbers are under 200, nor do i look or feel like hiv if my numbers are a bit over 200..
This is all scientific crap..numbers that is..
It helps the doctors to determine whats what..but, it really doesn't make a difference to
me, because i feel the same way..
Only when i was down to 27 tcells, did i feel weak n crappy so i went to a dr. and then i
was told i had full blown aids..So them i go on meds..
My numbers have been up and down during the last 5 yrs on meds..My viral load is undetectable for 4 yrs now..So go with what u feel..Dint get caught up in numbers..
And screw the ignorant people who say, we had aids..My sister in law is a nurse and
should know better, ( you would think) but she shuns my nieces and nephews from me
due to the fact that iam hiv pos. or having aids..its all the same to her and some others
who are ill informed...........
Just worry about you and how you feel..
and that's all iam gonna say for now..cuz i don't want to get into to it, and i really can let myself lose on this thread.. :-X
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Andy101 on August 20, 2007, 03:13:14 pm
Advice need please guys,, I have read through this thread and it raise danother question,, every one has seemed to mentiont that once your cd4 drops below 200,, that you have an AIDS diagnosis,, can anyone tell me where this is written.. just asking coz my cd4 has just crashed ??

cheers

Andy
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: leatherman on August 20, 2007, 03:25:44 pm
According to the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivinf.htm (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/hivinf.htm):

"The term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. CDC developed official criteria for the definition of AIDS and is responsible for tracking the spread of AIDS in the United States.
CDC's definition of AIDS includes all HIV-infected people who have fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells per cubic millimeter of blood. In addition, the definition includes 26 clinical conditions that affect people with advanced HIV disease."

AIDS in the US = (cd4 < 200) + 1 Opportunitic Infection
(Using the label "AIDS" is useful for determining disability eligibility)
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Andy101 on August 20, 2007, 03:28:22 pm
Thanx for that Leatherman,, Does anyone know how that translates in the the UK ??
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Poz Brit on August 20, 2007, 04:01:36 pm
Much the same as per the link.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Andy101 on August 20, 2007, 04:12:35 pm
thanx
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: RapidRod on August 20, 2007, 04:25:14 pm
A diagnosis of AIDS is made whenever a person is HIV-positive and:
he or she has a CD4+ cell count below 200 cells per microliter OR
his or her CD4+ cells account for fewer than 14 percent of all lymphocytes OR
that person has been diagnosed with one or more of the AIDS-defining illnesses listed below.

Candidiasis of bronchi, trachea, or lungs (see Fungal Infections)
Candidiasis, esophageal (see Fungal Infections)
Cervical cancer, invasive‡
Coccidioidomycosis, disseminated (see Fungal Infections)
Cryptococcosis, extrapulmonary (see Fungal Infections)
Cryptosporidiosis, chronic intestinal (>1 month duration) (see Enteric Diseases)
Cytomegalovirus disease (other than liver, spleen, or lymph nodes)
Cytomegalovirus retinitis (with loss of vision)
Encephalopathy, HIV-related† (see Dementia)
Herpes simplex: chronic ulcer(s) (>1 month duration) or bronchitis, pneumonitis, or esophagitis
Histoplasmosis, disseminated (see Fungal Infections)
Isosporiasis, chronic intestinal (>1 month duration) (see Enteric Diseases)
Kaposi's sarcoma
Lymphoma, Burkitt's
Lymphoma, immunoblastic
Lymphoma, primary, of brain (primary central nervous system lymphoma)
Mycobacterium avium complex or disease caused by M. Kansasii, disseminated
Disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, any site (pulmonary‡ or extrapulmonary†) (see Tuberculosis)
Disease caused by Mycobacterium, other species or unidentified species, disseminated
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
Pneumonia, recurrent‡ (see Bacterial Infections)
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
Salmonella septicemia, recurrent (see Bacterial Infections)
Toxoplasmosis of brain (encephalitis)
Wasting syndrome caused by HIV infection†

Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Matty the Damned on August 20, 2007, 05:13:30 pm
Matty the Damned is proud of his AIDS status.

MtD
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Cerrid on August 20, 2007, 05:32:10 pm
So, when I had a CD4=1 but only a "candidiasis oropharyngal", I did not formally have AIDS? That's weird but I guess I can live with that.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Matty the Damned on August 20, 2007, 06:08:29 pm
Cerrie,

Candida of that sort and a CD4 count of 1 constitutes an AIDS diagnosis.

MtD
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: David_CA on August 20, 2007, 07:30:33 pm
A diagnosis of AIDS is made whenever a person is HIV-positive and:
he or she has a CD4+ cell count below 200 cells per microliter OR
his or her CD4+ cells account for fewer than 14 percent of all lymphocytes OR
that person has been diagnosed with one or more of the AIDS-defining illnesses listed below.

Those OR's are what I was missing from the definitions above.  I know my Dr. has me listed as having AIDS, but according to one of the somewhat vague definitions above, I'm merely HIV+ as I didn't have a CD4 count < 200 while being HIV+ and having PCP.  I'm glad to know I haven't lost my status!   ;)

David
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: BT65 on August 20, 2007, 07:39:03 pm
Damned one-
  I also am proud of my status.  We rock!
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Matty the Damned on August 20, 2007, 07:44:11 pm
Fuckin' A Miss Betty.

Even though some HIVers might try you can't sanitise this disease. AIDS is AIDS and no matter how much people might wanna hide behind the "Advanced HIV Disease" label, you can't.

Get used to it.

MtD
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: AlanBama on August 20, 2007, 08:12:16 pm
honey, if the TERM bothers you, all I can say is "fasten your seatbelt, it's going to be a bumpy night"

I WISH that was all I had to worry about....

PS - thanks Tim for eloquently stating what I am thinking but can't muster up enough brain cells to crank it out..... ;)
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: GSOgymrat on August 21, 2007, 11:06:44 am
Forget "advanced HIV disease." If we are going to re-label this disease just to make ourselves feel better lets pick a really fun name like boogie woogie flu or something.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: pozniceguy on August 21, 2007, 11:20:12 am
I think that somewhere in these threads  it was pointed out that there is a "political" element to the labels...not purely a medical nomenclature.....to get the funding and political support the scare of AIDS was widely spread and  accepted to the point of political action.....thus the programs and various funding sources for "AIDS" persons were created...if it was just another virus  I doubt that money would be available to day.......If you really want special recognition,  I agree with Ford...give it a catchy name.....   maybe hold a contest to provide one of those double entendre type of acronyms....

Nick
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Cerrid on August 21, 2007, 12:01:30 pm
Forget "advanced HIV disease." If we are going to re-label this disease just to make ourselves feel better lets pick a really fun name like boogie woogie flu or something.

Absolutely. How about "a persistent affinity to gp120"?  ;D
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Moffie65 on August 21, 2007, 12:22:40 pm
I have watched this thread since it was posted, and it disturbs me that nobody has mentioned the science behind these two labels.

HIV is first and foremost an acronym which simply defines the virus which we carry.
AIDS is the acronym which defines what has happened to our immune systems due to the presence, and growth of the virus in our immune cells.

When someone gets to the point of having a very low CD4, they have lost a very large proportion of their immune cells.  These are the longest living cells in the body, with an average lifespan of 74 years.  The programming starts at birth, which is one of the reasons as children we are subjected to most of the communicable diseases we are going to confront in our lifetimes.  When one has this "bank vault" full of defense mechanism destroyed by HIV, then we can become very ill from simply a cold, due to the lack of defense cells.  In my case I was down to 20 CD4s which have now been built back up to above the 600 mark over a 14 year period. 

However, these new cells have not been subjected to nearly the amount of diseases and germs that the ones I lost were, and so that is why our "rebuilt" immune systems are called  "naive".  This is the main reason why it is very important for people who have had the "Label" AIDS applied to them to keep it near and close to their hearts.  It gives the doctors in the future an idea how weak our new immune systems are, and they are then able to watch out for things which might damage us more than a person who has never advanced to AIDS. 

Therefore, for those of you who have been labeled as having AIDS, I would humbly suggest that you keep that label, as it will offer information to an Infectious Disease doctor that the label of HIV will simply not do.  For those of you who want to rid yourselves of the label AIDS, go ahead and do so, but it changes nothing in your body, and will do nothing to change your physical being at all.

I think it far better medicine to simply accept this bug as part of your new body and move on.  Labels change nothing, but hold a wealth of information for the doctors who you will be subject to for the rest of your life.

FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!!!!!

Cheers!
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: BT65 on August 21, 2007, 01:27:47 pm
Hey Moffie:
   Good to see you again!  Thanks for that insightful explanation.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: thunter34 on August 21, 2007, 06:28:45 pm
Moffie:  I once again bow to you, sir.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: whizzer on August 21, 2007, 06:59:39 pm
Forget "advanced HIV disease." If we are going to re-label this disease just to make ourselves feel better lets pick a really fun name like boogie woogie flu or something.

I've always been partial to "fuck flu"

-Whiz
(who is in the AIDS column on the CDC spreadsheet, and who is more concerned about his health than the label placed on it)
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: BassMan on August 22, 2007, 04:36:05 am
I agree with Whiz in that I'm more interested in my level of health and how I feel than the label placed on it. The problem I have with the term AIDS is that often it doesn't really tell me much about the overall health of the individual concerned, merely that they have met a very narrow set of medical criteria.

I consider myself extremely fortunate: I am one of the fittest and healthiest people in my family and social circle, most of whom are HIV-ve and younger than me. I take plenty of exercise and recently ran the 10Km Manchester run in 48minutes, which isn't bad for a 45 year old! My numbers are good: the last two year average has been VL undetectable and CD4 around 730. Yet, because I developed half a dozen KS lesions three years ago with a CD4 around 400 (which were successfully treated and I'm now completely clear of it) I was given an AIDS diagnosis.

I find that difficult to reconcile with someone who finds themself at the other end of the "sliding scale," who may be seriously ill from battling multiple OI's and have few if any treatment options left. We both have AIDS, yet the label tells us very little about our relative situations.

I won't consider myself to have AIDS until I find myself at the wrong end of the scale. For now, I'm healthily HIV+ve, whatever the strict clinical label might be.

Carl
Manchester, UK
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: Queen Tokelove on August 22, 2007, 05:23:01 am
Good to see you post, Moffie. And has never looked at the term in the way you have shown. I will definitely take that to heart when I finally get my AIDS diagnosis....
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: JamieD on August 22, 2007, 05:43:07 am
Oh wait, you're right. In most countries outside of the US (and I said MOST, not all for you F*cking nit pickers) a CD4 count below 200 is not suffienct for a diagnosis of "AIDS". They usually require an OI to go along with it.

All I would need to do is move back to my other country and I will no longer have "AIDS", since I have never had any time of OI.

Why yes, checking my countries criteria for AIDS, which I think is WHO and not my countries, but anywho:

Los pacientes que se infectan con el VIH deben resolver los criterios siguientes antes de que la diagnosis del SIDA sea dada: Una cuenta de la célula CD4 de menos entonces 200 y una de las infecciones siguientes de Opportunistic:

¿Candidiasis de bronquios, de la tráquea, o del candidiasis de los pulmones (véase las infecciones fungicidas), (véase las infecciones fungicidas) cáncer cervical del esófago, invasor? ¿Coccidioidomycosis, (véase las infecciones fungicidas) cryptococcosis diseminado, (véase las infecciones fungicidas) Cryptosporidiosis extrapulmonary, (duración de 1 mes) (véase las enfermedades entéricas) encefalopatía intestinal crónica del retinitis del cytomegalovirus de la enfermedad del cytomegalovirus (con excepción del hígado, del bazo, o de nodos de linfa) (con la pérdida de visión), VIH-RELACIONADA? (véase la demencia) simplex del herpes: ¿el ulcer(s) crónico (duración de 1 mes) o la bronquitis, pneumonitis, o la histoplasmosis del esophagitis, diseminaron (véase las infecciones fungicidas) Isosporiasis, intestinal crónico (duración de 1 mes) (véase las enfermedades entéricas) el linfoma del sarcoma de Kaposi, linfoma de Burkitt, linfoma, primarios immunoblastic, del complejo o de la enfermedad del avium del mycobacterium del cerebro (linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central) causada por M. Kansasii, enfermedad diseminada causada por la tuberculosis de Mycobacterium, sitio (pulmonar? o extrapulmonary?) ¿(véase la tuberculosis) enfermedad causada por el Mycobacterium, la otra especie o la especie no identificada, pulmonía diseminada de la pulmonía del carinii de Pneumocystis, recurrente? (véase las infecciones bacterianas) el septicemia leukoencephalopathy multifocal progresivo de las salmonelas, (véase las infecciones bacterianas) toxoplasmosis recurrente del cerebro (encefalitis) que pierde el síndrome causado por la infección del VIH.


I think the thing I post was just a spanish version of what Daschud posted. They seem almost identical.
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: RapidRod on August 22, 2007, 06:56:15 am
Jamie, do you live in the U.S. or not? If you live in the U.S. and yes Miami is in the U.S., a CD4 of 200 or less is an AIDS classification in the U.S.. No one really cares if you like the classification or not, that's how it's listed in the State and National Data base in the U.S.. 
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: JamieD on August 22, 2007, 07:07:15 am
It was a joke. Sheesh.

Where did I say anything about Miami?  ???
Title: Re: HIV disease VS. AIDS
Post by: RapidRod on August 22, 2007, 07:20:15 am
Excuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuse me for saying Miami. While were on the discussion, the UNAIDS also goes by the CDC definition of given for AIDS. So it doesn't matter where you live or your from, if you fall within those guidelines that is the classification one receives. All it is, is a classification and it has nothing to do with the way one feels health wise. It's more or less used for surveillance purposes and getting assistance and money allocations.