HIV + since December 12

[Hope4cure38]

         live every day as it was going to be your last day, before Jim痴 bus runs you over, lol

That痴 exactly why I知 HIV + 😂 now I have to live my life like I知 going to live 50 years more 😂 I知 not trying to collect all the STD out there (just jk)

I appreciate you

[Hope4cure38]

Life expectancy was a topic at this year's conference as well, although, having said that it feels like a topic that keeps coming up on conferences with the same answers.
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77637.0

Thank you so much Jim, I know I知 still digesting my dix, I really appreciate you taking your time to post all that data, I知 sure it will help many of us (new hiv poz)

Honestly this post was a HUGE help for me when I was first diagnosed

[Hope4cure38]

my husband, myself, and literally hundreds of other PLHIV whom I have met at dozens of HIV conferences would like to tell you not to worry.

We've all been living with HIV for 30-40yrs, starting in the years when there weren't any medications. Most of us were at some point in those early years even hospitalized with AIDS and very near death. Now we're all taking some sort of newer HIV medication with no side effects. TBH most of us, even though we're in our 60s and early 70s, are still quite active and healthy.
I know this is just my personal experience compared to yours, but...

At 38 I had been living with HIV for 14 yrs, when meds were non-existent or were the earliest ones, and almost died of AIDS. Before that I had had no medical conditions except a bout of HepA when I was 23. When I was in the hospital I have a viral load in the millions, and my cd4 was 5. Needless to say, I didn't die and now 25 years later I'm 62 and couldn't be much healthy than I am right now.

Personally, thanks to my grandmother's genetics (never forget, when your HIV is treated, the most likely thing that limits your longevity are the genetics your parents passed to you) and my HIV meds, I'm planning on living to 104 like she did.

Your story is very impressive, I can稚 imagine what people like you felt back in the days when we didn稚 even had any treatment, you are brave my friend.

I知 sure a lot of people committed suicide after diagnose  I can see how easy is to go down the dark way, I知 glad we have forums and communities like this.

[Jim Allen]

Thank you so much Jim, I know I知 still digesting my dix, I really appreciate you taking your time to post all that data, I知 sure it will help many of us (new hiv poz)

Honestly this post was a HUGE help for me when I was first diagnosed

,👍 you're welcome, glad it helped

[leatherman]

I知 sure a lot of people committed suicide after diagnose

Before we had any meds, I had two friends who turned to drugs and alcohol and died too early. But everyone else I have known through the years has actually done a lot to stay alive as long as they could. In a time when LGBT issues were finally gaining some credence, by the time enough people had died from AIDS to realize there was problem, people were too riled up to give up to suicide. Fighting for treatment, fighting for science, fighting for equality was the norm because "silence = death".

Then by the time we got meds, there has been no "reason" for suicide. For nearly a quarter of a century, HIV has been a treatable, manageable illness.