Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
March 28, 2024, 03:01:51 pm

Login with username, password and session length


Members
Stats
  • Total Posts: 772946
  • Total Topics: 66310
  • Online Today: 424
  • Online Ever: 5484
  • (June 18, 2021, 11:15:29 pm)
Users Online
Users: 2
Guests: 349
Total: 351

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.

Author Topic: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!  (Read 9909 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline caro38

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« on: April 20, 2016, 11:50:58 am »
Hi there everyone. A little about me, I am nearly 38 diagnosed in 2003, I have three beautiful and healthy kids all born after diagnosis. I have a wonderful partner (negative) who is very supportive of my status.
I live in an area where the support is limited and would like to meet like minded people in similar situation to me for chat and friendship.
On the whole I am very much at peace with my diagnosis and have been for some time, but I know how difficult it can be especially in the beginning, so if anyone needs advice or support feel free to message me.

Offline Sprackdoll

  • Member
  • Posts: 12
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2016, 01:39:41 am »
Hello,
Glad you found us! I'm pretty new to this world. My diagnosis was in this Jan. But I have connected many wonderful ladies on this site. Obviously I'm lacking experience with this and if you have anything you can share, I am very grateful.

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2016, 05:31:52 am »
Hi Caro,
Welcome to the forums!  And our women's section.  I am so glad to hear about your children and partner.  Support can make a big difference.

I was diagnosed over 25 years ago, infected in '87 based on when I was last with my first husband, who passed in '89.  Things are a lot different than what they used to be, improved treatment, more support than there used to be, many medical advances. 

Are you on treatment yet?  If so, would you mind sharing what treatment you are on?  Again, good to meet you, hope to hear more!

Betty
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline caro38

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2016, 02:10:26 am »
Hi Betty. Yes am on Triumeq  which is new to me just started last month. Prior to this was on combo Atazanavir truvada and ritonavir since 2009. Struggled with the combo as I really struggle taking tablets. New regime is much easier
How about yourself?

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2016, 06:43:05 am »
Well that sounds like a fairly easy treatment.  I'm glad since you're saying you have a hard time taking meds.

I am on 5 different HIV meds right now; Epivir, Norvir, Abacavir, Isentress and Prezista.  The first 3 are older meds, but the ID doctor told me I don't have other options right now.  I'm hoping in the future, as newer meds become available, that I will have other options.

I also take meds for diabetes (insulin), a daily injectable osteoporosis med, meds for neuropathy, antidepressants, thyroid, ES Tylenol for osteoarthritis (I can't take any anti-inflammatory because I have chronic anemia), and some vitamins for the anemia, chronic kidney disease and osteoporosis.  So I take quite a few but I do have some medical issues going on. 

Betty
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline lioness

  • Member
  • Posts: 43
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2016, 12:28:27 pm »
Hello Caro,
Nice to meet you and thank you for being ready to share and offer support on this board. I am encouraged that I can still think of having baby in future. I got diagnosed last year Sept and it has not been easy. Please I would like to hear more about your spouse support especially how he came to terms with your condition and his support. My husband whom we have one child has not rejected me but he cant even kiss me leave alone having sex. I talked to him about safe sex but he isn't interested in learning

Offline RP61181

  • Member
  • Posts: 27
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #6 on: May 21, 2016, 12:22:34 am »
Hello!
I am also new to this site and someone mentioned that I should post on this thread.  I am a 34 (closer to 35, but who's counting) year old female.  I was born positive and have had many health issues throughout the years.  I have been on the same antiviral cocktail for 14 years, so I don't really know anything about the newer drugs.  But if it's been out for longer than 14 years, chances are I was on it at one time or another. 
I am single and I don't share my status with anyone outside of family, a few VERY close friends and of course people that I have dated.  I come from a small town where HIV is still a stigma and dating is very difficult.  I don't disclose my status right away, I wait until I know if I can trust them and get to know them better.  I have had people stop talking to me, call me horrible names and say horrible things.  There have been a few that have been accepting though, and that makes me hopeful for the future.

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #7 on: May 21, 2016, 05:58:50 am »
Hi, nice to meet you.  You've sure lived for a long time, being born positive so many years ago.  What treatment regimen are you on?  I was on a one a day pill (Stribild) but then a couple months ago had to go on a new regimen, so now I take 5 different meds.  Three of them are older meds and 2 of them are newer. 

HIV stigma does still definitely exist.  I don't tell everyone but there are several people who know.  All my family does, a lot of friends, and sometimes I've done talks at like schools.  I'm hoping that someday the stigma will be gone, just don't know if it's going to happen in my lifetime.  I'm 50 by the way.

Again it was nice to meet you and I hope to hear more!

Betty
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline RP61181

  • Member
  • Posts: 27
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #8 on: May 21, 2016, 09:45:40 pm »
Hi Betty!  Nice to meet you.  I have seen some of your posts on other threads and it seems we have gone through some similar experiences of dealing with AIDS in the 80's and 90's.  I was definitely a different time.  The medications that I have been on for 14 years are: Norvir, Prezista, Isentress, Viread, and Epivir (now called Laamivudine in generic form).  I have been very lucky with this cocktail.  I suffer bouts of pancreatitis often and under doctor's orders have to stop my medication for a few weeks at a time.  But every time I restart the medications they work.  That's one reason I haven't changed to newer medications.  We don't want to mess with something that has been working for so long.

Offline BT65

  • Global Moderator
  • Member
  • Posts: 10,786
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2016, 07:15:57 am »
OMG RP, we're on the exact same pill regimen except for the Viread in your combo; I'm on Abacavir. But everything else is the same. 

I'm sorry about the pancreatitis, that's very painful. I'm glad your doctor's on top of it though.

Betty
I've never killed anyone, but I frequently get satisfaction reading the obituary notices.-Clarence Darrow

Condom and Lube Info https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/safer-sex
Please check out our lessons on PEP and PrEP. https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/pep-prep

https://www.poz.com/basics/hiv-basics/treatmentasprevention-tasp

Offline CharlieN123

  • New Member
  • Posts: 1
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2016, 03:04:45 pm »
Hello Everyone,

I'm new to this site. My name is Charlie and I was diagnosed 2 months ago. I went through my "grieving" period for my HIV -ve self the first few weeks and the past month I have been starting to feel OK.

Even though I am feeling a lot better this past month I've had a couple of occasions where a wave of fear comes over me. I'm not sure whether this is anxiety about starting treating or the thought of being alone.

I'm 33 and single and all prior to diagnosis one of the things I wanted was to meet someone and have a family. Now even though everyone says I still can, I feel that this is impossible and that no man would ever want me now...not like this. I know all this is still new to me and my nurse says just to focus on "doing me" right now. I know she is right I should just concentrate on getting the VL UD, my health and focus on my career but it's hard not to think about about the future.

Thank you Carol for your kind post because I need to remain  positive and still have hope that one day I too can gave a family in the future.

Charlie

Offline Irongirl

  • Member
  • Posts: 5
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #11 on: June 05, 2016, 08:54:09 am »
Hi Everyone

I am also  new to this. I was diagnosed in Jan this yr while doing routine bloods for ivf treatment. Shocker but luckily my boyfriend was negative anyway we got booted off our Ivf treatment as I had hiv. But within 3 weeks I started Meds of Isentress and kivexa my vl was 33000 and my cd4 304 2 weeks later I was undetectable and my cd4 508 . Since then I have had 1 round of IVF unfortunately it didn't work but I'm now on round 2. When I was diagnosed obviously I was devastated but inside I knew I would be ok.

None of my friends of family know of my status.


Life is good now and normal my only gripe is kivexa which makes me feel sick every morning when I take it but I'm hoping to change Meds in August .

Nice to have some ladies to chat with.

Offline caro38

  • Member
  • Posts: 3
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #12 on: June 08, 2016, 04:15:02 pm »
Hi to all the new people who made comment.
To those who are more recently diagnosed and questions about relationships  and having a family.my two eldest kids are from my marriage, I was 2 years into diagnosis when I met my husband and I told him within 5 days of meeting him and he was accepting from the offset. Whilst it wasn't the best of relationships and in hindsight I allowed the destructive relationship because I felt he was going to be the only man to accept this illness. Something he would regularly remind me of. Anyway two kids later and a divorce I wound up back on the shelf. However took some time out to heal to come to terms properly with my status and met my current partner of 5 years and father to my youngest son. We met online and I told him about the hiv before we even met. I have been lucky it didn't deter him, in fact the opposite he told me it made him respect me more to be able to open myself up and tell him about something so difficult and gave him the respect of letting him choose.
In this relationship it has never once been an issue he is open to talking about it, he is always reading up on it and informing himself.
The moral of my story is this really, being honest never harmed anyone. Maybe if my ex had been honest to me I would not have been infected. However I can choose to give others the respect,  if they reject me then it's their issue and loss and it was never meant to be. Men come and go like buses not ever man will respond the same, but that's true of any relationship.

Offline theojs

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #13 on: June 11, 2016, 09:56:57 am »
Hi girls, just read your posts and wanted to say hi. I was diagnosed via a routine screen 5 days ago. Shock......knocked me flat down. I have yet to inform the chap who gave this virus to me. Its a massive wake up call, i know il get this dealt with, im strong and want to live to see grandchildren come into the world.
I cant and wont tell family or friends....just couldnt. However, its a secure feeling to know ive ppl on the other end of this page dealing with the same thing.......
Just want to send a hug to you all xxxxx

Offline OssyE

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: New to the forum. Would like to offer/receive support!
« Reply #14 on: November 05, 2016, 10:45:38 pm »
Hello all diagnosed 3months ago and while 5 months pregnant, on triumeg, my husband is negative i live in the UK, manchester to be presided. please anyone here living in UK, please message me for a chat, I need close friends in my situation. There is no forum like this in UK.

 


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.