Two Developments In The World Of HIV
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25 February 2010 | 26 Comments
First the good news…
The Dutch have figured out that a person who is diagnosed at 25 will live an average of another 52.2 years – meaning they live into their upper 70s and have a pretty normal lifespan. So as we’ve sorta known for a while now – HIV is genuinely going from a “killer” to an “inconvenience” and that tren will probably continue as years go on. I don’t mean to diminish how big of a hassle being poz can be, but if you get diagnosed quickly and generally take care of yourself, it would appear you no longer need to worry about your life being cut short because of HIV/AIDS. But getting diagnosed fairly quickly is essential…
[That should be very good news for the 18 y.o. Teen Cumhole I talked about in my last post…]
Now for the bad news…
The bad news is that they’re not so optimistic in Africa. The South Africans are suggesting that everyone who becomes poz be put on meds immediately whether they need the meds or not. When you think that a lot of the people who are dying of AIDS today are people who are having serious complications from the meds they took 10 and 20 years ago, that’s a dangerous policy. I’m all for people taking the meds they need, but I’m a fierce opponent of medicating people who don’t need it.
The issue here is really one of which comes first – the rights of the individual or protecting the wider community from the danger posed by the individual? Americans will usually say the individual comes first, but in Europe and elsewhere the community comes first. But I think it’s important to remember the good news from the first part of this blog post – IF you get diagnosed early and are financially able to get treatment there really is very little risk to the community. But in poor countries like South Africa they don’t have the money for great treatment and so they have debates like this. I just hope no one in the first world tries to make an argument for mandatory medication… That would just be horribly wrong.
I think it’s clear at this point that HIV and AIDS is not real. Natural sex is best. It’s the meds and the idea that is keeping people sick.
Do some research if you dont belive me. Google AIDS TRUTH
That’s great news! Hopefully it will continue. However, could this be just a temporary trend? Diseases like most living things like to mutate. Staph bacteria strains have evolved to resist anti-biotics as a result of overuse of the medication and are now becoming more deadly again. Granted it is a bacteria and the other is a virus, but they can both adapt to their environment. What is to say with widespread infection and other factors like over medicating that HIV may change in some unforeseen way over a period of time. It can be difficult to predict how nature/living things will react, especially when we try to constrict them. I think it is probably still premature to say that we are out of the ballpark in saying HIV is becoming less of a health threat. As a modern society of humans we are always trying to control nature and the world around us, but we occasionally still land on our asses, sometimes hard. Science is a continuous learning process, and it would be wise to take this information with a grain of salt.
The Truth: you’ve seen too many movies. Plenty of people died of AIDS in the 70s and 80s without AIDS medications (most int he 70s were intravenous drug users who dies of AIDS infections and, given their socioeconomic status were often not seen by medical experts.
Also, Rawtop, there are a lot of studies now that say that the benefits of taking meds early far outweigh the possible costs. It is true that early HIV and AIDS medicine took a large toll on the body, and it is possible that today’s medications do the same, but there is not a lot of evidence that current meds are doing the kind of damage that a lot of people are worried about. Given that the meds are new, it isn’t possible to have any studies on people taking the meds for a long period of time; they may still prove hazardous to one’s long-term health, but they’re probably not as bad as some of the older meds were.
I’ve been dealing with all of this. Newly poz (exclusive top – we’re not unicorns) and my vl and tc numbers are excellent. My doc & I have decided to stay off meds and watch my numbers. I’d rather wait until the next generation or 2 of meds and treatments come along.
I waited about 11 years before I started taking meds.
I found I was poz 21 years ago next week–still doing great and never been sick. I’m damn lucky.
Actually this is quite old news. Research has proven over and over that a person’s health, viral load, etc is healthier on a person if they start treatment as soon as possible. Even before the viral load drops. Years ago it was delayed because many people had reactions and meds were also very unaffordable.
As a Research Dr myself I ask you to check out Poz.com. The world of HIV is changing daily and many doctors (I hate to say) just aren’t keeping up.
If you are newly Poz or previously infected I urge you to see an HIV specialist. Many things your reg DR just doesn’t know! I ask patients to get 2 to 3 opinions before starting treatment. I also urge them to do background checks on their doctors. When was the last time she or he took an HIV/AID course. Its your health and you all deserve the best.
Rule 1: HIV Meds are like the flue. You don’t get the vaccine while you are sick or after you try to prevent it. So why wait for you T cells and viral load to drop before seeking treatment. Its stressful and dangerous on the body. Prevention is the bet method.
Rule2: You wouldn’t get your haircut from a barber with pictures in the windows from 10 years ago not should you do the same for Drs.
I am HIV + myself. So when I tell patients information I know it from first hand. I attend meeting and research events on a regular basics. This advise is extremely important for barebackers into random sex scenes. While I love bareback sex I only have it with my partner. I use to be a raw pig top but once I became Poz I rerouted my work of study and focused on HIV/AIDS. With the information that was put at hand I have too much knowledge to make decisions that could put my health at risk. Many people believe that once POZ its a open ticket for bareback sex.Its not and everyone should respect their body and your health. If you bareback. Stay up to date with your blood work your DR and your health. No raw dick, ass or cum load is worth your health.
I a man that has aides and I was diagnosed in 1996. I see alot about peoples point of veiw, but to experience the affliction is entirely a diffrent story, some of the terror is caused by the aides anziety (the effect on the people that surround the individual) this can make it even harder on a person in the situation that I am in.
People do not understand that you can not catch it unless it is sexual or intravenus drugs. they tend to(even though they love the person)not allow them around food or a workplace or even a place to live always finding ways to keep them on the outside and taking advantage of them in so many ways monitarally and emotionally.
I have almost lost my life twice and now I am loosing every thing , my home, my privacy, my freinds, and my respect to the people that used to love me and it all was due to change when I was diognosed in 96.
So I would think really hard about how good it feels not to were a condom.
What do you mean that you are a “fierce opponent of medicating people who don’t need it”. The evidence is growing that anyone who has HIV needs meds. The long term effects of the imflamtion the body produces due to the immune system activation is more dangerous than the meds. Stop playing doctor.
Wow, I think the most common sense approach would be to avoid contracting AIDS. And let be real here, even guys who aren’t debilitated by their disease still look “aidsy” and still face the social stigmas associated with their disease. I’d rather avoid all the complicatoins and just use protection. Super gross!!!
You compare your condition, “that wasn’t even clear you had” to HIV. It’s very clear that when one tests for HIV, they have HIV. Plus it is unequivocal that barring previous resistance, that meds will control the IV infection. I would not a virus replicating in my body that for the vast majority of people would eventually kill you.
Hi, all. I really have no intention to blame specific opinions. However, since I have diagnosised as HIV pos, I had too many things that I had to lost, and gained medication with Dr’s professional fine advice with affection for my life. Since I started medication, I can change and regaining more things than what I lost. There must be many opinions and medical researchers. But, the most important thing is how YOU decided and be responsible for your body and sex partner(s) regardless in porn and love life. I have been in single with many reasons. But certainly HIV and my bareback preference is one of the big key as well as I don’t want to spread out HIV from my seed. To live with HIV is not only a matter of how the person live with their body but rather with how to be in society. To have madication, is definitely contributing not only for the person himself but also the community and society, I believe.
(adding from the previous post)
because you, and the community, society, and We, need you, and don’t want to loose you in addition to the things that WE had already lost by OUR HIV! This is always in my heart even the time when I took meds in a day. My friends are really supportive regardless if they were pos or neg about my medication. I am regaining people’s connection through medication as well as my natural body balance which came after medication. Sometime we too much focus on chemical effect of medication, but I am very appreciated about the things that medication have been bringing to me through social connection of the people and public health point of views.
Ah! That’s a good point! 😉
Is there any recent research that says people should not be taking medication? I’ve recently found out I’m HIV+, going through the rounds of CD4/Viral Load testing (my first counts came back not so good), and Medication might be in the cards sooner than I expected.
I’ve heard people say “dont go on meds”, but cant seem to find any recent research to back this opinion up. I can find older stuff, but from what I gather
– Years ago, HIV meds were very toxic. The side-effects of HIV meds were pretty brutal, and could cause problems. It became a balance of “when your HIV/AIDs was posing a serious health risk vs benefits of the meds”
– In recent years, HIV medications have become easier to take, more effective, less toxic with less adverse side-effects. It’s generally now a good idea to start taking meds, and even taking them sooner than you would a few years ago.
Most things I find saying “dont take meds” is looking at the earlier treatments, but haven’t had much luck finding recent information.
@thetruth – are you fucking serious? How the hell do you explain the millions of people that died from this disease? Did they just move away to some fucking magical island and never tell anyone? And what about me, the 25 year old who was diagnosed a year ago… And I not real? That’s just as bad as those idiots that claim the holocaust didn’t happen.
“I think it’s clear at this point that HIV and AIDS is not real”? are you kidding me? I mean, if you wanna go bareback that’s fine, but don’t tell people it doesn’t have risks or that you won’t die from HIV/AIDS because that’s just straight up ignorant.
I honestly think that anyone who would knowingly spread the disease to someone not expecting it…or saying that they are negative…and getting some sort of rush off of sharing their misery is quite foolish. I have only barebacked with my boyfriend…who was tested right next to me before we ever did it…and yes. I mean two tests… I made him take one then wait for the window period…and then take another. If the person feels like contracting different strains of something that will destroy the bodies natural defences, fine. But to everyone here who thinks giving HIV is a gift…you have issues. And are committing a crime in most states these days. I’m sure you can enjoy all the condomless sex you would desire. In jail.
As for people who advise. not. taking. medication. for. an. illness. – Aspartame in diet soda does more damage than Hiv medication these days…stop being foolish.
PLEASE, allow me to reply. I have information, and opinion.
INFO first: guidelines for “official” AIDS dx are much more true when you look at your CD4 %, and not the absolute number. Above 20% is good. >30% is a normal person. 15%-20% T-cells is a gamble [cancer risk, esp.]: and below 14% is near-death. You will know it. ***Interesting fact: many MDs don’t know to concentrate on percentages. All HIV specialists know what I’m talking about.
Now, OPINION. Very attracted to the idea of community. Lived thru the 80s, when there was community, and I was too shy. I was “admitted” to it in 1995. It began to change, already. Got cocky.
I waited for Crixivan in ’96, because Saquinavir was only 4-8% bioavailable. Not worth shit without boosting. I was smart: lots of early-Internet (text only) research. “Project Inform” (San Francisco) saved my life.
My CD4 reached 14%, my CD4 150. The absolute number looked okay, but not the %. A lab tech lady-friend of mine warned me: don’t wait until your immune system is too careworn. Don’t go below 100 T-cells (that was popular opinion).
I got treated because of my percentage, not the absolute number. I had a virulent strain, or a weak body. Or both.
**I also have a friend in Hawaii who has HIV for 2/3 more years than I do. He lived the life of an ascetic, since, and is still alive: no meds. BUT he has been in/out of hospital for 2+ years, seriously, and he suffers just like in the 1980s. Same shit. His CD4 is 9% … absolute number is 80 or something. He will die within a year [and god, will I miss him]. He is in constant pain. He is 62. I love him so very much. Brotherly love: a bosom buddy.
As for moving to the city to treat HIV stigma: NYC is no complete haven for the HIV+ man. I was inpatient @Columbia for an infection [fever of unknown origin], and I was assumed to be a drug addict, which I am not.
I was treated as society treats addicts (who shoot up) [I reported that I had done IV, recently … once in this unlucky year … I know, “addict” to some…]
The BIG GUN antibiotics made me incontinent. I lost my dignity, and cried in pain, in a damned diaper. The nurses and nurse-aides were rough. And I understood just enough Spanish to hear all the anti-gay palaver that was ongoing: in my room. The guy next to me was an ex-prize fighter [a real hottie], and the women were fawning. NOT gay-friendly.
Me, they looked at like I was carrying Death on a stick, and I would beat them with it. There was a 50-50 chance for me for about 3 days.
But I lived. I have a lot more to say, of course, but I want to underscore that NYC is not all-safe for the HIV+ guy. I live in a hotel-apt on 43rd St. [I am not shy about my address]. Most of the tenants tolerate gays/trans, cause we live here in strength. 50 of 650 apartments are HASA (welfare for HIVers). I am one of 50.
It’s relatively safe here. But on weekends, I go to Queens. Fancy Richmond Hill. My ex- lives in a big old house. That neighborhood is very Orthodox (Jew): THEY look at me. And the other group, Latinos, THEY look at me. In that “you got that AIDS shit” kind of way. Not all, some. Enough to make you feel odd man out [remember childhood baseball/sports teams?].
My face needs Sculptra, but I think the AIDS-look is hot, so fuck that. Guys who want me will want all-natural me. Greying full hair/beard. It softens the depths of my chic hollow cheeks.
I have one other OPINION, in another line.
Peace and love to all my brothers, who are in this, to some degree, together. Stay close to the heart of us: we are all just boys (or nearly boys) at the end of the day. We have regular-style feelings & dreams. -sylvester
Addendum: ***Other illnesses. I carry HEP B & C. I “cleared” both of them, naturally. I have no VL, in other words, and I have some immunity to B. Get B-immunized, now! HEP “C” is a tricky [silent] beast, and that is what will kill my sweet friend. You bleed to death with shit in your blood.
We play raw, rough, and it’s fun. But we are fools and cruel fools if we do not know the risks, upon entry. Herpes (Shingles) & many subsets, CMV, Hep “D,” – unknowns like HPV which can cause cancer.
Thanks RawTop for allowing this point-counterpoint. The conversation makes the scene acceptable. Adults with sound minds can self-decide. peace
Here’s my question. I understand that getting tested immediately, and getting treated, will go a long way in keeping you alive for many years. However, what about the medical costs? How much does treatment for HIV cost?
I haven’t done any research on this, but considering the high costs of the U.S. healthcare system, it seems like getting treatment for HIV isn’t gonna be cheap.
For the doctors who are poz, and who treat other poz patients, have you ever encountered a person who couldn’t afford the treatment? Are there any other alternatives for them?