2006-12-14 03:03:34 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
On the day that I found out that I was positive I bought the most expensive bottle of liquor to celebrate that I didn't have to worry about catching it anymore. Thanks to modern medicine and great family genes I am now a 17 year survivor. Sadly I have outlived most of my old friends & acquaintances. I have experienced some prejudice against HIV+ victims, but it actually made me a stronger person in the end. I discovered a long time ago that I am my best friend so I take good care of myself.
2006-12-14 11:28:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
As much as I (and I'm sure most people) would just like to keep a calm cool head, go to the doctors, and find out what meds/ treatments are needed, etc., I would probably go through the steps first. First I would try to deny it to myself, telling myself it's impossible. Then I would get angry and rage at every object in my vicinity, curse the world and whoever gave it to me. Then I would get sad, cry for a couple of hours, then pull myself together. Not speaking with HIV experience, but I'm sure being told that is one of the hardest things anyone would have to hear and go through. So I'd be lying to myself and you if I said that once that bombshell was dropped on me that I'd be clearheaded and moving straight ahead. Rage, cry, come to terms, then move forward and do what you have to do to keep yourself healthy and aware of everything you need to live fulfilled for a long time. :)
2006-12-14 04:15:40 · answer #2 · answered by Ivana Cracker 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you Married?, Many people Assume So, if So, you MUST Tell her, and Make Sure she is Tested, Start on The Meds Immediately. This Used to Be a Death Sentence, Not Anymore. I'm Sorry, but Even I assumed you Were Heterosexual.
2006-12-14 04:29:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I heard those dreaded words come out of my doctor's mouth it felt like the entire world had just imploded. I was numb with shock for a few moments, then I started to feel sick to my stomach. After that, I just broke down and cried for about 15 minutes. Of course, my former doctor was a real @sshole and decided to tell me over the phone while I was at work. After I regained some composure, I packed up and went straight to my best friend's house and had a complete meltdown.
The next day, I got up, went to work and made an appointment to go back in for more bloodwork to see exactly where I stood. My former doctor couldn't seem to figure out that I had pneumonia as well, so I ended up in the emergency room nine days later. In those nine days, I lost 14 lbs and my CD-4 count dropped 10 points. I found out in the hospital that my T-cell count was 6 and that I had AIDS. Crash course from hell.
I stayed in the hospital four days before they released me to go home. I was off work for two months teathered to an oxygen machine with too much time to dwell on my condition. Shortly after getting off the oxygen, I started counseling and began the process of dealing with the stages of greif. I also started my anti-retroviral therapy about this time.
One year to the date of finding out, I slipped into a deep depression and had to start taking antidepressants along with continued counseling. Finally after a little more than two years, I am emotionally stable, have accepted that I must live with this disease, and have begun to get back to normal (or as close as possible).
As a point of information, most people who catch the infection early on, may not necessarily start anti-retroviral (AVR) therapy. It depends largely on what your viral load (amount of virus in your system) and CD-4 (T-cell) count is. Many doctors now choose to keep patients off of AVR therapy until it is absolutely necessary. This minimizes the possibility of viral mutation early on. Once the virus mutates and becomes resistent to a particular medication, you have to change drugs. Over time, individuals can run through all of the current medications which leaves them with no options. Delaying the start of AVR therapy is one way doctors fight this problem.
The bottom line is that each person will have their own unique experience as they discover they are infected. The best advice I could give to anyone is to make sure you have a support network of family, friends, or even support groups. It will ultimately help you cope and move on with living.
Todd (AIDS - positive since 2004)
2006-12-14 15:55:04 · answer #4 · answered by Todd 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Although I do not wish this upon anyone, including myself, this is what I would most likely do....
I would break up with my boyfriend, cry, go to a doctor's office and get melds......And then I would live each day as if it was my last, I would do everything I ever wanted to do before I die.....(ex. bungee jump, meet Ludicrous, fly a plane, etc...)
2006-12-14 04:41:23 · answer #5 · answered by Shlooby 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What could you do except try your best to stay as healthy as possible and continue on with the rat race called life.
2006-12-14 03:11:07 · answer #6 · answered by GirlinNB 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get on the right medications to keep my viral load as low as possible and get on with my life.
2006-12-14 03:07:10 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would stop having sex with HIV infected monkies and seek help.
2006-12-14 04:33:26 · answer #8 · answered by marcus K 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cuss out every low life in my phonebook ..then make a dr appt
2006-12-14 03:11:13 · answer #9 · answered by jaid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would kill my husband and probably end up in a hospital somewhere.
2006-12-14 03:12:02 · answer #10 · answered by bradosmom 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋