HIV Positive

caitinora

I've been diagnosed as being HIV positive. I'm shattered. Wouldn't even have called myself promiscuous, only slept with four or five guys without protection this year. The cost of treating this is whats killing me altogether, Quinn won't cover it! Any suggestions or similar HIVers with sympathetic stories?

RHunce

thats pretty tough

im sorry OP

but you really should have had protection

SarahSassy

RHunce wrote: »

but you really should have had protection

Why bother responding with ****e like that?????

OP, sorry to hear about your health. Have no advice but to wish you luck. Ignore the ignoramouses (see above).

kjl

Sorry to hear that,

Dont be too upset, sure its a hassle, but its not a death sentence anymore, in fact you are more likely to die with it then from it.

Also there are huge advances every year, and its predicted that with in 5 years there will be a cure.


As long as it never develops into aids you will be fine.

Chere up, its not as bad as it seems

Wibbs

RHunce please think before you post that was hardly helpful. At all. :rolleyes:

RHunce

sorry my bad, should have been more considerate

thanks for putting me straight

sorry OP

LegacyUser

Why were you tested for it? I was under the impression that it's not part of the standard test.

opinion guy

OP can you get meds uner the Drugs Payment Scheme ?

NickNolte

Very sorry to hear about that, OP. As kjl said, it's not the death sentence it used to be or that it is in the developing world so don't lose hope.

I'm pretty sure that you were told when you were diagnosed but it's very important that you contact your previous partners that you practiced unsafe sex with and let them know so that they're aware and can get tested.

Miaireland

I'm very sorry to hear that.

I can't really offer much help but maybe http://www.hivireland.ie/home.html might be able to help.

The_Minister

NickNolte wrote: »

I'm pretty sure that you were told when you were diagnosed but it's very important that you contact your previous partners that you practiced unsafe sex with and let them know so that they're aware and can get tested.

Not just the ones she had unsafe sex with, but all of them from the time she believes she was infected.
Condoms can break, and it's better to be safe.

kjl wrote: »

Also there are huge advances every year, and its predicted that with in 5 years there will be a cure.

We have never cured a virus yet.
We have no idea when a 'cure' will exist, although several promising avenues are being persued.

OP, there is actually a dating site for people with STD's (I can't remember what it was, it was in a Cracked article, a quick google should get it for you), so you can still date.

kjl

The_Minister wrote: »

We have never cured a virus yet.
We have no idea when a 'cure' will exist, although several promising avenues are being persued.

We have, the body can cure thousands of types of viruses, the problem is that HIV can mutate, current treatment of HIV eliminates almost 98% of the virus, except that it can lie dormant in the system. So if you stop taking the antiviral cocktail you will get sick again.

Plenty of research has been made into curing HIV and its it believed that several cures already exist, but have not been approved for human use yet, but they are in testing phases.

DapperGent

That's amelioration of symptoms not cure.

prinz

Yes HIV can be managed to a large degree these days. The cost, well more than likely that's just something you're going to have to bear tbh. Perhaps try the Long Term Illness forum. They're bound to have information.

As for the moral outrage above, personally I feel RHunce has a point, not particularly helpful to the OP, but constant reminders are essential. If one person reads the thread and changes their habits re protection then it will be well worth it.

username123

prinz wrote: »

Yes HIV can be managed to a large degree these days. The cost, well more than likely that's just something you're going to have to bear tbh. Perhaps try the Long Term Illness forum. They're bound to have information.

As for the moral outrage above, personally I feel RHunce has a point, not particularly helpful to the OP, but constant reminders are essential. If one person reads the thread and changes their habits re protection then it will be well worth it.

Im inclined to agree re the protection comment, as it is important for the OP going forward that protection is aways used.

Promiscuity is a matter of subjective opinion, while personally I would see 4 or 5 people without protection in the past year as very dodgy behaviour - I would not cosider it promiscuous to have that number of partners.

However, contracting HIV has absolutely nothing to do with promiscuity, you could easily save yourself for just one person and be unfortunate enough to be infected, and I think that this is an important message to put across. Please do not see yourself as promiscuous because you have had the bad luck to contrct an std.

OP - check out the drugs payment scheme, also speak to a support group - its very important that you have emotional support at this time while coming to terms with an illness.

Also - HIV is not at all what it used to be, a friend inthe medical profession recently described it as no worse to manage than diabetes. But the key is management and acceptance of certain behaviour chnges.

lynsalot

Hi Op

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I used to worry about this so much and had all the tests and know how sickening it is waiting on the results etc.

First things first, have you spoken to your family and friends? The other posters are right. HIV doesn't have to be a life sentence and isn't something you should feel ashamed about. It can happen to anyone. And ok so you didn't use protection. An awful lot of ppl don't (unfortunately) and you were caught out. It is imperitive that you use protection from now on though. I would totally check out the STD dating website as it takes the taboo out of it for you as that can be the worst thing. You need to talk to your friends or family or find a support of some kind - speak to other sufferers.

You'll probably find and see there are more sufferers than you thought.

Anyway I hope you're ok and can find some help. Definitely take the medication - although it's expensive you can't put a price on your health!! It's definitely worth the expense. Ask your doc about the DPS etc.

Hope things work out for you. Keep the chin up it's not as bad as you think.
All the best
Lindsay

TonyDub

Hi OP

I'm sure this is a big shock and it takes a while to come to terms with. Try and remember as other posters said this is a very manageable condition nowadays, with most people diagnosed with HIV expected to have normal life expectancies.

You should try and contact a support organisation. In Dublin there's the Dublin AIDS alliance http://www.dublinaidsalliance.ie, or AIDSWest http://www.aidswest.ie/ in the west of the country (both of these websites list other support groups around). These groups are great for getting you through the difficult first few months, being there when you need it, and advising you on practical issues such as medication costs, life insurance, mortgages etc.

Regarding the cost of treatment, I was of the impression that all the major public HIV services in the country (Mater, James, Beaumont, Galway and Cork) gave free HIV medications from their clinic. If you're going privately, that may not be the case, but if the cost is too much you should consider attending a public clinic.

Best of luck.

(Edit - check out http://www.aidswest.ie/facts.php - it says all HIV treatment is free)

LegacyUser

Find out for sure about what they do cover. When you're talking to a health insurance customer service agent they can be (deliberately?) vague. Question them.

Otherwise you'll still be ok. I'd say the public doctors probably have the most expertise and you will not be neglected.

Best of luck OP. I know someone who has it who looks like the healthiest person you could meet and has looked that way for a few years now.

rathbaner

caitinora wrote: »

I've been diagnosed as being HIV positive. I'm shattered. Wouldn't even have called myself promiscuous, only slept with four or five guys without protection this year. The cost of treating this is whats killing me altogether, Quinn won't cover it! Any suggestions or similar HIVers with sympathetic stories?

Bad luck!!

First HIV is not Aids, and doesn't have to be. Someone I know quote well is HIV positive and while it does take some adjusting to, it's quite manageable.

There is a health service in Ireland that does not require private insurance. So don't worry about that. Your medical expenses will be capped; eg a stay in hospital inc. all treatment is capped at about €350; prescription costs are capped at €100 month, and if you work you can claim some of this back on tax.

Beats me why anyone pays for medical insurance here,

As long as you get up to date treatment and adhere to it your lifespan will not be affected.

I'm shocked at the attitudes here that this has uncovered.

prinz

rathbaner wrote: »

Bad luck!!....

Would you say the same to someone who dies playing russian roulette? Just a query, that I felt was deserved after your comment about being shocked at the attitudes uncovered.... you're shocked, I'm confused...what attitudes were uncovered in your opinion?

Zaph

prinz, kindly stay on-topic. If you want to know what other posters are thinking PM them, do not question them on-thread.

LegacyUser

caitinora wrote: »

I've been diagnosed as being HIV positive. I'm shattered. Wouldn't even have called myself promiscuous, only slept with four or five guys without protection this year. The cost of treating this is whats killing me altogether, Quinn won't cover it! Any suggestions or similar HIVers with sympathetic stories?

i dont mean to be nosey and i hope you will be able to make the most of your situation, but how did you know to get tested? did you have any sympthoms or were you falling ill regularly?

im sorry to hear your bad news, my friends brother has HIV but lives a normal balanced life despite this - he was a heroin addict and contracted it through shared needles, life goes on!