HIV/AIDS Awareness. A father’s choice.

Archive for the ‘Awareness’ Category

Today is Black AIDS Awareness Day and the fact that most of us don’t know about it is a sad statement on the HIV/AIDS crisis that continues in America.  There are currently over 1 million people currently in America living with HIV; HIV/AIDS affect so many in America, and is particularly a concern in the South and poor urban neighborhoods’.  The numbers are staggering but the current infection rates are highest among African-American men and women.   According to the website www.avert.org , the lifetime risk of being infected is 1 in 16 for black men and 1 in 30 for black women compared to 1 in 104 for white men and 1 in 588 for white women.  Avert.org is an international HIV and AIDS charity that began in 1986 and is based in the UK, working to avert HIV and AIDS worldwide, through education, treatment and care.

February 7^th, 2011 marks the 11^th year of the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness campaign here in America; this is a community testing and treatment initiative that targets black communities.  More than any other racial/ethnic group in the United States, blacks account for more new HIV infections, people estimated to be living with HIV disease challenges, and HIV/ Aids related disease deaths. Even though blacks make up 13% of the US population, they account for about half (49%) of the people who get HIV /AIDS. Unfortunately the Black population has more deaths due to HIV/AIDS than any other racial/ethnic group.  People of all genders and ethnicity need to get tested, get educated, get involved, and get treated.  As we all work to involve ourselves in the challenges ahead for people affected by HIV/AIDS, our best weapon is still knowledge of the disease and knowledge of treatment options available.  For information on local activities surrounding the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness campaign throughout the year, visit http://www.blackaidsday.org/.

Whatever your ethnicity, go and get tested on February 7^th; arm yourself with knowing the early signs of HIV and knowledge of HIV prevention and remove yourself from risky behaviors that could result in a positive test.  Volunteer your time helping at one of the many local HIV/AIDS community action groups and show compassion to those suffering from HIV/AIDS.  Become a part of the solution and not just a statistic. Let us work together to reverse these staggering numbers in the black community and in our country at large; we can’t go another year without Universal Access for HIV/AIDS affected people.

As I sat at my desk to start my research, I came across this headline:  Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Keys died. In this case, death is a good thing; they did it to support Aids research. Find out more at http://bit.ly/gIhfpr.
Following the celebrity attention, I thought about this year’s World AID’s Day theme and how it related to my life; the theme of 2010 World Aids Day is “Human Rights and Universal Access” is so relevant for this moment in time when the world and it’s governments are having so many financial setbacks, loss of jobs, and hardship for so many. We can’t forget that HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care are fundamental human rights, and protecting those rights are essential in combating the world HIV/AIDS epidemic. Not only do we need to raise AID’s awareness, but by advocating individual human rights in this manner, we’ll see a decrease in new infections. All people that are living with HIV/AIDS must live free from stigma and discrimination.
I continued to research and the familiar smile of “Magic” Ervin Johnson flashed across the screen.  A man who was supposed to die when he announced he was HIV positive 20 yrs ago. I realize that many AIDS activists feel he is not your typical person living with HIV because he can afford the best care money can provide and does not have to worry about getting placed on a waiting list to get his meds through (ADAP) Aids Drug Assistance program.  However, as controversial as he may be in some people’s eyes, I do believe in giving credit where credit is due.  Many people around the world look up to Magic Johnson; not as much for what he did on the court, but more as a successful businessman who helps by investing in African-American neighborhoods to help with prevention education, treatment options, and HIV/AIDS awareness. Johnson has become a spokesman for the treatment of the disease, and founded the Magic Johnson Foundation, which promotes better access to treatment and testing. At a reception the Sunday before World Aids Day, and sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Johnson was presented with its inaugural “World AIDS Day Magic Award.”  Magic’s contributory efforts need to be recognized for helping improve the lives of many who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. This in turn helps by providing hope, awareness, access and prevention that pleases many…but not all.  If you would like to get involved with the Magic Johnson Foundation, please Click here to learn more about it.

On Worlds Aids Day, I attended a local event at Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Phoenix.  The evening began with a speaker presenting some startling facts about HIV. Following the speaker, the attendees were entertained with a show & music that was well received on a warm evening that closed out with prayers that honored the memories of those who’ve passed away. I urge you to take a moment to express your appreciation and give the gift of service by volunteering and lending a hand as often as possible to anyone you may know who is infected and to the many (ASO) Aids Service Organizations & Educational services that rely heavily on volunteers to spread the word of awareness, prevention, and treatment to those facing the many challenges of HIV/AIDS.
Have a safe and wonderful holiday!
Kelly Markell

We are working out way throught the 20 Things You Should Know About HIV (And Probably Don’t). Yesterday, we talked about inflammation and today we are going to talk a bit more where it causes problems.

 “It takes guts to get out of the ruts.” ~Robert Schuller 

#11:  70% of the body’s immune cells are in your intestines.

Yes it’s true, your gut normally contains about 70% of your immune cells. The immune system in the gut is called gut-associated lymphoid tissue or GALT and protects your body from invaders in food.

From the earliest stages of infection, HIV causes injury to the lining of the intestines as it infects the many CD4 T-cells present. This damage allows microbes (germs) living in your gut to leak out. As these bacteria and their toxins such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enter your bloodstream they trigger systemic immune activation and the resulting inflammatory response.

When it happens, people experience something called leaky gut syndrome. It results from damaging the cells of the small intestine so that the spaces between them become larger and allow these’ particles to pass through into your blood stream.

HIV is one of the culprits that cause leaky gut syndrome, but others include medications and a diet high in sugars, processed foods and alcohol. Other contributors include too many free radicals and some nutrient deficiencies.

Why is this important to you?

Inflammation in the gut makes it easier for germs to pass out of the intestine and leak into your body. This leaky gut contributes to the cycle of activating your immune and inflammatory responses. Inflammation in the gut also contributes to poor absorption of the nutrients you need to stay healthy.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are molecules that are part of the coating of some bacteria normally found in the intestines and they produce a strong immune response when they  get in your bloodstream. High levels in the blood are a sign of “leaky gut” syndrome. As we shared in #11, an activate immune system leads to inflammation and damage to your organs.

Scientists have also found strong evidence that LPS helps HIV to penetrate the usually impregnable blood-brain barrier contributing to HIV-associated dementia and other cognitive disorders. In other words, what leaked from your gut is allowing HIV to harm your brain.

This speeds up HIV’s march on your whole body – not just your immune system.

How does this affect your path?

Knowing that you have to start monitoring your health immediately after diagnosis is the very first step to understanding all that is happening inside your body. There are many things to know and even more to understand how it affect you.

Doing all that you can to maintain good overall health by eating right, getting plenty of rest and exercising is even more critical than you may have thought. You do have some control over how HIV affects your body by the choices you make from the day you are diagnosed/.

 “Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” ~Ayn Rand

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

We are working out way throught the 20 Things You Should Know About HIV (And Probably Don’t). Today let’s talk about one more important issue that may not be on everyone’s mind when thinking about HIV.

“Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.” ~ Sun Tzu

#11  The real enemy in HIV may be inflammation.

When your body gets invaded by viruses or bacteria or has to repair itself from injury, lots of fluid and cells run to the area. You may notice this effect from a swollen nose when you have a cold or the pain and swelling of a sprained ankle.

Something similar happens when you are HIV positive. When HIV chronically infects the body, cells and tissues are being destroyed and there is healing. But there is also inflammation that can lead to heart, liver and kidney disease.

Why is this important to you?

During the Asymptomatic Stage of HIV that lasts up to ten years (also called the latency period), this process of inflammation is still happening. When you hear that it is important to take good care of yourself and minimize getting sick from other infections, this is one of the reasons it is so important.

Whenever your immune system is activated due to illness or injury,  more T-cells are being made in your normal immune system response. HIV can then infect more T-cells and cause more damage in your body. You are in fact providing HIV with the environment to grow and the whole cycle starts all over again with each infection.

Your immune system is already turned on because of the chronic infection of HIV – even during the latency period. When you get another infection, it becomes highly activated and sometimes doesn’t turn off as well resulting in a prolonged inflammatory response.

The chronic inflammation that results causes tissue damage and scarring. It can also contribute to allergies, asthma or autoimmune diseases like arthritis. More importantly it can contribute to damage in your heart, liver and kidneys more commonly associated with aging.

There is concern that HIV leads to an overactive immune system which leads to the inflammatory response. While you might be thinking it is important to keep your immune system firing, it is now being shown that it is a good idea to calm the body’s over excited inflammatory response to HIV and potentially slow the aging process in people living with HIV. If not, you risk burning out your immune system even faster.

This speeds up HIV’s march on your whole body – not just your immune system.

How does this affect your path?

There is more research that is needed before we know how to prevent heart, liver, and kidney disease in people with HIV. But one thing needs no more research to be clear: HIV isn’t sitting around doing nothing during it’s latency period. It is leaving a significant impact on your immune system and your vital organs.

You choice to maintain good overall health by eating right, getting plenty of rest and exercising is even more critical than you may have thought. You do have some control over how HIV affects your body by the choices you make from the day you are infected.

 “Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” ~Ayn Rand

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

Now on to #10 of the 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t). These 25 things will impact what you do and the choices you will make.

“A good retreat is better than a bad stand.” ~Irish saying

#10: HIV can retreat to places the immune system cannot follow like your brain.

HIV can cross the brain-blood barrier (move from your blood to your brain), infecting cells in your nervous system. Most immune cells cannot cross that barrier, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord, so HIV can retreat where the immune system can’t follow. It enters the brain soon after initial infection – typically within the first several days – but doesn’t cause significant damage right away.

HIV in the brain doesn’t go after your neurons, those important brain cells responsible for transmission of electrical impulses that control the body. Instead, it goes after other cells that have long lives. Once inside these long-lived cells, HIV can stay in a latent state for an extended period of time.

Rather than directly killing brain cells – as it does with CD4 T-cells elsewhere in your body – HIV affects your brain by setting off a cascade of damages through inflammation and oxidative stress caused by free radicals..

Why is this important to you?

The damage that HIV causes to your brain and to your central nervous system can impair your neurocognitive functions. That can bring on symptoms such as poor attention, memory lapses, and mood changes.

Understanding what your viral load is in your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as well as your blood plasma is something to consider this when working with your doctor on your treatment regimen. Some antiretroviral drugs are better than others in crossing the blood-brain barrier and they can impact your CSF viral load.

Reducing your viral load in the plasma and CSF may be necessary to reduce neurocognitive impairment, but it will not halt all the inflammatory responses or completely undo the damage caused by HIV’s march on the brain.

While effective antiretroviral treatment and recovery of your immune system dramatically reduce the occurrence of these complications in your brain and severe HIV-related dementia, mild-to-moderate impairment of your neurocognitive and motor functions is still a concern even with treatment.

How does this affect your path?

There seems to be a never ending flow of information that you have to know to keep up with HIV. Choosing to be a full partner in your treatment and understanding all you can about how HIV affects your body is going to be a huge decision for you.

 Battles have to be waged on many fronts to deal with HIV in your body. HIV is not just a disease of your immune system – it affects many of your major organs.

It will have to be your choice to stay on top of what is happening in your body and what is happening with your treatment. While it may seem that HIV has taken away some of your choices, it has presented you with a whole set of new ones.

 “Every man builds his world in his own image. He has the power to choose, but no power to escape the necessity of choice.” ~Ayn Rand

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

Yes, it’s #9 of the 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t). These 25 things will impact what you do and the choices you will make.

“When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, every day a little, suddenly the work will finish itself.”~Isak Dinesen

#9: It is better not to start HIV treatment if you can’t take your medicine every day.

Remember the old saying “In for a penny, in for a pound.” I used to wonder what that meant…  It means that when gambling or taking a chance, you might as well go the whole way and take all the risks, not just some.

In the case of HIV treatment, you’ve got to be in for a pound because you are taking more risks if you are just in for a penny.  If you don’t go the whole way and take your HIV meds every day as prescribed, you are far more likely to allow the HIV virus to mutate in your body and become resistant to the drugs that you are taking.

Resistance happens when the HAART therapy you are taking no longer works to keep your HIV viral load down. The virus starts to multiply and to damage your immune system.

Why is this important to you?

Your front line therapy against HIV is your best option to keep your viral load down and your CD4 count high. Drugs can stop working over time and you may need to determine what your second and third line therapies will be.

Losing one of these therapies because you can’t take your medication as it was prescribed lowers the options available to you to fight HIV. And you are going to want as many of them as you can if you experience side effects to some medications.

It is better to stop your therapy until you are ready to face it and take your medications every single day on time. Although there are risks that your viral load will increase if you stop, there is less risk that you will develop resistance to these life savings drugs.

How does this affect your path?

We have talked about the choices and decisions that you have to make when you are HIV positive in many of my blog posts.

This is going to be one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. It’s never too late to start and benefit from therapy, but starting earlier rather than waiting too long may decrease damage to your immune system and give you a better long-term health outcomes.

Starting earlier and not following your treatment guidelines not only causes you to lose the benefits of the therapy, it can cause you to lose a whole lot more.

Staying on any treatment program is difficult under the best of conditions. How many times have we all forgotten to take even a simple course of antibiotics for strep throat?

Taking medicines for HIV sometimes means taking a ten or more pills a day at specific times – some with food, some without. So it’s no big surprise that we might have some trouble keeping up with the schedule. You’ve got to take an honest look at your life and what you do each day that will support adhering to your program.

I know I have said it before, but you have to get in the game here and know all the rules if you are going to fight HIV.

Another one of those rules is that it does more harm to start your treatment and not follow it every day than it does to wait a little while until you are ready to commit.

 “It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” ~Zig Ziglar

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

Last week I wrote a blog post about bullying. It started with a quote that I read:

“Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke.” ~Benjamin Disraeli

I asked the bullies:

What are you afraid of?

I asked that because if you have to bully someone, you’ve got to be afraid of something big in yourself or something that you don’t understand  – or you wouldn’t be putting up all that smoke.

Yesterday, I was sent a link to a blog post in Marie Claire written by a young woman named Maura Kelly who is a recovering anorexic. Now I am not a big reader of women’s fashion magazines, so this one would have gone by unnoticed without the help of one of the readers of this blog.

Here is some of what she said about TV characters that are overweight:

“So anyway, yes, I think I’d be grossed out if I had to watch two characters with rolls and rolls of fat kissing each other … because I’d be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything. To be brutally honest, even in real life, I find it displeasing to watch a very, very fat person simply walk across a room.”

She goes on to say much more if you want to read the entire post at:

http://www.marieclaire.com/sex-love/dating-blog/overweight-couples-on-television 

Take the words overweight, fat, and obese and replace them with gay, lesbian and transgendered and you have the essence of the bigoted arguments across this country against the LGBT community. Or we could even add in the words being HIV positive.

Here are some of Maura Kelly’s words about people of size with a fews substitutions highlighted:

“Now, don’t go getting the wrong impression: I have a few friends who could be called gay I’m not some homophobic jerk.”

“I think homosexuality is something that most people have a ton of control over. It’s something they can change, if only they put their minds to it.”

“I think I’d be grossed out if I had to watch two characters who were HIV positive … because I’d be grossed out if I had to watch them doing anything.”

Sounds hauntingly familiar doesn’t it? I am sure there are a lot of groups that could be singled out using her choice of words and intent.

Yes, Maura Kelly is a bully by the very nature of the definition. She uses her words and actions to intimidate others and she is hiding behind her “right” to express her opinion to defend her intimidation. Her target this time in a national publication was people she perceived as different, people who were overweight.

We can’t stop bullying if we allow it in any form or at any target. I maintain the root of bullying is fear and fear blocks our ability to see or treat someone different with kindness or compassion. Are we afraid because we perceive someone is smarter than us, someone looks different, or someone has a different religion or culture?

I work everyday with HIV positive people who are afraid of others finding out about their status. I think we all know what they are afraid about.  It comes in the shape of bloggers in national magazines who wear pretty clothes and in too many others.

Just because I work equally hard every day to keep my body in good shape, it doesn’t mean that I have a right to exert some perceived superiority over those whose Body Mass Index is greater than mine.  Yet, this kind of bullying is obviously happening on a national scale and Marie Claire magazine certainly endorses it. Is it any different than the bullying that goes on against the gay or HIV communities?

As a Dad, I want to make things better, but this problem is more than I know what to do with. All I can do is to talk about it and keep talking about it.

Face your own fears and stop the bullying!

Can you believe that we are up to #8 of the 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. These 25 things will impact what you do and the choices you will make.

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.  ~Anaïs Nin

#8: There is no such thing as one size fits all with HIV.            

HIV affects each of us differently. We can’t expect to check out a book and know exactly how this disease will progress in your body or what your body’s reaction will be to HIV or its treatment.

Did you know there are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2? Both types are transmitted by sexual contact, through blood, and from mother to child, and they appear to cause virtually indistinguishable AIDS. However, it seems that HIV-2 is less easily transmitted, and the period between initial infection and illness is longer in the case of HIV-2.

Most of the infections across the world are HIV-1. However, there are different strains of HIV-1.  The strains of HIV-1 can be classified into four groups: the “major” group M, the “outlier” group O and two new groups, N and P.

Within group M there are known to be at least nine genetically distinct subtypes (or clades) of HIV-1. These are subtypes A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J and K.

Why is this important to you?

It has been found that certain subtypes react differently to antiretroviral drugs and others progress to AIDS much faster. Most current HIV-1 antiretroviral drugs were designed for use against subtype B, but there is no real evidence that they are less effective against other subtypes. Nevertheless, some subtypes may be more likely to develop resistance to certain drugs and impact the effectiveness of your treatment.

You can never say “it is only HIV” because “only HIV” is much more complex than you may think.

It is possible to become infected with more than one strain of HIV known as a “superinfection”. In these cases, the second infection can occur months after the first. It appears that the body’s immune response to the first virus sometimes isn’t enough to prevent infection with a second strain, especially with a virus belonging to a different subtype.

It has been shown that “superinfection” can be harder and less predictable to treat. Drug resistance is a huge problem. There is no got it and I will take a few pills a day to keep it at bay.

How does this affect your path?

We always have choices to make with HIV. When you make the choice to put your self at risk, do you really understand what that risk is?

If you are HIV positive, please make the choice to learn all that you can about HIV and protect yourself and your partners against secondary infection. A fighter knows the rules of the game.

Another one of those rules is that there are no hard rules when it comes to HIV infection and how it will react in your body. The only sure rule is that you will lose if you try to ignore HIV.

 ““The first rule is not to lose. The second rule is not to forget the first rule.” Warren Buffet

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

We are back with the 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. Today is #7.  These 25 things will impact what you do and the choices you will make.

“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.  ~Anaïs Nin

#7: Smoking makes symptoms and side effects of HIV disease worse.            

Smoking weakens the immune system. When you smoke, you get sick more often from HIV and it makes it more difficult to fight off serious infections.

Smoking is a pleasure for many of us and we often use it to help us cope when dealing with stress. The only problem here is that you will experience more stress (both physical and emotional) when you have to face getting sick more often.

Smoking makes the side effects of HIV treatment more severe. It is has been shown that if you smoke and take antiretroviral drugs, you are far more likely to suffer side effects like nausea and vomiting.

Some of the other long term side effects of treatment like osteoporosis (weakening of bones) and cardiovascular disease (heart attacks) are made worse by smoking.

Why is this important to you?

Smoking is like a big road block in your fight with HIV. It has been shown that smoking can even interfere with how your liver processes your HIV medications.

HIV is going to put many demands on your body. You will be asking your body and your immune system to step up and fight every day for the rest of your life. Smoking can take you out of that fight or make the fight more intense and stressful.

It is no longer a question of quitting smoking somewhere down the road because it could be a problem for your health. Smoking is a problem for your health today if you are HIV positive.

How does this affect your path?

There are many choices to make when facing an HIV positive diagnosis.

If you have already made the choice to fight this disease and live your life without limitations, please make the choice to learn all that you can about HIV. A fighter knows the rules of the game.

One of those rules is that you must choose whether to smoke or to make your life with HIV easier. It may seem a simple choice to someone who doesn’t smoke, but it is very difficult to quit smoking. You are probably going to need some help and the first step is to talk to your healthcare provider about medications or support groups to help you quit.

You can also go to http://smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW to find out about support in your area.

HIV means facing a new reality and making some tough choices. Your choice to stop smoking is a choice to live the best life possible with HIV.

“There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it’s easy.”~Unknown

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

We are sharing 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. Today is #5.  These 25 things will impact what you do and the moves you will make.

“It is always your next move.” ~Napolean Hill

#5: HIV doesn’t just affect your immune system            

From the day you are infected with HIV, changes are happening in your body. We talk a lot about the changes in your immune system, but other things are happening as well.

Some of the changes are a result of the HIV infection and some are an unintended result of the treatment. Regardless of how they came about, issues that we might associate with aging like diabetes (high blood sugar), high cholesterol and triglycerides, and fat redistribution can affect those who are HIV positive.

Lipodystrophy, also called fat redistribution syndrome is the name of this group of symptoms. It is known for its changes in your body shape and in your metabolism.

Your body shape may change by the accumulation and/or loss of fat, which can affect your appearance. Metabolic changes may include increased resistance to insulin and those abnormally high levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides. You may get one or more of these conditions if you are HIV positive.

Why is this important to you?

Doctors aren’t really sure why those who are HIV positive develop lipodystrophy, but they think it may be related to antiretroviral medications you take to control your HIV. It may also have something to do with your age, overall health, and how long you have been HIV positive.

But they are sure that you have a plenty of choices you can make each day that can improve the effects of lipodystrophy on your body.  A single choice that you make can often control more than one symptom.

These are long term conditions that have a progressive effect on your overall health.

How does this affect your path?

You are faced with choices every day and you can make healthy choices that can improve your symptoms of lipodystrophy. These include eating a healthy diet rich in fiber and “good fats” like Omega 3 and a daily dose of exercise that includes some use of resistance (weight training) and aerobic exercises.

Along with some treatments prescribed by your doctor, you have the power to make a real impact in this aspect of HIV and how it affects your life. If you have your viral load under control, you may as well look good while you are feeling good.

“He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still.”~ Lao Tzu

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

To read all of the 25 Things You Should Know About HIV (And Probably Don’t), please click on Kellys Blog to read each one of them as they are released. Or enter your name and email address in the boxes in the right column of this page. We will send you a complete copy of all 25 Things.

For more information on Lipodystrophy and other HIV related conditions, please check out our Info Center.

We are sharing 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. Today is #4.  These 25 things will impact what you do and the choices you will make.

“Understand that the right to choose your own path is a sacred privilege. Use it. Dwell in possibility.” ~Oprah Winfrey

#4: Don’t search for symptoms to prove you are HIV positive.            

If you go looking for symptoms of HIV when you think you may have been exposed, you probably won’t find them. When you are infected, your body’s response may be so subtle there are no signs or symptoms you have an invader in your system.

When you are first infected, you go through something called the Primary HIV Infection and it typically only lasts a week or so as the virus establishes itself in your body. About two out of every three people might get a mild flu-like feeling, but it won’t be distinguishable from the flu or other viral infections.

After the primary stage of HIV infection, you continue to look and feel completely well for long periods, usually for many years. This is called the Asymptomatic Stage where the only indication that you are infected with HIV is that you will test positive on standard HIV tests and you may have swollen glands.

Why is this important to you?

During this time (usually around ten years) that you show no symptoms, you can still infect others and your immune system is slowly being destroyed until you pass into full blown AIDS.

Even though you are feeling good and appear healthy, HIV is still very active. At some point, your immune system gets damaged and the virus starts to replicate very rapidly.

The time to address HIV and begin your battle is before you have any symptoms. During these years, you will need to be checked about every three months to make sure nothing has changed with your health.  

Your best treatment options are available to you before you start to get sick from HIV. It gives you a better chance of survival and improved quality of life. You have the opportunity to take control of your treatment and your health.

How does this affect your path?

You are faced with choices every day. Ignoring the facts about HIV is a choice.

If you have already made the choice to expose yourself to HIV through risky behavior, please make the choice to get tested regularly. If you have tested positive, don’t wait to get sick before you see a doctor.

Ten years might seem like a long time, but it gets awfully short when you are facing the end of your life.

“When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice”.  ~William James

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

We are sharing 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. Today in Day #3.  We have identified these 25 things that you should know because they impact your actions and the path that you take..

“Nobody trips over mountains.  It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble.  Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain.”  ~Unknown

Day #3: HIV treatment is a lot more than just popping a couple of pills.

Today we are going to talk a bit more about the fact that people no longer think that HIV is a big deal. Even Oprah got caught last week saying, “You look at people like Magic Johnson and you realize that you can live a healthy, happy, long life” with HIV.  Sure you can Oprah, but there are a few facts that step in the way.

As Oprah’s guest Bridget pointed out to her… who wants to take pills twice a day for the rest of your life? Especially when the side effects of some of them can be wicked?

Those antiretroviral drugs that can make such a difference in living longer and getting sick less often (when you are HIV positive) are not something to be treated lightly. Doctors say that you have to remember to take your HIV medications as prescribed 95% of the time for them to be effective.

If you don’t, you risk that your HIV virus will mutate into something that is no longer responding to your medication. In short, your viral load will go up and your CD4 count will go down. More virus and less immune system.

Why is this important to you?

Getting treated for HIV means a lifetime of doctors, tests, and uncertainty. Even if you don’t feel sick.

When you are HIV positive, you will always be checking and rechecking on your health. During those first few years after you are infected, you probably won’t have any symptoms or require medication. But you will need to be checked every three months for a change in your health status.

I am not saying you can’t live a happy, healthy and long life with HIV. But do you want to live with that stress and uncertainty? Certainly this is a whole lot more than just popping a couple of pills.

When you do start to get sick from HIV, your viral load is up and your CD4 count is down. It will be time to start your antiretroviral drugs. Known as HARRT, this treatment regimen can be tough on your body with common side effects known as the big three: nausea, fatigue, and diarrhea.

You aren’t faced with a lot of choices here. Take the drugs 95% of the time so that they are effective (and save your life) but perhaps feel sick when take them.  Some meds must be taken several times a day at specific times and you may need to change what and when you eat, what you drink, and even what you do.

How does this affect your path?

Taking risks and exposing yourself to HIV is a choice that you make. Please remember that choice may be taking away a whole lot of other choices for the rest of your life.

“Some choices we live not only once but a thousand times over, remembering them for the rest of our lives.”~ Richard Bach

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

We are sharing 25 things you should know about HIV (and probably don’t) over 25 days. Today in Day #2.  We have identified these 25 things that you should know because they impact your actions and what path you take.

One more time with a favorite quote of mine: “There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” ~Morpheus. (Any Matrix lovers out there?)

Day #2: HIV is NOT a chronic manageable disease for everyone.

We used to think that HIV infection was a death sentence because we saw the images of some really sick people in the media. Most of us probably knew someone or heard of someone who got sick and died from AIDS.

Now lots of people think that HIV is no big deal. We have a few magic bullet pills to take each day that make HIV no longer a threat in our life. Get infected? So what? I can just take the antiretrovirals and be okay…

But unfortunately, that is just not true and this belief may be leading people to engage is some very risky behaviors because they don’t know the real consequences.

Why is this important to you?

Let’s get real here. HIV is probably manageable but certainly not cured by medication. There are no magic bullets here.

You may not know that HIV meds don’t eliminate all the virus from your body. What they do is merely reduce levels of the virus to undetectable levels, or less than 75 copies per milliliter of blood. Now that is enough to keep them from inflicting major damage on your immune system. But, you have about 5200 milliliters of blood in your body or around 400,000 copies of the virus hanging around.

And those 400,000 copies can still do some do some harm because they can mutate and cause drug resistance. They are also causing an inflammation response in your body that impacts many of your major organs including your brain.

You don’t have to feel or look sick for HIV to continue its march inside your body that has long term effects.

How does this affect your path?

Taking risks and exposing yourself to HIV means a lifetime battle against the virus. No vacations, no time off for good behavior.

What you can manage about HIV is your treatment program, your overall health, and your lifestyle. You can reduce complications and drug resistance by following the plan you develop with your doctor. You can help control the impact of your side effects by working with your doctor and let him know what you are experiencing.

What you can’t manage about HIV is that it is an invader that seeks to wreak havoc on your body and at best, you can expect a draw in your ongoing battle. There is never a total victory – yet.

 “In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.”  ~Ulysses S. Grant

Do you really want to put yourself in this war?

The power is yours. What path will you choose?

Starting today, for the next 25 days we are going to share 25 things you should know about HIV and probably don’t.

Here at MyHIVAIDSAwareness.com, we focus on researching credible and trustworthy sources of information. Our team thoroughly reviews the mountains of data – some opinion and some fact – to present simple personal solutions that can make a difference in living with HIV/AIDS.

We come across a tremendous amount of information that can be sometimes confusing and contradictory. We have identified these 25 things that you should know because they impact your actions and what path you take.

I have shared a favorite quote before, but I’d like to share it again. “There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” ~Morpheus

DAY 1: The truth about HIV testing

The standard HIV test looks for the presence of HIV antibodies in your blood. It doesn’t test for the presence of the virus in your system. This means a lot when you are talking about knowing your status for sure.

Why is this important to you?

If you are infected with HIV, your body responds by producing special proteins to fight the infection. These are called antibodies and are part of your immune system response. An HIV antibody test looks for these antibodies in your blood, saliva or urine. If antibodies to HIV are detected in your body, it means you have been infected with HIV.

It takes most people 6 – 12 weeks to develop detectable HIV antibodies after infection. Very rarely, it can take up to 6 months and that usually means you have some other auto-immune disorder.  It is very unlikely that it would take longer than 6 months to develop antibodies in your body.

The time between when you are infected and when your body produces antibodies is called the “window period”.

During the window period you will test negative for HIV antibodies, but could still be infected and transmit HIV to others. To avoid false negatives, antibody tests are recommended three months after potential exposure to HIV infection. A second test at six months will confirm you are HIV negative ONLY if you don’t have continued risk of exposure.

How does this affect your path?

It means that you could be infecting others for up to three months after you are infected and not know it because you test negative.  Unless you don’t expose yourself to risk of HIV infection for a period of six months, you really don’t know for sure that you are HIV negative – no matter what your latest test says.  To prevent potentially exposing others, you’ve got to assume you are HIV positive and take safe sex precautions.

The power is yours. Which path will you choose?

There is just no other way to say this…

HIV testing laws in this country are ridiculous.

I read through some of the laws at this site: http://www.nccc.ucsf.edu/consultation_library/state_hiv_testing_laws/

HIV testing should just be part of regular healthcare process. Get a physical – get tested in the same way that our cholesterol and blood sugar are tested. What is so difficult about that? Why make it so hard with the requirements for pre and post-test counseling and written consent as it is in many states? Why single out this test?

In September 2006, the CDC  recommended routine HIV testing for all Americans aged 13–64, which would eliminate requirements for written consent and pretest counseling. It is four years later and many of the states have yet to change their laws.

In fact, they call it one of the most widely undone and disregarded guidelines in medicine!

Last week we were all talking about the newly released study from the CDC that looked at gay males in 21 major cities. The researchers found that 20% were HIV positive and 44% did not know their status. These are shocking numbers that make an entire population at risk. As a gay male, you could look around a room and basically one out of every ten people don’t know that they can transmit a catastrophic disease to you.

There is finally a new law in New York requiring that HIV tests routinely be offered to all New Yorkers between the ages of 13 to 64. The CDC estimates more than 100,000 people in New York City are infected and about one in five don’t know their status. That makes about 20,000 people potentially infecting others and not knowing it in just one city.

New York health officials expect to see a rise in new cases of HIV and that is the intent of the new law.

Do you know the law in your state? Please check it out and let your legislature know that HIV testing needs to be an easy process to encourage as many people as possible to get tested.

It only makes sense.