Author: hivblogger

Blogging, CD4 count, health, HIV, News, Viral loadLeave a comment

results and more tests…

hivblogger

It’s only two weeks since I was up at the HIV clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. That appointment was an emergency one due to the somewhat awful cough and chest infection from which I was suffering at the time. The news back then was that the results from May’s blood tests were very encouraging:

CD4 = 190 (9%)
VL = undetectable

Well, today I had the results of the tests on the blood taken two weeks ago. Whilst the CD4 count is down numerically to 140, the percentage is the same at 9%. This was not entirely unexpected as my body was fighting the chest infection at the time. Viral Load was once again undetectable.

My consultant, Dr Carol Emerson, reckoned that this was all down to a certain Andrew. Continue reading “results and more tests…”

HIVLeave a comment

and we’re down to 12 days – oops

hivblogger

Well it was bound to happen at some point. I’ve been very good at taking my meds, but with the last appointment at the clinic on the day before my civil partnership, I didn’t really have time to go and get the prescription for the next few months then. And so we’re down to 12 days’ worth of meds left. So up to the Royal Victoria Hospital I must go tomorrow to get the prescription. I’ll call in on the clinic to check the date of my next appointment as that seems to have gone astray as well in my … Continue reading and we’re down to 12 days – oops

Rate this:

Health, HIV, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment

England is advised to have better testing for HIV – can N. Ireland do it too?

hivblogger

It has been announced that the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued new guidelines on the uptake of testing for HIV. Unfortunately, this is really only advice for England due to the devolved nature of the governance of the United Kingdom nowadays. My quick question to the Northern Ireland Minister for Health is Will you seek to have these guidelines extended to Northern Ireland? Anyone who wants to read the guidelines (for England) can read them here Continue reading England is advised to have better testing for HIV – can N. Ireland do it too?

Rate this:

BloggingLeave a comment

last night’s worry – is taken away today

hivblogger

Last night, I was really worried. I had been out shopping with Andy and our friend John, during the afternoon. We had been to Tesco, followed by Ikea. By the end of it, I could hardly walk, and I was very worried. I came home, and started to run a bath, and as I undressed – well you didn’t expect me to get in fully clothed now did you – I found some more abscess-like marks on my body. One I had known about – and had yesterday not been a Public Holiday here in Northern Ireland, I’d have gone … Continue reading last night’s worry – is taken away today

Rate this:

catholic, England, gay, Health, Justice, LGBT, mental health, Newcastle, news, OSB1 Comment

no sex other than masturbation allowed – how do you check?

hivblogger
Mr Justice Mostyn, educated at top Catholic school Ampleforth, hands down judgment that is considered homophobic by some.

In a recent case before Mr Justice Mostyn the Court of Protection held in The Law Courts in Newcastle, a disabled man, aged 41 years (hereinafter referred to as ‘Alan’ in line with the judgment) has been barred from having sex with another man until he has a better grasp of the health implications of his act.

According to Pink News,

In the meantime, he will be closely supervised by the local council to ensure his sexual activity is restricted to masturbation in his bedroom or bathroom – and nothing more.

I have some questions about this. Continue reading “no sex other than masturbation allowed – how do you check?”

Adherence, HealthLeave a comment

when you’re ill, take it easy

hivblogger

And so once again I am not well. The persistent cough and cold has not gone away. Despite the use of decongestant and chest rub, I am told by Andrew that it is getting worse. Therefore we are off up to the RVH again this afternoon. Will report back when we know more. The best update is that the Meds have been taken every day. So that is good news. Continue reading when you’re ill, take it easy

Rate this:

Adherence, Disability, Health, HIV, mental health1 Comment

meditation: meds and myself…

hivblogger

As we begin a new year, many think about the things that they can decide to do in the new year. For me some of these have already been decided. Some are very private, others are much more public.

Two of mine are ones that I want to tell you about. Continue reading “meditation: meds and myself…”