Category: HIV

Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIVLeave a comment

1, 2, 3, and an apology

hivblogger

Up to the Royal Victoria Hospital again this afternoon for my, now standard, weekly check up. First the results: Viral Load 5 October 2010 – 250 21 October 2010 – 1,100 11 November 2010 – 8300 CD4 count Don’t have dates but it is 110 and 6% – so that is all much of a muchness. What these results mean For those of you who have been reading this blog since the beginning, this will be obviously not the best thing at all. With the viral load rising, and me taking the anti-retrovirals it seems that some drug has failed. … Continue reading 1, 2, 3, and an apology

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Health, HIV, Northern Ireland, politics, SDLP, Social DevelopmentLeave a comment

Belfast’s leading HIV charity supports Harrington Review findings

Michael McFarland Campbell

Wearing one of my many hats, I am a Trustee of Belfast’s local HIV charity, The HIV Support Centre. The Harrington Review into Work Capability Assessments that was published yesterday must be taken note of by Northern Ireland’s own Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood MLA. Below is the text of a post on The HIV Support Centre’s website. Continue reading “Belfast’s leading HIV charity supports Harrington Review findings”

Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, PVL-MRSA, SupportLeave a comment

Another week, more treatment, lots of support

hivblogger

It’s another week, and I’ve not had anything put up on this blog for ages, but it’s not because nothing has been happening – quite the opposite in fact. Life has been moving on. I have been working away and getting on with various things. However, last weekend I felt a bump on the back of my neck, and on Thursday I fought through the rain, gale force winds and awful traffic to make it up to the Gay Men’s clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. I thought it was probably a recurrence of the now dreaded PVL-MRSA … Continue reading Another week, more treatment, lots of support

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HIVLeave a comment

smiling and whistling under all difficulties

hivblogger

As you know, last week I was called up to the Royal Victoria Hospital for an appointment. There was something more virulent about the MRSA that had caused my abscesses earlier in the year. The results show that what I had was PVL-MRSA. Or to spell it out… Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, MRSA. This is particularly nasty. And has meant that I have had particularly nasty abscesses that have had to be drained in emergency surgery, both times. The particularly nasty side effect that has come up now is that since we are trying to prevent me getting this form bacteria again, … Continue reading smiling and whistling under all difficulties

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Health, HIVLeave a comment

MRSA yes, but a more virulent strain

hivblogger

This morning, I received a telephone call from one of the doctors at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital where I received the treatment for living with HIV. After getting the abscesses removed, a sample had been sent off for further testing. Apparently one of the reasons that I have had these attacks more often than most is that the particular strain of MRSA that I have is more virulent than usual. Further update tomorrow after my the appointment that was made today. Continue reading MRSA yes, but a more virulent strain

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Health, HIV, news, scam1 Comment

another HIV scam

hivblogger

The HIV Support Centre‘s news page has the following story, thought others might want to hear about what scams are out there for people living with HIV. The Food Standards Agency warned against ‘Miracle Mineral Solution‘ claims that it cures cancer and HIV. On the Mirror‘s website Andrew Penman writes: The Miracle Mineral Solution cure that could make you very sick Meet Jim Humble, a “bishop” who reckons that he can cure the sick – by getting them to drink bleach. For around £10 you can buy a bottle of Miracle Mineral Solution online. According to Humble’s website, it has … Continue reading another HIV scam

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Drugs, Health, HIV, news1 Comment

failure of cannabis prohibition – US government data demonstrates this

Michael McFarland Campbell

“Alcohol and tobacco are far more dangerous drugs than cannabis, but no one is being killed in an alcohol or cigarette black market because those drugs are legal, regulated and taxed.” Joseph D. McNamara Retired Chief of Police for San Jose, California Back in August I signed The Vienna Declaration to show my support for the ending of the prohibition of drugs. A new report issued by the International Centre for Science in Drug Policy (ICSDP) today entitled: Tools for debate: U.S. federal government data on cannabis prohibition uses US government data to show the clear failure of United States … Continue reading failure of cannabis prohibition – US government data demonstrates this

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Belfast, Disability, Health, HIV, Metro, news, Northern Ireland life, Translink, Transport, UlsterbusLeave a comment

Translink needs to work on access for disabled on buses

hivblogger

Having been falling asleep on the number 4a bus on the way home from the appointments of the day, I was very much awake when the bus driver let one person off at our stop, but then proceeded to drive on without letting myself, and my two escorts off as well – indeed we were still on the stairs at the time. I shouted No. STOP Everyone looked a bit surprised on the bus. Stephen says that those on the top deck (where he still was) were asking Did the driver just drive off there? And with the answer in … Continue reading Translink needs to work on access for disabled on buses

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Belfast, Health, HIV, newsLeave a comment

Translink needs to look at DDA again

hivblogger

Having been falling asleep on the bus on the way home from the appointments of the day, I was very much awake when the bus driver let one person off at our stop, but then proceeded to drive on without letting myself, and my two escorts off as well – indeed we were still on the stairs at the time. I shouted No. STOP Everyone looked a bit surprised on the bus. Stephen says that those on the top deck (where he still was) were asking Did the driver just drive off there? And with the answer in the affirmative, … Continue reading Translink needs to look at DDA again

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Drugs, HIV, SupportLeave a comment

it wasn't like it is in the porn films…

hivblogger

It’s about twenty-four hours since I went into hospital as there was blood and pus oozing from an abscess, and the doctor on call told me to head for the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. So, BelDoc told me to go to Accident and Emergency, so a friend of my boyfriend came over from north Belfast to east Belfast to take us to west Belfast and the RVH, I suspect that we did make it into south Belfast at some point but I’m not quite sure of the constituency boundaries. Once there, I reported on my predicament: having attended the … Continue reading it wasn't like it is in the porn films…

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