Category: HIV

Benedict XVI, catholic, christian, gay, Health, HIV, London, news, sufferingLeave a comment

‘six hundred of the men who got sick and died were young and fellow Catholics’

Michael McFarland Campbell

I didn’t think that I would be posting quite as quickly after the last post – but reading what I have just read really makes me want to make sure others get to read what Fr Bernard Lynch said at a rally in London today. As someone living with HIV, Fr Lynch’s words somewhat grabbed hold of me. Fortunately, we can now live with HIV – it is no longer the death sentence it once was. Here is a wordle followed by the full text… Dear Holy Father, Welcome to the United Kingdom. I am one of your fellow priests … Continue reading ‘six hundred of the men who got sick and died were young and fellow Catholics’

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Belfast, Drugs, Health, HIV, Northern Ireland lifeLeave a comment

rvh clinic needs to rethink working practices

Michael McFarland Campbell

I was up at the Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday for my regular checkup. The visit is now pretty routine, with a regular way of working: arrive, check in with the lovely receptionist, sit in waiting room (for ages) see consultant have blood taken for testing head down to pharmacy for prescription Now, my appointment was at 2.30pm but I was finally seen by my consultant at 3.45pm. Then had a long wait for the bloods to be taken. When I was finally called for the bloods by the nursing staff, I pointed out that I would not be able to … Continue reading rvh clinic needs to rethink working practices

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Drugs, Health, HIV, Northern Ireland life, politics1 Comment

time to call a halt on the war on drugs

Michael McFarland Campbell

For many politicians there are many policies to which they refer as “Wars on X”. In recent years, most notably we have the “War on Terror”, and the “War on Drugs”. When the former was used by President George W. Bush,

to denote a global military, political, legal and ideological struggle against organizations designated as terrorist and regimes that were accused of having a connection to them or providing them with support or were perceived, or presented as posing a threat to the US and its allies in general. It was typically used with a particular focus on militant Islamists and al-Qaeda” militant Islamists and al-Qaeda.

(from War on Terror (my emphases in bold)) Continue reading “time to call a halt on the war on drugs”

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Cure for HIV infection must now be major scientific priority, Vienna AIDS conference hears

hivblogger

A cure for HIV infection is scientifically feasible and increasingly necessary, but the goal requires focus and funding, said Sharon Lewin of Monash University in Melbourne, in a keynote address at the opening session of the AIDS 2010 conference and at a preceding workshop organised by the International AIDS Society (IAS).

Antiretroviral therapy has dramatically reduced illness and increased survival, but people with HIV still do not achieve normal life expectancy relative to the general population, Lewin said. In addition, a growing body of evidence indicates that even very low-level virus contributes to a number of health problems. Continue reading “Cure for HIV infection must now be major scientific priority, Vienna AIDS conference hears”

Adherence, Drugs, Food, HIV, Recipes, Support1 Comment

May 1, 2010

hivblogger

It’s been quite a while since  I posted here. The main reason was that everything came to a head at the end of March, and I ended up being admitted to hospital with an abscess caused by MRSA. This was actually quite a good thing as this resulted in a number of things happen. Whilst in hospital: I restarted my antiretrovirals (Truvada and Viramune) the abscess was drained my clinical psychologist arrived down (instead of me going to visit him) my social worker arrived came in to talk about what would happen next there was a referral to the Psychiatric … Continue reading May 1, 2010

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, newsLeave a comment

February 24

hivblogger

Well it is nearly eleven months since I found out that I was living with HIV. Yesterday, I was up at the HIV clinic once more. Results CD4= 160%, 8% Viral Load = 60,000 On diagnosis, my CD4 count was 100, but my Viral Load was 29,000. Meds With the news that my viral load was more than double what it was when I was diaganosed – I rethought the issue of medication and was prescribed the same combination as the last lot I tried. That is, Viramune and Truvada. I took them last thing at night last night and … Continue reading February 24

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, news1 Comment

December 24 – Christmas Eve

hivblogger

Well, it indeed has been a long time since last I posted here. This is not because nothing was happening, but more I was trying to work out what to say. So here is a go, Results The results from the last time I was up at the clinic (well the time before last week) are as follows: CD4 = 140. Viral Load = 220. Meds Following much thought, and in conjunction with the consultant at the hospital – I have decided to come off the meds for the moment. I have not been regular in taking them and in … Continue reading December 24 – Christmas Eve

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December 2

hivblogger

The Day after World Aids Day 2009

December 1st has come and gone again for the next year and still people don’t even know what the red ribbon is.

I was talking to a friend last night, he told me of his being the only person, at a meeting of over 20 attendees last night, who actually was wearing a red ribbon. He said that this was really because there was no where to buy a red ribbon. Continue reading “December 2”

Armagh, Health, HIV, news, UncategorizedLeave a comment

2 people in NI diagnosed every week with HIV: what we must do to stop this…

Michael McFarland Campbell

In the City of Armagh today, the Spring Youth Project came together with The HIV Support Centre, Northern Ireland’s leading HIV/AIDS charity, and Armagh City and District Council to show what the 14-16 year olds had learnt in recent HIV awareness training. Continue reading 2 people in NI diagnosed every week with HIV: what we must do to stop this…

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