Category: Health

HIV, SupportLeave a comment

July 29

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One new positive friend… It’s a funny world. In one week I have discovered more friends that are positive. But also heard bad news about one friend. Finding out that friends I’ve had for months are in fact positive and have been for as long as I have known them is an interesting experience. On a certain dating site I have a profile that makes it clear that I am HIV positive. I used to have a profile that didn’t, and it was through that profile I met the friend that told me he was positive last night. He asked … Continue reading July 29

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HIV, Viral load2 Comments

July 21

hivblogger

Good news finally today. I was up at the HIV Clinic once more today and found out that there was really good news. My Viral Load count has come down. In fact it is now so low that it is undetectable. In the words of another friend who also got this result a couple of weeks ago. ” I may have to celebrate. “ Although this is good news, this doesn’t totally stop the feelings of depression and lack of motivation that are still floating around in my head. More good news is that I am becoming better at taking … Continue reading July 21

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Adherence, Drugs, HIVLeave a comment

July 15 – St Swithun's Day

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St Swithun’s day if thou dost rain For forty days it will remain St Swithun’s day if thou be fair For forty days ’twill rain na mair Raining in Belfast And so as normal, on July 15, it is raining. Let’s hope that the traditional rhyme doesn’t apply in this ecclesiastical Province of Armagh but only in that of Canterbury. Or maybe it only applies in the diocese of Winchester where St Swithun lived, worked, and was buried. Long time.. no post It has indeed been quite a while since last I posted to this blog. This has been because … Continue reading July 15 – St Swithun's Day

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CD4 count, Drugs, HIV, Support, Uncategorized1 Comment

June 23

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St Etheldreda’s Day Today is St Etheldreda’s Day. The day that the Church remembers a holy Abbess in Ely, Cambridgeshire. It is the day I remember a friend of mine called Etheldreda. And remember that I have forgotten to send a card to her – I’ll have to do that later this afternoon. Hospital Clinic Last month when I was given the date for today’s appointment I mentioned that it was St Etheldreda’s day and the doctor looked at me a bit funny. I’m rather good with dates – name a day and I’ll probably be able to know what … Continue reading June 23

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Day 70

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It doesn’t seem possible that it is ten weeks tomorrow since I was diagnosed. On occasions it feels like it was just yesterday, yet on others it feels like I have been living with this for years. Of course, it may well be that I have been living with being HIV+ for years — but without actually knowing so. Today I volunteered with a local HIV centre as they were out on the streets trying to get funds for their much-needed work. What disheartened me was the way that some people walked past and said loudly “HIV – oh they … Continue reading Day 70

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Day 69 – no jokes please

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It’s day 69, and life is good. The weather here is excellent – the sun is in the sky, there is a bit of a breeze, and life is good.  Although I had a long day yesterday, with work, counselling session, two meetings, and further work when I got home, I do still feel like I have turned a corner in coping with this disease. At the weekend, I was chatting online to several friends and found out that even more of my friends are actually HIV-positive. This has started to help me know that “I am not alone”. And … Continue reading Day 69 – no jokes please

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CD4 count, Drugs, HIVLeave a comment

Day 57 – Ascension of the Lord

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Sorry for the delay in posting, various other things have been happening and that has increased my workload in the last few days. I’ve now registered with a new GP and have to say that the process was reasonably good. The practice nurse couldn’t have been more helpful, and whilst she seemed to be asking more questions about what support there was here, it was good that she was asking. Hospital Up to the clinic today for more bloods and urine sample. It does feel like the clinic are a bunch of vampires being only interested in extracting blood from … Continue reading Day 57 – Ascension of the Lord

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Adherence, CD4 count, Drugs, Viral loadLeave a comment

Day 16

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Well, yesterday I was up at the clinic with moral support from a friend. So first of all a word of thanks to him. Counts CD4 = 100 Viral Load= 29k An explanation of these terms is given below. CD4 and viral load tests Together these tests give a good indication of what’s going on with our HIV. CD4 test Knowing how many CD4 cells we’ve got in a sample of our blood is a guide to how healthy our immune system is.  Normal CD4 count A healthy adult man has a CD4 count of between 400 to 1600 CD4 cells … Continue reading Day 16

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