Tag: HIV

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95% think routine hiv testing would be good – what are we waiting for?

hivblogger

On the website of The HIV Support Centre the following is published: I wholeheartedly support the call for routine HIV testing locally from Miriam Stoppard OBE – but not just in England – we need it throughout the United Kingdom. Miriam Stoppard has suggested that routine testing for HIV would help to save lives. Obviously, this would be a good idea. It would also help cut down the stigma that surround a diagnosis of HIV. If everyone were treated equally and routinely tested, this could mean that diagnosis would not be as late as for many people at present. Despite … Continue reading 95% think routine hiv testing would be good – what are we waiting for?

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Health, HIV, United States1 Comment

HIV positive porn star calls for barebacking to be banned

hivblogger

Following last week’s posts on World AIDS Day, I am posting this important news story, in case you have not seen it. The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a porn actor who contracted HIV while filming has called for condoms to be made compulsory across the adult film industry. Derrick Burts, 24, tested positive for HIV in October after starring in US gay and straight porn films. Derrick is also known as Cameron Reid in straight porn. Watch a video of him here. Related Articles Derrick Burts: HIV-Positive Porn Actor Calls for Condom Use (cbsnews.com) Porn Actor Derrick Burts … Continue reading HIV positive porn star calls for barebacking to be banned

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CD4 count, Drugs, HIVLeave a comment

1 day after World AIDS Day – and the clinic winds us up

hivblogger
World AIDS Day Ribbon
Image via Wikipedia

It is only the day after World AIDS Day, and I am not the only patient that has had issues with the nursing staff in the HIV clinic at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, this afternoon.

I cannot go into the specifics of the incident concerning another patient, but the problem that I had was that they didn’t read the notes that the doctor had made in my notes.

results Continue reading “1 day after World AIDS Day – and the clinic winds us up”

DELGA, Health, HIV, LGBT, Lib DemsLeave a comment

What have you done for World AIDS Day?

hivblogger

Well done to Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert! He has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons which calls on the Government to ‘introduce an evidence based approach to allow as many people as possible, regardless of their sexuality, to safely donate blood’. Openly gay himself, Stephen Gilbert has done something on World AIDS Day to call on Her Majesty’s Government to end the ban on gay and bisexual men, and their partners, being blood donors. Stephen said: As an openly gay Member of Parliament, I am a passionate believer that we must end this ridiculous and … Continue reading What have you done for World AIDS Day?

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PEP – is Post not Pre!

hivblogger

There seems to be some confusion, PEP = Post Exposure Prophylaxis PEP ≠ Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis One friend got this wrong today. I’m reposting the excellent explanation on PEP from GMFA…. PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) PEP is a course of HIV medication which you can take if you have been at risk of HIV infection. The course of HIV medication lasts 28 days and, if taken within 72 hours of putting yourself at risk, may be able to prevent you from becoming infected with HIV. PEP stands for Post Exposure Prophylaxis – in other words it is a form of protection (against … Continue reading PEP – is Post not Pre!

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Adherence, HIV, Support2 Comments

WAD2010 – another day being unwell

hivblogger

Well, I had hoped to get into town, collect some red ribbons from The HIV Support Centre and get up to another meeting today, but this was not meant to be. I obviously needed my sleep – I slept mostly until 1.30pm. So much so that friends were becoming concerned. I’m intending on going into Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union to watch Rent. It will be the only time that I will be out and about today. But at least I am still here. Taking my meds – though in the excitement I had forgotten yesterday and had to jump … Continue reading WAD2010 – another day being unwell

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Belfast, Blogging, Health, HIV, news, Northern Ireland life, politics, SDLP, Volunteering3 Comments

ending the stigma: guts needed to tackle it head on

Michael McFarland Campbell

cross-posted from positive hivblogger World AIDS Day 2010 It’s World AIDS Day 2010 today, another year has gone past, those of us living with HIV are still here – and still the stigma is being broken by some of us that are courageous enough to tell our friends, our family, and other people that we are here, living with HIV. “Coming Out” That’s right – telling others. So, today, I’m ‘coming out’ publicly on this blog as to I am. Complete with photo. Unsurprisingly given my job and other interests, I was at a political conference a few weeks ago. … Continue reading ending the stigma: guts needed to tackle it head on

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Blogging, Health, 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”