Aa
Is this the forum for HIV support
I am a female 37 who tested HIV positive back in March. My viral load has always been in the 1000 area...with my cd 4 count going between 350-600. I'm not on any medication except acyclovir. Do you think that has anything to do with it that my viral load is so low?
Sprawling from Montreal to South Africa to China, Thom Fitzgerald's 3 Needles is a great discussion tool for World AIDS Awareness Day that never achieves coherent shape as a three-paneled drama. Demonstrates that the transmission of HIV has become an uncontrollable global pandemic that feeds on poverty and recognizes no sexual, national or religious borders.
One of 2005's most compelling films. 3 Needles tells the moving story of how the harshest tragedy can sometimes bring out the best in people. It is a tale of bittersweet hope and of finding redemption in the unlikeliest of places. In South Africa, a nun risks all, including her salvation, to help the helpless. In China, a father unwittingly gives away his most precious possession for a few pieces of silver. In North America, a mother makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure her son spends his remaining days in comfort.
One of 2005's most compelling films. 3 Needles tells the moving story of how the harshest tragedy can sometimes bring out the best in people. It is a tale of bittersweet hope and of finding redemption in the unlikeliest of places. In South Africa, a nun risks all, including her salvation, to help the helpless. In China, a father unwittingly gives away his most precious possession for a few pieces of silver. In North America, a mother makes the ultimate sacrifice to ensure her son spends his remaining days in comfort.
N Acetyl Cysteine
N-Acetyl Cysteine is a steady form of the sulfur-containing amino acid L-cysteine, and is a powerful antioxidant. It is also a precursor to glutathione, a further most important antioxidant. Glutatione is also the precursor, with selenium, of glutathione peroxides, one of the most important antioxidant enzymes in the body. L-Cysteine is eagerly found in the diet - mostly from slant meat sources, NAC is not present in the diet and must be obtained via dietary supplementation. As an L-Cysteine imitative, NAC is more water soluble, and therefore more bioavailable than regular L-Cysteine. NAC exerts powerful antioxidant effects. NAC scavenges the body for, and neutralizes, damaging free radicals that can reason oxidative damage to muscle tissue, bodily organs, and DNA. As an antioxidant it may decrease oxidative stress. NAC may also boost immune system function by acting as a glutathione pre-cursor.
Source Link:
http://www.getnutri.com/N-Acetyl-Cysteine.html
N-Acetyl Cysteine is a steady form of the sulfur-containing amino acid L-cysteine, and is a powerful antioxidant. It is also a precursor to glutathione, a further most important antioxidant. Glutatione is also the precursor, with selenium, of glutathione peroxides, one of the most important antioxidant enzymes in the body. L-Cysteine is eagerly found in the diet - mostly from slant meat sources, NAC is not present in the diet and must be obtained via dietary supplementation. As an L-Cysteine imitative, NAC is more water soluble, and therefore more bioavailable than regular L-Cysteine. NAC exerts powerful antioxidant effects. NAC scavenges the body for, and neutralizes, damaging free radicals that can reason oxidative damage to muscle tissue, bodily organs, and DNA. As an antioxidant it may decrease oxidative stress. NAC may also boost immune system function by acting as a glutathione pre-cursor.
Source Link:
http://www.getnutri.com/N-Acetyl-Cysteine.html
First of all, thanks for this and the other new boards. This in particular is an awesome addition! However, I think HIV Support is really a misnomer. That sort of implies that it's for people who actually HAVE HIV. I think this is more appropriately named something like HIV Anxiety Support, or STD Anxiety, or HIV Testing Anxiety, or something more specific to the actual issues represented here. Certainly no one here has HIV (or even any risk of contracting HIV), and anyone who actually has HIV probably wouldn't get any info, support, etc. You know, it'd be great to have both, though...
The HIV Support Forum: This is an unmoderated Patient-to-Patient Support Forum. The purpose of this forum is to give people a place to share information and support pertaining to HIV.
We also offer The HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum, which is moderated by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. Here you can post personal HIV related questions and receive answers from Dr. Handsfield.
We hope this clarifies the difference between our forums.
Med Help International
We also offer The HIV Prevention and Safe Sex Forum, which is moderated by H. Hunter Handsfield, M.D. Here you can post personal HIV related questions and receive answers from Dr. Handsfield.
We hope this clarifies the difference between our forums.
Med Help International
>Now you can post there and we can tell you the same story over and over.
True, but we've all been there, right?
In agreement with Dumbo.
MD HHH answers questions solely regarding risk-assessment concerning HIV.
He will most likely refer anyone who has been diagnosed with HIV to thebody.com, ran by a physician who is HIV+.
MD HHH answers questions solely regarding risk-assessment concerning HIV.
He will most likely refer anyone who has been diagnosed with HIV to thebody.com, ran by a physician who is HIV+.
The support is for the posters who feel the need to be told they are ok. The doc is obviously sick of telling the same story over and over. Now you can post there and we can tell you the same story over and over. lol
"I'm sure he can provide the answers it which you seek"
I am not so sure he would. He has repeatedly said he is not a treatment expert and only analyzes risks and tests people. I think he would refer people with hiv to the body.com ?
I am not so sure he would. He has repeatedly said he is not a treatment expert and only analyzes risks and tests people. I think he would refer people with hiv to the body.com ?
Have you gone to the body.com? You could also go to the other hiv forum (on this site) where Doctor HHH answers questions. I'm sure he can provide the answers it which you seek. Good luck!
Thanks for the posts.
But what is the other HIV forum for? There seems to the same type of questions of people who are nervous or concerned?
But what is the other HIV forum for? There seems to the same type of questions of people who are nervous or concerned?
Grace,
Yes, many of the questions are the same. The main difference is that the questions on the other forum are answered by a doctor, while this forum is meant to provide peer-to-peer support.
Does that answer your question?
Hi Grace,
The forum has only been around for a little while, and judging by the questions I have seen here, I had assumed it was geared more towards providing peer support to those with general questions about HIV risks and to those who are in the process of testing. Perhaps my own assumptions are mistaken. Not sure, but yours appears to be the first question concerning care for those with HIV.
If you do not find what you are seeking here, I know of several sites that might meet your needs. They include:
www.thebody.com
www.aegis.com
www.poz.com
http://www.hivforum.com/
http://www.13km.com/
http://www.napwa.org/
http://www.icw.org/
This is only a small sampling of the different web sites that you may want to visit to learn more about HIV and living with the disease. I knew about some of these sites from past experience, but found many of them after a simple google search (keywords: "Living with HIV"). Try a few different searches and see what you come up with. Also, I am sure others here will also chime in with other worthy sites.
Also, you may interested in real live support groups. I am sure that you are in the care of a good doctor, one who specializes in caring for HIV postive patients. If this is the case, ask him or her about local support organizations/groups. For instance, in the DC area, the Whitman Walker clinic is an excellent resource for those with HIV. I'd be surprised if your own city does not have something similar. I would think that along with your medical course of treatment, you might also want to address the psychological aspects, and a good support group would help in this regard.
I hope that you found at least some of this useful. If I may be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Take care,
xhost
Well, it's the HIV support board pretty much in name only (this is a good point; perhaps someone should ask them to rename it). It's really only a support board for the worried well crowd. No one here actually has HIV.
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