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Avatar universal

Life with HIV?

As I anxiously await my testing date, my anxiety has left me with no choice but to conisder the possibility of testing positive.  With that said I have searched on the life expectancies and so on of people with HIV.  Most cases seem to say around 20 years or so can be expected with proper treatment.  But with AIDS only really be recognized for the last 25 years, isn't it possible that such an estimate is quite under the reality?  With HAART being introduced only 10 years ago and such a positive response to that treatment, it seems very likely that within the next few years even more promising treatment can exist and further increase lifespan.  Maybe dying of old age is really a possibility now?
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Avatar universal
I think you're right, while its a very difficult disease a cure should be in the future!  But even if there is no actual vaccine, with all of the research going on there should at least be more and better medicine that will control the disease so at one point it will be just like having diabetes or heart disease...something one does not want but it does not have to end your life.  While it would be best to completely erradicate the disease, I think everyone will agree it would be a great improvement if people could live healthy lives to 80 years of age with HIV.  And I think at this point in time with HAART
only being out for 10 years, it is quite possible.  If people keep taking their meds it seems far too early to predict only 24 years life expectancy.  There are people positive for nearly a decade without even needing medicine yet.  So with the proper medication I have no doubt one can live to have grandchildren! I agree a diagnosis of a late stage cancer or lupus is far worse.  With HIV there is hope, and a cure should be soon.
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Avatar universal
I was convinced i had it.. we all are.. YOu know, I beleieve in the next 5 years the cure to HIV will be here.  I've been doing alot of reading and its looking closer and closer.  I think when they say someone can live 20 years they are referring to people who have had it 10 years or more.  I would think in 10 years we will extend the life expectancy to full life.  Like living with lupas or something at a worse case senerio.  We should all be happy it's not 1985!

I would advise anyone to stick to medhelp and DR. H.  It is based in the Science and logic of HIV...  Other sites will drive u bonkers at  times.
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Avatar universal
o_g
To be honest, If I were in your shoes, I really would not be as much worried looking at the almost non existing HIV transmission possibilities with oral sex but again everyone including me thinks that they have had a higher risk and more(worst) symptoms than the other so they have to be the unlucky one.
n Yes - Italy...i really wana keep on loving that country...keeping my fingers crossed
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Avatar universal
I agree, it's hard to not assume your personal symptoms are terrible and most certainly due to HIV, but odds are they are nothing related and I hope that for both me and you!  When are you getting tested?  I am so worried but I hate to do it before the holidays incase it is not a good result...
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Avatar universal
Hey,

Italy makes us do some crazy things I guess!  I just hope this is not my lasting memory of the country!  What I really wish is that I knew someone who lived in the area but alas I guess that won't happen.
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Avatar universal
o_g
Mine was in Rome --- :-(
Italy even won the soccer world cup!!!!
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Avatar universal
Ok this is a bit off topic, but do you actually live in Florence, Italy?  Just curious as my exposure risk actually took place in Siena, so I was just wondering.
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Avatar universal
"....and unfortunately I myself experienced a rather rough week of a viral ailment. I had originally attributed it to food poisoning, but I am unaware of whether or not food poisoning can actually cause swollen glands and if so as far as a week after incident."


Depending on the organism that causes the food poisoning, swollen glands can persist from a few days to as long a few weeks!
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Avatar universal
Just a side note, I think the anxiety is ceasing inside of me!  Dr. Bob the wonderful man he is responded to my fear and said I have a neglible risk at best, so that is very reassuring, that man should be president!
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Avatar universal
Haha true I guess everyone really can believe they have it.  You're right I guess if people assumed they had hiv just because they got sick within the following weeks the testing centers would be going crazy!  I do believe in Dr. H's advice and he said I can be sure I did not contract hiv from my oral episode.  I just try to focus on that as much as possible!  And I do realize that my continous anxiety about this is probably the cause of my mouth dryness and excessive thirst, anytime someone is nervous that is a likely result.  I will be testing soon and all of this feedback is very helpful and very much invited to continue!  Thank you all
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Avatar universal
Well, just to let you know EVERYONE on this site had *symptoms* and were convinced they had hiv.  Not one has posted back w/a positive result.  I read below of your exposure and it's HIGHLY unlikely you acquired hiv. One lady freaked out b/c she was going through early menapause and read that it was a sign of hiv.  She was convinced she had hiv.  She posted back w/a negative result.  Never rely on symptoms.  HIV symptoms can also be associated with pretty much anything.
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79258 tn?1190630410
Oh come on. Surely you've been sick before ;-) Your symptoms are purely coincidental.

But gosh, if it helps, I've had the flu and many other illnesses within a relatively short time span after potentially risky encounters, and I'm fine. In fact, since I have "risky encounters" at least once or twice a month, lol, ALL of my illnesses have been within what are apparently typical ARS limits. I especially remember once going camping when we had 4" of rain with temps in the 40s--about two days into it I caught the flu, complete with a fever, body aches, conjunctivitis, etc. I certainly *wished* I would die, lol... but I'm fine. I also remember getting sick one spring with one thing after another; I had strep and bronchitis and conjunctivitis and you name it for like 2 months. I'd no sooner get over one thing then catch another. And again, I'm fine.

So are you. Most DEFINITELY so are you. I just hope you're not this worried about something that really will kill you, like heart disease, diabetes, or jeez, getting hit by a meteor as you head out for work tomorrow am.
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Avatar universal
None,

Try and relax and DO TRUST the people at Aidsmed, they really truly know their stuff.  Also, stop browsing the web for information...you will only see what scares you and please do not go wonder in forums where you have nothing to do that will just ramp up your anxiety.

try and relax,
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Avatar universal
Well I'm not quite assuming I have it, but just preparing myself for any possible bad news, meanwhile I am hoping dearly that I am negative!  But I visited this website called aidsmeds and it was very useful in the area of the forums, but I made the mistake of looking into forums for people recently diagnosed, and many of them spoke of "viral illnesses" within weeks of exposure, and unfortunately I myself experienced a rather rough week of a viral ailment.  I had originally attributed it to food poisoning, but I am unaware of whether or not food poisoning can actually cause swollen glands and if so as far as a week after incident.  My symptoms just seem eerily consistent with those who are positive hence my concern and anxiety.  Although at the same time I realize that many people never experience any symptoms at all.  But I wish I knew of more people who had strong symptoms and ended up being fine...?
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Avatar universal
Living to your 80 might very well be a possibility.  Just out of curiousity, why do you think you have no choice but to assume you have hiv?
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