Re: Re: Positive Prevention

[Guest guest]

Where in my statement is there a condemnation? There isn't. People that don't use condoms probably won't take a pill every day consistently either. People that become infected will need to be cared for and treated.No one can MAKE anyone do anything, of course. People will always take risks--the person facing a new infection is the one who has to deal with his emotional responses to becoming infected--and that also requires compassion on the part of care givers, ideally. In many cases, we cannot make the physicians or nurses be more than they are. You cannot MAKE them be more tolerant and decent either, unfortunately. But each of us can do our best to show compassion.I can relate to your feelings about your brother. You did ask and let him know about condoms. He chose not to and became infected. That is not your fault. Is it his fault? He may well perceive it in terms of "fault" and one must address that.I urged my brother to drop crack and booze. He was a biker and a complete free will person and my greatest guru in learning the lesson that you cannot MAKE anyone do anything.In the end, he DID stop it all and produced a few paintings, despite the pain he was in. He died in 2004 at the age of 46 from lung cancer.I would urge anyone to consider their options and offer those options freely. It is then their free will...and no matter what ANY of us do--we shall all die some day, all too soon.All the more reason to love the ones around us and take care the best we can. On May 10, 2012, at 9:45 PM, jsousa8946@... wrote:Agree but, there will always be people who don't use condoms and will not be convinced to use them. I always call treatment as prevention as a part of harm reduction. What we shouldn't do is judge those who don't. As soon as one is judged he will never tell anyone what risks he takes. As for STI's, gay men have always had higher rates and it won't change in my lifetime. Encourage people to get tested often, but don't judge them. We have enough judgement from society, we shouldn't judge our own. We are diverse and will always be. I have been openly positive since my diagnosis to family, friends and co-workers. Especially to my younger gay brother, I never thought I was judgemental when I asked him on a regular basis if he was playing safe and whether he was getting tested regularly. He only found out that he was positive when he was hospitalized with pneumocystis and esophageal candidiasis and a CD4 count of seven. Could I have done more? Could I have convinced him to play safe or get tested? Probably. Never say or even think of saying "but I told you". I've heard that far too often in our community. I never did, what I did think of was how and if there was a way of preventing it. So preach what you believe in preaching, but don't judge them.

Sousa

---- Original Message ----

From: <fiar@...>

< >

Sent: Tue, May 8, 2012 10:58 am

Subject: Re: Re: Positive Prevention

I agree that safer sex is necessary still. The European study on the one hand gives great hope: treating people IS prevention. But it does not mean abandoning use of condoms and access to clean needles. Indeed, other studies suggest that undetectable viral load in the blood does not necessarily reflect whether there is virus in the semen--there can be. While undetectable viral load reduces transmission risk, it does not eliminate it.

And indeed, a blood test at one point doesn't mean it stays the same til the next test--viral load can go up.

We need all the elements at our disposal to continue to fight the spread of HIV, to provide treatment to those in need worldwide and SOONER than later--find a cure for HIV infection.

M.

On May 7, 2012, at 10:14 PM, POSITIVE VOICE wrote:

I write this message to anyone and everyone who wishes to read this. There has been recently a lot of information on the subject of people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load and free from other sexually transmitted infections can have unprotected sexual intercourse with there partners (whether they are HIV or not). This was reported after some research in a European country.

My question to this group is should we concentrate on prevention messages (safer sex) than looking at treatment as prevention?

I say all of this due to been told by certain professionals that condoms fail and a female friend of mine was informed by a GUM Clinic nurse

that it was OK for her to have unprotected sex after her viral load was undetectable and after over 5 years coming to terms with her status.

Finally after living with HIV for nearly 30 years it has always been my aim to keep the pressures on authorities to promote safer sex for all.

Am I wrong sharing this and could someone on this group please guide me in what I should do.

Snaith