How Did You Find Out You Were HIV+? Did You Have The Appropriate Support And Resources After That Diagnosis?
For me, I remember I was out for a walk and my cellphone went off. It was my primary care doctor at the time. All she said was "The test results came back positive" - that was it. That was the entire conversation because she hung up on me.
There was no follow-up, I was not given the resources I needed, wasn't directed to my local ASO, wasn't referred to an ID doctor, I was left to my own devices and most importantly I was left alone. I always wondered if I was directed to an ID doctor or my… read more
I fully agree with you - I have an app called MyChart which gives me test results of everything before they hit the doctors office; sometimes that can be a good thing, most of the time its not though especially if you know your labs are going to be trash..... but that is no way to learn about ones HIV status. That truly needed an in-person visit. I think what you went through was just as cold if not more so than how I found out..... I was just told I was positive and hung up on.... but your right, so many things go through your head and if you were not suicidal then this is something that could drive you directly to it. Its absolutely disgusting and disheartening to hear this.
I was so sick with high fever and red spots all over my body. I had never felt that sick in my life. After a couple days I went to ER. They ran lots of tests but couldn’t identify anything, after all the results in, I suggested to them that I had a risky encounter a couple weeks prior and I requested a HIV and STD blood work.
The next day I got a call from my primary doctor who told me I was positive. I think shortly after that I got a call from an ID doctor who assured me things would be ok if I followed treatment plan.
I weighed 120 lbs dying from my drug addiction for which I admitted myself into hospital where I was diagnosed with AIDS
I had been ill on and off during the early 1990 with flu like illnesses and a severe nocturnal cough. Due to a lot of sick days, my employer of 13 years service (a London Casino Group),made me redundant in 1992. I took a lower paid job and went back into the Travel Industry for 2 years, they also made me redundant and I then became ill with Shingles in January 1995. My Doctor advised me to get an HIV test for which I tested positive. There was no support at all for the first few months until I met my first HIV Clinician. He advised a support group called Body Positive. It was at this group I met another HIV positive man called Alan. He was a Teacher in Central London and he organised all my welfare needs out of the kindness of his heart. He filled in all the necessary forms and organised my free travel permit and sickness monies. He became my best friend and he became hospitalised suddenly in late 1996. I sat at his bedside in Hospital and said prayers for him. He was a devout Christian. He passed away christmas 1996 and I went to his funeral. By that time I was already on the first ever HIV drugs AZT and DDI. I did very well on these early HIV drugs, but Alan was too late for treatment to save him.
@A myHIVteam Member ......... what?
Hello, I Am From Denver, Colorado, I Am An Immigrant, I Have Recently Arrived, Can Anyone Help, Where Can I Find Help For Treatment?
How Have You Found HIV-related Medical Support And Resources In Your Community?
Does Anyone Here Know Where I Can Find Help For People With HIV In Denver Colorado?
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