Reality Fallout...

For a while now I've been addressing some developing issues regarding HIV; At-Home Testing, Anti-Aids Pills & an AIDS-Free Generation.   I've read a few articles & giving support to my concerns & noted quite a few personal bloggers saying the same.  Now it seems the professionals are getting off their cushy asses & starting to speak out on the matter.

There are more professionals asking about the efficacy of the at-home test & whether or not OraSure can or will provide adequate support services for the product & it's users.  As for the Anti-AIDS drug, the professionals are finally starting to take seriously the idea a lack of adherence & who will pay for or take the meds.  Off to the AIDS-Free generation.  Let's talk about costs, practicality & the fact there will still be millions of people needing meds for decades to come even if no else ever is diagnosed as being +.

If bloggers & the web-reporters can pick up these issues, then why did it take so long for the professionals to get vocal about it.  Maybe they did say something here or there, but nothing nearly loud enough to have an impact.  They didn't speak out strongly enough to seriously question any of these things until they were well under way.  Maybe they were to afraid of losing grant $ or seeming like Chicken Little. I don't know.  Oh well, at least they're talking now.

I'm not trying to bash all these ideas.  I'm not even saying they won't work.  I am saying this is not going to be some glorious picnic with champagne, caviar & roses.  It's time we take off the rose-tinted glasses & look at the real world applications of these pie-in-the-sky plans.

Cya...

Generics Are The Way...

According to this article, generics could save a lot of $ in the treatment of HIV patients.  Not to be rude, but Duh!  Snark aside, the point made here is that if we want the convenience of a 1-A-Day regimen, that is the top of the line, then we're going to pay for it.  The writer went on to discuss how shifting from a state of the art, 1-Pill treatment to an older 3+ pill treatment plan could save a remarkable amount in regards to $ & cost little in the efficacy.  The real payment here seems to be the inconvenience of multiple pill regimens.  Better multiple pills a day that work than not having any at all.

I would love to have a once a day regimen or at least have it so all my pills could be taken at the same time.  However, if the cost is significantly less, I'll continue to pay for it with my inconvenience.  The less these meds cost, the more people can get treatment.  It's that simple.  So, I'll deal with multiple pills throughout the day, with & without food, if it means the $'s to fund these programs can stretch farther.  My convenience is not worth someone else not getting their meds.

Cya...

Another Hot One...

We're already at 99F & it's just after Noon.  The forecast calls for 108.  Unfortunately, humidity is hanging on as well.  This increase in the heat is causing a lot of changes in the house.  We're having to turn the AC on earlier & keep it on longer.  We're having to leave more fans on at night just to sleep.  This isn't helping the cats' eye issues.

I'm having to alter my exercise again.  I was doing outside steps at noontime as well as the morning.  That won't be possible for me when it's already over 95 out there & has a heat index of at least 10 degrees higher.  That heat mixed with the humidity is more than I can deal with, it's hard just to breathe in that mess while I'm exercising.  Adjustments will have to be made.

We try to eat well, but with this heat, cooking is less than pleasant.  So there have been a lot of TV dinners.  They aren't the best for you, but it's hard to muster the will to cook anything substantial during the summer. August isn't even here yet & I'm ready for late September.

Cya...

Facing HIV...

I've been reading a lot about overcoming HIV in the last week.  A lot of people talk about treating everyone & an AIDS-Free generation.  Besides the matters costs & practicality, we need to look past those things & see some of other issues.  

The stigma of HIV is something that is talked about frequently.  Some people think we just need to get passed it.  OK, I'll bite.  How?  On things like bigotry & stigma there is no quick fix.  These things come from a place much darker than HIV.  HIV is a virus.  Bigotry & discrimination are hate & fear.  People decry what they fear.  They pronounce all sorts of evils on the thing, no matter what it is or has done.  From that fear springs hate, because many people despising acknowledging they fear something.   Until people get past their hate & fear, the stigma will remain.

This fear comes ignorance & intolerance.  Something not understood equates to something that is different & potentially harmful.  Therefore they fear it.  Until these people are taught the reality of HIV & untaught the hate so many ideologies spout there is no getting around this ignorance.

Then there is denial & myth.  There are so many untruths & shirks of responsibility when it comes HIV.  Only certain people get HIV.  You can only get HIV that way.  If you have HIV you're a bad person.  Then there is the question of whether or not you're a victim.  Unless you had no control in the manner by which you were infected, you are not a victim.  So stop asking, "Why me?"  

So, by all means people, come up with ways to test more people & get more people drugs earlier.  But, until you get people to deal with their anger, fear, ignorance, myths & irresponsible natures we aren't going to see an AIDS-Free world.  As much as the meds & medical approaches are needed here, so are compassion, understanding & support.  Maybe one day, we'll get all the above.

Cya...

+ & Gray...

Check out this site & article.  Both of these talk about the fact that by 2015 over 50% of people living with HIV will be over 50.  Over 50, damn in the 80's you were lucky if you had 50 days past diagnosis, let alone living until you were half a century old.   Maybe the 50 days thing was a bit of an exaggeration, but the other part wasn't.

Blood pressure, diabetes, cancer & a host of others await older people.  This oughta be a hoot for us who are + as well.  Just the thought of possibly having to take more meds for other ailments besides HIV is irritating.  Avoiding blood pressure meds is one of the reasons I'm exercising now.  Not that exercise will help much if I get cancer.  It might help avoid diabetes & strokes though, better circulation & less fat.

Man, it was a trip just getting used to dealing with HIV in my 30's.  Now the thought of being older & having more issues, well that's a little more trying.  At least I'm sorta used to the HIV.  Hopefully all this exercise can keep the other stuff at bay.  Who knows, maybe I'll be lucky & die from a massive lightning bolt while I'm sleeping.

Cya,,,

On A Hot Summer Night...

Last night was the 1st really hot night this summer & I didn't see any wolves with red roses.  All I saw was heat stressed cats strewn across my floor, trying to get indirect fan exposure.  Two of the cats have gimp eye right now due to all the fans.  Alice has it worse & is on meds again for it, she just loves that.

I can reasonably handle the hot days.  I do my best to avoid the heat & light.  But hot nights, they really screw with me.   The heat makes it difficult to sleep.  The humidity makes it hard to breathe.  Yet somehow, I still wake up utterly dehydrated. 

It takes me hours of being up & drinking every thing I can get my hands on, to even start to feel moderately human again.  I wonder if mummies are really dead people, or just some folks who totally dried out in their sleep.  The biggest problem here is the lack of sleep.  Losing sleep really does a number on my world, especially my health.

Hopefully tonight will be cooler & I can sleep better.

Cya...

Further Alterations In Exercise...

The first part of July was so pleasant.  Now, not so much.  I had been exercising for 10 minutes in the morning, around noon & then the later afternoon.  Since the heat & the humidity have gotten worse, I'm having to change my allocations.  I'm trying to do as much as I can in the mornings. 

This morning I did (in minutes):

• Stretching:                  04
• Stairs:                        10
• Tension Cord Work:  03

That added up to 17 minutes.  I'm aiming for 25 to 30 minutes of exercise a day.  I count things that aren't part of my daily routine, like gathering & hauling out the trash.  Anything that adds movement, standing or exercise that is not part of my daily routine gets added to my exercise total.  This is often called NEAT or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.   This basically refers to any activity that burns calories that aren't specifically exercise.   Like walking in place while you wait for the 3 minutes it'll take you microwave dinner to warm up.

I am never going to go whole-hog into the exercise thing.  I just want to lose weight & fight the sitting disease.  If you haven't heard of sitting disease you can Google it & find a ton of stuff.  It breaks down to the fact people in our society sit far more & move much less than their predecessors & it's one of the many reasons our society is far heavier than it used to be.  

For now, I am going to have to do as much of my exercise as I can in the earlier hours.  The afternoons are just too hot & muggy.  I'll do what I can in the mornings & try for another round of stairs around noon.  If not I'll try to do a lot more standing, walking in place or housework.

Cya...

Lab Chase...

I got labs drawn today.  Normally, this isn't a big deal, but today there were things going on to make it a bit more challenging.  This time around I had to get a fasting lipid panel.  This means no food or meds until after the blood is drawn.  Which in turn puts me behind for the rest of the day, considering the meds I take in the morning have to be taken an hour before I eat.

I dropped my order off at the doctor's office yesterday & had planned on picking it up this morning so I could go up to the hospital & have my labs done.  Little did I know that my doc had gotten himself a new nurse who was unfamiliar with my routine.  I arrived this morning & to find no lab order.  Luckily , my doctor was doing rounds at the hospital.   So I chased him down in a part of the hospital I've never seen before to the script. 

Then there was a new person in outpatient services who was being  VERY thorough in the details of her job.  Never mind I've filled out this paperwork 100's of times before.  Never mind that they have my insurance card copied & my photo ID.  Let's just make this take another 20 minutes or so, OK.  Finally,  I make it to the lab, get blood draw & get the hell out of there.

I got home about an hour later than I thought I would.  Now, I'm playing catch up.  That's all for now.

Cya...

Now, Not Later...

This article & many others on the web are prescribing immediate treatment of HIV.  This is contrary to older protocols that had doctors wait until patients' CD4's was under 350.  The hope here is that if we start treating these newly + people ASAP, then we might prevent them from exposing others else to the virus.  

I support this approach.  I know how difficult it will be for them to adjust to taking the meds but it's the better option.  Maybe if I'd been diagnosed earlier & treated sooner, my condition wouldn't have gotten as bad as it did.  Maybe my current health would be better.  I've been on the meds for over a decade.  While, I am doing reasonably well with the virus, I'm no where near feeling 100%.  There are days I'd be happy to feel 20%.

Prolonging the medical treatment will only result in more exposures & poorer health in those who will be eventually treated.  Perhaps those people diagnosed & treated early can carry on a somewhat normal & productive life.  Maybe they will only need assistance will medications & not have to go on disability.  Perhaps a trip to the grocery store won't tax them like me.  Some days just going to get groceries is incredibly exhausting.

Everyone screams about the $.  Who's going to pay for it?  The answer is simple.  Taking the drugs sooner or later, won't matter, we're all going to pay for HIV.  Like it or not, that's the simple reality of AIDS.  We will all be burdened by this disease in one manner or another.  The best we can do is to try to lighten the load as much as possible.

Cya...

An Aids Free Generation... Really...

I've been reading articles & seeing news blips that push for an AIDS-Free generation.  Nice thought, but is it even possible?  There are many obstacles in the way of this dream.  Let's start:

1.  To prevent HIV, you'd have to treat everyone infected.

2.  To treat everyone infected, you'd have to identify them.

3.  To test everyone, you'd have to get them to cooperate.

4.  You'd need to deal with the ignorance/stigma surrounding HIV

5.  Once educated & tested, you'd need the $ to treat them.

6.  The people would have to adhere to their meds.

7. All sexual relations would have to be as safe as possible.

Accepting that all the above was possible, you'd have to keep that up for a few generations.  Even then, the virus would still be present.  Polio & small pox still lurk out there right along side the plague.  I think the idea of an HIV free world is great, but I don't think it's possible given the current state of social affairs, economy & technology.  I think we need goals to fight HIV, but I also think those aspirations have to be obtainable.

Cya...

Should It Be Mandatory...

Someone I chat with asked me if I thought HIV testing should be mandatory.  She added the qualifier of those people residing in the USA.  Still the topic is sticky.

There is the matter of one's right to privacy.  Personally, I happen to think in matters of public health & communicable diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, TB & the like, public health should trump personal privacy.  Then that brings up the ramifications.  If Obama's health care laws sty in place, I"m fine with all this

I don't want to give any insurance agency more of a reason to withhold coverage from someone.  Being + is all the reason they need to give you the boot.  They may not say it's for that, but they'll find a way.  Just like if you have yourself tested for genetic markers for certain cancers.  If it turns out you have the marker, I bet your insurance will evaporate within a year. 

My answer to the question of should there be mandatory testing in the USA, is qualified:

1.  Is there opportunity for insurance coverage if they are +

2.  Will they have access to support if they are +

3.  Will they have access to meds/medical care if they are +

4.  Other than health officials will this info be private

If the answer to these questions is yes, then I would opt for mandatory testing.  If not, then I wouldn't.  What do you think?

Cya...

108...

OK, I'm a little blitzed today.  The temperature never really came down last night & the house was closed up due to a chance of rain that never showed.  It was in the low 80's F outside when I got up, but nearly 96 in the kitchen.   I got myself around & managed to go do some shopping.   Again Walmart was like swimming through soup.  The humidity in that places was astounding.

Between waking up in a sauna & then spending 40 minutes shopping in more hellish humidity, I was spent.  We got home, unpacked the groceries, then ate.  That may be about all I have in me today.  Oh & top of that it's supposed to get up to 108 F today, isn't that just awesome for me?

Cya...

Response...

This article over at HuffPost examines the social situation surrounding HIV from the 1980's forward.  Even though there have been many changes in the medical aspects, the social responses are still lacking.  In much of the world, even today, the social, cultural & even legal responses to being + can be as bad as having the disease. 

On one hand the idea of a cure is thrilling.  But then again, I think, "What the hell will I do then?"  I've been  + for over a decade & I'm in my 40's.   This virus has done a number on me & even if they cure it, damage has been done.  

I've written about being + in my area before & the problems it can cause a person.  Hell, being gay can be challenging enough in Oklahoma, let alone + & gay.  If I had to find a job today, the way it is in this area, I have no doubt, I'd have to relocate somehow. Between the rednecks, Bible-Thumpers & other idiots, there'd be no way I'd get hired where I live.  I realize things are better in a lot of ways for both gays & + people today, but they still have a long way to go.  Maybe someday.

Cya...

Crapped Out Internet Provider Strikes Again...

Very short, don't know how long it will be before Suddenstink disconnects me again.  We've been blipping in & out all day.  Every time I call them their pitch always starts with, "Did you know that Suddenlink now provides home security?"   The thought of having them as my security company is horrifying.  They can't even keep their internet up & running.  Gotta go.  Hopefully, this will be working better tomorrow.

Cya...

Odd Morning...

The weather is on a warming trend.  I was happy where we were, but knew it wouldn't last.  It amazes me how much weather changes how I feel.  Last week, I was fairly active & feeling fairly well.  The temperature & humidity has risen & now I'm not feeling so great.

Being + affects my well-being enough even though I am on meds.  But the weather aggravates the situation. I don't sleep as well in the warmer nights.   My feet are slightly swollen & my digestion is irritated.  So I'm tired, puffy & gassy.  That makes me really feel like doing my exercise routine.

I know it will pass when things cool down, but that could be a couple of months down the road.  For now, I'll do my best to stay cool & hydrated.  I used to seriously hate colder weather.  Now that I'm + & on meds, a cooler climate sounds nice.  With these weather patterns though, I'd probably have to move to Iceland to find a cooler summer.

That's it for now.

Cya....

A Little Off Today...

A little out of it today.  Today is a designated shopping day & this one was less than pleasant.  Going to Walmart can always turn into a hassle just because it's Walmart.  But when they decide to be out of certain products for weeks on end, it means I have to go visit  other stores as well.  It's bad enough that Wally World seems to have forgotten what an air-conditioner is, but to have to leave & then go shop somewhere else as well is very tiring.  After rounding up things at 2 stores & burning a couple of hours, I finally get home.  

When we finally do get home the roomie & me are both tired, hot & hungry.  It's hard to be hungry when you're hot & tired, but we were.  Wouldn't matter any way, even if I wasn't hungry I had to eat something so I could take my meds.  This has left me with little desire to go spelunking for articles.  So, this it is it for today, hopefully tomorrow fares better.

Cya...

Concerns Acknowledged...

Recently I've been stating my concerns about the anti-aids pill (Truvada) & the at home quick HIV test.   Over the last few days I've been seeing more articles & blips on TV talking about those same concerns.  I feel sort of vindicated.  I know I'm not the only one who has made those statements, but most often statements such as those get ignored by the mainstream until it's too late.  You're left feeling like a scientists from a disaster flick, who keeps telling everyone about volcano in downtown Dallas only to have every one laugh at him.  Then when the volcano hits, they blame him for not being more convincing.

The problems with Truvada are adherence, boosting risk allowances & expense.  Adherence is pretty straight forward.  Some people are going to see this pill as a licence to take extra risks.  Then there is the fact of the $.  This drug will be way out of reach for many, if not most, of the at-risk people the med's makers were aiming at.

As for the test, there is the concern of accuracy & lack of support.  I've addressed both before & they are both dangerous.  Any person not in a great state of mind should probably be considered highly depressed & possibly suicidal after receiving the diagnosis of being HIV +.  I'd say it was even worse for those who never even suspected they were +.

There it is.  The concerns I had are being shared by others in places to actually have their voice heard on the matter.

Cya...

A Talent For Causing Things Pain...

This article talks about a dentist (of course), that has potentially exposed thousands of his patients to HIV, hepatitis & other illnesses because he reused his syringes & needles.  This went on for over a decade & now  the Denver area health officials are having to contact all these people & inform them that they need to be tested.

The Colorado health officials sent out 8,000 letters like that.  Imagine if only 5% were infected.  That's 400 people infected with HIV or Hep for over a decade giving it to who knows how many other people.  Try explaining that to your spouse, "Honestly, I didn't cheat on you... the dentist gave it to me."  I'm simplifying that, because they wouldn't have known the dentist did it.

Apparently, he was already being investigated for pharmaceutical issues before this came out.  Now his practice is closed & these people are in limbo.  Some are calling for prison time.  I say he should be strung up & left to feed the crows.  These syringes are cheap, about $1 USD, & he couldn't be bothered to use a new one. Disgusting.

Cya...

HIV & Depression...

These articles, 1 & 2, both talk about HIV & depression.  The number of people with HIV who also suffer from depression is staggering.  I always associated it with the constant reminder of having a chronic illness, but apparently it's more than that.

For + people not on a anti-retroviral regimen, HIV dementia is a serious threat, for those people receiving meds it's fairly rare.  What is more common are issues with memory, emotions & motor functions.  While these are not as sever as the dementia, they can still be problematic.  Researchers think they've discovered a missing or deficient molecule that is responsible.  They are now studying how to reproduce that compound so it can introduced into HIV meds.

This sounds like a serious start.  I'll keep watching to see how this one goes.

Cya...

2nd Week Of July Almost Gone...

The tail end of June & the beginning of July were hot, not hella-hot like last year, but hot.  The last week was nice.  We've had some rain & stayed mainly in the 90's F.  This is what summer here is supposed to be like.  We're only supposed to be hella-hot a couple weeks of August.

Some of the yard is a little less yellow & crunchy after the rain, but we're still under a burn ban.  It looks like we'll actually have to get the yard mowed again.  The house has been mostly pleasant, except for some sticky afternoons.

The cool down was welcome, even if it won't last long.  It let us turn off the AC.  It's been a lot easier getting daily routines done.  The cats have slept better.  We've slept better.  That means my roomie & me are both doing better health wise.

I'm still exercising & I'm considering a mini-stepper to help me out.  We'll see how that turns out.  I have to get labs drawn towards the end of the month for an appointment in August. For now, that's about it.

Cya...

Don't Think So...

For years the approach to HIV prevention was education, promotion of condom use & screening.  Recently, I've been noticing a tread in articles that are promoting, "Treatment as prevention."  Hmmm...

The idea is that if an infected person is identified as + sooner, there will be less damage done to their body & a lower risk of transmission of the virus to their partners.  I'm not arguing that people who have undetectable levels of the virus are less likely to transmit HIV.  I'm saying that there are some points here that are iffy.

1. Why should a person get tested if not for the educational aspects of AIDS prevention?
2. Most of the data I've seen on not transmitting to their partners was based on heterosexual couples & at this time MSM are still a higher transmission group.

At the bottom line I think some group is getting more $.   Treatment as prevention is a lopsided argument.  Treatment without prevention will never end AIDS.  I don't think this should be an either/or argument.

Cya...

OT A Little...

I'm a little off topic on this one & perhaps a bit callous.  But to hell with it, I've already started.   This article talks about a boy who got part of his arm bit off by a gator.  I know that social niceties state I should feel sympathy & concern for him.  Let's just say I don't.  

This boy went swimming in an area know for having large gators & don't they just look like lovely swimming mates.  Add to that, this is mating season for the beasties & what'd you think was going to happen.  The alligator probably thought he was either food or competition. 

Now, we have a boy missing an arm & a dead gator.  I know, how dare I feel sympathy for reptile.  I'm pretty sure there are lot more humans in the world than alligators.  This animal's crime was acting like what it was.  They boy's crime was stupidity.  The gator just taught him a blunt lesson in life.

I know, I know, I'm still OT.  Let's just say it like this, when you go playing in areas you know damn well are dangerous then don't be surprised when you get hurt.  Doesn't matter if it's swimming with randy gators, driving recklessly or having unprotected sex.  At some point you have to say, damn that was stupid & I did it.  This is my own doing.  I brought this on myself.

If some of us who are + had played safer or perhaps less often, maybe we wouldn't be +.  That's just a maybe.  Then again if this boy hadn't gone swimming in that water he'd still have his arm.  Oh well, done for now.

Cya...

At Home Test... Again...

Another article questions the sensitivity of the at home test, OraQuick.  Apparently their own (OraSure) research is a bit cloudy on the matter.  In this case, sensitivity refers to the test's ability to detect HIV antibodies.  Part of the study said OraQuick has a 92% sensitivity & another stated 99.9%.  OK, lets try to clear that up shall we.   The 1st instance gives us 8 out of a 100 people receiving a false negative in regards to the presence of HIV.  That means those 8 people are actually +, but now think they aren't.  The 2nd number gives us a whopping 1 per person in 1,000 receiving a false negative. 

Which is it, 8% or 0.1%?  That's fairly significant difference there.  I'm keeping my stance in opposition on this matter.  This is not information most people are going to handle well.  Many won't even know where to begin to look for help.   This test is a curiosity device & will still require a professional test to be considered accurate.  I received an ELISA to determine my status & was still required to have a western blot to confirm it in order to receive any help.

I know a lot of people will disagree with me on this & it's pretty much a done deal.  Still, I'd rather have someone I know go to a professional to be tested before using this at home device. 

Cya...

Reason Quo...

Finding myself without any articles I wish to explore & finding myself in a bit a debate yesterday has led to today's post.  A weight lifter & avid exercise enthusiast began telling everyone they had to get their heartbeats up to specific range for 30 minutes daily if they really wanted to be healthy.  

OK, I've heard this before & I started to ignore him.  However, he went on to say that anything less wasn't really exercise & that you might as well do nothing.  Then I called BS on the little banty rooster of a man.  He's like 5'5 or 165 cm.  The man is always sounding off about his fitness.  

I told him that if an overweight person who never moved unless necessary decided to get up & walk a circle around their home & then added a lap per day a week (considering that they added no more calories to their intake) that they would begin to lose weight.  Optimum exercise may be obtained where thia man said it was, but it's not the only way.   He had no idea that the heavier you are the more calories you expend doing anything.  Check out any decent calorie burn chart & they should ask for your weight.  According to the one at Health Status a person weighing 150 lbs/68 kg would burn 397 calories/hour of walking at 3 mph or 5.8 kph.   A person weighing 300 lbs/136 kg would burn 594 calories.  Then a person weighing 450 lbs/204 kg would burn 891 calories.

This man never took into consideration these people who outweighed him were hauling extra weight & not just during the exercise routine but every minute of the day.  The lightest person only burned 44% of the calories of the heaviest.  That's because they weren't carrying the extra weight.  Next time you wonder how hard is to be fat try adding some weight to your daily routine.  A fat suit is probably out of the question, but there are exercise weights for your wrists, ankles & waist.

If you're heavy, do as much as you can.  If it's just wiggling to start with, then by all means wiggle like a little kid stuck some place boring.  Then add more.  Eventually you'll be surprised with what all you can do.  Do what you can & if that doesn't suit someone else, that is their problem.

One of my favorites quotes lately is, "No matter how slow you're going, you're still lapping everyone on the couch."  Just remember motion is the key, keep moving.

Cya...

OMG...stairs...

As I said yesterday, I modified my exercise routine to include stairs to counter the temporary withdrawal of walking.  I calculated how much time I would have to spend climbing stairs to approximate my walk.  It wasn't surprising that stair stepping was going to burn more calories than walking.  The 13 minute morning walk could easily be replaced with 8 minutes on the stairs.  I was breaking these up throughout the day, so I opted for 5 minutes per session.  I thought, 15 minutes big whoo.  

WTF.  Even at just 5 minute intervals this was harder than the full on walk.  It starts out & you're like, OK, I can handle this, no big deal.  Then it's, hmmm, I'm starting to feel this.  Then, it's like, OK this is getting to be  real exercise.  By the end of the 5 minutes my heart was up to 120 & I still had the other half of my routine to do.  Steps are deceivingly trying.  By the time I get back to walking, my legs should be in much better shape.

Cya...

Exercise Alterations Again...

Everywhere in the news they're talking about record highs being broken.  I saw an article citing that over 20,000 record highs have been broken in the USA already this year.  When it's mid 80's F in the morning with a heat index in the mid 90's, you know it's going to be a hot day.

Almost 2 weeks ago I added walking to my exercise routine.   When I start it was in the mid 70's in the mornings when I'd walk.  It's past that by 10 degrees now.  For a lot of people, that's nothing, hell it wasn't for me before HIV.  Now with HIV, my meds & being over weight it's a whole different story.

I could probably push it for a while longer & try to continue.  I can tell you where that would get me.  In a week or so, I'd be completely shot & barely able to do anything.  I was already prone to migraines before my meds & now when I get in bright sunlight or excessive heat the symptoms kick in quick; nausea, feeling light-headed, extreme sensitivity to light/sound & of course the pounding in my head.  

Modifications must be made at least until the thermometer deigns to get less red.  I'm adding more stair stepping to my routines throughout the day.  I know stair stepping is no replacement for walking, but right now it's the best I can do.   We will revisit walking when it gets cooler.  For now, it's hello stairs.  Remember, the point of exercise is to help you get healthier, not to make you sick.

Cya...

Party's Over...

It's the 5th & the celebration & fireworks are mostly a done deal.  For some people that's sad, for others its a relief.  The animals in my neighborhood are bound to thankful it's over.  The property owners are probably a little less worried about grass fires.  Then again, there are those people who have other reasons not to be fond of this holiday or others.

Some people get cranky when others don't live up to their idea of proper festiveness.  In my opinion, that's their problem.  I'm not really a fan of the Winter holiday season, but I do my best to get through it without too much bitching.

It's not the days themselves I have a problem with. It's not the religious connotations or ideology behind the days.  No, I don't mind buying presents.  I'm actually a great gift shopper.  For me these days have more negatives than positives associated with them.  They aren't times of great memories, they're times of being anxious & nervous, just waiting to see what type of hell was going to show its head.

So yes, I'm happy the 4th is over with. For me it's a matter of noise & concern for fires.  For others there might be memories being stirred up, they'd rather leave forgotten.  Memories can take you to bad places very quickly.  These moments can be very hard on a person.  When someone tells you they'd don't like holidays, unless they want to talk about it, just let it be.

Let it be... 3 simple words, most of us can't even really fathom.

Cya...

Done Deal...

I've mentioned this before, the completely at home HIV self-test.  There have been others that require the samples to be sent into labs, but this is one utterly at home.  No more need for the labs, the FDA has approved OraQuick.

You can go from being totally oblivious to your HIV status to wrecked in 30 minutes with OraQuick.  I see the potential gains of this test, but I also see the pitfalls.  

• The cost will be over $18.00, so say $20 USD at least.  That may not sound like much, but for a lot of people it's enough for them not go that route.
• According to the article, this is not idiot proof test.  There are ways to screw it up & it has been known to give both false +'s & -'s.

Those 2 things alone should be enough to challenge this decision.  Oh but wait, the FDA is requiring the company to provide a call-in counseling service.   Oh what joy & yippee!   Like a call-in service is really going to provide someone who just found out they're + with any real support.  I seriously hope I'm wrong about this.  I hope all goes well with, but I doubt it.  

When I finally tested +, I was wrecked body & spirit.  If I had used one of these things, there is a good chance I wouldn't have said anything to anyone & just lived with it, at least until I didn't.  When you're this ill, you're exhausted & not in a mood for a fight or drama.  A person just might want it to end.  What about the people who know their families/friends will shun them, what are they really suppose to do with this info?  Oh well, that's just my thoughts on the matter.

Cya...

Inclusion...

Alameda County has broadened its medicaid program to cover low income,  + people before their HIV shifts in AIDS.  This will allow the county more ability to reach its goals of lowering transmission rates.  Which is necessary for the goal of an AIDS-Free generation.   This will take time to implement & I'm sure there will be some attempts to undo it.  Hopefully, this is a 1st in more steps to bring health care to low income, HIV + people.  I'm sure this will spark discussion & controversy but what the hell, it's a start.

Cya...

Transplant...

This article discusses attempts to remove a 1988 ban on HIV + people from donating organs to other +  people.  The article presents some interesting points & they seem ready to proceed to congress.  If this banned is repealed it could lead to a lot more people, + & not, getting transplants.

I realize there are risks, as there are with every transplant or surgery.  There are a myriad of reasons to be refused for a organ transplant & in some areas being + has been or still is, cause enough not to be considered a candidate for the procedure.  This could prove interesting.  I'll be keeping a look out on anything developing reguarding the topic. 

Cya...

Careful...

Be careful what you ask for.  Earlier this week, I griped about being in the pink (in reference to the temperature map that has anything over 100 F colored in pink).  Well, today most likely will stay in the red or the 90's.   Sounds good.  At least until you take into consideration when we were in the 100's we had almost no humidity.  Now in the 90's, it's a soupy mess.

Anyone who doesn't understand the phrase, "It's not the heat, it's the humidity," has never spent much time in the South.  The heat & extreme light are hell, but they're nothing compared to the swamp that comes with a hot, humid day.   I will take 102 with 20% humidity any day over 89 with 50%+ humidity.  High humidity  can easily aggravate heat issues like heat exhaustion/stroke & fatigue.

Just because your not at the century mark does't mean you're safe out there with high humidity.

Cya...