Not Just...

 

I see articles about how HIV is addressed dissimilarly due to differing patient  demographics.  These factors include race & ethnicity, sex, rurality & social vulnerability.  It's accurate to say these distinctions can & do impact HIV treatment, but there's something being left out.  These traits affect groups no matter what the issue. 

Any of these factors or combination of them can push a person further from the standard of care given the mainstream population.  I'm gay, rural, poor & on disability.  My access to everything is very limited compared to a middle class person living in a metro area.  Still, that affects everything, not just my HIV treatment.

Too many articles are written as if these were isolated assaults those HIV+.  Disparity in treatment has always been a reality.  It shouldn't be, but it is.  In many incidents, the more conventional, metro & affluent a person is, the better they will be treated.

Stigma & disparity are a given in any situation where there's a power imbalance.  From what I can tell, it's not a fight that can be won.  You can focus on it & waste a lot of effort, but it's unlikely any lasting change will come about.  Sorry, but society sucks.

Cya...

More On...

 

I'm trying not to be bouncing off the walls anxious, but it's not going well.  It's the proverbial domino effect of crap.  I still don't have the van back, they didn't get finished.  I thought that would be the worse news I got yesterday.  I was wrong.  The ice-maker in the refrigerator isn't working & it's causing a small leak.  Of course this happened on Friday & we can't get anyone until Monday.

I've been trying to write about the return of the little blue flowers in the yard.  Normally, they can make me happy, but that's a tall order this year.  They still make me smile.  Warmer, brighter days are on the way.  Just 15 days until the time change.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Waiting Still...

 

My lab results are slowly coming back.  I'm still waiting for the mechanic shop to call about the van.  That got expensive fast.  It should be ready sometime today.

I found this site, The Well Project.  It's an HIV site concerning women & girls.  This is the 1st site I've seen dedicated in such a way.   It's about time.  Give it a look.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Now For The Waiting...

 

I did get labs drawn yesterday.  Some have already had results posted.  So far, they're fine.  We also got the van to the mechanic.  Maybe this place can fix it.  That'd be nice.

Other than waiting to hear back on these things, I don't have much going on.  I hope that sticks.  There's been enough going on lately.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Trying To Get Labs...

 

It's that time again.  As much as I dislike getting labs drawn, I hate the process even more.  Every once in a while things go smoothly.  Those are the flukes.  Normally, I have to make several calls to chase the orders down.  I wish I could just order them myself & skip this step.  I hate the hoops.  I'm waiting to see if this gets in this morning or if it will be a tomorrow thing.  

I saw an article on HIV literacy.  That should've been an interesting piece.  It turned out to be a basic vocabulary list concerning HIV.  I'm not sure if it's a case of poor writers or that the authors think the readers are too ignorant to supply a better piece.  Either way, it's annoying.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Hazy Tuesday...

 

Just a quick post.  So far there isn't much going today.  It's pretty hazy & windy out.  I did come across another article of negligence or malpractice leading to possible HIV exposure.  This article details how a nurse working in a Texas jail may have exposed a dozen or more men to HIV by reusing needles.  At least 1 inmate was HIV+.  Now these men are taking PEP & being tested.  This kind of exposure happens way too often.

Cya...

3rd Monday of February...

 

We have shopping & some errands today.  There won't be any mail due to President's Day.  Later in the week I'll need to get labs drawn for telemedicine.  We'll also have to drop off the van again to see if they can fix it.

Other than having a friend by on Thursday, that's all we have on schedule for the moment.  If stuff comes up, we'll see.  That's all for now, take care.

Cya...