Gloom & Grass...

 

It's still overcast & chilly.  We might not make out of the 50s today.  To make things worse, there's a lot of mowing. The noise alone can be bothersome, but this year's different.   My roomie & I are both reacting to cut grass a lot this year.  Normally, it smells & might set off our allergies.  This year besides it stinking & setting off allergies, it's making us feel fairly ill & nauseous.   Hopefully, whatever's in the grass will die off soon.  This has been a lot for the last few weeks.

I've posted about aging with HIV before.  This is a good piece about aging with HIV.   It deals with the issues of HIV itself, the meds & comorbidities.  It's worth a read.

Take care.

Cya...

Aging...

 

While I've never read a anything solely devoted to the idea of HIV & premature aging, I've seen parts of other works reference the concept.  The research says it could be by as much as a decade.   Some think it's due to inflammation, others, just ware & tear of the immune system.   This piece addresses that.  It also states that treatment can lessen or even reverse the aging effects of HIV.

Give the piece a read.  I don't find many articles these days.  Take care.

Cya...

New School...

 

According to this article, Yale Medical School is opening a interdisciplinary center.  It will focus on HIV & aging.  The goal seems to be how comorbidities; such as alcohol intake.  There are many issues that will affect a HIV+ patient as they age.  

This is new endeavor.  It probably should've been started a decade ago, but it's here now.  It'll be interesting to see what comes from this effort.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

If Not This, Then That...

 

I've seen a few pieces over the last couple of years that are about the inevitable.  I'm not going to cite them, because none of them offered anything specific.  The gist of these articles was, for the 1st time more HIV+ people are dying, but not of HIV or related illnesses.  They're passing due to other, usually age related, health matters like cardiovascular issues or cancer. 

Most realize this is actually an accomplishment.  Others seem saddened & brought down, like they failed.  If you're lucky medical treatment, even for HIV, gives you the now, maybe tomorrow, but not forever.  These people contracted HIV in the 80s & 90s.  Many of them are in their late 60s & older.

As sad this might be, these deaths weren't the direct result of HIV.  Even if they were helped along due to the virus, these are still ailments associated with getting older.   If the HIV doesn't off you, then something else will, but that's always been the case.

Cya....

Articles....

 

I was a little surprised this morning when I saw a slight variety of articles to choose from.  Most were things I'd covered, but they were there.  There were updates on the new, long acting med Lencapavir, as the studies were expanding.  There were pieces of over HIV+ people being more prone to certain infections.  They were less apt to contract the infection while maintaining a drug regimen.

This piece was concerning, informing & expected.  The article was over how the needs of people living with HIV who were 50+ weren't being met.  Studies have been ongoing for sometime & they've noted several areas that need addressing.  I won't detail all of it, it's a good read.  Give this piece some traffic.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Tapering...

 

August, the temperature, me being 57;  these are all things coming to an end.  It's all winding down.  I hope the weather doesn't cycle into some other form of difficult beast.  August will always conclude.   

As for me, I'm trying to come to some terms with this year.  I didn't like it & it wasn't enjoyable.  But maybe we can at least part on neutral, even if meh, terms.  That'd be better than where I've been most of 57.  

It's not the getting older that bothers me.  It's the losing things & not having them replaced.  The constant breaking, lessening & tedium.  My roomie seems to be able to find things to look forward to better than I can.  

Life should come with options.  You can taper off & eventually flicker out.  Or you could just opt for the off switch & be done.  Go out in a party, a rage, a song.  Whatever, however, but on your terms.  That'd be nice.  That'd have some dignity, maybe even some elegance to it.  

That's it for now.  Take care.

Cya...

Van, Aging & Inflammation...

It's supposed to be hot today.  It was supposed to get hot the last 2 days, but there were weird afternoon rains.  We needed the rain & it dropped the temps, but it made things muggy & miserable.   The forecast looks like mostly seasonal weather.  Probably won't make the rain average again this month.

We got the van back.  They replaced the alternator.  That wasn't cheap, but it was basic maintenance.  It started easy enough this morning. 

There's a lot being written on aging with HIV.  As hard as the health aspects of aging can be, it's the social that'll kill you.   Older gays are left out of the gay conversations about HIV & just about everything else.   Gays have long had a panicky relationship with aging.   Avoidance has long been a commonly employed tactic.   The bright young things, don't want the grey ones raining on their parade with reality.  So they shun, dismiss & ridicule.  Older gays are the Grizabellas of the gay world.  Someday all these little kittens will lose their cuteness & be in for a rude surprise.

Finally, there are some pieces out, but they're pretty vague so I won't cite yet.  There is some evidence against  2 drug regimens.  They can work as well as 3 part meds, can have less direct issues & can cost less.  However, it's being suggested they can lead to higher levels of inflammation.  This is constant issue for those dealing with chronic illnesses.  Inflammation can be as damaging as any virus.  Info's still coming in on this matter.

Cya...

2Fer...

This 1st piece is somewhat recognition then acceptance of the idea that PrEP is leading to a rise of STI's other than HIV among it's user current & post.  PrEP does nothing to aid in preventing other STI's & condoms aren't being pushed.  But, some people feel having a incurable, resistant STI is still better than HIV. Perhaps they should study the topic further.

The 2nd article is more depressing.  It's about the day to day struggles of being a long term survivor & older.  Read the article, but these some main points:

• 60%+ suffer with depression, anxiety & PTSD
• Almost 50% have neuropathy
• 50% have fatigue & other comorbidities
• 25% lack income, 7% lack permanent housing
• Up a 25% lack people for any kind of support

This is a group of aging + people.  They didn't expect to survive.  They suffer from a host of HIV related issues & those of aging.  Many don't have enough resources to even secure food consistently.  The article is a must read for those unfamiliar with the topic.

CYa...

Rainy Morning...

I had a hard time waking up this morning.  It was dark & raining.  It'd been raining lightly for some time.  We've easily passed our August average for rain.    This weather is letting me sleep deeper than I'm used to.   I usually only sleep like this when its cooler.  Now, I'm sleeping like I do in Summer & that combination is leaving me stiff in the morning.

I was reading articles & I came across the idea again that 2015 is the year there will more people living with HIV over 50, than under.  I'm not sure if the assumption has held out, but if it has, that's really huge.  Some of those people have been living with this virus for over 30 years.  

This is really changing the game in dealing with HIV.   These people will be combining their HIV with aging related issues.  That's bound to get tricky & probably difficult to handle.  Comorbidity is common for those enduring chronic illnesses.  But, combining a chronic illness with a natural process, such as aging, is sure to be irksome.

I guess that's what we get for getting old.

Cya...

50, Straight & +...

This British article states for the 1st time in the history of HIV, that heterosexuals are the leading population being diagnosed +.   

And this year for the first time, 70% of new cases were caught through heterosexual sex with 30% involving over 50's, mainly men.

There is still this idea HIV is the gay plague.  That it's something young people catch.  These 50 year old men still think they have no need to engage in safer sexual practices.  

Between this statistic & the sheer aging of the + population, HIV is rapidly becoming a serious geriatric issue.  Between ignorance, stigma & fear many people just don't know or even want to know if they are +.  England is not free of HIV stigma.  Many + people report discrimination & assaults due to their status being known.  

I have to say I don't personally have much patience with this 50+ crowd.  They were in their 20's when HIV really hit the scene.  They've had 30+ years to get with the program & they have chosen not to for whatever reason.  Due to that choice many of them are now finding themselves +.  

We ask kids to take better care of themselves & to be careful in whatever they do.  Why should they?  Why would they bother when they see their parents & grandparents being even riskier than they are?  If we want HIV stopped, everyone has to step up & be responsible.  It's well past time to learn about HIV & how to prevent it.

Cya...