What's Normal...

 

It's not unusual for an article suggest making various things "normal" in treating, maintaining & living with HIV.   The problem is that this approach assumes there is a base starting point for most people.  That's just not valid.  

I don't have nearly the resources many people in the US have.  I'm rural, of limited resources & don't have much in the way of support.  It's me, my roomie, my medical providers, my pharmacist & that's it.   Only my roomie has anything more that a passing interest.  I'm doing what I can with what I have.  Is it a lot, is it even enough?  No, it probably isn't.   There are a lot of things that could've made these last 2+ decades easier, better, more fulfilling, etc...

That being said, I still have it better than a lot of HIV+ people.  I'm living in a place where I can get medical & pharmaceutical care, even as cursory as it is.  I'm not living in a place where my sexuality or HIV is criminalized or utterly ostracized.  I'm not living in a poor country dependent on a psycho tyrant for funding to get medical care.

What I'm saying, is that things could be worse, it'd be nice if they were a lot better.  There is no across the board "normal" for HIV patients across my state, let alone the US or the world.  Stop trying for blanket approaches, they'll never work.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

LAI Roadmap...

 

This piece is a statement from a senior VP from ViiV Healthcare.  It's a plan to embrace decades of research, development & patient input to develop the future of HIV/AIDS treatment with the endgame of ending the virus.

The focus is on long acting injectables (LAI).  Some for prevention, others for treatment.  They could come in varying injection intervals.  This isn't a cure, it's a siege war against HIV.  If the virus can't spread & is contained in those currently HIV+, it will either die out with those patients or be handled if a cure ever is developed.

Like all things with HIV, this is now & will continue to be in development, striving to be the best approach possible.  Again, this isn't a cure, but it's a solid step to ending HIV.

Give this 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...

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...

Different & Same Old....

 

I was going to post about this article yesterday, but things happened.  It's from AmFAR & it's recognizes the current limits of HIV regimens, mostly ARTs.  It proposes the use of immunotherapy to extend the benefits of current meds.  It focused on broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and an immune-stimulating agent (a TLR9 agonist).  This wasn't proposing a cure, but a step in a new direction for treating HIV.  Maybe, if this works, it could lead to a functional cure.

I haven't been doing well.  I'm just tired, detached &  ready just to let go.  This has been exhausting.  2026 is going to bring a lot changes to my assistance programs.  The orange asshats say it's for health.  They don't care about any poor person's well being.  They just get off on punching down & harming those who can't really fight back.  If every orange follower would just die, the world would be a better place.

My sister called.  The call itself was benign.  I guess she needed to touch base with me, so she could say did.  Between everything going one, the time of the year, the alleged holiday happening & governmental BS, I'm just over it.   That call just reminded me or how much of an afterthought I've always been to those people related to me.  If I wasn't that I was a bother or nuisance to them.  I have a hard time seeing my life being any worse if I'd never met any of my relatives. 

I didn't need to see 59, another holiday season or 2026.  There won't be anything for me.  My life will continue to descend into worse levels.  So yeah, I don't care about 2026.  It'll only be a worse version of 2025.

Sorry for the bummer, but do give the article a read.  It could be a new direction for HIV treatment.  Take care.

Cya...

It's About Steps...

 

HIV has been with us for decades & some wonder why a cure hasn't been discovered.  There are a lot of illnesses with no cures.  Some don't even have treatments.  HIV is a difficult puzzle to solve & there's always the question of funding.  There's also a possibility drug companies don't want to lose money, so there may never be a cure.

When the virus was 1st discovered there was nothing for it, not even a proper name.  Slowly things evolved.  It wasn't until the later 80s they started treating HIV with AZT, but it was harsh & didn't do the job by itself.  They slowly introduced other meds along side it to boost efficacy.  It wasn't until the mid 90s deaths from HIV started leveling off.

I was diagnosed in 2000 & was given 5 years to live.  I was taking a handful of meds every few hours.  They helped with the HIV, but they were hard to handle.  Slowly my meds changed & I was no longer on the handfuls of horse pills.   I was still dealing with quite a few for years.  They took their toll of me; my hair, teeth, digestion, etc...  Then came my regimen of 1 pill a day.  It was so strange after years of mass pills, to only take a single dose.  Even that med was replaced with a better option.

The point is, there were a lot of steps.  Now, we're moving into the age of long acting injectables.  Some are given every couple of months to twice a year.  These injections can make adhering to a regimen possible for a lot of people.  If these long acting injections are given & viral loads maintained, these people can't transmit the virus.  In a decade or generation, if enough people were treated, HIV could become just a memory.

There problem with is what it always is; funding, logistics & willingness.  None of those things will ever be a given.  Stigma & ignorance challenge willingness.  War, disaster & distance are issues for logistics.  The orange stain & those like him will always complicate funding.  We may have the means to end HIV, but due to social, political & economic factors, it may never happen.  That's on us as a people.  If this continues for generations, it's our failure.  We refused to take the necessary steps.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Consistent...

 

There've been a lot of articles lately discussing the same concept.  Whether it's HIV treatment, PrEP, condom use, safer sex practices, etc..., they all depend on consistency.  You can employ any of those listed things, but unless it's done regularly & properly, they won't be as beneficial.  Unless the last 3 are used in a consistent basis, they won't provide as much prevention. 

The primary thing in any post or pre HIV regimen is constant, consistent, proper usage of the medication.  Even if you have the med, if not take routinely as prescribed, it may not work as intended.   Doctors can only provide access to the meds.  The rest of it is up to you.  I'm not saying it's easy.  At times you may very well hate the meds for numerous reasons.  But not taking them, really isn't any option, if you want to manage your HIV.

HIV forces you to become consistent.  There are doctor appointments, labs, pharmacy trips, meds to take, other means pf self care & so on.  It's trying & unfortunately, the lion's share of the work is on you.  Maybe someday, they'll have a cure.  But for now, that's just a dream.  You are the only thing really keeping your story going.  Learn to be consistent regarding your HIV so there's a next page.

Cya...

Yeah Sydney...

 

This piece is about the monumental efforts Sydney, Australia took to start controlling HIV in an area with historically, high HIV transmissions.  It's a good article & shows HIV can be combated without a vaccine.   Not saying a vaccine wouldn't be helpful, but this was done with a community based & targeted approach.  They focused on prevention, awareness, testing & treatment.  By doing so, in a decade they lowered this area of Sydney's transmission rates by over 80%.

This is a good read.  It shows things can be handled.  The main thing it takes is willing to access the situation & act accordingly.  I'm glad I found this article.

Take care.

Cya...

And Again With It...

 

There is a constant flow of articles over how certain populations in this country are less apt to get HIV treatment.  These are usually based on gender, age & race/ethnicity.  These statements may be genuine & even accurate, but aiming the responsibility for this  phenomenon on the medical community is completely unjustified.  

Information regarding HIV/AIDS has been readily available in the US for decades.  If there is need for more outreach, that's a matter of public health & welfare.  It's not the job of most medical professionals to reach out to people, especially those who don't want contact.  That's for social workers, community leaders, case managers, etc...

I saw an article today about having more equity in HIV treatment.  Yes there should be equity.  If you're talking about matters of access due to location, disability or finances then by all means do what you can.  If you're talking about HIV stigma among certain groups of people, then that's another matter.  

Professionals have tried for decades to make inroads into various racial/ethnic communities.  Most often with limited success.  This is now a matter for those communities to handle.  It's fairly blatant that help from outside the community isn't trusted/wanted.  It will have to be an internal matter.  I'd rather medical professionals focus on people who actually want medical aide than chasing those who don't.

Cya...

Changes In...

 

There have been a lot of changes in the treatment of HIV.   In the beginning, there wasn't even a test, let alone  treatment.  Slowly meds were introduced, some like AZT came from previous research for conditions such as cancer.  Some like AZT, also proved to be   problematic & toxic.  Early on, doctors thought holding off on meds was the best approach.  Given the issues with the meds, maybe it was.  Unfortunately this allowed the virus to advance & cause damage.

Slowly, with better testing & medications, treatment  shifted forward.  Eventually, it was deemed best to start treatment at diagnosis.  With better timing & meds, people with HIV today will have a chance to live a much healthier life than their predecessors.  

That doesn't mean this is resolved.  HIV meds are still hard on a body.  Even more so, they're outrageously expensive.   The Triumeq I take cost ranges from 3 - 4.5K depending on the seller.  Yes, there are discounts, but that only drops the price to the low 3K range.  That's not counting cost for other meds, appointments with doctors/specialist, lab work, etc... All of that is easily putting the monthly bill for HIV treatment over 4K.  While no longer a death sentence  for most people, their lives will never be the same in any fashion.   HIV is still all consuming.

Cya...

Insensitive, Maybe...

 

Plans for fighting HIV faltered during the pandemic.  A lot of things did.  Programs are doing their best to get back on top of matters.  But there are some  groups scattershooting blame for failure of HIV treatment approach strategies for certain communities.

Very often, articles state those treating HIV in ethnic or cultural communities are failing.  Often it doesn't come off like these groups tried  & failed, but that the writers are accusing these groups of purposefully  under performing for the non mainstream. 

They call foul for the way HIV strategies have been applied to Black, Hispanic or other groups.  They call for blame when failing to compensate for all the IV  drug users.  

Yes, these strategies have to be well developed, delivered & constantly modified.  Sometimes they won't succeed as well as intended.  But, it doesn't matter if the community is Mexican, Black or Purple Spotted Woozles, at some point these groups have to own up to their part of the issues & not just blame faceless programs.

Not taking responsibility for your well being is easy.  Blaming others is very easy.  Being accountable for you part in the situation can be a bitch.  But accountability & effort are necessary from all sides if  the fight against HIV is every going to get ahead.

Maybe this will be come off as being insensitive.  I'm fine with that.  Just call me Mr. Insensitive, but at least I told you the truth on this point.  

Cya...

Modified Approach...

 

This piece is about the use of bispecific proteins as treatment for HIV.  This approach affects T-cells with a modified protein to boost their ability to fight off illness such as HIV, cancer & other autoimmune issues. 

Will this work?  The jury's out on that.  If it does or just improves research, it's a good step forward.  Give  this a read.

Take care.

Cya...

Complete...

 

When it comes to treating HIV, many promote a more complete treatment plan.  They go beyond the medical,  social & nutritional needs of a client.  They look at the more personal, spiritual & perhaps environmental needs of the person. 

All of these are important & can lead to very successful plans.  However they can go too far.   Would  it  be  nice to have people around who were  also HIV+?   Yes, but only if not every word out of their mouths wasn't about HIV or slathered in toxic positivity.  

The problem with any treatment plan is simple.  There are no best-for-all plans.   Some people will need a lot of hand holding.  Other people will hate it.   Some will want a lot spirituality, some won't. Same goes for  every aspect of treatment.  Nothing will work for  everyone, not even the meds. 

A good plan takes the individual into account & is tailored where it can be.  There may be many alterations to get to a good point.  The primary thing any plan needs is honest, transparent conversation between clients & providers.  You can be happy, but sometimes all that sunshine & lollipop business can be too much.

Cya...

Well, OK Then, Cold...

 

It's not as bright this morning & the weekend is going to be cold, overnights in the low 20s.  Looks like next weekend is going to do the same.  I know it's February, but I'm sick of the cold.  Today would've been my mother's birthday.  She was born on the same day as Lincoln.  When I was little, both Lincoln & Washington's birthdays were on the Calendar, now there's just President's Day.  

There are constantly articles about disparities between the medical situations of the mainstream population & other groups, especially those based on ethnicity, race, religion, ideology or socioeconomic class.  For some poor people, medical attention may be difficult to access or afford.  For the rest, it's something else.

Most often these articles refer to Black people.  I'm sure they have their reasons for avoiding conversations or treatment for HIV, COVID & other things.  The point is, it doesn't matter.  Without education, prevention, conversation & treatment these people are going to continue to be disproportionately affected by these illnesses.  There's nothing anyone outside  this community can do about it.  At this point, this is their fight.

That's all for no, take care.

Cya...

Goodbye January & Just Great...

 

The 1st month of 2022 is almost over.  I suppose it wasn't bad as far as Januaries go.  Still the weather had been a bit of a pill.  People this month on the other hand, have been mostly a bunch of dangerous idiots, at least in our State.   COVID is still there & they're acting like it's a myth or a cold.  We jumped over  100K active  cases in less  than 3 weeks.  It seems to be going back  down some now.   

This piece isn't great, but it'll have to do.  I saw others like it, but they were all behind paywalls.  It details how a South African woman who was inadequately treated for HIV developed COVID.  She had COVID  for over 9 months & developed 21 mutations.  Once properly treated for HIV, she recovered in 9 weeks.  

People with compromised immune systems can allow COVID to mutate rapidly.  This is likely how we got the beta & omicron variants.  Africa has an immense number of people living with HIV who are not or undertreated.  Vaccinations for COVID & treatment for people with HIV & immunity issues is necessary for CVOID to be controlled.

That's all for now.  Goodbye January.  Take care,

Cya...

OK Men...

 

This piece is about the gender divide concerning testing & treatment of HIV globally.   This piece by the UN's OCHA, states they had nearly reached their global goals concerning the testing & treatment of women.  

However, that was not the case with men.  When it came to testing & treatment of HIV, the numbers were much worse.  They estimate there's nearly 3/4 million men unaware they're HIV+.  They also estimate there are over a million not  receiving  treatment & nearly a million not virally suppressed. 

Looking at this as a global issue, it becomes very difficult to ascertain the cause of these disparities.  It's an even bigger issue in sorting out how to handle them.    

Until more men get on board with fighting HIV, this fight will never end.  There are a lot of reasons why these men will say they haven't handled this.  I can give them a good reason to handle it, to live.  We are to the point that diseases like HIV should be mandatorily treated globally.  I just have no idea how that would happen.

Cya...

Insensitive Maybe...

  

Some may find me insensitive on this matter, but here we go.  I live in a rural area.  Until telemedicine came along, I had to drive over 120 miles to get to the nearest place that handled HIV.  There weren't & still aren't support groups/agencies in my area.  There is no special support for HIV here.  Yet, I got to my doctors, labs & took my meds.   It took a lot of effort on my part & friends, but it happened. 

I can understand when they say people in less developed  areas have a hard time getting treatment. There's the logistics, monies & other issues of the area to consider.  But here, in the US, especially in urban areas, there are options.

So, why is it I often read about Black & Hispanic populations being so behind in treatment?  It's most  often worse with males.  Still, many of them are  urban & should  have access.  They're just not taking  the help being offered.   That's not a medical issue, it's  a cultural problem.  That's something for a social  worker or someone else, not a doctor.  If someone doesn't want help, fine, but stop being a spreader. 

It doesn't matter what your gender, sex,  race, etc.. is.  If you are an adult, it's on you to make sure you get what you need to stay healthy.  If you let stigma impede your treatment, that's not on doctors or clinics.   Make a choice, you can be someone who's accepted & dying or you can live.

Cya...

Multidiscipline...

 

I saw a couple of pieces this morning over utilizing a multidisciplinary approach to treating illnesses, such as HIV.  The concept is valid, too bad the articles were just blips.  Maybe they'll put out something with more substance.

Health & disease have rarely, if ever, been solely medical issues.   They have almost always been mired in the classes, economics, religions, culture, etc of  the given society.  The rich rarely face the same level of health risks as the poor.  Even if they do, they enjoy better resources to handle it.  Class systems,   religions & racial beliefs have added to the disparate reactions & reasoning regarding illness.

Very little in any society is the same across the board.  That's not a judgement call, it's just what is.  Until  that is recognized, considered & addressed the treatment of any illness will widely vary across the population.   Some of these reasons are biological, but most are sociocultural. 

A multidisciplinary approach is needed for any health care organization.   Just don't saddle that on actual  medical staff.  Those jobs are for case workers, social workers, resource managers, counselors, etc...  Those titles & more are necessary if we wish to end HIV/AIDS.

Cya...

Another Awareness Day...

 

Today is, National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2021.  This piece is about that matter.  If I seem underwhelmed,  I am.  

I understand in the US, HIV has struck hardest in the Gay communities & among those actively MSM.  I get it & in this country that's accurate.  But, it isn't globally.  Around the world, HIV seems most prevalent in those parts of society with less standing and power.  Whether that be Gays, Women, POC, etc...

For decades our society has divided into smaller & smaller groups.  So some people can feel better  represented.   If some groups do have specific issues,  those should be addressed.   If not we should all be treated the same.

I'm male, of Native American descent, Gay, rural,  poor & a host  of  other descriptors.  But, in this matter, a single point should be the focus.  I am HIV+. The virus in my body is what's being treated, not any of those other things.  I'm not saying those other things can't impact my health or treatment.  But those are social, cultural or psychological matters, not medical.

Division in these matters will only do harm.  Unless a biological matter needs to be addressed during  treatment, then it shouldn't matter who we are.    We're all people  living with HIV.

Cya...

They're Surprised...

 

Yesterday I wrote people laying out basic HIV info like it was new.  This knowledge is 4 decades old.  If people don't have it by now, they're never going to get it.

I saw 2 articles this morning, 1 was a serious duh & the other should be a wake up call, but it won't be.  The 1st piece talked about how pediatric HIV care in Africa wasn't on par with the rest of the world.  Well, Duh!  Very little on that continent is on par with any thing else in the world.  They do violence & human rights violations very well.  Should we clap  for  that?   Africa is a troubled place.  But, at  some point, we're going to  have  to  accept outsiders won't be the people to fix those problems.

2nd, a pissy rapper, Dababy, decided to trash gays & HIV+ people in his show.  He's a needy little,  attention starved, bastard.  But people, this is nothing new.  The levels of hate in rap against a lot of people, especially Gays, is old news.  OMG, a rapper was  an asshat,  who'd a thought it?  Rap  has been a vehicle for a lot of messages, including hate.  A lot of rappers are notoriously anti-gay.  At least until they're found  trading tea in a a park stall.

People, the info is there & has been there.  Learn it & stop being surprised.  Take care,

Cya...