Monthlies...

There is a new study out of England making headway with a monthly injection based HIV med.  The medication is still in the trial phase, but the potential is huge.  The option of getting an injection once a month versus having to take numerous pills daily is one I'd consider.  I know taking meds isn't that hard, but there are reasons to support this new approach.

• It may be difficult to maintain an adequate supply of at home meds
• It is very easy to forget to take a pill
• Sometimes you get into situation that keep you from taking your meds

Also, if the injection  is given by a medical professional on a monthly basis that means it would be far harder to lose the meds (have them stolen), take the wrong dose & it also insures of at least monthly contact with the patient.  Even if the contact is only with a nurse, basic health information can be recorded then. This approach would be better for regimen adherence & better observation of the patient's state of being.

I realize some people won't qualify for it.  My insurance might not cover it.  It may have meds in it that I have had bad interactions with before.  Over time, hopefully, this approach could become effective enough to make insurance agencies see it as a viable option.  If these work, they may expand into other forms of the injection for those with bad reactions to certain meds.  This has great promise.

Cya

Regimen...

A recent study from Philadelphia, has found that 1 in 4 people do not stick to their HIV regimen.  Only 75%  of people given regimens to follow actually do so. Be careful here, there may be many reasons for this.

• Capability to access the meds at all,  HIV assistance programs can be difficult to locate & navigate & many of them have lengthy waiting list
• Understanding of the importance to remain on the meds
• Tolerance of the meds
• Ability to maintain access to said meds
• Inability to access adequate care, Physician, Labs, Pharmacy
• Unwillingness to adhere to the plan

Only one of those is a willful act.  But the results of all these points are the same.  The HIV will progress & the possibility for transmission remains high.  Beyond that, there are meds that can be harmful to the person if they stop/start them.  HIV can become resistant to meds & then the HIV carried by this person could be even more dangerous due to difficulty to treat if transmitted to others.

HIV is not a disease that can be ignored, if infected it will progress in the person's system.  If ignored by the person it can lead to their death & transmission of the virus to others.  If ignored by the state & other institutions, any headway made in fighting this illness could be lost.

It is incredibly important that people be given every possible chance to adhere to their programs.  Unfortunately, for many that just isn't possible.  They simply do not have the means to do so.  Any person living with untreated HIV is at risk to their own health & possibly the health of others they interact with on an intimate level.  It's past time we make sure + people have access to the treatment they need.

Cya

Porn Law...

Los Angeles has finally made a law requiring all actors in adult films to use condoms.   While I applaud this effort, why the hell did it take a new law to get it done?  Weren't there already public health laws available that could've been used?

Besides the legality of the issue, why would an actor be involved in this business without condoms?  I don't care that they have regular testing.  All that is going to do is let them know that they're + earlier not prevent HIV transmission.  While early diagnosis is great, it's not the same as remaining HIV-free.

Now the porn industry is suggesting that they might just film their wares elsewhere to avoid the statute.  This could cause a significant loss of revenue for the area.  More importantly, this will let the numbers of adult-film actors with HIV continue to grow.  Sex without a condom is Russian roulette, professional sex with a condom is a death wish with a guarantee.

I am happy this law has come into play.  This isn't infringing on someone's sex life, this is a business.  This isn't trampling over someone's right to free expression, it's protecting people's health. Hopefully this law will have a serious impact on the issue.

Cya

EMR...

Kaiser Permanente, a national non-profit, health care center has something to say about HIV care in this article.   Their approach to treatment has led to the following advances.

• No disparities for mortality & meds rates among black & latinos
• 69% of + patients are effectively controlling the virus with meds, compared to at most 35% nationally
• HIV mortality rates are half the national average
• They have a 90+% regimen adherence among their patients
• 89% of + patients are in HIV-specific care within 90 days of diagnosis, compared to 50 % elsewhere.

I lifted those bullets from the article, but the point it simply, those specifics are amazing.   According to them they owe all of this to EMR, Electronic Medical Records.  I know there are some privacy concerns with the idea of having your medical records in a digital format.  However, few doctors these days rely on hard copy.  If these records are on any computer connected to the net then they can be hacked.  There will always be that risk with any information on a online computer.

However, the rewards of this program are tremendous.  Simply by allowing for consistency & continuity in treatment via these records, the success of this programs are noteworthy.  I can get little paranoid about my records, but if it means this is the result, then by all means keep them electronically.  EMR's can also save time & effort when dealing changing doctors & having your records forwarded.  They can save lives by transmitting data to EMT's.  

Like it or not, EMR's are the way things are going.  You might as well focus on the positive's they can bring you, instead of the negatives they might.  I'm pretty happy with this.

Cya

Tandem...

+ people know that it isn't uncommon for a + person to also have Hep C or TB.  Now, research is showing treating ailments like TB & HIV in tandem is a better option.  The article shows that many people are being saved when their treatments are integrated.  Not to be rude, but duh!

HIV compromises your immunity.  Ailments like TB are much more apt to take hold in people with impaired resistance levels.   Again, not to be rude, but many of these ailments are also found in the same communities.  TB spreads via close contact, as does Hep C.  HIV & Hep C can also be spread in many of the same manners.  It would only make sense to test someone for all three.

My doctors have tested me for Hep C, Syphilis & TB.  They also watch for high blood pressure & elevated cholesterol levels.  Why?  Because it is common, or at least not uncommon,  for these ailments to present themselves in people who are +.  If screening for all these at the same time makes sense, then why wouldn't treating them simultaneously? 

At least the research is there to back up what should have been common sense.

Cya

Needles...

A recent study conducted by the CDC reported that the number of people contracting HIV via injection drug use has decreased.   They also reported that there was a downside to this, that being that these people were also less likely to get tested.  Can't all be good news I suppose.

Personally, I contracted HIV the old-fashioned way, sex.   Getting HIV from needles was never a concern for me, I hate the things.  Even after all this time I don't watch them take my blood.  I will never be a fan of needles or shots.

There are many programs trying to lessen the number of people becoming + via shared needle experiences.  Unfortunately, many of these programs are being threatened by budget cuts.  The people who are prone to injection drugs, are usually less apt to engage in programs designed to modify their lifestyle or choices.

Be smart, don't do drugs, especially not IV drugs.  If you're going to do them anyway then at least use your own needle.  

Cya

Weirdness..

Over the years, I have heard some odd information out there regarding HIV.  This is one of those stories.  It seems that researchers have found curative properties in the blood of crocodiles & their ilk.  According to studies going on for the last several years, the blood of these reptiles is the host of some amazing immunological agents.  It seems that living & fighting in all that dirty water gave their systems a boost.  Then again it's commonly held that children that play outside & get dirty have better immune systems than those who stay inside clean, pampered & "protected".  The white blood cells of these things seems to have a killer effect on the HIV virus.

It may never lead to a cure for HIV, but you have to admit, it's pretty interesting.  Who knows where they'll take this research?  I know it sounds somewhat far fetched, but stranger things have left to medical breakthroughs.  

Cya