Different Place, Same Story....

This article is about another place in the US, Beaver County, PA where HIV & other STD's rates are rising.  Again we see reference to lack of testing  & unwillingness to be tested, lack of awareness of HIV risks & a surge in drug use.  Pennsylvania is next to Ohio & West Virginia, states already dealing with an opioid & HIV crisis.  They're adjacent to Indiana & Kentucky.   Next to those is Illinois.   

Most of the Great Lake region states are being impacted by these issues.  We've been hearing about this since VP Pence was still a governor, but precious little is being done about it.  The list of states with an epidemic of HIV/STD outbreaks. TB & HEP clusters & mass opioid use is growing.  Too bad the people in power don't seem to be all that concerned with the issue. 

This new group is adjacent to the problematic southern states that have their own issues with HIV & drug use.  Eventually, the eastern half of the country will be in this zone.  What then?

Cya...

OK Morning...

I managed to sleep alright last night.  Actually, I slept longer than I have in a while.  My roomie left early in the morning & it sort of reset  my sleep.  Not that I mind.  I wasn't planning on anything this morning & I needed the rest.  

It dropped back down to freezing last night.  It's supposed to be about the same tonight.  There's only a few more cold nights in the 10-Day forecast.  Winter is leaving & Spring is mostly here.  Solstice is in a week on the 20th.   Chocolate Rabbit day is appropriately on April Fool's Day.   Which means the 2nd will be a cheap chocolate holiday.  Yay!

That's about it for today.  Take care.

Cya...

Not So Hot...

It's cooler & supposed to be around freezing for the next couple of mornings.   Even with springing forward an hour, it's still really dark & dismal.  I woke very dehydrated, tired & sore.  I had to deal with another nosebleed.  Allergies & dry weather are killing my sinuses.  I'm seriously so tired.  I have to take a shower before we go shopping.  Maybe it'll wake me up more.   I really wonder if I'll ever feel wellish again. 

Cya...

Here We Go Again...

This article tells of a new strain of HIV in the Philippines.  This strain is more aggressive & highly drug resistant.  It takes the person from infected to the AIDS stage in a shorter time.   This isn't the strain found in the Western Part of the world.  That is usually the B strain.  It's prominent in the US, but counts for just over 10% globally.   This is another HIV threat that could've been curtailed if this virus had been handled properly & not so highly stigmatized.

Also, on less life threatening note, this is the 1st day of Daylight Saving Time.  I hate the 1st morning after.  This sucks.  My body knows the world is lying to it.  It always takes awhile for me to adjust to the lost hour.   DST either needs to stay or go permanently. 

Cya...

Results...

Got my results back on the testosterone test.  I'm right at the bottom of normal.   This used to be considered low, but the lab my doctor used had a different range.  I'm waiting to see if I'll get a prescription.  I have no idea what to expect & what it might be able to do for me.  I guess we'll see.

Right now, my eyes are so messed up from allergies, I can barely see the screen.  This is it for now.  Hopefully, I'll be able to see better tomorrow.

Cya...

Not Enough...

Everyday, I read about a new HIV cluster in an American city.  I hear about how the south is still high among those transmitting HIV.  I see articles about the opioid crisis & it's relation to communicable illnesses.   These pieces go over the facts.  They show outrage & concern.  But they also exemplify something above all.  Whatever is being done, is nowhere near enough.  

We need to study future treatments.  We need to insure access to meds & doctors.   But, we should be focusing on the base, prevention.  Which will only come through education & awareness.  It will happen when we stop judging people & things & look closely at what's leading these people to acts that put them at high risk for contracting HIV or other illnesses.

But, that requires something we don't seem to like to do any more.  It calls for genuine interaction.  It calls for real conversations.  It means we need to be present, listening & really seeing what's at the core of this issue.  What puts these people at such risk & what can realistically be done about it.   

I probably lost a lot of people when I mentioned real conversations.   Sadly, meaningful conversation & interaction have fallen out of favor for what some see as more efficient means of communication; social media, texting, emojis...   Surely a smiley face will cure all our woes.

Until people are ready to get down into the dirt of the matter, nothing will change.  Sending cute emojis, posting pics or signing online petitions won't be enough to end this.  These people need understanding.  They need to be seen as individuals if they'e going to be reached.

Is real conversation truly a lost art?

Cya...

Early Morning Again...

This is going to be brief & hopefully coherent.  I"m up early.  I'm going to my doctor's to get blood drawn.  Finally got a meet on this test.  I want to get there as early as possible.  If not, it'll mean lines & worse possibly children.   I don't want to face sick children this morning.    I have some things to do before I go, like waking up enough to drive.

More tomorrow.

Cya...