Newly HIV+

[kapunkah]

I was back home last September and decided to have my first HIV test. I had believed that never having had unsafe sex it would be a routine test. Wrong, I tested positive. my first reaction was "how can it be". I really have been extra vigilant and always used a condom. Anyway, looking for blame or how is irrelevant. I need to deal with this,

I'm trying to but I 'm not reading every article I can, doing tons of research and making HIV my life. I sometimes wonder if I'm in denial. Life still seems normal. I left home two days after my diagnosis so didn't see a doctor to go through the full test results but was told by phone that I was pretty much ok. viral load was quite low and CD4 was at 522.

I need to get my blood checked again and want to go to the Red Cross centre at Rajdamri. I'm not good with medical stuff, I get anxious going to hospitals even if I'm just visiting someone!

What I'm asking for here is advice and information about going there and what will be involved in my first visit. From what I've read here language should not be a problem. Is there a best time to go? best person to see? Is it truly confidential?

If anyone here has first hand experience id be very grateful

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Sorry, but do you have any idea how you may have gotten this?

[Upnotover]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/443386-hiv-stistd-testing-at-the-thai-red-cross-clinic-bangkok/

[Morakot]

I was back home last September and decided to have my first HIV test. I had believed that never having had unsafe sex it would be a routine test. Wrong, I tested positive

False positives have been ruled out? What type of test was your retest?

I presume you were offered counseling?

[Sheryl]

It is truly confidential and no need to request anyone in particular. Just show up, explain your situation - an HIV+ antibody test despite no clear risk factors, "low" viral load (would help to know what that means exactly i.e. was there, or was there not, virus detected in the blood?) and CD4 522. Tell them you need to be make sure you are really HIV+ and also to have baseline liver and kidney function tests and CBC (complete blood count), these are necessary as baselines should you start antiretroviral therapy. They will take it from there.

As to what to expect - a blood test. Just one stick, several tubes drawn. Counselling and the results.

If the results confirm you are HIV+, it is recommended to start treatment at once as this has been shown to imnprove long term outcomes. You can get the meds at the Thai red Cross bvut need a doctor's prescription, suggest you see Dr. Asda at Bumrungrad for that. He is very good and will take time to explain things to you in detail. Tell him you will get the meds at TRC so he gives you a script rather than having the hospital pharmacy issue them (very expensive). Many patients do that, not a problem.

The Thai Red Cross has a support group for HIV+ English speakers, this will be very helpful. See details in http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/285198-hiv-testing-and-treatment-in-los-doctors-meds-costs/

[Sheryl]

As your VL is low and CD4 count 522, you are in the early or middle part of what is called the "clinical latency stage" of the disease. Infection could have occurred anywhere from about 6 months ago to many years ago (but probably less than 10; if had to guess I'd say you were likely infected somewhere in the range of 1 - 5 years ago, but it could be more). So when thinking about when it might have happened it is possible you haven't thought back far enough.

Antibody based HIV tests can indeed give false positives, though they will always double check a positive result with a different type of test and the odds of a false positive on both tests is very, very small (though not zero). However presence of the virus in the blood is definitive.

[lostinisaan]

OP, should you not reside in Bangkok, I just wanted to let you know that you'll get your medication ( if needed) at all government hospitals nationwide.

Only one test doesn't seem to be enough. Mistakes do happen and a few things can go wrong, even when they talk about an 99.5 % accuracy.

Please see: http://www.virusmyth.com/aids/hiv/cjtestfp.htm

Important is that your CD 4's are never below 200, which also indicates a high virus load. The CD 4 test has to be done every six month. the virus load test should be done once a year.

Best of luck.

Edited March 26, 2016 by lostinisaan

[laban]

Good advice from Sheryl to see good doctor who can establish the right cocktail of anti-retroviral drugs that suits your body, and get them from TRC at about 1200 Baht per week.

I have a cousin who has been HIV+ for 25 years and cycles 15 kilometers a day, which proves you can have a normal life.

[kapunkah]

Thanks for all your input so far. There's no doubt that the positive test is correct. I'm done with trying to work out how i got it, its pointless to speculate beyond a broken condom.

As regards counselling, yes I was counselled but being gay I've always kept myself informed so to be honest I'm pretty much ok. I also have the best partner in the world so I really am lucky. The most worrying thing for me is the potential side effects when I go on meds. I'm not very good at being ill !

[DipStick]

Sorry, but do you have any idea how you may have gotten this?

A totally unnecessary and flippant comment in my humble opinion

[theguyfromanotherforum]

Sorry? Are you the one that's sick dipstick?

If the OP doesn't want to discuss it I will accept that. However, I find it concerning that he used precautions and still got it. He offered some clues and I thanked him for it.

[kapunkah]

Sorry, but do you have any idea how you may have gotten this?

The tooth fairy

[JHolmesJr]

Always sobering to hear a personal perspective on this insidious scourge.

What makes it even more dangerous that it's not seen as an epidemic now, so people don't give it much thought.

Alarming no of bar workers etc are hopping on without bothering about protection…and in the thrill of it all, guys say what the heck, it's only once.

Still, I have read reports about how hard to is to get it through normal heterosexual incidents.

Guess you can't believe everything you read.

[Morakot]

As regards counselling, yes I was counselled but being gay I've always kept myself informed so to be honest I'm pretty much ok. I also have the best partner in the world so I really am lucky. The most worrying thing for me is the potential side effects when I go on meds. I'm not very good at being ill !

Undoubtedly it must be a rather difficult situation.

Beyond explaining options for various medial treatments, some forms of non-judgmental and non-directive counsellings can help you to address specific worries about being unwell and support you in developing a suitable copying-strategy for the future.

Edited March 26, 2016 by Morakot

[kapunkah]

Arguably the social stigma and prejudice is now worse than the disease itself. Better and easier drugs have made it easier to control than diabetes. I agree that complacency exists way too much nowadays because people think both that they won't get it or even if they do it's just another pill to take

[Sheryl]

You may find this thread helpful http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/894693-wife-diagnosed-as-hiv/?hl=%2Bhiv+%2Bwife

There are a number of HIV+ TV members; hopefully some will reach out to you as there is nothing like hearing from people who have been down this road themselves

[kapunkah]

I've already had one contact and it's great to hear personal stories. Very encouraging.

[loppylugs1]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

[bamboozled]

Sheryl, you're fantastic.

[Sheryl]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

Virtually impossible is not correct. Female to male transmission is less easy than male to female or male to male but it definitely happens and the majority of HIV+ men in the world (most of whom are in Africa) got it from sex with a woman.

A variety of factors influence the risk and many of them, you have no way of knowing...for example the woman's viral load which will be very high in the first months after she is first infected at which time she will look fine and probably have no idea it happened.

Besides HIV there is risk of Hepatitis which is easily transmitted, and other STDs.

[kapunkah]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

In my opinion there's no risk worth taking. Use a condom and if you lose your hard on then use Viagra, it's better than the alternative. HIV isn't a walk in the park

[uthaithanirules]

Sorry, but do you have any idea how you may have gotten this?

A totally unnecessary and flippant comment in my humble opinion

I think it would drive me nuts not knowing how I got it, if I ever do

[Sheryl]

The 2 party flamefest/bickering is officially over and posts have been removed.

Please stay on topic, which is a specific person (OP) newly diagnosed with HIV.

[AlexRich]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

I'm no expert, but I understand that in Africa the problem affects a large percentage of heterosexuals, men and women. So condoms are very necessary for heterosexuals as well. Better to be safe than sorry I reckon.

[loppylugs1]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

I'm no expert, but I understand that in Africa the problem affects a large percentage of heterosexuals, men and women. So condoms are very necessary for heterosexuals as well. Better to be safe than sorry I reckon.

This thought did cross my mind as I did the Boer war battlefield tour last year,those condoms there,the size of them ,more like a car inner tube,no problems pulling one of them on.

Yes notice given and appreciated,its likened to the guy in another thread with potato crisp addiction,sex takes a grip,cannot get away from it,far from shagging a barbers floor,it aches if not enough,but I do try and choose carefully,stupid I guess ,but a good looking Chinese looking,well kept knocks the (if I wore them) cotton socks off me

[geriatrickid]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

Stop that. HIV is an epidemic in Sub saharan Africa and now India. These regions are not predominately gay, nor are they big IV drug users. HIV is spread through heterosexual sexual activity.

[geriatrickid]

Thanks OP for comments,especially its source

At my age its hard to pull a rubber on once the initial urge has passed,but I do get checked out regularly and after years of unprotected sex,save for warts twice ,nothing to register,so as earlier posted it appears as virtually impossible for heterosexual relationship for man to pick up HIV, not to say its impossible,but highly unlikely

In my opinion there's no risk worth taking. Use a condom and if you lose your hard on then use Viagra, it's better than the alternative. HIV isn't a walk in the park

Please don't use viagra unless screened for CAD and other circulatory illnesses and it is prescribed by a physician who knows your health status. There are 2 questions asked of patients having heart attacks when they enter an Emergency Room;

1. Did you use cocaine and,

2, Did you use viagra or similar products.

There is a reason they ask.

[loppylugs1]

Right,Ive tied a knot in it