Interview 38
Although he has developed a lot of resistance to anti-HIV drugs, he is currently doing well on T20, TMC114 (as part of a trial), FTC, tenofovir and abacavir, and has an undetectable viral load.
A 46 year old gay man who lives in a small village in the midlands. He was diagnosed in the early days of the epidemic.
More about me...
Age at interview' 46
Age at diagnosis' 27
Sex' Male
Background' A 46 year old gay man who lives in a small village in the midlands. He was diagnosed in the early days of the epidemic.
Outline' A 46 year old gay man who lives in a small village in the midlands. He was diagnosed in the early days of the epidemic. He works voluntarily in the HIV sector. Although he has developed a lot of resistance to the antiviral medications, he is currently doing well on T20, TMC114 (as part of a trial), FTC, tenofovir and abacavir, and has an undetectable viral load. He has had to deal with a lot of death in his life, including family, friends and partners. Counselling has been very helpful to him. He is highly informed about medications and health care.
It can be hard to maintain friendships when people expect you to die early.
It can be hard to maintain friendships when people expect you to die early.
Describes how difficult experiences may be buried in the mind and how talking helps.
Describes how difficult experiences may be buried in the mind and how talking helps.
And it's the talking about it and how it made you feel and why you went down a particular route, using your logic. Whether it was correct or not is really irrelevant, it does help in talking to an individual' a counsellor. They will not have the answers. You have the answers. And it is getting at those answers.
Believes that basic sex education in schools is failing many young people.
Believes that basic sex education in schools is failing many young people.
There's an interesting guy I spoke to who basically said, 'Well, if the girl wants me to use a condom I know she was safe, right. But if she didn't want me to use a condom, then I'd put one on [laughter].' I mean using that weird logic, I was saying, 'What about pregnancy? Have you ever thought about that?' 'Well I withdraw,' and I was saying, 'Well you can still make them pregnant.' So basic information like that is not getting through' And you are not taught about gay sex in school.
Says that we need to be clearer in educating people about which body fluids can transmit HIV.
Says that we need to be clearer in educating people about which body fluids can transmit HIV.
People need to live life in the present, but responsibly.
People need to live life in the present, but responsibly.
Not everyone has access to effective medication, and the consequences of not taking medication...
Not everyone has access to effective medication, and the consequences of not taking medication...
Gives advice on caring for the self and balancing HIV with the rest of your life.
Gives advice on caring for the self and balancing HIV with the rest of your life.
Some of his neighbours in a small English village are still ignorant about HIV.
Some of his neighbours in a small English village are still ignorant about HIV.
Talks about how people need to live life in the present, but responsibly.
Talks about how people need to live life in the present, but responsibly.
Being HIV positive is no protection from being, being involved in a car crash or being in a fire or whatever. You don't know how long you've got so, you've got to say' live life for the moment (but not) to hell with the future, because you've still got to plan for the future. As we did in the early days saying, max your credit cards and enjoy yourself because when you're dead you've got nothing and they can't take it away from you. I remember one consultant was saying to one particular guy, you've got six months, and so he had a fantastic time, thoroughly enjoyed himself, maxed his credit cards, and of course two and a half years later, he's still alive. With a big debt that had to be dealt with.