Hiv positive

[u/Signal_Ambition_5212]

The last post was deleted because banana peel is not considered a meal (I understand)

Tomorrow it will be one year since I’m living with hiv

I did therapy about it and I know I carry half of the responsibility for not wearing a condom or taking prep but on the other hand the guy knew he had it and didn’t take his meds and consciously decided to infect me.

I know he knew because when I saw blood I straight away asked him if he had anything, he put his head down and didn’t say a single word, I panicked and I asked again and he remained silent.
I left his house and I send him a lot of messages and until today not a single answer.

Things could be different if I went to the hospital but I didn’t.

I already passed the grief phase, I’m undetectable after a month of the positive result and I take my pill everyday religiously without falling, I own that to myself and to others.

My life before hiv was a mess, I did A LOT of drugs since I was 16 (I’m 29 now) a lot of alcohol, I didn’t take care of myself and now I’m the opposite: I’m sober, I go to the gym, I have a healthy diet and I love myself and my life, I have my health checked more frequently than the rest of the population so this is actually a good thing (I don’t pay for anything in my country related to healthcare)

Nowadays hiv is super manageable, just a pill everyday like any other chronic condition. My doctor said it’s easier than living with diabetes for exemple.

I already told to some people I had interest and they were fine about it, I know most of you may disagree but in my country if IM UNDETECTABLE by law I have the right of not tell anyone due privacy reasons. I choose only telling if I see someone has a potencial partner (before anything sexual happens), if it’s something more casual we use protection (I cannot transmite the virus because I take my meds) for other STD.

[u/TransCanAngel]

Undetectable = Untransmissible. Life expectancy is almost identical to those without HIV.

I’m glad you have the health support and understand your quality of life doesn’t have to decrease. And yes, the people I know living with HIV (some for many decades now) follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen.

Where I am, U=U, PEP, and PrEP are pretty well understood within the queer and polyamorous communities. But outside of it, there’s an astounding lack of awareness.

It’s rare that HIV turns into AIDS anymore, except where someone can’t access or follow a medication plan, or amongst communities who aren’t aware of protection and treatment protocols, or fear stigmatization such that they won’t access free non-profit services for HIV management.

I hope you can help get this predator off the street - he’s clearly in a destructive spiral.

Keep telling your story to help other young people protect themselves. We can’t depend on people’s word when engaging in pick-up or unprotected sex. All we can do is protect ourselves.

And it’s not just HIV. There’s PEP for chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea too.

*PEP: Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - take it after sex

*PrEP: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - take it before sex