I was born HIV positive and now have AIDS

[RemusLupinn]

I'm female and in my early 20s - AMA

Op would you go back on medication if you caught an infection ?
I know three people with HIV, in one it was only diagnosed when he had a near fatal pneumonia, but he is really well now, with no detectable virus. All three are well actually. One caught it from her first ever sexual encounter at 19, but has been able to have children (with someone else) who are not infected.

Very informative thread OP
A very close friend if mine is HIV positive.we rarely talk about it, it pops up in conversation if it is relevant eg he is talking about a check up etc. This is answering so many questions I have never wanted to ask.

Am I reading too much into it, but do you have a sneaking suspicion that's not how it happened?

Yeah. The story is a bit too convenient and he most probably got it through unprotected sex like the majority of people.

Thank you for answering that.

So you and your sibling ever discuss it

Op i admire you massively but i REALLY wish you'd had more support growing up. Im so sorry its been handled wrongly.
Also im shocked that your parents didn't have to disclose it to the school.
Forgive me but that seems really irresponsible for everyone.

Thank you very much, I would like to offer support to a good friend without making a silly comment about this. I hope your friends support you well

So when did your parents find out they were HIV positive in relation to when you and your sibling were born?

Op would you go back on medication if you caught an infection ?
I know three people with HIV, in one it was only diagnosed when he had a near fatal pneumonia, but he is really well now, with no detectable virus. All three are well actually.

I'm not sure. I've had a really tough time with the different types of medication I've tried. I'm not sure if my body is just super sensitive to drugs or if it's partly psychological. But I've been doing a lot of research into all the health issues and ailements that come with living with HIV long term. It's not a death sentence anymore but I've already seen a drastic effect on my quality of life with the brain damage alone. I hate to get all morbid but right now I don't feel like going through the whole process again and facing the side effects is worth it.

So you and your sibling ever discuss it

Not really, we're not close.

Also im shocked that your parents didn't have to disclose it to the school.
Forgive me but that seems really irresponsible for everyone.

I'm not really sure that disclosing it with the school woukd have made anyone safer.

So when did your parents find out they were HIV positive in relation to when you and your sibling were born?

I'm not sure. I remember my going to these 'check ups' at the clinic as a small child. I think they probably found out a few years after I was born. My sibling is older than me by a few years.

@moff3k- how ignorant. Unless the op was drawing up her blood in syringes and directly injecting it into others bodies how the hell would she be a risk to anyone at school?????!!!!! Even if she cut herself she'd have to get her blood inside the other person somehow!? Do you think you can still catch it off a toilet seat or whatever all those ignorant sayings were? Stigma that's called.

I feel for you op. It sounds like the official story Is a bit of a cover up. Its great your living life well. Long may it continue.

Thank you for answering my question. It’s really interesting and informative to read all your answers. I really feel for you.

I’m so sorry that you were not told the truth for so long, that must have really effected you psychologically

When the doctor told you that you were HIV positive, did they tell you your parents / sibling also were?

Would you like to and do you feel able to have children one day, either your own or adopted/fostered?

When the doctor told you that you were HIV positive, did they tell you your parents / sibling also were?

My sibling went to these regular check up appointments too so it was easy to add two and two together. They've had less luck health wise so they've been on medication since early on in childhood. I'm guessing they were told by our parents to not tell me anything.

Thank you for answering op. You are a special person not to feel anger.

Can I ask another? You’ve said about your mother’s religious views and how it affected her attitude to your diagnosis but can I ask about yours? Are you religious?

OP. Just to say please do persist with your healthcare providers as so think the level of care can really vary and sometimes you need to push. I have a friend who is HIV+ (she was raped in her home country as a teenager) and only discovered it when she was pregnant with her DC. She has to try several different medications because of horrible side effects but now has one which she tolerates well and the centre she is treated at also has psychiatrists who are helping her work through her past and her fears for herself and DC (who thankfully is negative). She also attends two very good support groups run by different charities where she has lots of people to talk to (her own community is very religious so she can't disclose it to most friends) and they also provide kids' activities and support and guidance to help her with to tell her DC about her condition. Might be worth asking your consultant/nurse for advice on such things - I have seen what a huge relief it has been for my friend to have people in a similar situation to discuss things with - it sounds as though you are carrying a very heavy burden on your own and doing an amazing job but you shouldn't be frightened to ask for help x

Would you like to and do you feel able to have children one day, either your own or adopted/fostered?

My experience with the HIV medication side effects has taught me that I really can not cope with constant/regular nausea and vomiting or any of the discomfort that will come with pregnancy/childbirth. I don't think I'd make a good parent but I do like and am quite good with children. If I did decide to have children I'd go down the adoption route.

Thank you for sharing this. It is bringing me up to date. My education was in the 1980s/90s when there was a lot of very emotive language. I have (knowingly) been friends with someone with HIV/aids to know what happens now.

Are you in the UK?

Can I ask another? You’ve said about your mother’s religious views and how it affected her attitude to your diagnosis but can I ask about yours? Are you religious?

I was somewhat religious before but I think I lost my faith within a year of finding out. I was at a catholic school, a lot of my friends were religious and my family are very religious so God is not something I really questioned. I finally started questioning everything and I became interested in philosophy. So my personal circumstances and anger towards God were what lead me to start questioning things but it was studying the bible (and it's inconsistencies) and all of the arguments for and against his existence that finished off any bit of faith I had