25 years since they announced the discovery that HIV caused AIDS....

[Portofino]

BBC link here

"Around 24 million people have died from Aids since it first emerged and it is the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa"

This has made me think of the old "Tombstone" adverts from my teenage years
where we were all terrified of catching it. And yet all this time later, I don't think I have (knowingly at least)come across anyone affected by HIV, either personally or with friends/partners/families etc.

My only personal brush with the subject was the HIV test during pregnancy. But I'm curious if I'm alone in this?

my experience is the same as the OPs. those ads were frightening, and i was also aware at a 9 or so about safe sex & condoms.

what were those condoms that were fashionable, as it were? jiffy?

DH and I did volunteer work at local HIV/AIDs charity for a while in the early 90s, we knew many people with the virus, some were quite sick as it was still early days with regard to treatment then. A gay friend of mine had 13 friends that died in the 1980s, they were all in their 20s and 30s .

Portfino, I do know people who have been diagnosed relatively recently - it is still very prevalent, people have become blase though.

Actually just doing some more reading - it was 25% infected when I was living out there, but is officaly recognised as being at 15% as of 2007 (so before the Cholera outbreak earlier this year).

I do remember seeing quite a lot of stuff on HIV/AIDS (condom adverts etc) when living out there and apparently Zimbabwe was one of the first African countries to have a officialy recognised decline in numbers.

My brother is Hiv postive. Still trying to come to terms with the news, it was quite a big shock.

Sorry to hear that, orangehead.

I'm editing a book about 1980s fabric prints at the moment and it's been really sad to see how many of the print/fashion designers of the 80s aren't around any more

He is not well, but is back in his flat,was not meant to survive Christmas but is still going.

Orange - sorry about your brother

I've never known anyone affected but I was very promiscuous when I was younger. I used condoms always but still got tested every three months.
Since I had DD, I've been tested after every partner.
It's not about trust, it's about getting the treatment I would need if I was HIV.
I have only gone condom free with two guys since DD, both who got tested first but I srill wanted to check after for my peace of mind.

It disgusts me that the Pope doesn't reccommend using condoms.

25% FAQ? Christ that is awful. And we all worry about the Budget! Pinkteddy, i think you're right, in the western world we have become blase about the risk.

yep was 25% when I was living out there . According to this and dropped to 15% a few years ago - that's just under 2 million people infected.

FAQ, I guess with all the other issues there at the moment, HIV treatment is a No No?

Orange, very sorry about your brother.

Thanks.
I hope you dont mind if I ask, as a few of you seem to know about the subject. But if you want me to start a new thread just say.
His doesnt take any medication. According to the book he has read by Phillip Daly. He believes the mediation they give you is toxic. So he is treating it nartuarally, not sure what with. Has anyone heard about this?

Orange I think that is very dangerous. I don't know anything about the book you mention but I used to work in a related field and I know anyone who wouldn't take their medication would have been referred to psychology to try to help and doctors would have been very concerned. I am not sure what you can do to help though. Would he listen to you?

orange - I know NOTHING about it, but it seems that by taking the latest anti-retro-viral drugs etc that there is a very strong chance of leading a fulfilling life. Your brother should be getting himself to a knowledgable doctor, PRONTO.

Yes I have, orangehead. I'm sorry to hear that your brother has gone that route - obviously everyone has the right to make their own choices, but I would be very concerned if it was my db. You must be worried about him. Is he open to discussing this? Where is he getting his information and support from? Is he recently diagnosed?

I thought so. It is a very complicated situation, but in short I am not supposed to know. Which makes it very difficult to talk to him about it

This is a link to the book
www.natural-health-information-centre.com/hiv-aids.html

You could try ringing National Aids helpline or THT direct 0845 12 21 200 and see if they have any useful advice? Loads of support groups out there, may even be something local to you. Sorry to hear you are going through this.

orangehead, the book your brother is talking about has its followers - among them Thabo Mbeki - but damn few of them are doctors.

Some years ago I did some work in a part of Africa where AIDS was rampant. I visited a project for mothers with HIV, where everybody treated us with great respect, deference even, till suddenly a woman jumped to her feet, crying, with two small children clinging to her, and started shouting at us, "I am DYING. My children have nobody to care for them. You come from a country where there are medicines to cure AIDS. Why have you come here without those medicines? Is it to laugh at our suffering? Why don't you go home and get those medicines for us?" I will never forget how ashamed I felt at that moment.

Sorry to get all soapboxy, but I get very upset at those who exploit people's fears of BigPharma to attack the very effective treatments that have been developed for HIV. Antiretrovirals are lifesavers. I am not judging your brother - he has been dealt a very great blow and is trying to make sense of it in the best way he can - but I really hope that in time he will find a way to trust what modern medicine can offer him.

I've just spelt Mbeki's name wrong, haven't I?

Does your brother know you know?

I remember a very bad taste joke that was going around at the time, but indicative of what we thought of AIDS at the time - we have since moved on in our understanding.

Herpes was something that was a big STD issue at the time as well.

The joke:

What is the difference between Herpes and AIDS?

Herpes is a love story and AIDS is a fairy story.

I think the fact that so many people are living with HIV in good health for many years now, thanks to antiretrovirals. says a lot about the efficacy of the drugs. Yes, on one level they are toxic - they have to be to keep the virus under control.
Like you Hester I remember the fear and panic in the gay community in the 80s. Where I studied a senior member of staff returned infected from a trip to the States and he was dead in nine months. Two other people contracted the virus from him - dead in a year.
I saw the premiere of The Normal Heart at the Royal Court and I think that play, now a historical document thankfully, sums up the horrors of HIV and AIDS without effective drug therapy.
I hope your brother stays well orangehead, and finds a course of treatment that he feels comfortable with. As hester says, he's been dealt a harsh hand.