A very serious question for other HIV+ Dataloungers
I normally would not post anything like this because I’m not looking forward to some of the inevitable scorn and jokes I know it will attract, but that’s OK.
I’m 52 and I’ve put some weight on the last few years. Okay, maybe more than “some”. I’ve been positive for about 10 years now, undetectable and, aside from from a med for mild blood pressure I’m pretty healthy overall, considering.. No cholesterol, no diabetes, I’ve never smoked, I’ve never been a drinker or anything like that. Maybe that buys me a little good health karma or maybe it doesn’t.
I’m worried for the whole world but for the first time, I’m also really scared for myself. Not only about how this virus may affect people like me, but whether or not I would receive a ventilator in case I would need one and if there are shortages. Will a doctor consider me a lost cause and give that ventilator to the 30-year-old father of two next to me? If it comes down to such a scenario, I guess I’m worried over whether I’m considered all used up or not. Will they see me as a value to society, or will they see me only as a 50 something fat gay guy with HIV and no kids who takes BP medication?
Like most I don’t want to die.There’s so much I want to do and I’ve only gotten to the point recently where I can really begin doing it.
I can’t find any other discussions are in-depth information out there for others like me and what COVID-19 is doing to HIV positive middle-age guys so I thought I would reach out here. As hard as that is. If you were out there And in the same boat it would be good to connect here.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | March 28, 2020 12:37 AM
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No - if it comes to it they will prioritize the DNR folks first, then the elderly. You are 50 not 80. You are healthy with a mild BP issue and managed HIV - you are not a leper.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | March 28, 2020 12:09 AM
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You're at no more risk than anyone else (possibly less due to regular health monitoring).
Pretty sure they wouldn't refuse a ventilator If you got to the stage you needed to be ventilated.
The survival rate of any patient that needs a ventilator is horribly low in any case, HIV+ or not.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | March 28, 2020 12:12 AM
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They're not going to have time to scroll through your med records and see you are on HIV meds. But make sure they know as if they stop giving you them, you could end up worse. Try very hard to avoid the plague. Mask and gloves.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | March 28, 2020 12:12 AM
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You can stay off modern HIV drugs for a few weeks without it causing an issue.
I had to do it once because of a drug interaction and it didn't show up on my next labs.
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | March 28, 2020 12:17 AM
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I noted here in Europe that the health agencies do not list HIV as one of the underlying conditions. IF it's managed and undetectable you're probably more healthy than most other people. I have begun to drink cod liver oil each day over the last month as people with high vitamin D levels are less susceptible to respiratory issues. I have asthma, and am more worried about that than my HIV with respect to Covid19.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | March 28, 2020 12:21 AM
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They will probably just throw you on a cot and toss you out on the street. Once there, wolves will surround you and tear at your body and eat you up. You will die in the middle of the street alone as the wolves ravage your body and the other dataloungers break into your home and take your stuff.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | March 28, 2020 12:22 AM
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I'm immunocompromised in a different way, and I've had the same, scary thoughts, OP.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | March 28, 2020 12:29 AM
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OP Isn't currently immunocompromised though, Viral Load is Undetectable and he probably has a higher and more stable CD4 count that the equivalent HIV- person of his age. His immune system is managed on a microscopic level on a regular basis.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | March 28, 2020 12:37 AM
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