I wish you more good health in your body and mind.

Hmmmm

I think the reason people are stigmatized is because majority of the victims contacted HIV from unprotected sex. And humans, with their hypocritical nature perceive sexually active people as unclean even when they’re also actively involved in sex.

I could recall in the 90’s, I knew almost everyone infected with HIV in my neighborhood. This was because a friend of mine who worked at the lab revealed the names of those that were positive.

The last time I was down with fever, I went to a private hospital for treatment and the annoying doctor insisted that I took an HIV test. I ignored him and told him to just go ahead and treat malaria. If I have HIV, I will be the first to know.

The yeye doctor decided to report to a relative of mine that I refused to undergo HIV test. I was like, what the hell?

FactBoyz:
HIV is not a death sentence but it's better you dont have it.

I read everything before comments, you’re totally healed broh

JackDaAlienz:
HIV IS NO BIG DEAL

it is a big deal in poverty stricken Nigeria

Abroad is better

FactBoyz:
HIV is not a death sentence but it's better you dont have it.

No ailment is worth having.

I can just imagine the illiterate nurses in Nigeria looking at you like you're a disease itself.

Nigeria has a long way to go.

@Megabig I used to think these top tier (US, UK, Australia, Canada & NZ) countries deny people with serious health compromising issues visa
Surprised you got to USA
Especially since they deny a ton of people’s visa applications daily in Lagos
Well 2008 is totally different from today.
Getting it in level 200, that’s crazy young. Congrats to getting out of that depression well.
A ton of people won’t be able to handle it.

GoodHardDick:
Make una dey stop this kind talk, it's annoying
For the fact HIV isn't a death sentence, does it mean people should now start getting infected with such disease?

HIV is not a death sentence. But it's wisdom not to catch at all.

You lack common sense...

Was that the point?

Nice one. I remember the research we conducted then to see if this practice of hiding the medications affects the strenght of the active constituents in the medications.

We had tremendious support from our public health institutions during the research.

The service for the PLWHA and the support we were given in those facilities were both phenomenal so I am a bit suprised about OP's unpleasant experience in his geopolitical zone.


Well done sir.

Just a little correction@op. People who don't know about their status on time get to have higher viral load not like the way you put it in your write up.

Nice update. Good you are doing well now. HIV is not a death sentence. This is very important information.

Wow, thanks for sharing..... You are a strong person. Stay blessed.

Ko easy Rara, I hope they find the drug soon

Professionalism is out of Nigeria workplace
Most especially medical profession
The mental imbalance ingrained in most Nigerians nowadays make sure they go about their business without the proper work ethics

Thank you for the post.

For the first time I Know there is something called undetectable.

Let keep educating people

pembisco:
Just a little correction@op. People who don't know about their status on time get to have higher viral load not like the way you put it in your write up.

He's even lying about drugs being free in the states.

I've watched a number of documentaries and they always complain about the cost.

Guy appears fake.

There's a huge difference between black and white

Megabig:
Hello Nairalanders,

I once said I will be giving a brief summary of my journey so far living with HIV. I made an initial post but deleted most of it because it was too long. I’ll try run through my journey here, the difference between Naija and the US (which is where I reside) and maybe things I would have done differently back home.

I realized I was positive in 2008. That was while still in 2nd year in the university, I won’t go into details how I felt, but what led to me privately going for a HIV test was because I had chronic headaches while in campus, infact I went home and told my parents I had migraine, we went to different hospitals and of course paid bills and got pills for migraine, when I went back to school, it continued. I tried with several pills to sure that but on doing a couple of research, I thought I should go for a hiv test, I went and then was positive. I informed my parents immediately that my migraine is gone (lol) because they kept asking how I was doing, they thought I should return maybe after 3 months to go for another general examination but because I now know what’s up, I told them I’m good.

I went to one Catholic confession because I was not sure who to tell, I don’t trust anyone including my sisters, that means I had all the secret myself. When I told the priest, he then asked me to wait after and directed me to a clinic at FMC Umuahia. My first visit there, I was not asked to start Antiretrovirals because my viral load is still above 500, what I was given was just septrin (I learnt it’s mostly to prevent cough, that’s the most deadly thing that can reduce positive person instantly).

I managed my viral load for almost 2 years until I moved from Abia to Abuja. In Abj, every positive person have to start taking Antiretroviral so I started taking that (one pill a day). Even at that time, I never told anyone, I fought and got a visa to move out of Naija and it’s been stressless all these years in the states.
Here are the disadvantages:

1. Visiting FMC Umuahia was horrible, there is confidentiality in terms of files and others. The nurses are terrible, once I get there on my scheduled appointment (of course with maybe 70-100 other people), I’ll sit at the back and they have to scream when they are calling names and everyone will turn to see who the person is. I know we all there are positive but at least respect me for once.

2. Because I wanted to be discreet which eventually paid off (please tell people you trust if you have to, me being discreet was tasking, I wish I had the courage to talk but sadly I don’t trust anyone), I had to hide my drugs, I haven’t seen something so hard in my life, because I have to take it daily, I usually have a cup for a month and then hide the other two months surplus. At the same time, I was scared someone may see it.

3. Even when I became undetectable (can’t transmit HIV), I was still too careful when dealing with people, it took me time to finally loosen up. A lot changed about me, I became very quiet most times, lost interest in a lot of things and questioned certain things as well.

4. Relationships became a huge task for me, infact I stop wooing babes, I’ve always wanted to date so as to lead to something but again I thought of a time I have to have this conversation on me being positive, that discouraged me a lot. Even though I can’t transmit, my mental state still shielded me from it all.

4. I hated taking pills but because I need to make sure I stay undetectable, it’s now a norm for me, one pill a day and that’s it. But this only happened because of my first visit to Umuahia, I thought I will see a few people there, but I was wrong. I saw people living with HIV for almost 40 years, people come with old family members to pick their pills and infact the look on their faces too seem like nothing is wrong, l loud and happy while I sat in the corner filled with thought. Again I saw people too who never took either never took their drugs or didn’t find out early they are positive therefore have very low viral load and have been attacked my illnesses or have lost so much weight. They are there to pick drugs too and keep trying. I learnt in most cases, some survive as well but sadly others won’t make it. After my second visit and research, I knew it nothing at all if I take my pill.

A different world Living in US:
1. Drugs remain free and infact delivered to my address once in 3 months.

2. I still continued my routine test free of charge to ensure I remain undetectable.

3. The amount of confidentiality is second to none (OMG), any health practitioner dealing with you is very careful to ensure he/she or the organisation don’t get sued so you are covered. Infact you come to the hospital like others and mixed with other people who came for different things (unlike Umuahia) where anyone walking into that part of the building is already known to be positive.

4. People are very open with being positive in US, people are well learned about HIV and already aware all they need is to be undetectable and that’s it unlike back home where majority will stigmatize when they hear “he/she has hiv” when it takes them just 10 seconds to google and learn more about it (knowledge is power).

Finally, since the 14 years (from the time I knew I was positive), I’ve only lost one girl I met at the clinic, I confirmed this from her Facebook account, I knew she probably will not find it funny because at the time I started conversing with her and others, she works for a firm in PH and lived with her Uncle who had kids, so she sometimes leaves her pills (so they won’t know) and can go weeks without taking it. I was scared for her because what anyone wouldn’t want to do is to have a “hiv drug resistance”.

Stop stigmatization, if someone is able to inform you about their status, let them know you are educated about this and inform them to stay undetectable.

Alert: I have never had fever or any serious health related issue since those years and I’m glad I pulled through this. Till date, no family or friend is aware.

I will finally start informing my siblings soon, at least telling them then will be a shock to them because we’ve all lived those years and they didn’t notice a thing and I’m already in control of my life.

HIV is not death sentence.

Be kind and Be blessed once again…. peace

If you discreetly need to speak to me, send an email to kelvinscottndu@gmail.com

how did you get it.

yinkeys:
@Megabig I used to think these top tier (US, UK, Australia, Canada & NZ) countries deny people with serious venereal viruses visa
Surprised you got to USA
Especially since they deny a ton of people’s visa applications daily in Lagos

I learnt they do, my visa process to America never requested for any medical procedure. I got to US via B1(visiting) and stayed back. There are thousands of HIV support organisation in the states so it’s easier to stay back in the US. You know the sponsorship as regards to this is large

Can I share this ?

R

AVOID SEX WITH PROSTITUTE

You will be free from HIV !

Megabig:

I learnt they do, my visa process to America never requested for any medical procedure. I got to US via B1(visiting) and stayed back. There are thousands of HIV support organisation in the states so it’s easier to stay back in the US. You know the sponsorship as regards to this is large

I guess you migrated before 2012.
Things have obviously changed now.
Especially with our bad reputation etc.
The Nigeria of today is totally different
Once again I’m happy you climbed out of a dark depression hole.

GoodHardDick:
Make una dey stop this kind talk, it's annoying
For the fact HIV isn't a death sentence, does it mean people should now start getting infected with such disease?

HIV is not a death sentence. But it's wisdom not to catch at all.

Gee, WTF are you saying??

WiszyFraud:
Did you know??



There is no single food that provides all the nutrients that humans need, except for breast milk.

Breast MILK lacks adequate Iron.
So Calm Down

Eddygourdo:
how did you get it.

I honestly don’t know, as at the time I got tested, I’ve only had sex thrice, once SS1 and then twice in Year 1 in school. I have tracked those girls I’ve had stuff with in the past just to see if one is loosing weight or something but they are all married and with kids. Till date, I can’t think of where and how. Also the only time I had sex without condom was the times in the university.

yinkeys:

I guess you migrated before 2012.
Things have obviously changed now.
Especially with our bad reputation etc.
The Nigeria of today is totally different

Nope, I left 2016. Just to note that I did my entire visa process myself, no time was my medical records requested. No time at all