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Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence - Health - Nairaland

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Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Notyamate(f): 4:58pm On Apr 17, 2020
Going through this thread https://www.nairaland.com/5795526/how-found-out-hiv-positive/1 I went through comments and I laugh at the ignorance of some people on Nairaland. I'm sharing this story to people living with HIV reading this, you are not alone. Believe me there are many people out there with this disease, some happily married, growing old and having healthy kids.

On April 2013 my aunt got diagnosed with HIV at Catholic Hospital, Oluyoro. If you stay in Ibadan you'll know this hospital. She was 58 years at the time of her diagnosis. Before she was diagnosed she was getting sick and having symptoms like cold, head ache, sweating at night, and insomnia. We were worried because this is a person that hardly get sick, so we took her to a private hospital where the doctor told us she has typhoid. She was on drip for two days before discharge after that she was fine again. Not until 3 months later she started having those symptoms again, we didn't count it as anything and took her to that same hospital where she was given drips again. After the drips she was fine again.

The last straw was when she started vomiting and fainted on me, I was the only one at home that day. I performed CPR on her and then I decided to take her to a general hospital where proper medical examination can be done on her.

When we got there we queue, collect card and wait for doctor to attend to us. The doctor ask us some questions and the symptoms she has been having and for how long. After that the doctor directed us to where a nurse collected samples of her blood and we waited for the result.

When the doctor said she has HIV I couldn't believe my ears, all blood drained from my body and I was shaking. It was the last thing I expected because this was a person whose last born was 19years at the time. After she was diagnosed the doctor gave her drugs, she started explaining how to take the drug and how taking it everyday without missing a dose is important.

Our journey back home was quiet, I was thinking throughout, how did this happen? When we got home we meet my uncle (her husband) and we told her everything the doctor said. Everybody was just looking at one another, thinking 'we all don get HIV'.

The next morning my uncle took us all to the hospital to get tested and to know who and who have the disease. After going through the hospital routine our results came out. We were all tested negative including her husband, which brings all of us to ask, how did she get it? Till today no one knows. Her doctor says she has been living with it for over 5 years and none of us know including her.

My observations in her years of taking ARV drugs.

As I said earlier she was very sick when I took her to the hospital. Her CD4 count was 194, way too low. Normal CD4 count is from 500 to 1400. CD4 count is a test that measures how many CD4 cells you have in your blood. Low CD4 count means your body can't fight bacteria, viruses, and other invading germs.

Three months into the drugs she was tested again and her count was 242, another 3 months and it was 269.

She has been getting tested every six months and in the last five years her CD4 count has being between 340-390 and she hasn't suffer any illness whatsoever. Except for the drugs she's taken you won't know she has HIV.

How the drug is taken.

The drug is taken once in a day. It is left for you to decide when you want to take it but once you chose, you must be consistent with the time when you take the next dose so that it will be the exact time everyday. Doctors usually advise patients to take the drug at night because of the side effects which includes drowsiness and dizziness. The drug is taken 2 hrs after eating. When I asked the doctor why she said something about pepper and oil reacting with the drug.

The ARV drugs is free if you go to general hospital. The bottle contains 30 tablets to be complete in a month.

Important things you can do as an HIV person.

1. Avoid drinking alcohol/smoking as this can compromise your health condition. This is really very important.

2. Eat good and healthy food.

3. Exercise.

4. Eat a lot of fruit: her doctor emphasize on this. It doesn't have to be expensive, you can buy oranges, mangoes, bananas, watermelons and other cheap fruits.

5. Take your drug daily: This is very important even if you forget to take it at the usual time, just take it whenever you remember. Like let's say you normally take the drug at 9pm but then you forgot or you slept off. When you wake up just take it. DO NOT MISS A DOSE.

6. If you feel or have any changes in your body. Go to your doctor and explain to him/her. I'm saying this because after few months of taken her drug she was coughing persistently, her doctor had to give her some cough medicine. Although she's not using any cough medicine again as all symptoms has gone. Only the ARV drug and septrin.

The side effect of ARV drugs

The first month she started the drugs she complains of having nightmares, fatigue, headache, and dizziness but with time her body adapted to it and all the symptoms disappeared.

Having a strong immunity also plays important role in an HIV person. I think those with genotype AA tends to adapt well with HIV which explains why none of us know she has the virus in her body for over five years.

All I'm trying to get to is that having HIV is not the end of the world, it's not a death sentence. What kills most of these people is the fear and stigma from friends and family.

When people tell you they have HIV, do not run away from them like they are plague or some kind of viral infection. Love them, support them, play with them, laugh with them. You cannot contract the disease by playing with them, eating together, sharing cutleries, handshakes, hugs, etc.

In the end we are all going to die whether today or tomorrow, accident happens everyday. People slumps and die, people drown, fire accident happens, building collapse. I mean there are 1000 ways to die.

Those that you think they will die today, you may die before them. When it is your TIME, it is your TIME.

643 Likes 64 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Kyom20(m): 5:35pm On Apr 17, 2020
This is wonderful information and serves as a very inspiring story to all who are going through similar situations. I am glad that your aunty is doing well and i pray she remains consistent in taking of her medication.

Nigerians can be really ignorant and its surprising that so many of them have phones and data yet do not use it. There have been so many advances in the treatment and management of various health conditions. So many diseases are no longer considered as deadly as they were 10 or 20 years ago.

182 Likes 12 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by PrincessB1(f): 5:58pm On Apr 17, 2020
This piece is Frontpage worthy.

An awareness.

109 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by PureGoldh(m): 6:02pm On Apr 17, 2020
If you are still Single...Abstinence is the best option....Na e sure pass

Meanwhile,if you need Pure Original Honey.. Kindly call/Whatsapp 081 016 667 71 let's talk about it...No hug or handshake dx period fam..Stay Safe

93 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Lamanii22(f): 6:13pm On Apr 17, 2020
This should mame front page cause TBH whenever I see HIV I think of death lol... Like it's equivalent to death....

27 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by ibkayee(f): 7:10pm On Apr 17, 2020
Helpful, positive information

Not to be a debbie downer however, but how accessible are these treatments for the average person in Nigeria? It isn't a death sentence when you have access to a certain quality of healthcare

29 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by CaptainMitch: 7:26pm On Apr 17, 2020
Readly available and free.
ibkayee:
Helpful, positive information

Not to be a debbie downer however, but how accessible are these treatments for the average person in Nigeria? It isn't a death sentence when you have access to a certain quality of healthcare

31 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by ibkayee(f): 7:30pm On Apr 17, 2020
CaptainMitch:
Readly available and free.
Oh really? I didn't know

1 Like

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by CaptainMitch: 7:32pm On Apr 17, 2020
Even Corona virus treatment is free at the moment.
ibkayee:

Oh really? I didn't know

9 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by phelonrays: 7:39pm On Apr 17, 2020
Always had at the back of mind, regarding it as a "death sentence"
Thanks Op....
But I still dey fear this virus like ʍɐd...grin

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Notyamate(f): 7:41pm On Apr 17, 2020
ibkayee:
Helpful, positive information

Not to be a debbie downer however, but how accessible are these treatments for the average person in Nigeria? It isn't a death sentence when you have access to a certain quality of healthcare

It is readily available. Some hospitals will even call you if you miss your appointment date.

60 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by ibkayee(f): 7:46pm On Apr 17, 2020
Notyamate:


It is readily available. Some hospitals will even call you if you miss your appointment date.
For the average citizen? I'm surprised, it's good

2 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by ibkayee(f): 7:51pm On Apr 17, 2020
Just wanted to add that people should not have an unrealistic sense of security or completely lose their guard regarding HIV despite the improved treatments and survival rates

118 Likes 6 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by ehmmy11(m): 8:12pm On Apr 17, 2020
Waiting for your test results can be the longest wait of your life grin

Use your head think ahead

73 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Chatflick(m): 10:00pm On Apr 17, 2020
Of course it isn't but life can never remain the same

10 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by tayo200(m): 10:01pm On Apr 17, 2020
yeah
Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by SharryTaek(f): 10:02pm On Apr 17, 2020
Chai
Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Olarewaju89: 10:02pm On Apr 17, 2020
I want to go and sleep now before NCDC release their nonsense figure. undecided

83 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by emeijeh(m): 10:02pm On Apr 17, 2020
Donstan18, this thread is for you

5 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by NwaNimo1(m): 10:02pm On Apr 17, 2020
life is a death sentence....

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by ehissi(m): 10:03pm On Apr 17, 2020
No!! It is simply life imprisonment

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Ekakamba: 10:03pm On Apr 17, 2020
E don do na.....

Everyone knows it ain't a death sentence just like diabetes and other lifelong diseases.

Most of the stuffs you read on the previous thread are mostly trolls/banters or are you new here?

Preach on how to protect yourself from HIV infection more

than

It ain't a death sentence.



Peace.

14 Likes 3 Shares

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by maberry(m): 10:04pm On Apr 17, 2020
There are diseases worse than HIV but I prefer not to HIV abeg

22 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by porthouse7(f): 10:04pm On Apr 17, 2020
let deal with corona first

4 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Seunaj05(m): 10:04pm On Apr 17, 2020
If she could carry it for 5 years unnoticed, it means that there are many positive patients walking about unaware of it. Practice save sex if you cannot abstain.

28 Likes

Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by Petersamuel8(m): 10:04pm On Apr 17, 2020
Good one
Re: Having HIV Is Not A Death Sentence by 1stola: 10:04pm On Apr 17, 2020
grin

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