Born To Be Scorned

A few weeks ago when I wrote my second blog entry, I proposed questions asking how personal treatment changes if a person contracts HIV. I was curious about how relationships work in such circumstances, and if interpersonal distancing is an inevitable consequence. According to a recent article in the New York Times, As HIV Babies, Come of Age, Problems Linger, it seems that many of my suspicions are sadly true.

This article was particularly evocative because the subjects who were interviewed did not contract the virus personally, but rather were born infected. As drugs have been developed to fight HIV and extend livelihood for those infected, around 10,000 babies born with the virus in the early 1990’s have been able to live through their adolescences. In order to stay alive, theses children have had to take medication since birth, often multiple pills daily to survive. Some children’s bodies have developed resistances to the medication, making treatment difficult or no longer possible. Others suffer harsh side effects from the medication such as diarrhea, insomnia, diabetes, and liver and kidney problems. Being born with HIV can retard mental development, and medications can also slow processing and wreak short-term memory loss, making school and job obligations difficult to fulfill.

Beyond the health implications, however, the social lives of the kids and teenagers interviewed who were born with HIV are heartbreaking. Almost every person interviewed in the article who was in a relationship was broken-up with after their partners learned of their illness. Many were ostracized by even their own families. As I was reading the article, I actually found the answer to many of my previous questions. As it turns out, relationships do end because of the virus, even though as I learned from the article that condom use can prevent the disease transfer. One infected person even had an HIV negative son through the mother’s efforts of taking preventative medication during her pregnancy. People with HIV can have functional relationships and even have healthy children if the proper precautions are taken; however, in most cases, infected persons seem to be left upon discovery of the virus.

Based on the interviewees experiences, disease disclosure seems the easiest way to lead a normal life, especially in school. Kids who confided their condition in trusted friends were consistently betrayed and suffered very cruel treatment from peers and their peers’ parents. Some were barred from playing on sports teams, others couldn’t visit friends at their homes. One girl was called an “HIV slut” by her classmates, even though she was born with the disease, passed on from her mother who contracted HIV from a poor blood transfusion. A few students had to transfer schools because the cruelty was so great.

Now that I better understand how AIDs is transmitted and contracted, I realize how ridiculous this kind of treatment is and how lonely these kids must feel. The article stated that classmates often refuse to shake hands with infected persons…an analogy was even drawn equating being born with HIV to be born a leper child. Honestly, I am a bit at loss of words. I can’t imagine living my life in such a discriminatory environment for merely just being born a certain way.

To combat these stigmas, the One Love Project provides retreats for HIV infected youth to help victims through education regarding the illness, medical advice, fellowship, and empowerment. Formal programs combined with personal initiative can combat cruelty and discrimination against HIV infected persons. To learn more about One Love contributions and current initiatives, you can learn more at http://www.oneloveca.org/.  Also, if you would like to read the entire article, you may find the New York Times piece at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/06/us/06hiv.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&sq=AIDS%20babies&st=cse&scp=1.

The Closing of a Great Semester

Farewell Readers

As the end of the semester approaches at the University of Colorado Boulder, we are concluding our personal opinions on the BCAP student perspective blog until next semester’s students take up the job. As a group we have learned so much throughout the semester and will never forget this rewarding experience. Even though we will no longer be writing for the blog, our relationship with BCAP will last into the future. Thanks again to all our readers and BCAP for making this possible.

Evolution of HIV Testing

Did you know that over 1 million people in the United States are HIV positive? And of those 1 million, over 200,000 are unaware that they are carrying the disease? These numbers are probably numbers you have heard in the media and feel may not pertain to you, but wouldn’t you like to know whether your HIV positive or not? As Taylor touched on in our most recent blog post, there’s always the sense of what if? Now I’m not trying to scare any of you, but I am pushing the notion of going to get tested. The tests are so easy to take and give you results in 10 minutes. The evolution of HIV tests have advanced a long ways in recent years making testing easier than ever and at BCAP there is no better time to get tested then now.

Twenty years ago HIV testing was a major pain, literally. Testing facilities required blood to be drawn and analyzed for up to 3 months. Not only was the wait for results long and tiresome, but people may have put off getting tested because of the hassle. With the advancements of medicine and science over the last century, testing has become easier than ever.  The tests are now quick, and give results within 10 minutes.  The tests are performed by pricking an individual’s finger and placing some blood onto a meter. After the device reads the blood it generates a positive/negative result based on whether a person has HIV antibodies or not. As you may know from viruses, your body produces antibodies to fight off the infection. So this test looks for these antibodies and the results are based off of these findings.

The Testing Device

There are testing facilities all over the state and nation where people can get tested, but if a person has access to BCAP I strongly recommend taking it there. Not only is it a very welcoming and inviting place to be, but it is very confidential and personal. The people at BCAP are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They welcome with open arms and provide a very positive environment. One of the advantages BCAP has over other testing facilities is the confidentiality a person is given. BCAP strives to provide a confidential and anonymous testing in which a person’s information is kept by using coding so names and other information are kept secret. Results are kept strictly confidential and only the person receiving the test is given the results. Another major advantage to testing at BCAP is the homely feel. BCAP provides a testing room that is far above an average facility. There is a couch and a nature noisemaker that allows the person to feel more comfortable than simply sitting in a waiting room and getting called back into a patient room. The professionals talk to the person one on one to find out about them and give advice on preventing the spread of HIV, teaching them all the while they are being tested. Overall BCAP offers an incredible facility and makes getting tested an easier experience



BCAP Testing Room



One of the wonderful professional staff at BCAP



                            

                                                   

I encourage everyone to get tested since it is such an easy process. It not only gives you the peace of mind of knowing, but if everyone were to get tested we might become ever closer as a society to stopping HIV/AIDS. Do your part and GET TESTED!

For Additional Information on the Tests:

http://www.bcap.org/about_hiv_testing_logistics.html

For Additional Information On Getting Tested:

http://www.bcap.org/what_prevention_testing.html

By: Zach Kincaid

HIV/AIDS Protection & Treatment: The Prevention Techniques You Need To Know

Hello Again Readers!

In my last two personal blogs, I talked about how a person can contract HIV/AIDS and the startling facts about HIV/AIDS statistics in Colorado. Knowing these facts is critical to educating people who have HIV/AIDS as well as the general public. I felt that by telling people how a person can contract the unfortunate disease, they could better protect themselves and use that knowledge to their advantage. By letting the public know about HIV/AIDS statistics in Colorado, I wanted to explain to the general public that HIV/AIDS affects Colorado too and that they are not immune to the disease just because it is not talked about too often in relation to the state of Colorado.

 In response to those two blogs, I figured I’d talk about how a person can protect themselves from the debilitating HIV/AIDS disease. If you are unfortunate enough to have contracted the disease, there are many prevention techniques that can reduce the effects of HIV/Aids and help you live a regular life.  Also, I am going to share some treatment techniques for those of you that already have the disease or know someone else in need.

As I said in a previous blog, there are three main ways a person can acquire HIV/AIDS; sexual contact, exposure to blood borne pathogens, and parental transmission. Some prevention techniques that can help protect you from HIV/AIDS include:

Sexual Contact

 Using a condom when engaging in sexual relations can greatly reduce a person’s risk of contracting and/or transmitting the disease by over 80%

 Male circumcision can reduce the risk of obtaining HIV/AIDS by over 60%

Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens

·         Using extra precaution when obtaining a blood transfusion by medical professionals

·         Sterilizing needles when performing drug related acts/Using needle exchange programs

·         Sterilizing tattoo equipment prior to use

·         Never sharing used needles

Parental Transmission

·         Mothers should start taking HIV/AIDS medication during pregnancy

·         Mothers should avoid breastfeeding their children

These are the many simple ways a person can reduce their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Now, these prevention techniques are by no means hard to follow. With a little education, millions of people around the world could have protected themselves from the disease.

Sadly, there is no known cure for the HIV/AIDS, but there are treatments that lessen its effects and let an infected person continue a generally normal life. Highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART, is the current treatment for HIV/AIDS. HAART uses a combination of up to three drugs to combat the disease and put the disease into remission. Hopefully, with research in the near future, a drug can be created to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and improve the lives of millions.

For more information please visit: http://www.bcap.org/about_hiv_facts.html

Written by: Taylor Stephan

World AIDS Day

HIV/AIDS is still out there and we need to address it!  Mark your calendars for World AIDS Day on December  1^st.

                                                                 

Every year World AIDS day is recognized around the globe.  It is a day that is used to raise awareness, remember those who have passed away, and “celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.” http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/en/World-AIDS-Day  The World AIDS Campaign selects a different theme each year in assembly with different organizations and governmental agencies involved in the AIDS response.  This year’s theme is “Universal Access and Human Rights.”

Personally, I think World AIDS day is a tremendous opportunity for us to realize that HIV/AIDS is still an issue that we as a society need to address.  According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008 some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and are killed by AIDS before they are 35.  It really is a disease that is a threat to people at every age and from every different part of the world.   http://www.avert.org/world-aids-day.htm

Here in Boulder, Colorado I encourage you to come to lay tribute to those we have lost to HIV/AIDS with BCAP this December 1^st.  The Denver Gay Men's Chorus will be performing at 7:00 PM at First United Methodist Church (located on 14th and Spruce).  Tickets are $15 and can be purchased via a link on BCAP’s homepage.  http://www.bcap.org/

By Taylor Petersen

Getting Tested

Until this past week I had never really given much consideration to whether or not I was HIV positive.  If someone had asked me if I thought there was a chance that I had the disease I would have replied definitely not.  However, when we started working with BCAP I thought it would be interesting to blog about getting tested.                
It is extremely scary to hear that it is estimated that 21% of the HIV-positive people in the United States are completely unaware of their status.  That means that over 200,000 people are walking around without receiving treatment and potentially passing on the disease (AIDSmeds.com).  So even if you are pretty sure that you don’t have the disease, I think it is a good idea to get tested.                           
This past week I set up an appointment with Jenna Borys, BCAP’s Community Outreach Coordinator, to get tested for HIV free of charge at BCAP.   Before showing up I didn’t really put much thought into what the experience would be like.  So when I showed up at BCAP I really had no expectations as to what the procedure would be like or how I should feel.

Jenna in the testing room

Jenna came and got me for the appointment from the waiting area and took me upstairs to the testing room at BCAP.  The atmosphere in the room is very calm. BCAP makes sure that the door is closed, and that everything is strictly confidential and private.  There is even a nature noise machine that is placed right outside the door to make sure that no one can overhear you within the testing room.                 

 The test is really simple and relatively painless.  It is just a tiny little prick that they use to get a drop of blood for the test.  Moreover, everything is completely sanitary and safe.  Jenna wore latex gloves made sure everything was disinfected.  Additionally, everything used for the test is only used once and then disposed of.   Additionally, the HIV virus is very weak when it is exposed to air and is killed off within a matter of seconds after its exposure.

The finger prick

The test takes about ten minutes and during that time Jenna or whoever is testing you will ask some basic questions and discuss ways to remain safe while having sex.   For example, one thing that I learned during my visit is that there is a low risk of contracting HIV through kissing, unless you have some sort of cut in your mouth.

During the ten minutes that I waited for my test results to show up I began to wonder about my status.  I asked a lot of “what if” questions and really considered how different my life would be if I had HIV.  While I was still fairly certain that I was HIV negative, I began to get a little nervous and I was very anxious to get the test result back.  Thus it was a huge relief when the test came back HIV negative!

The Good News, A Negative Test!

There is definitely no experience that can stimulate the same emotions as actually getting tested for HIV.  It makes you gain a new sense of empathy and respect for what people that are HIV positive deal with everyday.  For the ten minutes that you wait to see if you have the disease, you can’t help but imagine what life would be like in the shoes of somebody that is HIV positive.  

Ultimately, I see only positive things coming out of getting tested.  If you find out that you are HIV negative you can walk out of the test with a sense of confidence and relief.  If you find out that you are HIV positive you can begin to take the steps to get proper treatment and stop the continued spread of the disease.   

By Taylor Petersen

Are You Sure It's JUST the Flu?

It’s the middle of November. Temperatures are dropping, the holidays are approaching, and at the most inconvenient time of the year, you get sick. Fever, headache, sore muscles and joints, stomachache, swollen lymph glands…the whole shebang. “I should have gotten that damn flu shot” you think to yourself, but it’s too late now so you just have to stick it out now. Weeks pass, and your symptoms don’t dissipate. Rather, they continually get worse, and you start sweating in your sleep. You don’t know what the hell is going on with your body, but a doctor will, so you schedule an appointment for tomorrow morning. The doctor will know what the virus is and how to best treat it, but do YOU know that the symptoms you are exhibiting not only pertain to the flu, but also to HIV?

I was shocked when I learned how unassuming the first symptoms of the HIV virus can be, so for this blog, I wanted to provide information to readers about how HIV affects the body and how the virus is detected. After infection, the HIV virus multiplies in the body and attacks the immune system. These attacks may result in flu-like symptoms, perhaps a skin rash for a few weeks, or potentially not yield any symptoms at all. In fact, if symptoms do not arise, people can lead seemingly healthy lives for years as their immune systems are attacked by the virus. It can take weeks or even months for the immune system to respond, and it is through the body’s response of producing antibodies that the virus can be detected. Blood tests as simple as a finger-prick can reveal the presence of these antibodies, resulting in a positive test for HIV. 

To provide a more personal perspective on the HIV testing process, contributing members of our group will participate in HIV detection tests throughout the next few weeks. We plan to discuss the technical aspects of testing as well as the emotional experience. We hope that our perspectives will provide transparency for the testing process and encourage testing amongst our peers. The symptoms are can be unassuming, if in doubt of a persistent, flu-like sickness, you can get tested too at BCAP or at Wardenburg free-of-charge.