LKO:


But 47 is virally suppressed and can't transmit, am I right?

In my study, less than 50 is still suppressed and can’t transmit ,most people I know use less than 20 as well.

But I believe 47 is still can’t transmit but I’ll advice you to follow the doctors instruction.
There is a huge difference between transmitting and undetectable, one can be detected but can’t transmit. But it’s safest to be undetectable and that is totally not able to tranmit.


In my case, if I’m above 20, I’ll fight to ensure it’s still below 20 .

Megabig:

In my study, less than 50 is still suppressed and can’t transmit ,most people I know use less than 20 as well.

But I believe 47 is still can’t transmit but I’ll advice you to follow the doctors instruction.
There is a huge difference between transmitting and undetectable, one can be detected but can’t transmit. But it’s safest to be undetectable and that is totally not able to tranmit.


In my case, if I’m above 20, I’ll fight to ensure it’s still below 20 .

Kindly explain what u mean by one can be detected but can't transmit.

LKO:


Kindly explain what u mean by one can be detected but can't transmit.

Ok let me start from detected, I was in a clinic last month to test for hiv and I was told I’m negative because they didn’t find any HIV virus in my system, remember years ago I was positive with very high viral load and while taking ARV, it was suppressed and too small to be seen in my blood therefore I cannot transmit hiv to anyone and it cannot also be easily visible that I have hiv through ordinary hiv test.
In another scenario, it can also be detected in the blood but then cannot be transmitted because the viral load again is too small(less than 50), therefore in as much as it is obvious the person is positive, the viral load which is the determinant of the transfer of hiv to another person is too tiny, so that means, it can be seen but not enough load to transmit, another scenario is someone with a high viral load, that means it can be seen and with also a high load, can transmit as well.
The job of ARV is to reduce the load to the barest minimum to stop transmission and also even make it invisible which is the highest goal…

Megabig:


Ok let me start from detected, I was in a clinic last month to test for HIV and I was told I’m negative because they didn’t find any HIV in my system, remember years ago I was positive with very high viral load and while taking ARV, it was suppressed and too small to be seen in my blood therefore I cannot transmit hiv to anyone and it cannot also be easily visible that I have hiv through ordinary hiv test.
In another scenario, it can also be detected in the blood but then cannot be transmitted because the viral load again is too small(less than 50), therefore in as much as it is obvious the person is positive, the viral load which is the determinant of the transfer of hiv to another person is too tiny, so that means, it can be seen but not enough load to transmit, another scenario is someone with a high viral load, that means it can be seen and with also a high load, can transmit as well.
The job of ARV is to reduce the load to the barest minimum to stop transmission and also even make it invisible which is the highest goal…

I know you may not have really experienced what it looks like making babies as a HIV positive person because you are not married yet
but I would love to know how the process looks like in the US, and also if HIV positive guy can do surrogacy plus an estimate it will cost in the USA.

Zaiah:


I know you may not have really experienced what it looks like making babies as a HIV positive person because you are not married yet
but I would love to know how the process looks like in the US, and also if HIV positive guy can do surrogacy plus an estimate it will cost in the USA.

Before I answer, can you throw more light on why you mentioned surrogacy? What are the fears?

Megabig:

Before I answer, can you throw more light on why you mentioned surrogacy? What are the fears?

Because I'm not sure if I want to get married but I want to have my own children due to two reasons;
1. I genuinely love kids.
2. I am the only child (you know what is at stake)

I'm just checking different options that I have before making any conclusions about what I want and what I can get.

Megabig:

Before I answer, can you throw more light on why you mentioned surrogacy? What are the fears?

.

Zaiah:

Because I'm not sure if I want to get married but I want to have my own children due to two reasons;
1. I genuinely love kids.
2. I am the only child (you know what is at stake)

I'm just checking different options that I have before making any conclusions about what I want and what I can get.

What your reasons for not wanting to get married sir?
You will be fine with your medications. Stay well.

LKO:


What your reasons for not wanting to get married sir?
You will be fine with your medications. Stay well.

I don't want to marry,
It's my personal decision

On Outpost health you can manage your condition adequately via your phone.
Have your clinic days virtually and get medications sent to you. You can download Outpost Health on app and play store to sign up for this convenient and affordable services

Some very close to me got tested positive we went to fmc and was given tld and another to prevent cough and tb today is there first day of staking the meds and starting complaining of headache and mild fever after taking, is it normal l?

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

Some very close to me got tested positive we went to fmc and was given tld and another to prevent cough and tb today is there first day of staking the meds and starting complaining of headache and mild fever after taking, is it normal l?

Rexkingsley:

Some very close to me got tested positive we went to fmc and was given tld and another to prevent cough and tb today is there first day of staking the meds and starting complaining of headache and mild fever after taking, is it normal l?

Very normal, body adjustment and fear, them them there is nothing serious, they should just take medication and always test viral load that’s all

Megabig:


Very normal, body adjustment and fear, them them there is nothing serious, they should just take medication and always test viral load that’s all

Please can I add u on WhatsApp where I can get quick advice and counseling..the person in question is my mom and I’m devastated

Megabig:


Very normal, body adjustment and fear, them them there is nothing serious, they should just take medication and always test viral load that’s all

She started her art drugs today and complaining of heavy headache after taking it, is it normal and do I need to give her paracetamol to subside the headache?

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

Please I need some help this my mom second day taking tld drugs but she’s loosing weight and I notice some rashes on her back please what can I do

Rexkingsley:


Please I need some help this my mom second day taking tld drugs but she’s loosing weight and I notice some rashes on her back please what can I do

Normal on some people, just visit the place where she was issued pills and lay the complaint.

Megabig:


Normal on some people, just visit the place where she was issued pills and lay the complaint.

Please I would like a medium were j can communicate with u more easily and efficiently please the fmc is very far from me as I’m in a different town in the state and they don’t work on weekends..I need someone more knowledgeable I can communicate with

Megabig:


Normal on some people, just visit the place where she was issued pills and lay the complaint.

You've abandoned this thread, we miss you oooo

Zaiah:


You've abandoned this thread, we miss you oooo

No vex please

Megabig:


No vex please

I hope you are fine?

Please come back and be updating us,
Be giving us hope abeg

Zaiah:


I hope you are fine?

Please come back and be updating us,
Be giving us hope abeg

There is no problems at all…. Everyone stay undetectable that’s it

Megabig:

There is no problems at all…. Everyone stay undetectable that’s it

I have a question please,
In places like USA that I heard that it's difficult for people to see who to date or marry.
How easy or difficult can it be for someone who's HIV positive to see a positive person to date or marry?

Megabig:

There is no problems at all…. Everyone stay undetectable that’s it

Six months after no update. We offend u?

LKO:
Six months after no update. We offend u?

Lol, how far… what was I suppose to respond to? I de reply since . Lol

Mko123:
For all of you that do visit doctor every week for medical check up........................





I pray you see what you want

As they fvck and see what they want, right?

Megabig:


Lol, how far… what was I suppose to respond to? I de reply since . Lol

Please keep this place busy with updates and inc4ce posts.

Megabig:


Lol, how far… what was I suppose to respond to? I de reply since . Lol

And incisive posts. Please keep this place busy. Many thanks.

LKO:
And incisive posts. Please keep this place busy. Many thanks.

Alright, thanks for the reminder, this post actually went a long way helping a lot of people. I’m so happy I did it

Megabig:


Alright, thanks for the reminder, this post actually went a long way helping a lot of people. I’m so happy I did it

Is the u equal u still full proof? Many Nigerians still do not believe it.

LKO:
Is the u equal u still full proof? Many Nigerians still do not believe it.

Can you repeat what you said?

Megabig:

Can you repeat what you said?

Is the u equals u still reliable? Many Nigerians still do not believe it.