Fatigue Is More Than Justing Being TiredWith close to 4 decades of living with HIV, I have seen a lot of ups and downs where my health is concerned. Thankfully, the major events have been kept... By Shawn Decker3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments16 comments
The Years of the RabbitI'm a casual fan of astrology; the coffee shop, newspaper dabbling variety. Please forgive any ignorance on my part. What I'm confident in is that my sign is a disease... By Shawn Decker5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
A Talk With My Doc: The Importance of TrustI'm thankful for my HIV doc, Dr. Greg as I call him in writing. In person? It's more like: "Hey! How ya been?" At my most recent appointment I greeted... By Shawn Decker4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
I'm a Longterm Survivor, Not a Miracle"You're a miracle- you know that, right?!" Someone said that to me once. They had just heard me talk about 20 years of living with HIV at a conference. I... By Shawn Decker4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
My "College" YearsOne of the biggest hurdles we face when diagnosed with HIV is the disruption of our plans for the future. From the mundane to the majestic, every image of what... By Shawn Decker4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
How I Handle One of My Biggest HIV FearsNothing makes me wince more than brain studies related to HIV. It seems like the news about HIV's impact on our skull meat is always bad. As a longterm survivor... By Shawn Decker4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments7 comments
The Disclosure Back-To-School SpecialI respect the heaviness inherent in this topic. The consequences of disclosure can vary wildly from one person to another. A lot depends on where you live and attitudes in... By Shawn Decker3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Life Essentials From a Long-term SurvivorI've been living with HIV for nearly 4 decades. I've been on effective treatment for over half of that time. I am so thankful that my viral load has remained... By Shawn Decker3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
The Importance of Addressing Your Mental HealthAs we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month and since people with HIV have higher rates of depression, I thought it would be a good time to share my experiences... By Shawn Decker4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
Why I'm Not Sick of Sick DaysPicture it - you’re bopping along at a decent clip. You’re getting things done. By all standards, things are running smoother than a smoothie. And then you wake up. No... By Shawn Decker3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
The Day I Was DiagnosedI was 11 years old when I was diagnosed with HIV on March 26, 1987. There were no effective treatments available at the time, which meant the prognosis wasn’t good... By Shawn Decker3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments11 comments
A HIV Valentine's Day Love StoryValentine’s Day shouldn't feel like April Fool’s Day to people living with HIV, but stigma and concerns about disclosing one's status make the entire prospect of dating feel more like... By Shawn Decker4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
How HIV Has Shaped My LifeHello there! My name is Shawn Decker and I’d like to share a little bit of info on how HIV has shaped my life. I was diagnosed with HIV at... By Shawn Decker5 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments5 comments
