I have been living with HIV for _ years

Alafia (Peace) Welcome and great to hear from another long-term Survivor. Please stay connected to us here at H-I-V.net. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)

"I had to stop by after reading your post and hopefully this will give you a little hope I have been living with HIV for 34 years this past January I am undetectable with a viral load of 686 for I'm undetectable with a percentage of 36 I am doing fine I am healthy I have accepted the fact that there is a reason God still has me here maybe it's to share with you to give you hope I had a long road to go they gave me four years to live in 1990 and here I am 34 years later but I had to take my meds listen to my doctor and take care of myself counseling was very important to keep me understanding that I was important and that it was not my fault regardless of how I contracted HIV so I hope this gives you a little light into your world that you can survive HIV and live a healthy life and be happy

Alafia (Peace) So it's been over 25 years now right? Please share one of your secrets with us. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)

Alafia (Peace) That is so sweet of you to reach out to our member and offer your support and assistance. Good on you. Thank you so much. Khafre (H-I-V.net Team Member)

hello and I will be spending the holidays with my wife and our 2 fur babies

"hi my name is Kathy it doesn't have to I know what it was like in the beginning for me my fourth year which is what they told me was the extent of my life at that point in time I was in the hospital with pneumonia I had had back surgery I was home from the hospital less than 2 weeks when I got the phone call from the San Diego blood Bank telling me to come in they had the results of my blood my labs I couldn't go in I couldn't even roll over in bed the frustration was overwhelming I demanded my results it took me getting the supervisor to get them and that day was devastating for me as that was the day I was told my blood was infected with the HIV virus here I am 2024 34 years later sweetie who would have known had to make some changes in my life quit using drugs quit hanging out with certain people had to realize my life was important and that if I took care of myself and straightened it up took my medication saw my doctor on a regular basis made new friends got the counseling that I needed I survived I made new friends and all of a sudden I wasn't alone anymore sweetie you're going to be okay but you have to take care of yourself you have to realize that your life is so important and it is I didn't think my life meant anything and now 34 years later I put the utmost respect love and joy into my life you are important enough you should stand up be proud do not let this virus be the center of who You are because it is not honey do not let it make you you can conquer it you can stand tall again you can beat it you are important I'm here to tell you you're important and you can beat this you can survive it I did and I never thought I would I was a drug addict intravenous drug user drinker partier I didn't think my life meant anything and I certainly didn't think I could give up drugs in one day but I did I stopped I stopped partying stop drinking started taking my meds and made me Kathy the center of my life made me important enough to want to live and you are important enough to make yourself live trust me sweetie your life is so precious don't you ever think otherwise and you can survive this and live a normal life I for sure and living proof for you God bless you sweetie and I'm here if you ever want to talk

hi there well it seems he's not the only one I've been engaged now for one year my partner is negative I have been able to educate him to the proper protocol to protect him we have gotten him the proper drug to protect him and I am negative I have been negative for 10 years now I have been living with HIV for 34 years this past January I am undetectable with a t-cell of 680 8 and detectable I said undetectable sorry percentage rate of 36, in 1990 I was given 4 years to live I didn't think anybody would want me majority of my relationships were abusive one way or the other I was almost killed once in a relationship I felt like nobody would want me I have been engaged now three different times I have stepped away from two of them this relationship here started as a friendship which is where I think they need to start and my fiance is an alcoholic who is now in a program in his City where he lives and I am hardly a drinker but I stopped I have been on medical marijuana for quite a while because of my eating disorder and the anxiety and the problem sleeping I am working on even giving that up to have a healthy relationship with my partner I feel that God has placed this man in my life and that we both want a healthy clean lifelong connection and I will do as he will do what we need to to make sure it is a clean healthy relationship I have never been happier as far as this is concerned and I never thought I could find someone who wasn't emotionally or physically abusive and God finally place someone in my life who loves me unconditionally I have three terminal illnesses on top of the HIV I have third stage renal kidney failure both kidneys and I suffer from simple partial seizures where we're not sure if there are any medications left that could help I may need surgery so to me to have a man that could love me unconditionally and stand by my side and want to get his life together as I do for him for myself and as he for him and for me is a gift from God above and neither of us will step away unless it is meant to be for each of us and our peace of mind and health

Hi . Thank you so much for sharing your story. You have certainly been through a lot and deal with some major physical issues, so it is so great to hear that you are in such a good and positive place in your life. It is important for others to see stories like yours. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member)