This isn't exactly correlated to my trauma, but it is something that everyone that has ever been sexually assaulted and even those that haven't but is sexually active needs to be consistent about doing. I have someone very close to me right now that recently got the worse diagnosis of their life and they are in their early 30's. I will be sharing tidbits of their journey leading up to finding out what the underlying devastating issue was, along with some facts that may save a life. About 6 years ago, this person began having simple but noteworthy medical issues. They became dizzy, started getting massive headaches and just feeling generally unwell. They began seeing a doctor. They were told that there were various different things that could cause the symptoms described. However, no one ever seemed to have the answers. Eventually the headaches and dizzy spells turned into full insomnia. Their quality of life was declining fast without sleep. They just wrote it off, as did the doctors, thinking they were just overworked, overstimulated and an exhausted adult adulting. This person began having throat issues and went to the doctor and they thought maybe it was oral thrush... upon further review they said it could be throat cancer and sent them to a well renowned hospital in a couple of hours away for further testing and answers. Mind you, this was about four years ago when this happened with their throat. This well renowned hospital called him with answers. They had herpes in their eyes and throat. They called the person in for further testing and said that Syphilis and Herpes go hand in hand and that they wanted to rule out syphilis. They did the testing needed and it was negative. They gave an antiviral medication to help with the herpes outbreak and then called it a day. This person followed up with their doctor and again, since nothing was visible anymore, they also threw it to the side and thought no more of it. In the last four years this person has not had another herpes outbreak like that HOWEVER, this person began experiencing incontinence, they began wrecking and not remembering what they hit, and they began talking with a very noticeable speech impediment. One day, this person just felt so awful that they couldn't go to work and needed a doctor's note. A family member took them to the hospital. That hospital and the testing that had to be requested by the patient is the only reason this person finally got the full answers. And those answers were heartbreaking. This person was diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. They had only slept with three people their entire lifetime. And yet one out of those three gave him HIV/AIDS.
I remember when I was pregnant with my youngest daughter, I was having my prenatal blood work drawn and I asked if they were testing for HIV. The nurse said, "No, it's highly unlikely that you would have that." I said I didn't care; I wanted it done anyways just because some of those things show up months or even years after getting them. She was hesitant but she did the testing. Remembering that and nothing else making sense is why I told them to request the testing at the hospital just to be sure. They were certain it would be a waste of time because so many people believe that it is automatically tested for when blood is drawn. That is not the case at all. You have to request the test.
After finding out that this person had been battling medical issues and seeing doctor after doctor, specialist after specialist, and every single one of them missing the signs pointing to HIV/AIDS, I got angry and dug a little deeper. Now, when they first got diagnosed, I googled "Why isn't HIV testing routine testing," and the answer upset me so badly that I reached out to the CDC, WHO and a couple of other organizations voicing my concerns. The answer that came up for me was something along the lines of the CDC found opt out method to be better because of the stigma around HIV and the fact that when a patient tested positive it was essentially them receiving a death sentence because years ago there was no medication to help with it. I just googled it again and it says that the CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as a part of their routine care. Not sure when that changed or if my email had anything to do with it, but maybe it reached someone somewhere. This person that was recently diagnosed was informed today at the young age of 32 they will never drive again. They will never work again. Their brain has been shrinking for some time now. Their organs have begun shutting down. Their life, which should just be starting, is now so limited. All of these issues are irreversible. So many doctors failed them. So many nurses failed them. You have to be your own advocate and don't be ashamed or embarrassed. The stigma behind HIV/AIDS should be gone by now. It is 2024, there are medications so good that if caught early enough they can stop the virus in its tracks and make you completely undetectable.
Here are the facts. It is estimated that in 2024, there are approximately 1.2 million people living in the United States alone with HIV according to www.hiv.org. According to the Mayo Clinic, some people develop flu like symptoms 2-4 weeks after contracting the virus. www.hiv.org also says that Acute HIV infection can present with fever, chills, rash, night sweats, muscle aches, lethargy, swollen lymph nodes and mouth ulcers. A person can potentially live with HIV having no idea they have it for up to 10 years. They can have the virus and be asymptomatic for up to a decade according to www.medicalnewstoday.com. HIV can be transmitted via vaginal, anal or oral sex without a condom or without an HIV preventative medication. (Yes, they even have a medication to protect you if you are at high risk for contracting it.) Anal sex puts you at a higher risk than vaginal does. Sharing needles is another way the virus can be spread. HIV is transmittable through breastmilk. It is NOT transmitted through kissing, hugging and touching such as handshakes etc. You cannot catch it from toilet seats, dishes or from the air or water. For more information on HIV/AIDS, I recommend these sites.
The medications available if you are positive for HIV are called antiretroviral therapy or ART for short. These medications reduce the viral load of HIV in the body and stops it from making copies of itself. Reducing the viral load will give your immune system a fighting chance. PrEP is the medication that is given to people with a higher risk of being exposed to the virus as a preventative safety measure. Medication has come such a long way. Please march into your local doctor's office or health clinic and get tested. It's better to know than to wonder. It is better to catch it as early as possible and begin treatment. Please let's spread awareness, possibly save some lives and make it known that there is NO LONGER A STIGMA with HIV/AIDS! Oh, and last but not least, the medications are super expensive but there are different grants and things to help cover those expenses. So, stop making excuses and go get tested!!!! #ItsBetterToKnow #HIV/AIDSAwareness
I hope doctors become more diligent and invested in making this diagnosis in a timely manner. I pray that they become more observant and stop trying to take on so many patients that they don't have time to make the connections needed because they want to get us in and out in a timely manner to keep the door revolving. And I pray that everyday people like you and me realize getting tested means you're smart, you're brave and there is no reason to be nervous or ashamed.
And to the person I am sharing about, I know you will read this, and I just want you to know you are brave, you are amazing, and you are a fighter. I am so sorry you didn't get answers sooner, but I am so proud of you for owning this and sharing with others openly to remove the stigma. I love you.
To everyone else pray, send good juju, well wishes whatever your thing is and GO GET TESTED! All my love, Feisty Mommy!
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