11.16.98

"Life is a garden, so grow some fruit."
-- Donovan Kohler, Konawaena HS class of 98

Okeydokey, now for some time devoted to a thing that has occupied my time since the early 1980's (I'm not referring to sex, but in a way I am.) AIDS and HIV. I know that you are saying "What? Why? AIDS is a non-issue. Time for red ribbons has past." This is true, and the gentle reader has a point. The numbers of new infections have reached a plateau, in most if not all of the age groups that CDCP maintains morbidity data on. Some have even seen a decline in the number of new infections (Yay gay men over 40!!!) The only group that will have a marked increase in the number of new infections is the 16-24 group, especially the youngmen

But, you know what? Effective tomorrow, I will wear the awful ID tag that the Blood Bank has issued me (the one with the hideous photo on it) and I will place a red ribbon on it. Why? It aint over yet, baby...it aint over yet.

In the online version of the New York Times yesterday, there was an absolutely fascinating article on HIV in Africa. I'll hit you with some of the highlights and the things that made me go hmmm. You can go read the whole damn thing yourself if it interests you. Mostly, the article deals with the work force in sub saharan Africa, and points at a couple of different countries. (The article will cost you $2.50 to download, btw) Aint nothing free anymore... The great and stately edifice, Barclays Bank, seems to be having trouble keeping their managers alive. they tend to drop dead after just a few short years on the job. Anywhere in the world that requires a negative HIV test as a condition of employment has gone just a bit over the edge. I shall obtain a bootleg copy if you'd like the full text via my email.

Now, for something closer to home, something that will hopefully touch you in the same way that it really pissed me off. There is a boy named Jason (The names have been changed to protect the innocent) and he lives in the heartland of these United States. I came to know him through one of the chat rooms that I frequent. It seems that this 18 year old youngman has been cruising through life quite nicely, until he went to "the big city" and had his first sexual encounter with another man.

Several weeks after returning home, J. wasn't feeling too hot, so he went to see his doctor, who ordered tests for mononucleosis, thyroid function, and since he was sexually active, HIV. Well, he did have a negative Monospot, his t4 was normal, and the HIV was weakly reactive. (That's not worth panicking about, it happens to be an anomaly in the test.) J came back several weeks later for a repeat of the HIV, and this time, the test was positive. The illness that J. described to his physician was actually seroconversion sickness, a mini AIDS that happens about a month after exposure to the virus. The viral load shoots through the ceiling; the body's immune function drops thru the floor. Eventually, things equalize when the natural function of the body's immune system returns to doing its job, and the patient usually cruises along for ten or so years as an infected, but not sick individual.

Jason is currently covered under his parent's insurance, so he is receiving care that is appropriate to his condition (at the tune of $50 000/year, which is why AIDS in Africa is so overwhelming These people have no money) But what will happen then? (Answer, he will go on to college, and receive insurance under the health insurance scheme of his university) Unfortunately, Jason's is not the norm of treatment in the US, and that is DAMN unfortunate. Until the fine dickwads in Washington figure it out, a great number of people in this great country will suffer under oppressively expensive health care costs. GRRRR!

(It is probably not a good idea to get all pissed off b4 work like this. I gotta be nice to people today.)

Now, to the crux of the thing....what can I do? Im trying like hell to get him into a clinical drug trial (they are few and far between right now) through the assistance of a friend so that he can have at least some continuity of care. I'm there as a friend to support his emotional needs. Not many know of his condition (uhh, including his parents) so he's gotta have somewhere to vent. That place seems to be my ICQ. (keep em coming, big boy...)

Most importantly, though, I can make an effort to stop it. Easier aid than done. In the 1980s it was so easy. The primary focus was a group of older, wiser men who were watching friends and ex's drop one by one. Receptive to the safe sex message? You bet! The question is how do you convince an 18 year old who thinks he is superman, and invincible that this disease that only afflicts old men is a threat to them. That's what baffles me. I've been associated with AIDS since it was called HTLV-III/LAV and GRID. I've talked to about as many recently diagnosed HIV+ people as anyone not directly associated with the clinical care of them. but I'm baffled.

Precisely, how do you convince an 18 year old boy that bareback is a really bad idea? (Pause for the str8 boyz--bareback is anal sex without a condom) Think back to your youth. Could ANYBODY tell you ANYTHING then? How, how, how? If you've got the answer, I wish you'd let me know. I'm really depressed by looking at an address book with all of the names crossed out because they are dead. This isn't supposed to happen at age 34.