Very interesting points deedub I'll write something about my experience a bit later. I got lost in the jungle once, and was convinced i was going to die. Not "omg, i could dieeeee here", but actually convinced that i would die. Angry, shaking, and very very sad. But one of the things on my mind was the elation i would feel if i did make it out. But when i did there was no elation. There was a moment a couple of days later, but not much. The whole thing was just too traumatising, and exhausting. And i guess this is a bit similar. Although i had learned in the last few days about the wonderful treatment for hiv sufferers can now have, it should still be an exhilarating feeling, even though i dont know for sure yet that i havent got it. But right now, i just feel a bit...confused and tired. But i do have some interesting experiences from the last week or two to convey on this, so will put something togethor, hopefully later today, in case it is of interest or value to anyone.
That shirt we've seen a few times has cropped up again. It's looking more and more like this will be the new home kit for next season.
@deedub93 I completely agree with you about the stigma of HIV. I think the trouble is that we all live with memories of what it was in the 80s and 90s, where we were literally taught that it was THE worst thing that could happen. And of course, it is still the same virus that it was in those awful times, and - untreated - it will still cause the same dreadful diseases. But what is so different now, is the treatment available, that means that most infected people can reach a stage quickly where their bodies will be unaffected, and where they can't infect others, so long as they continue to take the tablets. There are still problems with having it obviously. You cant live in some countries with it at all for one thing. If you want to work in the middle east with hiv, you can forget about it. You cant lose those tablets, wherever you are; that's every day of your life. You might be unlucky enough not to have access to treatment at all, and - if your immune system was really badly damaged before you started treatment - you might get very nasty side effects as your immune system recovers. Also, as I understand it, you have increased risk of heart disease and cancers in later life. But essentially, you can continue to live a perfectly normal life with HIV. You can have relationships, you can have children, you can be symptom free. In fact the specialist I saw today told me before we got the negative back, that if you have to have a chronic illness, from a purely medical point of view, this is the least bad one to have. Not as bad as type 1 diabetes, and not as bad as severe rheumatoid arthritis. In his opinion. But as you say, the stigma remains. And I guess that it partly through the ways in which it is transmitted (because of course noone else has sexual intercourse other than hiv victims !), and partly because of that terror we all had put into us, by what we saw happen to those poor poor souls who had it 20,30 years ago, and because simply, most of us (including me two weeks ago), don't know any better. If you think back to the 80s, it was regarded as a homosexual's disease, and that was a time where homosexuality just wasn't considered acceptable by main stream culture. And whilst society has progressed now to be more understanding of sexuality, I suspect it might be that our collective consciencenessess, simply didn't bother to update our instinctive view of hiv sufferers - homosexuals or not. I don't know, but this might be a factor. The truth is, that anyone who has this disease, deserves support and care. And thankfully for them, most public health systems include full support for the extremely expensive, but extremely effective treatment that has been developed. Whilst I can understand the potential harm done, if what we were taught in the 80s, is completely reversed, and people are told 'oh dont worry about hiv. If you get it, you just have to pop a pill every day, and you'll be fine', I do believe that something needs to be done to educate society about the disease, so that sufferers dont suffer further at the hands of ignorance, and so that they can tell people 'i have hiv' without fear of losing them. Also - and this is very important - the first thing imo, any medical practitioner should do, with any patient who is concerned they MIGHT have HIV, is to tell them about the treatment available, and the lifestyle possibilities available to most sufferers, and explain to them how he disease is spread. I might still have the virus. Ive tested negative after 5-6 weeks, by which time 95% of people with the virus,mwill show up as positive. Someven wih the synptoms ive had, i am advised that the chances now that inhave it are "slim". I wont know for sure for at least another 6-7 weeks. But now at least I know what it is. It's always going to be a horrible, frightening feeling to think or find out that you have it. But it's possible to face it, unlike that beast of the 80s and 90s. And noone should be left in a position where they think - as i did for a few days - that they are or might be faced with that. Because whilst I might have got away with just a scratch, I can tell you that even just being in that position where you think you have his horrific thing (and my case, due to my ignorance, thought i had passed it on to many others), is an experience ai wouldn't wish on anyone, because you literally just want the earth to swallow you up there and then. So education imo, needs to start with those potentially directly concerned. But then society also needs to understand what it is. How it can be caught, how it can be treated. How to deal with those unfortunate and unlucky enough to get it. Even if no cure for the disease itself can be found, there's no excuse for our society not to find its own cure for how it treats HIV and those with it. We all need to be more aware, not just of how to stop its spread, but also how to handle it when we encounter it. That HIV positive people, are srill just people, just like you and me. And we should ALL be grateful to the incredible medical profession tat has made such advances in tackling the monster that was unleashed on us towards the end of the last century, and we should spare a thought for the brace people who battled with it before that treatment was available. I might write something about my own experience separately, but it isnt going to be tonight. EDIT : by the way, thank you sincerely to everyone who gave my first comment above on this a like. so appreciated genuinely.
These have probably been the most realistic photos I've seen of our potential new home shirt. Would like that if that's indeed what we'll be wearing next season, quite sexy. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
It's rare I like a kit immediately but with this one I do. Hopefully they'll change the front of the collar though as that's a bit ****e.
Roooooooooooooooot 133* today v Bangladesh. Made up for a distinctively average bowling performance. Why no Rashid?
Great performances by Root - and Hales and Morgan! On a classic Oval flat track which has been set up for batting. Clearly a very deliberate assessment and despite Rasid having been virtually ever-present for the last year or so, it's difficult to criticise after the result. However, with Woakes likely to be out then would expect him to appear next game! More worrying is Roy's total loss of form.
Any doctors in the house ? Violent stomach cramps (stomach like a washing machine, with 'music' coming out of mouth and bum) - 1 day No symptoms - 7 days The following over a 2 week period* : Occasional stomach cramps- 2 weeks* Very severe, hot, raging, acne like rash over shoulders and upper back - 1 week Heavy fever - 1 week Bad headache - 1 day Confusion/aversion to loud noise - a few days Almost total loss of appetite - 5 days Red blotches appearing on thighs for a few minutes then vanishing - 10 days * Very slight itching throughout body or in random places - approx 1 week Seeing little blue dots when eyes closed - 2 days Mouth full of white stuff - 1 morning Blisters in mouth, leaking - 10 days (varying) Very dry, red eyes - 2 days Wild, crazy eyes - 1 morning Huge, sudden losses of explosive animal like temper - 2 occassions lasting a few hours Hard, sore glands in neck - 4 or 5 days Slight pain in appendix - 2 days Very heavy night sweats - twice Terror - occassional Loss of normal vision due to everything wobbling - 30 minutes Shakes when falling asleep - repeatedly during 1 night Small prickly rash on sole of foot - 4 days Loss of balance, like being on a ship on rough seas all day - 3 days Sudden stomach ache, (becoming instant) diorriah, and vomitting foam - 1 day * * ongoing HIV negative (lab test) @ minimum of 5 weeks Apparantly not transmitted any virus, including to girls kissed shortly before rash
You have a bad case of Get To The Hospital Right The **** Now-itis, I'm afraid, Rob. I assume that you've seen a professional, as you mentioned your test before, but that doesn't sound like a great set of symptoms. I'd suggest putting them into the NHS website, but it'd probably tell you that you have crabs or something.
Yeah, it's not exactly great is it ? The focus has been on HIV until now due to numerous closely matching symptoms. Had (urgent - although theyre probably all urgent) blood and poo taken this morning for wider testing. Nurse who took the blood said theyll let me know if there's anything wrong So strange. Felt fine last night, woke up spewing foam. Now got the temperature back that I thought had finished a week ago ! I think it'll be alright, but feeling a bit jaded atm ! Edit : anyway, i won't bang on about it on here. Sorry.
Could all just be side-effects of the fever, as your immune system's taking a kicking, perhaps? Any medication that you're on could be doing odd things, too. Hope it's all sorted out quickly and you're back on the mend soon.
Last time I used the NHS system, it didn't say what I had - it just said when I should immediately go to hospital. Turns out I had a cyst in a place that really didn't appreciate me manhandling the area to make sure I had a lump there. Still, I can say that the cooling gel used for sonograms is quite refreshing on a July afternoon.
It's like how, no matter what symptoms you input into WebMD, one of the top three results is some form of cancer - which of course is the first thing that leaps off the screen and scares the unholy bejeezus out of you. On the subject of people needing 24/7 medical care, I think we've found holte_legends... please log in to view this image
