Some thoughts after reading some posts from newly diagnosed people.

[SJ65]

Along with many others i am a long time member of the club ( sorry but in my laid back way of thinking thats how i put it )

I suppose i was lucky (?) being diagnosed when HiV was very much in the public out there domain , almost being bought up with it . We all knew the ins and outs so to speak , knew where to go and who to see .

i had seen many friends die ,and the prospect was scary.

When i was diagnosed i knew the result before it was given , and who i had contracted it from . yes i was upset and suffered from depression for a while , but have always thought "life goes on ".

My therapist suggested i keep some sort of Diary .....me write things down ,that will be the day i said ! But not long after i did start to write my story i wrote 3 note pads ( the A5 top spiral bound type ) Each had a title .

1 : The Wig is in the Stew

2: The Wig is out of the Stew

3; Ive Eaten the Stew

This was the best thing i had ever done , i get them out every now and then , read and laugh .

Any way before i get off the point of this post ..

over the last 3 years since i left London i am Shocked / amazed /appalled and even terrified at the complete lack of education and general knowledge that people have on our Virus , treatment ,where to go for help etc .

We all have different needs , lifestyles and sexuality .

IBase is a wonderful and much needed resource , our clinics have the knowledge and are there to help all , or point in the right direction . When we are unsure , scared, nervous always ask for help . HealthUnlocked a marvellous place to discuss .

Think I've lost the track of what i was planning to write , but hey .

Ah yes ,where has the teaching general understanding of HIV seemed to have gone , or is it because i have been around for so long I've forgotten things ?

Keep asking the questions , because someone always has an answer and can point you in the right direction .

You will get over that hill , out of that long dark tunnel .

If you've got to the end of this and vaguely understand my post well done ....Stephen

[Babyboy915]

Ty Stephen I got what you said and thanks for listening

[kentgal]

Hello Stephen,

Its good to read your post, you sound so laid back and relaxed. I suppose you would be, it must have been awful back then. The uncertaintly of your life then, must have been a nightmare.

I agree about total lack of education and ignorance. The media could be more involved? Anyway best wishes to you

xxxxxxxxxxxx

[pauldecle Partner ForumLink]

The funny thing is Stephen, I kind of do understand your post.

Warm Regaeds,

Paul

[OldTimer1985]

Stephen

Oh how I could have written that myself!

As a newbie here I have sat tonight trolling through and felt an immense sense of sadness in the room. Rewind to 1985 and I thought I had nothing to look forward to, no cure?, no internet chatrooms, no HIV charities, little information and declarations of the impending gay plague that'd wipe us all out. (The government had its 'Don't Die Of Ignorance' campaign and leaflets were posted to every household warning of the perils of unsafe sex - '....bit late, Thatcher me old girl, already got it, ta!' I thought. As I had a lot less friends year by year. I challenge anyone to say it was any different!

Today, in 2016, I find it hard that what we as a 'group' at the start of this whole journey did so much, but that incredible impetus seems to have slowed. Yes, there are still fabulous groups and charities working tirelessly out there but I have to agree that there are still people, young and old alike, that are still so uneducated about HIV. The classic example being people 'barebacking' again, if you'll pardon my French, and advertising for such on Grindr and the like. It makes me so angry. The arrival of PEP was a green light to some, to run around taking risks. Numbers are gradually on the rise again - surprise surprise!

As, Stephen has said - ask us! We are here to help and will at any opportunity. I personally don't profess to be able to cover everything, but if I don't know someone on here will or I'll know a man that does. 

Let's get back to the days when we actually helped each other, through experiences - not what was read on a leaflet.

Rant over, as you were 😉

Love to you all,

Ian x