Equal???

Based on the picture posted.... Does it? No, it does not make us equal.As you can probably tell by now, the pictures I choose to go along with my entry are strongly related and go hand in hand. Some may bring an emotional insight or it's just something that I strongly identify to the blog entry even if it's not obvious. So on to the picture. Let me start by saying how much I love that Wonder Woman's image was used for this Ad Campaign! What if Wonder Woman had HIV/AIDS. How many of us would be relieved to have her come to our rescue in our time of need. Would we wait for someone else to come along just because of the label that is now attached to her?

The ugly truth about this campaign, that while we try to take the message across that HIV/AIDS makes us all equal, the reality today is that it only makes you equal when comparing yourself to another POZ person. That's it. No equality in that. Separate but equal is the truth. I do not intend to come across as pessimistic. Yes, AIDS is just a label, but when all of a sudden you find that label attached to you, it is a completely different thing and not longer "just a label". It's the label on that shirt that you love but the tag is so damn uncomfortable!!! Good news about owning a shirt like that is that you can rip the label off. I can't rip mine off. I have to learn to just see it as a label, and while I can't physically rip it off, I can learn how to mentally rip it off.

So I went to the dentist today. I wanted to make sure that my oral health is good! You know, growing up not visiting Dr. office, Dentist office, any medical office for that matter, it had been about 10 years since my last visit. I knew it would not be good but my teeth are well kept, I do not have a jacked up grill!! :) Anyways, in order for me to receive care, my Dr. had to provide the office with a letter of diagnosis. I asked the receptionist for a copy since it was faxed, I did not know what it said, and wanted one for my records in case I needed it down the road. Once I read it, it was the biggest "pull to reality" I have ever gotten.

The letter is as follow. (The names have been changed to protect the innocent)

Ante Bellum has just started his medical care at Owen Clinic, UCSD Medical Center. Mr. Bellum has been diagnosed with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). He signed up for Ryan White coverage yesterday. (see attached)

Was there really a need for the acronym?! It couldn't be any clearer!! When I received the T-cell count of 172 with the percentage ratio at %12 I knew it placed me on that diagnosis. It's one thing to know it yourself, and another to see it written down on a piece of paper. So, ok, Dentist.... they can't do any procedures until my T-cell count goes above 200. So I had started on Bactrim but broke out into a rash/hives - shoulders and chest. So that was so much for that.

I've started on Mepron. I call it the Yellow Pepto Bismol! That's exactly what it is like!!! It smells good, but doesn't taste that great. Maybe if I recite the "Vita-Meat-Vega-Min" monologue from I Love Lucy it will actually "Taste Just Like Candy" For anyone reading, know of the costs of HIV meds! Be aware of what a drastic diff it makes when HIV funds get cut!! You may not pay attn to it until it hits home , please allow me to be "home" for you. Keep HIV budget cuts in mind, if you can do something about it and make a difference DO IT!!! The bottle of Mepron, a 30 day supply which I actually need 90 days (most that go on antibiotic for O.I's need a 90 day supply) is $1,551.98.

So this will conclude my entry for tonight. Thanks to the wonderful online world of blogspot for allowing me to have come across this site to vent and share my experience!


Antebellum