So, for the last few years, I have been using my second forename as my name in usage. Most people accepted that I was called John and if they knew my first forename was Michael, they just accepted that I was called John. And then, we changed health insurer in Ireland. Making sure that my […]
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Three points of access and a question from the 1980s
For dialysis to work, each patient needs access from the body to the machine. Back in December, when my kidneys failed, I was given a permacath in my chest so that blood can be taken from my body, fed into the machine, and pumped back into my body. I am glad to say that I […]
Changes afoot to dialysis
So, I’ve been on haemodialysis (HD) for just over two months now. Just settled into the rhythm of it. Sunday afternoons (after church), Tuesday mornings (first thing), and Friday lunchtimes are the days I have been going up to Tallaght University Hospital for my HD. Each day there are friendly faces from the nursing staff […]
there is always hope.
Earlier this afternoon, I learnt that the doctors were not going to proceed with my expected plasma exchange as the damage to my kidney was just too much. Irreversible kidney damage due to Goodpasture Syndrome. There is always hope. It may be in a different form from that expected earlier – but there is always […]
a day of firsts
I don’t think I have had a day like Friday for Firsts first-time my entire family-of-origin came to see me in Dublin;they arrived just after my first bad reaction to a drip of platelets — I came out in a rash.they went to find food when I went downstairs for my first biopsy of a […]
Time for Equal Marriage in Gibraltar
It is time to say Yes to Equality, to say Yes to Love, and to Say No to discrimination against people of the same sex who love each other. Sitting in Dublin, one could be complacent about Equal Marriage given the constitutional referendum that was held in May to make the change here. However, I […]
Maybe less than a week to go on Eviplera
It is hard to believe that it is about three-and-a-half years since I started taking Eviplera. Looking back it is clear that at the beginning I did know that it was meant to be taken with a meal, but somehow along the way I had forgotten. I had reverted to type and took it last thing […]
Originally posted on Andrew McFarland Campbell:
Ryan White in 1989 A few weeks ago, a friend of mine, PA Maglochlainn, died. PA fought to make the world a better place, and while he wasn’t old when he died, he wasn’t a young man either. Today would have been Ryan White’s 41st birthday, but Ryan died…
Interview with @sharon_utv for #WorldAIDSDay
Yesterday evening an interview with me about living with HIV in Northern Ireland was broadcast on UTV. You can watch it here UTV Player | HIV in Northern Ireland. (expires 29 days from 29 Nov. 2012)
Originally posted on HIV Blogger:
Last night was difficult – I’m not quite sure why, but it was. I was watching the last episode of Series 1 of Queer As Folk (American version) with my friend Andrew. Right at the end of this episode is the scene where Justin Taylor, played so excellently by Randy…
3 days to go to WAD2012 – so much happening as we #PainttheTownRED
We’ve three days to go until World AIDS Day but with everything that has been going on today as we Paint the Town Red in Belfast you would be forgiven for thinking that we had made it there already. First of all this morning I was at The HIV Support Centre in Belfast for the […]
A day in bed… preparing for the week to come #worldAIDSday
Everyone knows how sometimes it feels like a day to stay in bed. Well, despite having quite a lot to do to prepare for World AIDS Day Events this week, today was a day where instead of getting up and doing stuff from 0900 I didn’t actually wake up properly until 1.30pm. This means that […]
Watch out for the Nolan Show
https://twitter.com/bbcnolan/status/233472182955683840 – Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
A sore head
This morning I was woken up by Andrew much earlier than is normal for me. My head is sore. Perhaps it is a migraine coming on. After all, last night I didn’t take my anti-migraine medication. In about half an hour I have to leave the flat to make it to the Royal Victoria Hospital […]
new domain for the blog
I thought it was about time that this blog had its own domain name. So henceforth, the best way to reach it will be via http://hivblogger.me.uk/.
last night’s worry – is taken away today
Last night, I was really worried. I had been out shopping with Andy and our friend John, during the afternoon. We had been to Tesco, followed by Ikea. By the end of it, I could hardly walk, and I was very worried. I came home, and started to run a bath, and as I undressed […]
HIV positive porn star calls for barebacking to be banned
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that a porn actor who contracted HIV while filming has called for condoms to be made compulsory across the adult film industry. Derrick Burts, 24, tested positive for HIV in October after starring in US gay and straight porn films. http://latimes.vid.trb.com/player/PaperVideoTest.swf Related Articles Derrick Burts: HIV-Positive Porn Actor Calls […]
July 18
Okay, so it has been an age since last I posted. But I’ve been busy. A few weeks ago, I was heading up to the clinic every week for tests as my levels were going all over the show. Have to head up again this week to see what is going on, and hope that […]
February 14th
St Valentine’s Day A mate texted yesterday and I realised quite how much I don’t like Saint Valentine’s Day – or as it is often seen nowadays, plain old Valentine’s Day. I think it has something to do with the not being able to get on with a relationship either without telling the guy about […]
November 19
Meds issues – a follow up I’ve taken the pills again today. With my lunch. I’m going to try and keep to this régime this time, and have set up alerts on my phone, and my watch and all sorts to remind me. I just hope that the side effects do not restart. Comment on […]
August 29 – feast of the Beheading of St John Baptist
Well I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I was out with a new mate. One that I thought might lead to something more. One problem : he’s negative. In the middle of a night out I ended up telling him about my status. K-‘s been relatively okay about this. But it highlights to […]
August 28
It’s some time since I have posted on here. But the events of last night really do need recorded. Five Hours of a Meeting I was at a meeting last night which lasted five hours – but it was reasonably productive depsite starting to cover ground that is not this year’s committee’s responsibility. Then two […]
August 26
It is now five months since I was diagnosed with HIV. What an anniversary! Had a reasonably good week thus far – but still feeling tired. Out with a friend last night for tea and again with another friend tonight. At least this saves me the problems of cooking. But waiting on money to actually […]
August 13
It’s the middle of the night here and, once again, I can’t sleep. It’s not that I haven’t tried everything… mint tea hot chocolate counting sheep just lying reading… Nothing is working. I’m getting fed up of this now. And in the morning, I get to have my increased dose of “happy pill” – now […]
July 27
Food continues to be an issue. Yesterday, I was really bad. I only had a bag of sweets and a banana. Well not entirely. I had some “cornish” pasties (made in Belfast not Callington!) and some cake at lunch time. At least the meds are still being taken. Which is good. Still getting pains in […]
July 22
Another day, another post. After yesterday’s good news, I can simply say that I feel much better. And I am even eating. I’m not quite sure whether it is simply the news about my viral load that has lifted my spirits or whether it is a mixture of that and support from various sources. Whatever, […]
June 23
St Etheldreda’s Day Today is St Etheldreda’s Day. The day that the Church remembers a holy Abbess in Ely, Cambridgeshire. It is the day I remember a friend of mine called Etheldreda. And remember that I have forgotten to send a card to her – I’ll have to do that later this afternoon. Hospital Clinic […]
June 20
A better morning after the night before Last evening was a good night in lots of ways. First of all I had been chatting to a friend most of the evening online and this had helped cheer me up all night. Secondly, I managed to not cry myself to sleep. This morning I woke up […]
June 19
It’s been a few days since I posted on here, but chatting to one mate on msn made me realise how much of a mask is still being worn by me. At night it gets taken off, and still I cry myself to sleep. I don’t know when this will stop – and i don’t […]
June 17
Feeling ill today. Last night my joints were sore, my throat felt sore and my head was sore. So after work and a quick meeting in the evening I drove to my parents’. Now sitting there and hoping that I’ll be able to stay for a bit longer until I feel much better.
June 11
Dating system Since I started this diary of events I have been using ‘days since diagnosis’ as my dates. However it has come to me that this is actually turning into somewhat of a countdown (or rather count-up) to when things are worse than they are currently. For this reason, I have decided to revert […]
