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Thursday, October 9, 2014

Todd in Palm Springs - "I am disappointed that people are not yelling from the rooftops about this medication!"

by Todd
Palm Springs

I met the most wonderful man in January and he was hesitant to have sex. After about 3 weeks he told me he was positive. It didn’t affect my feelings for him and he was so used to rejection. Over the past 9 months I have fallen in love with this man.

 I have a great doctor that is gay (I live in Palm Springs) and started hearing about Truvada. I started taking it about 7 months ago, no real side effects except for lip numbness which may have been a food allergy.

I am disappointed that people are not yelling from the rooftops about this medication!

He has been positive for 8 years and is “undetectable." Between PrEP and his undetectable status I feel we are safe. 10 years ago, someone with HIV would’ve been off the table for me to be honest. Judge as you will but I am sure many of you agree.

I work in healthcare and have my doctorate but remain scared like any other gay man. I came out in 1983, same years as AIDS. It has been present in my entire adult life. I have been in three 7-year relationships with negative partners and now venture off in singledom. I am in my mid 40’s and  live in a town where 40% of the gay men are positive. My reality.

I tell anyone that will listen about Truvada but I want to always be respectful of my boyfriend's status. It really is nobody's business but at the same time I want to share our “Truvada” secret for their benefit.

Is anyone else in my shoes? Stuck between a rock and PrEP?

 

1 comment:

  1. I live in Palm Springs and I am disappointed that The Desert Aids Project does not endorse PrEP. They have the ability to reach thousands of gay men in the Coachella Valley and beyond, but they have failed. They need to revise their mission to save lives.

    ReplyDelete

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