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Probably a time that stands out for most HIV positive people…

10pm is a time widely used for taking antiretrovirals (or also called anti hiv medication).

10 years after being diagnosed and starting the daily regime of taking tablets I (almost) forget to take my medication, even though it is something you have to do every… single… day. Thats 3652 days so far (roughly) to practice and still I forget!

I am still on my first regime of medication, which after 10 years I feel very lucky to be able to say. My body accepted Nevirapine and Truvada (these are the names of my HIV medications), and because I have managed to mainly remember to take them, I havent developed a resistance. I am lucky, very lucky, and I know it.

Dont get me wrong here. I look back at the people who suffered before medication was available, those who suffered in medication trials, those who simply didnt have the option of only having to remember to take medication each day. Or simply put, the heroes.

Yes I suffer side effects from the medications. Yes remembering to take them can be tricky, or having to take them with you when you go on holiday, or you stay away for the night, or at times when something is unplanned and you dont have your medication on you, or you just arent in a place or amongst people where its easy to take them. Yes the tablets can be huge… they can be powdery so harder to swallow, they may even need constant chilling in a fridge, or storing in a special way. But the alternative is not even considerable!

20 years ago, HIV positive people may have only lived for a year. If they were lucky.

Today, many HIV positive people that take control and ownership of their status, and the healthy changes needed in their lifestyles, and the management of medication and their side effects, and they are living many, many years. Some may live normal life expectancies, some (because of the healthy changes they make, and the constant monitoring from health care professionals we are lucky enough to have here in the UK within the NHS) even live longer than they may have done originally.

So here is my opportunity to say thank you to the heroes of the 80’s and 90’s who died so we can live. Who were guinea pigs in a world discrimination and unforgiving judgement. People who will forever live on through each one of us who look at the clock, at 10pm, and sigh at the simple effort of having to take some medication.

I am grateful to you all, every single day.

Thank you, each and everyone of you