Hi fellow bloggers,
This week I'm going to talk about my visit to the health department. The nurse drew my blood three weeks ago. She was gloved and I was dressed in my board shorts, t-shirt and sandals. When we started talking I told her what I did and where I worked and all of a sudden her demeanor and approach was different. We both work in the medical field and are exposed to bodily fluids on a daily basis. When I came back she quickly called me back to her little room, as I was in scrubs this time. She gave me my results then started talking about miscellaneous things I needed to do and before I left she asked me the question if I had been in a battered environment since the last time I saw her. I quickly gave her my answer but it burned a question in my mind. How many of these women who have HIV or AIDS are battered in the U.S. and how does that affect their treatment? Are they predisposed, or are they less likely to contract HIV?
Did you know that in the U.S. that battered women are more likely to contract HIV because the victims get beaten and later raped when refusing sex with their partners who most likely have multiple sexual encounters and quite possibly never use protection. (PeaceWomen.org)
Catherine Avorseh, Koforidua the author of the article quotes, the executive director of the Ark Foundation, Ms. Angela Dwamena Boakye, from a training workshop on gender violence and HIV/AIDS at Koforidua. "Ms. Boakye acknowledged that although a lot of work is being done in HIV/AIDS awareness creation, there has not been much concentration on gender violence and HIV/AIDS. There is the need to train ourselves to be able to educate and support people who come to us, hence the need for this workshop".
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund website, battered women are more 3 times as likely of contracting HIV than someone who doesn't live in an abusive environment. " Researchers found that 5.5 percent of women in the study – all 20 years old or older – reported abuse by their partners in 2004 and 2005. The rate of HIV infection for women was 0.17 percent, and it was three times higher among women who reported partner violence than women who did not. Of those who contracted HIV, nearly 12 percent said it was a result of intimate partner violence." (endabuse.org)
This presents a larger picture to an already ominous disease. Now we have battered women rates at escalating rate. So where do we go from here?
until next week bloggers,
laterz
Works cited
Battered women and AIDS. (August 28, 2003). Battered Women at Greater Risk of Contracting HIV/AIDS. Peace and Women website. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Ghana/newsarchive03/battered.html
Statistics on battered women and HIV. (June 19, 2009). Battered women at higher risk of HIV infection. end abuse website. Retrieved October 7, 2009 from http://endabuse.org/content/news/detail/1293/
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Blog #4 Where is HIPPAA?
Hello fellow bloggers,
In this week's blog, I want to talk about the possibility of losing confidentiality of HIV status in any environment not only in the university setting. I'll give you a little tid bit from my own personal experience with this issue. In the early 80's when HIV was considered the 'gay cancer', my half-brother was in jail. (I am only sharing this with you because he's deceased and it sheds a little light to the broader affects breaking confidentiality might have.) My half-brother was no stranger to getting in trouble, he was very flamboyantly gay, and was a drug user. During one of his short stints in jail, the local news was airing a story about the prison population who had contracted HIV the 'gay cancer' and lo and behold my half-brothers name pops in ticker form along the bottom of the screen. Now it just so happened that both my parents and I were up watching the news. As soon as they read the screen my dad's face turned white and my mom dropped her crochet on her lap. I sat there all confused as I watched my dad cry as he read his son's name scroll across the T.V. That is how we found out my brother had contracted HIV. My half-brother passed away only eleven years ago, but he fought a good fight. He cleaned up his act after that incident and found himself a very nice man, who also was positive and they lived together for many years until his life-partner passed a few years before him.
Now I'll fast forward to the present and the future if confidentiality becomes a thing of yesterdays. The impact this had on my family and what it would do to so many other families is inconceivable and irreparably damaging. These are memories I don't wish upon anyone. I can only imagine what my half-brother was thinking because I'm sure he didn't find out until he was in the jail population and the emotional damage it caused all of his sexual partners or encounters. If this disease didn't kill him I'm sure one of them wanted to. We're lucky enough now to have laws that protect our civil rights and thank God we do have these to give us the sense of security that no one can disclose what we hold sacred. Our health being one of them. Our health status is of no one's concern other than those we choose to share it with and the doctors who treat us. If medical confidentiality is compromised in our day to day lives, whether in schools or otherwise, what do you think the impact would be on our society? Choosing to share ones own secrets as long as we don't hinder the health of others should be respected and not challenged.
However, intentionally spreading HIV while knowing ones status is morally and ethically wrong. I learned that criminal charges can assessed and the guilty party would die behind bars all the while spreading the disease to other inmates. This happened to a Uganda man who worked in Canada in 2003.
Did you know that on August 30, 2003, a man by the name of Johnson Aziga was arrested for intentionally passing on the HIV virus to unsuspecting women. He was charged with first degree murder on two counts, ten charges of sexually aggravated assault, and one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault. (amren.com) Other women came forward later but this story brings up two issues. One being the obvious divulging one status voluntarily or face the consequence and women in society who are persuaded into thinking that their health is secondary to a man's pleasure. When will women in this world wake up and smell the coffee? We have to take our health into our own hands and having a man or woman persuade us into sex without proper precautions can get us a ticket on the disease train. The story brings up race as a possible reason for spreading Aziga's HIV, but really? Its sad that people still see race as the reason for so many societal issues and it doesn't look like there is a respite in the near future either.
Its a bit ironic how my half-brother found out his HIV status behind bars without confidentiality, but lived a good life anyway and this guy's positive status awarded him an 8' by 10' cell for spreading the disease because he kept it confidential. I'm really shaking my head at this point.
Until next week fellow bloggers
laterz
works cited:
News stories involving HIV positive people. (April 6, 2009). American Renaissance.com website. Retrieved on September 29, 2009 from http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2009/04/hiv-positive_ma.php
Summary of the HIPPAA Privacy Rule. (May 2003). Privacy summary. United States Department of Health website. Retrieved September 29, 2009 from
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html
In this week's blog, I want to talk about the possibility of losing confidentiality of HIV status in any environment not only in the university setting. I'll give you a little tid bit from my own personal experience with this issue. In the early 80's when HIV was considered the 'gay cancer', my half-brother was in jail. (I am only sharing this with you because he's deceased and it sheds a little light to the broader affects breaking confidentiality might have.) My half-brother was no stranger to getting in trouble, he was very flamboyantly gay, and was a drug user. During one of his short stints in jail, the local news was airing a story about the prison population who had contracted HIV the 'gay cancer' and lo and behold my half-brothers name pops in ticker form along the bottom of the screen. Now it just so happened that both my parents and I were up watching the news. As soon as they read the screen my dad's face turned white and my mom dropped her crochet on her lap. I sat there all confused as I watched my dad cry as he read his son's name scroll across the T.V. That is how we found out my brother had contracted HIV. My half-brother passed away only eleven years ago, but he fought a good fight. He cleaned up his act after that incident and found himself a very nice man, who also was positive and they lived together for many years until his life-partner passed a few years before him.
Now I'll fast forward to the present and the future if confidentiality becomes a thing of yesterdays. The impact this had on my family and what it would do to so many other families is inconceivable and irreparably damaging. These are memories I don't wish upon anyone. I can only imagine what my half-brother was thinking because I'm sure he didn't find out until he was in the jail population and the emotional damage it caused all of his sexual partners or encounters. If this disease didn't kill him I'm sure one of them wanted to. We're lucky enough now to have laws that protect our civil rights and thank God we do have these to give us the sense of security that no one can disclose what we hold sacred. Our health being one of them. Our health status is of no one's concern other than those we choose to share it with and the doctors who treat us. If medical confidentiality is compromised in our day to day lives, whether in schools or otherwise, what do you think the impact would be on our society? Choosing to share ones own secrets as long as we don't hinder the health of others should be respected and not challenged.
However, intentionally spreading HIV while knowing ones status is morally and ethically wrong. I learned that criminal charges can assessed and the guilty party would die behind bars all the while spreading the disease to other inmates. This happened to a Uganda man who worked in Canada in 2003.
Did you know that on August 30, 2003, a man by the name of Johnson Aziga was arrested for intentionally passing on the HIV virus to unsuspecting women. He was charged with first degree murder on two counts, ten charges of sexually aggravated assault, and one count of attempted aggravated sexual assault. (amren.com) Other women came forward later but this story brings up two issues. One being the obvious divulging one status voluntarily or face the consequence and women in society who are persuaded into thinking that their health is secondary to a man's pleasure. When will women in this world wake up and smell the coffee? We have to take our health into our own hands and having a man or woman persuade us into sex without proper precautions can get us a ticket on the disease train. The story brings up race as a possible reason for spreading Aziga's HIV, but really? Its sad that people still see race as the reason for so many societal issues and it doesn't look like there is a respite in the near future either.
Its a bit ironic how my half-brother found out his HIV status behind bars without confidentiality, but lived a good life anyway and this guy's positive status awarded him an 8' by 10' cell for spreading the disease because he kept it confidential. I'm really shaking my head at this point.
Until next week fellow bloggers
laterz
works cited:
News stories involving HIV positive people. (April 6, 2009). American Renaissance.com website. Retrieved on September 29, 2009 from http://www.amren.com/mtnews/archives/2009/04/hiv-positive_ma.php
Summary of the HIPPAA Privacy Rule. (May 2003). Privacy summary. United States Department of Health website. Retrieved September 29, 2009 from
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
week 3- blunder
Hello fellow bloggers,
First I want to say thank you for all of you who are following my weekly issues. I appreciate all of your positive comments and take them all into consideration. I do have to make a clarification though. During my last blog, I wanted to interview a mother of an affected child to see what her reaction is... but frankly, I should know what her reaction is. I am a mother, just as many of you are... and it is no different. Yes you tend to your children in different ways while they are sick, but ultimately we love our little ones more than ourselves and would gladly put ourselves before them on any given day, sick or not!
On a personal level, my brother was recently out of remission from recurrent chronoblastoma. He's had a reoccurence in his right scapula and lung. His first diagnosis was in 2008, where it showed up on his scapula, three anterior and posterior ribs, and clavicle. In doing some research for the Immune system module, I read about an integrase inhibitor used for HIV tumor shrinkage and found where the same inhibitor is being used from non-HIV positive patients with great results. I couldn't wait to call my brother with this news. I shared this information with Jr. (as my family calls him) my brother and he shocked me when he said, "Claudia, I know its an antiretroviral drug that is used for HIV positive patients and its called, zentivir, I take an injection once every three weeks, its working amazingly well, but I can't get drunk if I wanted to!" (Harley Phillips) I was floored that my baby brother knew about what I'd been studying but is learning from a different perspective and the two just happened to mix. Its amazing what a little research can do for your education and your closeness to your family members. Just a little tid bit I thought was interesting and definitely exciting for me.
Well I have made a complete fool of myself this week. However, I think this blunder was one I don't regret. I was following in the chat room with Jim and Colin for 2 weeks now and you'll never guess... I wasn't on their roster. Badda bing! I'm shaking my head but I did learn something very interesting because they allowed me to stay just to read as the stories were told. I learned one important and interesting aspect. Did you know that... one can have the virus without transmitting it to their sexual partners, in fact, for many years. Less than one percent of the population has an immunity to such diseases, this one in particular being HIV/AIDS. In doing some research on the subject I found an article talking about this phenomenon. In the article, it states that 10% of Europeans are immune to HIV. Professor Christopher Duncan and Dr. Susan Scott from the University's School of Biological Sciences published research in the Journal of Medical Genetics, which attributes CCR5-A32 as the genetic mutation that allows Europeans to display an immunity to HIV. Some biologists think its link is small pox because of its viral connection. The CCR5-A32 blocks the virus from entering the cells of the immune system. Now if only they could figure out how to embrace this and possibly impact the rest of the HIV/AIDS community and develop a cure. (innovations-report.com)
Now with this said, we can deduce that there is possibly a cure we just haven't found it. But for some little ones who are coming into this world with HIV positive mothers there is hope. Did you know that the majority of cases from mother to child occur during labor and delivery. However, depending on the viral load, CD4 levels and anti-retroviral drug resistancies testing, the HIV pregnant patient can choose whether to delay medicating until the 2nd trimester, if they do not have symptoms. (aidsinfo.nih.gov)The delivery should be a C-section (not vaginal) but there is a high possibility that the baby will be asymptomatic and ultimately HIV negative if taken the proper precautions. Several treatments can and should be used conjuctively to reduce the transmission of HIV that include: 1.) a Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART.) If possible HAART should include AZT (Retrovir or Zidovudine) 2.) During labor and delivery the mother should receive an intravenous AZT. 3.) The baby should take liquid AZT every 6 hours for 6 weeks after birth. (aidsinfo.nih.gov)
A baby can be infected in utero, by breastfeeding and during labor and delivery, thus making the entire pregnancy very stressful and often times heartbreaking for the mother who can't enjoy giving nourishing life to her newborn for fear of causing them so much harm. (aidsinfo.nih.gov) One can only sit back and wonder, if creating an environment in which the disease is blocked from entering the immune system, such as with CCR5- A32 and there is the capability of bombarding the HIV positive host (mother) while she's growing an HIV negative (possibly negative) baby and there is no transmission between the mother and child; what is the crucial link that will create a cure for this disease?
until next time, fellow bloggers...
laterz
Works cited:
Biologists Discover Why 10% of Europeans Are Safe From HIV infection. (October 3, 2005).
Bubonic Plague and HIV. Innovations-report website. Retrievied September 22, 2009 from
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/lifesciences/report-41566.html
Telephone Interview- Harley C. Phillips. Telephone Interview. 18 September 2009.
Treatment Regimens for HIV positive Pregnant woment. (May 2009). AIDS infowebsite.
Retrieved September 22, 2009 from
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/DrugRegimensPregnantWomen_FS_en.pdf
First I want to say thank you for all of you who are following my weekly issues. I appreciate all of your positive comments and take them all into consideration. I do have to make a clarification though. During my last blog, I wanted to interview a mother of an affected child to see what her reaction is... but frankly, I should know what her reaction is. I am a mother, just as many of you are... and it is no different. Yes you tend to your children in different ways while they are sick, but ultimately we love our little ones more than ourselves and would gladly put ourselves before them on any given day, sick or not!
On a personal level, my brother was recently out of remission from recurrent chronoblastoma. He's had a reoccurence in his right scapula and lung. His first diagnosis was in 2008, where it showed up on his scapula, three anterior and posterior ribs, and clavicle. In doing some research for the Immune system module, I read about an integrase inhibitor used for HIV tumor shrinkage and found where the same inhibitor is being used from non-HIV positive patients with great results. I couldn't wait to call my brother with this news. I shared this information with Jr. (as my family calls him) my brother and he shocked me when he said, "Claudia, I know its an antiretroviral drug that is used for HIV positive patients and its called, zentivir, I take an injection once every three weeks, its working amazingly well, but I can't get drunk if I wanted to!" (Harley Phillips) I was floored that my baby brother knew about what I'd been studying but is learning from a different perspective and the two just happened to mix. Its amazing what a little research can do for your education and your closeness to your family members. Just a little tid bit I thought was interesting and definitely exciting for me.
Well I have made a complete fool of myself this week. However, I think this blunder was one I don't regret. I was following in the chat room with Jim and Colin for 2 weeks now and you'll never guess... I wasn't on their roster. Badda bing! I'm shaking my head but I did learn something very interesting because they allowed me to stay just to read as the stories were told. I learned one important and interesting aspect. Did you know that... one can have the virus without transmitting it to their sexual partners, in fact, for many years. Less than one percent of the population has an immunity to such diseases, this one in particular being HIV/AIDS. In doing some research on the subject I found an article talking about this phenomenon. In the article, it states that 10% of Europeans are immune to HIV. Professor Christopher Duncan and Dr. Susan Scott from the University's School of Biological Sciences published research in the Journal of Medical Genetics, which attributes CCR5-A32 as the genetic mutation that allows Europeans to display an immunity to HIV. Some biologists think its link is small pox because of its viral connection. The CCR5-A32 blocks the virus from entering the cells of the immune system. Now if only they could figure out how to embrace this and possibly impact the rest of the HIV/AIDS community and develop a cure. (innovations-report.com)
Now with this said, we can deduce that there is possibly a cure we just haven't found it. But for some little ones who are coming into this world with HIV positive mothers there is hope. Did you know that the majority of cases from mother to child occur during labor and delivery. However, depending on the viral load, CD4 levels and anti-retroviral drug resistancies testing, the HIV pregnant patient can choose whether to delay medicating until the 2nd trimester, if they do not have symptoms. (aidsinfo.nih.gov)The delivery should be a C-section (not vaginal) but there is a high possibility that the baby will be asymptomatic and ultimately HIV negative if taken the proper precautions. Several treatments can and should be used conjuctively to reduce the transmission of HIV that include: 1.) a Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART.) If possible HAART should include AZT (Retrovir or Zidovudine) 2.) During labor and delivery the mother should receive an intravenous AZT. 3.) The baby should take liquid AZT every 6 hours for 6 weeks after birth. (aidsinfo.nih.gov)
A baby can be infected in utero, by breastfeeding and during labor and delivery, thus making the entire pregnancy very stressful and often times heartbreaking for the mother who can't enjoy giving nourishing life to her newborn for fear of causing them so much harm. (aidsinfo.nih.gov) One can only sit back and wonder, if creating an environment in which the disease is blocked from entering the immune system, such as with CCR5- A32 and there is the capability of bombarding the HIV positive host (mother) while she's growing an HIV negative (possibly negative) baby and there is no transmission between the mother and child; what is the crucial link that will create a cure for this disease?
until next time, fellow bloggers...
laterz
Works cited:
Biologists Discover Why 10% of Europeans Are Safe From HIV infection. (October 3, 2005).
Bubonic Plague and HIV. Innovations-report website. Retrievied September 22, 2009 from
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/lifesciences/report-41566.html
Telephone Interview- Harley C. Phillips. Telephone Interview. 18 September 2009.
Treatment Regimens for HIV positive Pregnant woment. (May 2009). AIDS infowebsite.
Retrieved September 22, 2009 from
http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/DrugRegimensPregnantWomen_FS_en.pdf
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
week 2 ( Its about the boy)
Hi Fellow Bloggers,
I labeled this one "Its about the boy" because I'm sure you guys have read that I'm a single mom of a pretty amazing eight year old boy. I've been doing some research about tolerance and stigmas and all those not so happy thoughts. I realized yesterday that tolerance is just a word and not many of us accept or "tolerate" others' differences of opinion, orientation, physicalities, disfunctions whatever it might be we aren't a very forgiving society.
My son experienced prejudice from my neighbors son today when he boarded the school bus this morning. My neighbor had an issue by the way I conducted myself in my driveway when I kissed my girlfriend good bye from visiting with us that afternoon. We kissed and I didn't think twice about a hug and a good bye kiss and what it would mean to my neighbors. However, I should have because my neighbor called then text my cell with rants about exposing her children to my orientation and blah blah blah. Yes that's what i said because a) I don't feel that my orientation should be viewed as anything other than what it is... love between two females big whoop! b) this is my property and I shouldn't be discriminated against for my "behavior" c) if I had kissed a BOYfriend instead of a GIRLfriend, the neighbor would have looked the other way and not a second look given. Now this is my soap box for the day. It made me furious that my son had to endure such discrimination from his busmate and neighbor all because of his mothers thoughts about my orientation. Our boys were allowed to play last year but now they aren't.
Now I welcome everyone's opinion on how to react to this discrimination but it ties to our kids. The ones who contract HIV/AIDS with no fault of their own and how people treat them. I've decided to focus on women and children's health in my future blogs because both affect me directly. I am a furious mom of a healthy eight year old. How does a mom (HIV positive or negative) of an eight year old (HIV positive or negative) feel when her child is bullied or discriminated against?
I found an organization when I was doing my research for this blog that really helps with resources for women and children. Prevention, care, Pyschosocial issues, other general resources. http://www.womenchildrenhiv.org/ Now this site is for informational purposes.
I also found a wonderful site called children with AIDS charity...http://www.cwac.org/index.htm
this site is specific to children's needs. It was set up in 1992 to help those who are the silent voices drowned by the loud sounds of HIV/AIDS. Charity events range from bracelet sells to fine dining dinner events. The charity is based out of London but I'm sure it can be expanded to any part of the world with a few emails.
I am a mom and my son means the world to me. In my next blog I'm going to try and find the answer to my question, " What does that mom feel like?" I'm furious and I don't have to deal with a sick child, I can't even attempt to wear those shoes.
Laterz
Works cited
HIV/AIDS women and children. (2009) Requested on September 16, 2009. http://www.womenchildrenhiv.org/
Women and Children HIV/AIDS charities. (2009) Requested on September 16, 2009. http://www.cwac.org/index.htm
I labeled this one "Its about the boy" because I'm sure you guys have read that I'm a single mom of a pretty amazing eight year old boy. I've been doing some research about tolerance and stigmas and all those not so happy thoughts. I realized yesterday that tolerance is just a word and not many of us accept or "tolerate" others' differences of opinion, orientation, physicalities, disfunctions whatever it might be we aren't a very forgiving society.
My son experienced prejudice from my neighbors son today when he boarded the school bus this morning. My neighbor had an issue by the way I conducted myself in my driveway when I kissed my girlfriend good bye from visiting with us that afternoon. We kissed and I didn't think twice about a hug and a good bye kiss and what it would mean to my neighbors. However, I should have because my neighbor called then text my cell with rants about exposing her children to my orientation and blah blah blah. Yes that's what i said because a) I don't feel that my orientation should be viewed as anything other than what it is... love between two females big whoop! b) this is my property and I shouldn't be discriminated against for my "behavior" c) if I had kissed a BOYfriend instead of a GIRLfriend, the neighbor would have looked the other way and not a second look given. Now this is my soap box for the day. It made me furious that my son had to endure such discrimination from his busmate and neighbor all because of his mothers thoughts about my orientation. Our boys were allowed to play last year but now they aren't.
Now I welcome everyone's opinion on how to react to this discrimination but it ties to our kids. The ones who contract HIV/AIDS with no fault of their own and how people treat them. I've decided to focus on women and children's health in my future blogs because both affect me directly. I am a furious mom of a healthy eight year old. How does a mom (HIV positive or negative) of an eight year old (HIV positive or negative) feel when her child is bullied or discriminated against?
I found an organization when I was doing my research for this blog that really helps with resources for women and children. Prevention, care, Pyschosocial issues, other general resources. http://www.womenchildrenhiv.org/ Now this site is for informational purposes.
I also found a wonderful site called children with AIDS charity...http://www.cwac.org/index.htm
this site is specific to children's needs. It was set up in 1992 to help those who are the silent voices drowned by the loud sounds of HIV/AIDS. Charity events range from bracelet sells to fine dining dinner events. The charity is based out of London but I'm sure it can be expanded to any part of the world with a few emails.
I am a mom and my son means the world to me. In my next blog I'm going to try and find the answer to my question, " What does that mom feel like?" I'm furious and I don't have to deal with a sick child, I can't even attempt to wear those shoes.
Laterz
Works cited
HIV/AIDS women and children. (2009) Requested on September 16, 2009. http://www.womenchildrenhiv.org/
Women and Children HIV/AIDS charities. (2009) Requested on September 16, 2009. http://www.cwac.org/index.htm
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Did you know?
Hello fellow bloggers,
As my "did you know" column. I'm choosing to touch on topics relating to homosexuality and HIV/AIDS. I want to talk about the different ways to protect oneself especially if you are a lesbian. I have googled HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. In the majority of the sites, I've found alot of information about men and homosexuality and not much on women and homosexuality. So for all of you guys out there, I'm going to focus on women mostly. A) because I am one and B) because I'm not finding a whole lot out there. So, we're off to do some research. If anyone finds anything that would be of interest then feel free to add it.
I'm going to post one thing at a time. so here goes...
The most often question I'm asked is as a lesbian how do you protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV?
I don't sleep with men. I haven't in several years. I think the more simple the better. Do we agree?
I think getting tested at the least before every new partner would be wise. I was told in the Health Dept by an RN that the window of infection is three months. Which to me meant that I have to know my status three months prior to sleeping with someone new. So even if I have an HIV test scheduled for today, I would have to remember that what I did last night probably won't show up for another three months. Now, I'm not saying I'm a saint either. Just saying that makes me laugh because sainthood and homosexuality are polar opposites from what I'm reading.
We all know that condoms are not 100% from sexually transmitted diseases and for comfort; neither are other types of barriers, the "dental dam" or finger condoms, latex gloves. Try snapping one of those on for a romantic session of foreplay. Guys don't like condoms and ladies don't like the glove or dental dams. It doesn't feel the same, or natural, or whatever excuse we might have but it might be the next best thing for practicing safer sex!
I found a great site that will give younger ladies a great source of information. Now it is for young lesbians... now matter the age because at 26 I was a young lesbian too. So have fun with this one ladies...http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/lesbianhealth.html
There are times where passion is intense and you find someone who makes your hairs stand on end and asking them their medical history isn't the first thing you think about. At which point, honesty has to be the best policy. The unspoken truth can be the reality of too many unwanted invitations to either an STD or the HIV/AIDS Club.
Hope this adds some insight into lesbian safe sex.
Laterz bloggers
Lesbian and Dental Dams. (2009). Retrieved September 16, 2009 from Lesbian Health website. http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/lesbianhealth.html
As my "did you know" column. I'm choosing to touch on topics relating to homosexuality and HIV/AIDS. I want to talk about the different ways to protect oneself especially if you are a lesbian. I have googled HIV/AIDS and homosexuality. In the majority of the sites, I've found alot of information about men and homosexuality and not much on women and homosexuality. So for all of you guys out there, I'm going to focus on women mostly. A) because I am one and B) because I'm not finding a whole lot out there. So, we're off to do some research. If anyone finds anything that would be of interest then feel free to add it.
I'm going to post one thing at a time. so here goes...
The most often question I'm asked is as a lesbian how do you protect yourself from sexually transmitted diseases and HIV?
I don't sleep with men. I haven't in several years. I think the more simple the better. Do we agree?
I think getting tested at the least before every new partner would be wise. I was told in the Health Dept by an RN that the window of infection is three months. Which to me meant that I have to know my status three months prior to sleeping with someone new. So even if I have an HIV test scheduled for today, I would have to remember that what I did last night probably won't show up for another three months. Now, I'm not saying I'm a saint either. Just saying that makes me laugh because sainthood and homosexuality are polar opposites from what I'm reading.
We all know that condoms are not 100% from sexually transmitted diseases and for comfort; neither are other types of barriers, the "dental dam" or finger condoms, latex gloves. Try snapping one of those on for a romantic session of foreplay. Guys don't like condoms and ladies don't like the glove or dental dams. It doesn't feel the same, or natural, or whatever excuse we might have but it might be the next best thing for practicing safer sex!
I found a great site that will give younger ladies a great source of information. Now it is for young lesbians... now matter the age because at 26 I was a young lesbian too. So have fun with this one ladies...http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/lesbianhealth.html
There are times where passion is intense and you find someone who makes your hairs stand on end and asking them their medical history isn't the first thing you think about. At which point, honesty has to be the best policy. The unspoken truth can be the reality of too many unwanted invitations to either an STD or the HIV/AIDS Club.
Hope this adds some insight into lesbian safe sex.
Laterz bloggers
Lesbian and Dental Dams. (2009). Retrieved September 16, 2009 from Lesbian Health website. http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/lesbianhealth.html
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blog # 1---Introduction and learning experience
Hello fellow bloggers,
My name is Claudia. I am a single mom attempting this "going back to school" thing. So far its very challenging! I try to divide my time but realize there isn't anymore time to divide. My son Ashton is eight years old. His older brother passed shortly after birth from prematurity. Austin would have been ten this year. My father passed away a month before so 1999 wasn't a great year for me. In 1996, I had brain surgery to remove an AVM. Later that same year, one of my older half brothers passed away from an infection when he had a car accident. Most people would have lived from it, however, he had AIDS and his immune system was already severly compromised. I have four sisters and a brother left of all seven of my siblings. My other brother died of septicism a few years ago. My mother still lives in GA in the house where my dad once lived.
Enough of introductions, I don't want to create a cloud of gloom or pity on my story because I'm sure there are some out there alot more challenging than mine.
I am new to blogging, never really considered it to be an outlet of emotions and thoughts but it reality unless my professors hadn't made this an assignment, I probably wouldn't be writing at this very moment. I tend to keep things bottled up and every once in a blue moon I have to have a cry day in my shower or on the beach near my home. You see I love the water and even though I live about 30 minutes from it, the gulf speaks to me in ways no one can.
I am learning, so much in this class. Not only technical stuff but about the disease that ultimately played a huge role in taking my brothers life. As kids we weren't very close. The three older ones were from a previous marriage of my dad's. When he met and married my mom I was already in the picture. I called him dad because he was the only father I ever knew. Dad was 25 years my mom's senior so the next four children came after me. I like to call us the second set of Phillips'. Steve, the baby boy of his first kids was very flamboyant. He was the "homosexual one" as everyone referrred to him, they one who strayed. That is until I came out around 26. I always knew I was a lesbian, since I was eight, but after he passed it took years for me to accept my orientation. I grew up in the 80's when AIDS wasn't researched enough and it was called the "gay cancer". That in itself scared me into keeping my secret hidden for years.
Recently, I read a book (of course an assignment) called What looks like crazy on an ordinary day by Pearle Cleage. Now I'm not a reader by any stretch of the imagination. I enjoy anything that grabs me by the turn of the first page. This one did just that. I wanted to personally introduce myself to Ava Johnson, the main character and give her a huge hug for portraying a real persons view of life with AIDS. She is so angry at people and their careless decisions and how I remember when my brother was so ill hospice came in and took over care and within a few weeks he lost his battle. I've seen movies since then like Philadelphia with Tom Hanks and realized that AIDS affects everyone! Straight, gay, black, white, male, female and it also has no age discrepency. This club accepts everyone!
My how far we've come in almost 30 years. There is a huge stigma to this disease but hopefully from this class I can learn to protect myself and teach others around me that its not a disease that confines one to their own devices. Everyone still needs touch, love and something to live for!
Talk to you guys soon. Its a pleasure meeting you. I hope I get to meet you in person someday.
I hate saying good bye because it seems so final. I say laterz
so until next time, laterz!
CEP
My name is Claudia. I am a single mom attempting this "going back to school" thing. So far its very challenging! I try to divide my time but realize there isn't anymore time to divide. My son Ashton is eight years old. His older brother passed shortly after birth from prematurity. Austin would have been ten this year. My father passed away a month before so 1999 wasn't a great year for me. In 1996, I had brain surgery to remove an AVM. Later that same year, one of my older half brothers passed away from an infection when he had a car accident. Most people would have lived from it, however, he had AIDS and his immune system was already severly compromised. I have four sisters and a brother left of all seven of my siblings. My other brother died of septicism a few years ago. My mother still lives in GA in the house where my dad once lived.
Enough of introductions, I don't want to create a cloud of gloom or pity on my story because I'm sure there are some out there alot more challenging than mine.
I am new to blogging, never really considered it to be an outlet of emotions and thoughts but it reality unless my professors hadn't made this an assignment, I probably wouldn't be writing at this very moment. I tend to keep things bottled up and every once in a blue moon I have to have a cry day in my shower or on the beach near my home. You see I love the water and even though I live about 30 minutes from it, the gulf speaks to me in ways no one can.
I am learning, so much in this class. Not only technical stuff but about the disease that ultimately played a huge role in taking my brothers life. As kids we weren't very close. The three older ones were from a previous marriage of my dad's. When he met and married my mom I was already in the picture. I called him dad because he was the only father I ever knew. Dad was 25 years my mom's senior so the next four children came after me. I like to call us the second set of Phillips'. Steve, the baby boy of his first kids was very flamboyant. He was the "homosexual one" as everyone referrred to him, they one who strayed. That is until I came out around 26. I always knew I was a lesbian, since I was eight, but after he passed it took years for me to accept my orientation. I grew up in the 80's when AIDS wasn't researched enough and it was called the "gay cancer". That in itself scared me into keeping my secret hidden for years.
Recently, I read a book (of course an assignment) called What looks like crazy on an ordinary day by Pearle Cleage. Now I'm not a reader by any stretch of the imagination. I enjoy anything that grabs me by the turn of the first page. This one did just that. I wanted to personally introduce myself to Ava Johnson, the main character and give her a huge hug for portraying a real persons view of life with AIDS. She is so angry at people and their careless decisions and how I remember when my brother was so ill hospice came in and took over care and within a few weeks he lost his battle. I've seen movies since then like Philadelphia with Tom Hanks and realized that AIDS affects everyone! Straight, gay, black, white, male, female and it also has no age discrepency. This club accepts everyone!
My how far we've come in almost 30 years. There is a huge stigma to this disease but hopefully from this class I can learn to protect myself and teach others around me that its not a disease that confines one to their own devices. Everyone still needs touch, love and something to live for!
Talk to you guys soon. Its a pleasure meeting you. I hope I get to meet you in person someday.
I hate saying good bye because it seems so final. I say laterz
so until next time, laterz!
CEP
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