Today Is World AIDS Day

From Wikipedia:

World AIDS Day, observed December 1 every year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. Government and health officials observe the day, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people (between 1981 and 2007),and an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide live with HIV (as of 2007), making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007, of which about 270,000 were children.

For more information about World AIDS day, or about HIV/AIDS in general, go HERE.

A Day With HIV In America

From Joe.My.God. And yes - you read that correctly: a 90 day supply of Atripla (which I take) costs over $5,500. Luckily for me, the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) pays 100% of that here in New York. But in places like South Carolina - people are put on waiting lists.

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"Me" Update: Good News

I haven't spoken much about how I'm doing ever since I disclosed my HIV status back in July.  A couple people recently asked for an update - so here it is...

For those of you who missed it, In June I spent a week in the hospital with pneumonia - at which time I found out I was HIV positive.  A couple weeks later (as soon as I was approved for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program - ADAP), I began taking Atripla - a very expensive medication which combines Sustiva, Emtriva and Viread.  All three drugs work together to slow the spread of HIV in the body, all in one daily pill.

After one month of taking the drug (religiously, I might add) - my doctor gave me a Viral Load test.  Viral Load measures the amount of HIV in your blood.  I went from a Viral Load of 288,000 to only 1,000 - in one month!  Once you hit 400 the virus is considered "undetectable" - which is one of the goals of HIV treatment.  As most of you know - undetectable does not mean cured - but it certainly beats lying in the hospital with pneumonia.

I am still waiting for my CD4 (t-cell count) test results - the lab misplaced them - but the doctor said we should expect good news there also.  Also, I am back on anti-depressants (Effexor) - which is covered 100% by ADAP (along with the Atripla and all my other medication).  The Effexor seems to be working nicely as well.

As far as other health-related issues - I lost about 40-50 pounds while in the hospital, and I've managed to keep most of it off.  I still need to loose another 40-50 to get to where I need to be, but at least I'm not gaining.  This is getting harder every day - as my energy is now back to normal, so is my appetite.  I've compensated by eating tons of melon - watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew - which is relatively healthy and fills me up nicely.  But, as usual, I need to exercise more.

Anywhore, I just wanted to let you know that as of right now, I am doing well.  And thanks to all of you who were concerned.

XOXOXO

Oral History of the AIDS Ward at St. Vincent's

St. Vincent's Hospital - located between the gay neighborhoods of Chelsea and the West Village in Manhattan - was ground zero during the early years of the AIDS epidemic.  Sadly, the hospital recently closed after serving the community for 160 years (!) - but Out.com has compiled an amazing oral history of St. Vincent's AIDS Ward.

Read the extraordinary remembrances HERE.

HIV Breakthrough With Existing FDA-Approved Meds

For obvious reasons I have been paying much more attention to HIV/AIDS-related issues lately.  Promising news via Joe.My.God:

Scientists at the University of Minnesota believe that two existing FDA-approved cancer medications may work jointly to eliminate HIV infections.

The two drugs, decitabine and gemcitabine -- both FDA approved and currently used in pre-cancer and cancer therapy -- were found to eliminate HIV infection in the mouse model by causing the virus to mutate itself to death -- an outcome researchers dubbed "lethal mutagenesis." This is a landmark finding in HIV research because it is the first time this novel approach has been used to attack the deadly virus without causing toxic side effects. Because decitabine and gemcitabine are already FDA approved, researchers believe that if their research is effective in large animal models, it will be much easier to expedite the development of the drugs for human use.

Researchers found that the drugs caused no cell toxicity and were effective against HIV in levels below "well below" those used for cancer. The drugs are now being reformulated for oral use.

No More Secrets

I've been feeling a little distant from my blog and the blogosphere lately - and it's all because of a huge secret I've been keeping from you.  So much of what has happened in my life over the past few weeks has centered around one fact - one fact I haven't shared with the BunnyNation....

While in the hospital, I found out that I am HIV Positive.

First of all, please be assured that I'm doing fine.  ADAP (AIDS Drug Assistance Program) recently approved me, and I'm now taking Atripla which is a combination of 3 AIDS drugs (sometimes called the "cocktail").  For now I take one pill before bed as well as antibiotics to prevent the pneumonia from coming back, but that's about it.  I am extremely committed to staying healthy, and plan on taking advantage of the available services to help me do so.

I told my family immediately and they have been wonderful.  I also told many of my friends - and for those of you I didn't, my apologies that you had to find out this way.  Thanks to all of you who have been so supportive over these past few weeks - it means the world to me.

Some might think I'm insane for blogging about this - but let's face it, I blog about EVERYTHING.  I've blogged about being depressed, overweight, and my love of Papis and 90's House Music.  Hell, ya'll have read about EVERY Arby's meal I've eaten in the past 3 years, for Jeebus' sake!  So holding back this important part of my life was really making me uncomfortable.  It feels better being open and honest - and there is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.  I have a disease, I'm taking responsibility for it, and I'm not going to keep it a secret any more.

So - there it is, the whole truth.  Please know that I didn't do this for sympathy or to seem "brave" - but for the simple fact that if a homeopathic thrush remedy turns my tongue bright purple (true story), I want to be able to blog about it!

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming...

XOXOXOXOXO

World AIDS Day: December 1, 2009

Jack Mackenroth Continues His Charitable Ways

DavidDust favorite (and Project Runway hottie) Jack Mackenroth has designed a new T-shirt to help raise money for HIV/AIDS awareness. Click HERE for all the information from Jack's blog. Thanks to our friends at Blogging Project Runway for the heads up.

December 1st: World AIDS Day

This fight is still not over. Find out more about World AIDS Day HERE, and go to GMHC - the first in the fight against HIV/AIDS - HERE.

Never forget. Never stop fighting.

Bailey House Auction & Party

Tim Gunn, Anderson Cooper, designer John Bartlett, and Barney's Simon Doonan were all in attendance at the annual Bailey House Auction and Party on Thursday. See the story from Paper here.

Items such as a fashion consultation with Tim Gunn and lunch with Anderson Cooper were auctioned off. More than $800,000 was raised.

Bailey House works to empower and assist those with HIV/AIDS here in New York City and beyond. Their emphasis is providing housing for those affected with the disease, believing that "the future starts with a place to live".

Today Is World AIDS Day

Find out more about World AIDS Day here.