living positive by paul montero
it has always been clear to me. If the worst theoretically
happened, they’d need me to keep them cool, focused
and open to receive the doctor’s instructions.
Upon learning my status, people all around me
were very quick to tell me—with much fervor—to
find a kind, understanding and gay-friendly doctor.
While I was aware that closed-minded practitioners
existed somewhere far beyond San Diego’s gay-
tropolitan bubble, I was alarmed by the number of
times I heard the same caveat from locals. I, however,
was lucky enough to have been pointed toward one
of the vicinity’s many right directions from the fright-
ful beginning. UCSD AVRC in Hillcrest (near Mission
Hills) and Family Health Centers in North Park are two
of the top health resource entities renowned for their
participants’ satisfaction. Both are all about providing
information, options and free services that allow you
to keep track of your health—physical and mental.
Recently, while discussing my most recent blood
test results with my doctor, an interesting set of topics
came about. First of all, both my viral load and my CD4
counts were higher this time than on my last checkup,
which confused me somewhat. Ideally, we want the
viral load (HIV presence in the body) as low as possible
The TruTh
and we want the CD4 count to stay as high as it can.
The CD4 is an integral part of the immune system that
helps identify which foreign bodies to fight off. The re-
abouT
lated CD8 is the component that does the actual grunt
work. In essence, the CD4 is the gun and the CD8 is the
bullet. Unfortunately, the CD4 is also what the HIV
STaTS and DocS
virus uses to replicate itself—subsequently destroy-
ing the body’s co-receptor. Anyway, this count was
higher than the last time it was checked, which could
possibly be skewed by the fact that I’d recovered from
I’ve begun to notice that in times of uncertain Under the HIV-status pull-down menu, the options a cold just days prior to having blood drawn.
health, we are a backward people. We’ll fuss over the you’ll find available are “negative,” “positive” and a The other factor that puzzled me—and initially
“toxic” chemicals in our Shamrock Shakes and turn curious “I don’t know” selection. Let’s think about this worried me—was my apparent upshot in viral wick-
our noses at non-organic produce. But when the for a second. This means that there are enough guys edness. It had apparently rocketed up by thousands
time comes to visit a certified medical practitioner, who, for one reason or another, let the knowledge of per milliliter, which sounds even scarier the first time
we’d rather gauge our health by self-diagnosing on their health take a backseat to the prospect of a cheap you hear it. But before I had the chance to panic and
the Internet, soliciting the infinite wisdom of a Magic thrill. How sexy is that? Granted, a trip to the testing frenziedly reach for the nearest pill regimen, my
8-Ball or performing a Red Bull flush to kill any foreign clinic isn’t the most relaxing way to kill half an hour. doctor assured me that my numbers were “going
bodies in our system. Well if you consider your liver And clinics aren’t known for their ability to allocate nowhere fast.”
to be an unwanted visitor in your body, by all means funds toward advertisements to let us know where Needless to say, I’d be lost if I had entrusted my
resume the madness. But if you’re serious about the closest locations are. But we do have resources health to a $20 palm reader instead of a trained profes-
keeping your living temple strong and durable, available to us all around our gay little district. The sional. I must admit that it took more faith than I had
you’d better be ready to tackle the cracks in your Center is a great collection of such information. The on hand to make that first move and set up the clinic
foundation! Fear and denial are as debilitating to our only obstacle between you and your appointment appointment. Sometimes we’ve got to bite the rusty
health as any virus can be, but while we can’t so easily date is your apprehension toward asking a “stranger bullet and prepare for the not-so-great news that may
control a virus, we are in complete rule to eradicate at a counter” for details. come. But with a little support from our closest friends
these other barriers. I know how intimidating the whole STD testing and a Shamrock Shake to wash it all down, we might
A quick gander at the most popular gay dating experience can be. I’ve been asked to accompany just survive the terrible suspense and garner enough
sites will reveal how badly some of us want our heads countless friends to their clinic appointments. And peace of mind to live a little. Let’s live it up, San Diego.
in the sand regarding HIV-status. Take a look at your though my presence has had no miraculous change
profile’s account settings (admit it, you date online). in any of their outcomes thus far, the principle behind
paul@ragemonthly.com
36 RAGE monthly | MARCH 2009
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