A-LISTS living positive by paul montero
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UH… WHAT ELSE YOU GOT, DOC?
Ah, sero-opposite couples—if this theme sounds familiar, it’s because my predecessor briefly tip-toed into this realm previously…before I took over the show and started whining about being 20-something and alone. Well, now that I’ve snatched myself a wonderful guy— who happens to be NEG—I’m starting to get a grasp on the overwhelming library of topics that I now have the duty of addressing.
OH MY! IT’S SO LONG!
Ideally, you want yours to be just as long as your
boyfriend’s! We’re talking lifespans, of course. And the prevalent consensus says the only way to even approach that of an HIV-negative person is by administering any of the eight types of popular antiretroviral drugs available in the states. For brevity’s sake we’ll call these “Western meds.” I recently had the pleasure of speaking with specialists of alternative “Eastern medicine” who deeply advocate the benefits of a curative path much less trampled. And I owe this transcontinental referral to my tirelessly supportive boyfriend. He’s so adorably passionate about keeping me
healthy—always sending me links and tossing breaking updates my way to give me the widest possible berth of knowledge for when I decide to start on meds. I can’t help but smile at the thought of everything he does for me. Then I remember the buffet of horrifying side effects
these “treatments” will likely bring and my skin begins to crawl. Diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, insomnia, anemia, pancreatitis, renal failure… It’s no surprise that my initial goal this month was to find a way to completely avoid having to take Western meds altogether. Like any early
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RAGE monthly | JUNE 2010
seroconvert with time presumably on his side, this was my knee-jerk reaction. Anything that rakes in as much money as these drugs do for the old boys’ network at Merck & Co. or Pfizer can’t be too good for the common man…right? Of course, I grunted this sentiment with a lot more fervor from the mountaintop of singlehood— back when I had only myself to live long for. Now, more than a month into the best relationship I’ve ever had, I can’t help but reflect on how this makes my boyfriend feel—especially when I spit on what he sees as the only mainstream therapy that will grant me a projected lifespan as long as his. We both feel the same way toward corporate interests and how they don’t necessarily include public wellness. But the cold fact is, I will very likely see more sunrises if I give in to their regimens. And so I’ve resolved to keep an open mind. But it’s going to take much more research before I sign my liver away to some pharmaceutical leviathan.
SO, BACK TO THE FAR EAST.
Traditional healing mentalities in Asia are much dif-
ferent from those here. The body is still seen as an inter- dependent system, but it envisions the body’s functions as exchanges of energies. The goal in acupuncture, for instance, is to increase circulation and balance a local- ized flow of energy (Qi). Being mulishly practical and somewhat particular about being…penetrated…I’m more a fan of herbs (not THAT kind) and other direct- from-the-Earth remedies. Baked yams are said to be an excellent way to
strengthen the digestive system. Tumeric has garnered attention in Ayurvedic circles as an anti-inflammatory
agent, a gastrointestinal discomfort remedy and an antiseptic for cuts, burns and bruises. The African grain, Teff, is a virtual superfood for its high-density nutrient value without the crazy amount of gluten found in other grains. Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms are known to contain pharmacologically active compounds—natural antivirals which can inhibit the HIV virus at various differ- ent stages in its life cycle. But is this enough to fight off the virus by itself?
EAST MEETS WEST
Being that both the virus and its multiple treatments
can have such varied effects on each individual’s system, there’s really no way to tell until you give it a try. Most likely, you’ll find that natural remedies are best suited to nullify the side-effects brought on by Western meds. New generations of drugs are in the process of being ap- proved for stateside distribution and old-world supple- ments are being rediscovered all the time. Personally, I’m going to brush up on research from BOTH hemispheres of healing and then decide exactly how to administer them in concert with one another. But one thing I refuse to do is let stress and fear de-
bilitate my body’s defenses any further. If seroconvert- ing has shown me anything, it’s the utter uselessness of fear. I’ve scared myself into bouts with the common cold and blamed it all on HIV…but I never got any better until I decided to kick fear in the balls and suck health experts dry of info. And if you can get a cute companion with a good heart to bravely stand by your side on your way to wellness, hold on tight. You’d be surprised how well two complementary entities can strengthen each other.
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