Tag Archives: Conditions and Diseases
Aside

TMA 00 has returned… more forms to fill in

TMA00

I’ve just got back the assessment of TMA00 from my tutor.

He says

Interesting approach, Michael, I’m going to enjoy your submissions.

I’m going to enjoy writing them I think too.

DLA

It’s all about TLAs isn’t it… This one instead of the more usual OU TLA of TMA is, of course, DLA, which I have just read about in Chapter 2 of Personal Finance and of which I have some knowledge as it stands for Disability Living Allowance.

I’ve to fill in another application form to reapply for DLA. It really doesn’t seem like two years have passed since I was awarded DLA following my diagnosis as someone living with HIV with particular needs with regard to personal care.

Yesterday I got out a copy of the original form I filled in, and am going to be starting work on this one this evening.

TMA 01

I do of course have TMA 01 for DB123 to get done as well. But since that is only in the calendar for next week, I think I have a bit of time still to complete it. That being said, I do like to get ahead of myself when I can.

originally posted on my OU blog (available to Open University users only)

sleep – isn’t that for wimps?

It is nearly four o’clock in the morning and, despite a number of aborted attempts, Sleep has been just escaping me tonight. I don’t know what is going on that is creating this problem. Perhaps I am doing too much? Perhaps there are many outside forces which are leaning on me? What could they be?

  1. Study?
    I’ve just started an  Open University course (DB123 You and your money: personal finance in context. I’ve the first TMA (Tutor Marked Assignment) to be completed and sent off (fortunately by email nowadays) by 3 June.
  2. Just Married?
    It’s only two weeks since Andrew and I got married, and we are both still recovering from that weekend. Of course, now that we are a couple in the eyes of the law, this means that we have to tell all sorts of government departments, as well as continue to move my belongings into what was his – and now our – flat.
  3. Work?
    Continuing to work in the Northern Ireland Assembly, I am meant to be up there later today in about five hours. This could be quite challenging given my lack of sleep recently. Fortunately there is not terribly much on the Order Paper for tomorrow (I mean today).
  4. FLAGS?
    We’ve just had the unit chairman’s resignation, meaning that I am acting up to ensure that there is some leadership within the National Scout Active Support Unit. We’ve got one of our biggest events coming up on 2 July when we will be attending London Pride for the third year in a row. 

I’m going to go and try again, I hope that this time I will be able to get some sleep. Wish me luck guys (and gals)!

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May 23, 2011 1 Comment Short URL , , , , , , , Blogging

Call to action: from Mali, across the world, and on to the United Nations

Over 3000 young people are infected with HIV every day. Only 1 in 3 young people have full knowledge of how HIV is transmitted.

from What about HIV?

Some of the participants at the Global Youth Summit on HIV, Mali 15-17 April 2011. CC. Photos by Kris Krug: http://www.kriskrug.com/

With world leaders meeting on the subject of AIDS at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10 June 2011. The global youth movement, What about HIV? founded in Mali at the Global Youth Summit on HIV/AIDS is calling for world leaders and heads of government to implement their Call to Action.

As a relatively young person living with HIV right here in the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, I feel it is important for me to have joined their call – so I have signed up here. Please consider doing so yourself.

Don’t forget that here in Belfast you can make a difference to people right across Northern Ireland who live with HIV by donating to The HIV Support Centre which is now in its 25th year here in the city of Belfast

The full text of the Call to Action is below.

(more…)

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April 28, 2011 2 Comments Short URL , , , , , Belfast, Health, HIV

when you’re ill, take it easy

And so once again I am not well. The persistent cough and cold has not gone away. Despite the use of decongestant and chest rub, I am told by Andrew that it is getting worse.

Therefore we are off up to the RVH again this afternoon. Will report back when we know more.

The best update is that the Meds have been taken every day. So that is good news.

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February 3, 2011 0 Comments Short URL , , , , Adherence, Health

my name is Andrew

Featured on Liberal Democrat Voice

The Red ribbon is a symbol for solidarity with HIV and AIDS

I wear a red ribbon on my coat daily. Image via Wikipedia

My name is Andrew, and I am living with HIV.

You might think that I am HIV positive – I am not. I am living with HIV because my boyfriend*, Michael, the man I love,  is HIV positive. I am living with HIV because HIV has a direct impact on my life.

I am also, to some extent, living with PVL-MRSA, because Michael has that too. Today Michael had an appointment at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and his doctor took the opportunity to screen me for MRSA, because there was a chance that I was an asymptomatic carrier. It is important to make sure I don’t have MRSA because I could act as a source of re-infection for Michael. I have been thoroughly swabbed§ and given special anti-bacterial shower gel.†

Day-to-day, the MRSA has a bigger impact on my life at the moment. Even though the impact isn’t too bad (it’s mainly about being really precise about cleaning myself and the house) it is a constant reminder that Michael is unwell. When it comes to HIV, the biggest impact on my life is from Michael’s medication. For many years I was on anti-depressants and anti-migraine drugs. From that experience I know how hard it can be, emotionally, to have to take pills day in, day out. I also have many years’ experience of making sure I stick to my schedule and making sure meds don’t run out. I’m using that experience to help Michael. And don’t tell him, but secretly making sure the meds are in order appeals to the borderline OCD neat-freak in me.

If you are HIV positive, you experience prejudice. There are people who don’t touch you, or won’t have anything to do with you. Friends you thought you could always depend on become distant. In recent weeks, I’ve started to experience some of that prejudice too, from some very unexpected quarters. Yes, it’s hard. But you know, Michael is worth it.

People might think (but not ask) why did I get into a relationship with Michael. The answer is simple: it’s because I love him. We started as colleagues on the Belfast Pride committee. From there we became friends, and the friendship became romantic very quickly and very easily. Being HIV positive doesn’t mean you can’t have friends, and it doesn’t mean you can’t have a boyfriend. I wouldn’t have rejected Michael as a friend because of HIV, and what we have is far more important than friendship. Yes, there are some things we have to take into consideration, but then again every relationship requires adaptation and compromise.

My name is Andrew and I am living with HIV; my name is Andrew and I love Michael.

Footnotes
* Well, that’s not entirely accurate, but meh…
§ If you are ever getting the inside of your nose swabbed, no matter how much it tickles, do not laugh. You can laugh when other body parts are getting swabbed though.
† This Christmas the only toiletries I got came from the NHS.
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December 29, 2010 3 Comments Short URL , , , , , , , Belfast, gay, Health, HIV, MRSA, news, Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland life, PVL-MRSA

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