145. Ryan’s story with HIV; The good, the beautiful, the lemonade

How far has science progressed with treating HIV? Quite far and Ryan will share all the details.

Today’s episode will give you a peak into Ryan’s life - from his HIV diagnosis, to breaking the news to his family, to recovering from work discrimination, and to conquering life. Cliché as it may sound but Ryan did make lemonades from lemons.

As you listen to this episode, we hope it gives you a glimpse of what HIV is now, how it’s being treated, the daily experiences of HIV patients and why there shouldn’t be fear and discrimination but instead love and acceptance.

Summary Outline

Today’s episode discusses about:

• Ryan’s HIV diagnosis
• Sharing HIV news to family and opening about being gay
• What you can do when diagnosed with HIV
• Discrimination in the workplace for people with HIV
• Bouncing back up from this
• Foot fetishes
• Current treatment for patients now
• How it’s like with dating and life
• Treatment options available for heterosexual men with or without HIV
• Who are bug chasers
• Condom use for protection
• And a lot more

Here is Ryan's message for a new HIV diagnosee:

BREATHE!!! This is not the end of your life but the beginning. Think on the bright side it’s all “POSITIVE” from here on!!!!

1. Touch base with your local HIV organisation. They will have counselling services and/or a Peer Navigation programme or be able to point you to one. In Perth there is POWA(Positive Organisation WA).
2. Find an HIV+ Peer and get peer support or even a group of peers. In perth we have a monthly brunch for People with HIV.
3. Even if you don’t think you need counselling engage with one, its surprising how even when you think you have things sorted how the discrimination affects you.
4. Engage with your specialist/Dr around your treatment options you don’t have accept the first one they suggest. It’s your own body you decide what goes in it and there are multiple HIV treatment regimens available now with different side effects what is best for me is not necessarily the best for you.

Enjoy listening!

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Music

David Mercy

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1HbvnltKu4XbWTmk0kpVB9?si=D1xP5dDVQK-zzNU3rViRWg

Producer

Thomas Evans: The SOTA Process

https://www.instagram.com/thesotaprocess/

https://open.spotify.com/show/4Jf2IYXRlgfsiqNARsY8fi