Title: "Personal story of man living with HIV" Author: Unknown
My name is Nick I am 24 and I found out around Christmas time '09 that I was HIV positive, I don't really know how I got the virus but I have a feeling it was from my ex that was cheating on me. I was using condoms while I was with him and then when I found out that he was cheating on me I didn't want anything to do with him. About a month after we broke up I found out that while I was with him he was having unprotected sex with people that were HIV positive because he felt his semen was the cure for the virus.
So I waited six months from when I broke up with him to go and get tested and the first time it was negative but they told me I should get tested yearly to be safe. I could remember a few times the condom broke during sex while I was with him and I was hoping that I didn't get the virus from the condom breaking. A year later I go for a check up because I wanted to be sure, so I go down with my friends and get tested. They wait with me for me to get my results because they all have gotten there's already.
Two hours later right before the clinic closes they call my name and I have a feeling that something is wrong. It was a rapid test it only should have taken twenty minutes, the lady who was working the clinic started off with "this isn't the end of your life" and all I could think of was what was it? She talks more with me and I go in for more testing to make sure it's 100% no chance it could be a misread. But three weeks pass and my new test results confirms it at the age of 24 I was HIV positive.
In the beginning I was angry with my ex because I feel I never really had a voice or a choice in the matter but in some horrid way I did. I stayed with him for a year because I didn't have any idea he was unfaithful, but when I found out I had to have proof that he was as well. Now it's been six months and I am about to get my mapping of the virus and find out if I need to start medication but I don't know if I want to live the rest of my life on medication or if I would rather live what time I have left with out them.