This week has been an extremely crazy weeks for me. It seems like I had papers, projects, and exams in all 5 of my classes. But, of course, there's been plenty of growth on my knowledge and feelings about HIV. This week has been extremely stressful for me. I had my HIV test done last week and for some reason this week I've spent alot of time reflecting on that. It's kind of hard to explain. I am married and have three children and have had an HIV test for each child, BUT I never had to go back to pick up my results or anything like that. Actually now that I think of it, I don't think my results were ever offered to me. So, I am excited and scared at the same time to see what the process is. When I went to get tested, I felt like I had to let everyone know that I was there for a class assignment. I made it a point to let the counselor know more than anyone else. When I left the facility, I felt kind of ashamed of myself for having done that. What did it matter why I was there? What did it matter why the person sitting next to me was there? Ultimately we were there for the same reason - regardless of WHY.
Another thing happened to me this week that was pretty exciting (well for me anyway knowing that I am really learning something) was at work. I work in a hospital and the other night we had a female patient come in for a high fever. She was lying on her side and I noticed some marks on her back. As I stepped closer, I could see that they were KS lesions. This patient was actually in the AIDS stage. I could easily tell by her physical appearance. She was very thin and frail. She also had that "parentheses" look in her faced that was discussed in the Module of Signs and Symptoms. It was very sad to actually be there with someone who was dying from AIDS. I felt something different inside at that moment. It was a feeling of compassion and sympathy not scared or frightened.
Moving on to the Did you know portion of our blog. We were to research the HIV confidentiality laws of certain countries. I chose to do South Africa. Back in 1994, the concept of "shared confidentiality" came about, meaning certain information could be shared within members of a certain community (Seidell, 419). This policy allowed the sharing of this information to other HIV/AIDS based professionals. People were encouraged to share their status with people who could've possibly been infected. (Seidell, 419) A new policy had to be put into place because the people wanted more of an "individual" confidentiality law. So, one was put into place. (Seidell, 420).
Correspondence: Dr Gill Seidel, 10 Albert Terrace, Saltaire,
Bradford, BD18 4PS, UK.
HEALTH POLICY AND PLANNING; 11(4): 418-427
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This week has been the same for me regarding exams, papers, etc. I had a test in almost every single class this week!
ReplyDeleteI have had an HIV test done twice before this last time, and have never gone back for the results either. They say "no news is good news." But we are definitely being tested by having to walk back into the clinic to be read the results!
Actually seeing someone with HIV is quite different, isn't it? I'm still waiting for it to happen to me. I always think of how many people I have encountered in my life with HIV and I haven't even known it. It hits closer to home when you know it and see it happening right in front of you.
How come you were never offered a chance to get your results? WOW, actually seeing someone in the AIDS stage that has to be different, what were your thoughts about seeing it after everything you have read and learned? I really do wonder how many people that I have ran into that has the virus. I went to the panal on Wednesday and just looking at the ladies you wouldn't even know they were HIV positive.
ReplyDeleteWhat you did isn't any different from many others. We don't want people to judge us and that is what we think they are doing. When I did HIV testing and counseling, I never looked down on the students for coming to get tested. I was thankful that they chose to get tested and know their results.
ReplyDeleteYour patient wasn't dying from AIDS, Cathia. You should know that by now. She was dying from the complications of HIV infection.
I'm surprised that S. Africa has such a confidentiality law in place. They took so long to even recognize that HIV caused AIDS.
Where is your Did You Know fact for the week?