HIV Infection

I am posting this on behalf of a close friend.

My friend just found out he had HIV (sharing needles), right now he is very confused about what to do. He can't tell his father because he will get disowned (he is 17, went to rehab 3 times and promised to stay clean, his dad will know he has been using again). An idea he has is moving to Russia with his cousin because he heard the cold weather slows the progression of the virus.

Any input?



I have gotten some good advice for my friend to tell his father he got it via sexual intercourse. Thank you everyone for the comments.

 

You can't cure HIV, but honestly, I'd tell his Dad, he's going to look after him, even if he did break a promise, its what parents do.

 

They especially wont disown him if hes getting such a shattering blow, as HIV.

They will look after him, its their child, and he has an incurable disease. They'll help him as best as possible.

 

To all these comments about the dad not disowning. He would disown him. His father has a hate towards drugs. He WILL be disowned, his father has anger issues and is a huge alcoholic white trash dad. Thanks for the advice though.

 

HIV isn't as serious as it was, with advances in anti-retroviral drugs and so on. Moving to Russia will not help his condition, and would probably reduce the chance of getting the drugs he needs.

 

This.

He needs advanced medical attention and support from those he is close to more than anything. Running away from home won't cure any problems.

Confessing to his dad will create undoubtedly a tremendous short-term problem, but running is the last thing he needs to do.

 

I'm going to say this:

Diet.

A healthy and correct lifestyle will slow the advance of the HIV virus for a long time. Why? Your immune system will be bolstered, which is the main thing you need right now.
This includes:

> No processed sugars, fats, (processed in general is bad)
> Start getting fit
> Keep your body alkaline (helps fend off bacterial and virus attacks, because they can't live in an alkaline environment.)

I could write a whole subject about this, so if you want more, PLEASE PM me. I know a lot about keeping the human body healthy as I went through an extremely rigorous lifestyle change to CURE my diabetes (type 1) .

 

OP no offense intended but i don't see much hope for your friend. If your friend is an opiate addict at 17 that's been to rehab 3 times and still can't drop it, and just got HIV from sharing a needle, i hate to say it but his life is pretty much over.

Hes in for a very rough journey ahead of him, and if you stick too close by his side you'll find yourself being pulled into this journey with him.

Be there for your friend, give him advice when he asks you for it, but the second it becomes a burden you will have to consider if you really want him as your friend.

 

:S man that sucks...he shud go do something meaningful in his remaining years!

*infracted*

 

Moving to Russia will make things worse. Trust me I would no, just look at my name. It takes an ambulance about 20-40 minutes to get to your house. Where is in the U.S it takes 5 to 10 minutes. Also he wouldn't be able to get the medical help he needs. I went to a hospital in Russia once and was laying down in the waiting room throwing up as it took the doctor over an hour to get to me. By the time he got to me, he had to go home. It's pretty bad in Russia, I suggest not to move there.

 

Yea, i'm sorry but i don't know how you could ever abandon a close friend when he's dying just because it's a "burden".

@OP: Talk to his dad. If he is basically dying, and his Dad doesn't do anything, then that is the worst thing ever.

 

He should tell his father, HIV is a serious drug and as bad as you say his father is, I seriously doubt he is that bad to disown his son who has a serious disease. The next thing after telling his father is to get medical assistance, while HIV cannot be treated, it can be slowed down greatly. Going to Russia isn't going to solve any problems, in Russia it will probably be harder to get the medicine he needs to keep him alive for longer.

 

Thanks for the replies.
To the people that say moving to Russia will not be beneficial to his health, I am not referring to their healthcare system but the climate itself, if anyone has any knowledge of that please reply.

 

I call trolling, if he is a minor and diagnosed with HIV they will not release him without first contacting a parent or guardian.

 

Adding to what Finn said, with the proper medicine he will be able to slow the progress of the virus and live a normal life. He needs to act now. Every day, minute, second he spends without treatment is working against his odds of survival.

 

He doesn't know for sure if he has it. He didn't get a test for it, but a friend who he shared needles with was found HIV positive.

 

then he should get tested to know for sure then.

 

Get him tested, and if it turns out positive, you must tell the father.

 

Well then there is no gurantee he actually has the Virus,the most plausible route would be to get tested immediately to make sure he does infact have it.
Hopefully he doesn't though!

 

For those who don't know, HIV cannot be tested positive for until about 6 months after the infection. A HIV test tests for the antibody count for the HIV virus, and the antibodies might not get to detectable levels until after 6 months or more. Thanks for the advice though.