Taking someone to find out they have HIV...

[stevew2]

Thats realy sad Jim. I would wait till after the holidays,but i dont know shit.i wouldnt think a month would make that much difference. Consult a doctor, God bless you for what you have to deal with,may God bless him even more

Thanks bro. I would wait until the holidays were over except for three reasons...

1. He's worried to death wondering whats wrong with his health.

2. I don't want him to pass it on to someone else if I can help it.

3. I don't have any say in the matter! I'm not even allowed to talk to him about it, or let him know ANY details about it whatsoever. I'm just supposed to act oblivious to the details, and just transport him to and from MEPS.

The timing just sucks so bad...

That does suck. You have to do your job. Witness to him , i know you ll do that anyway,take care sarge

You're right Steve, and I WILL witness to him. I know it's going to be hard for him to hear at the time, so I guess I'll have to play it by ear. Either way... it'll be a rough day for him.

For him and you also,you ll find the words at the right time,or just a hug might help to. You will do fine Jim

[G.I.Jim]

Well... today was the day. This has officially become one of the worst days I've had in a LONG time. DAMN this day sucked ASS!!! I get him to Meps (finally... only took them a couple of weeks to get me a date to take him there!), and he is taken upstairs by the Chief Medical officer of Meps. He comes back about 10 minutes later, and I'm thinking "DAMN that was fast!!!". He says he's done and ready to leave, so we head out to the car. He doesn't realize that I what he has, and he volunteers to me that he has diabetes. I just played along and told him that it's not something really serious and that there are so many advancements in medicine, that he really shouldn't be too worried about it. He does have HIV though.

DAMNIT!!! What shitty news to hear right before the holidays. That's the longest 20 minute car ride I've ever been on! All I could do was try to encourage him, and try to keep the conversation going to lift his spirits.

That's only half the story, but I just don't want to bore you to death (WHO THE HELL JUST SAID TOO LATE? ) with the rest of it. To top it off, I also just lost 2 out of the other 4 enlistments I was supposed to have this month. Don't worry though...












I'm now drinking and everything will be better soon! Sorry for the whole "Oh woah is me" BTW. Just a shitty day that I was determined to dump on someone else. I'm sure someone out there had a MUCH worse day than this. Sorry.

[Michigan Girl]

He doesn't realize that I what he has, and he volunteers to me that he has diabetes.

So he's in denial, Jimbo or he just doesn't want anyone to know~because he doesn't know you already do?!?!

[JasonD]

I'm so sorry about your friend, Jim. I don't even know what to say b/c I don't have any experience in that area. I've never known anyone with HIV personally, but I believe it's not as terminal as it was when first discovered. They've come a long way since the '80's. Thirty years is like forever & many medical breakthroughs have occurred along the way. A lot of research has been done & there are more advanced & effective ways to treat this illness. You also have to understand that having HIV is not the same as having AIDS. Please don't get me wrong, though. I'm not trying to minimize your friend's situation, nor say that everything is fine. I'm just trying to say that having HIV today is not the "death sentence" it used to be. There's ways to manage this disease. Take Magic Johnson, for example. He's had this thing for what???---20 years!!!??? Yes, your friend is going to have to start taking real good care of himself. He's going to have to lay off the alcohol, cigarettes, junk food --- & other vices he enjoys. He's going to have to exercise, eat right, take his vitamins & prescriptions --- but that's nothing more than what we all should be doing anyway.


As for the other stuff you mentioned, you're entitled to having a shitty day once in awhile so don't apologize for that. As for the alcohol therapy you're pursuing: Don't overdue it, bro. Your buddy's gonna need you to be sober & coherent. Besides, if YOU fall apart, he's bound to fall apart as well. You gotta pull yourself together so you can be there for your friend. He's lucky to have a friend like you.

[Saint John]

He doesn't realize that I what he has, and he volunteers to me that he has diabetes.

So he's in denial, Jimbo or he just doesn't want anyone to know~because he doesn't know you already do?!?!

My guess is that he was either embarrassed or didn't want to burden Jim with having to find words to say. There simply are none. That said, the medicines have come a long way and Magic Johnson and Greg Louganis are living proof that if you detect it early (before it turns into AIDS) that you can live a long and relatively healthy life. Magic Johnson looks fucking great. Fat bastard.

Have a few well deserved beers, Jim. Or 20 like we did the night I was there. Thanks again for being a great host, a kick ass cook and a great dude with an awesome family!

[mikemarrs]

Jim sorry about your friend.god bless.

[G.I.Jim]

Thanks everyone, and I really appreciate the compliments Dan! I think you're all thinking that I'm friends with the guy, but I'm just his recruiter for the Army National Guard. I'm just glad it's over now. I HATE that he got that news, but in a way... it was a blessing. Hopefully he can take the precautions now to live a longer life than he would have without knowing. PLUS, now maybe he won't spread it to someone else. Still sucks though.

Anyways, hope everyone here's been fine!