When You Initiate Talk About HIV/AIDS Amongst Coworkers When Do You Do It? Do You Bring It Up When They Are Sick And Putting You At Risk? | myHIVteam

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When You Initiate Talk About HIV/AIDS Amongst Coworkers When Do You Do It? Do You Bring It Up When They Are Sick And Putting You At Risk?
A myHIVteam Member asked a question 💭

In many ways, I keep myself safe from getting sick from those around me, by continuing to take the antibiotics to prevent any infection from taking over my immune system. In some ways, I tell them to turn around and go home and many cases I call off my plans for the rest of the day if they happen to show up sick, I will cover for them while they rest and get better. Now when I get sick, which is few and far between I must say it's rather disappointing to find that I have to work my but off to… read more

posted February 1, 2018
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A myHIVteam Member

Not sure about where you live, but the stores all around here have disinfectant wipes to clean the handles on your carts to kill any germs. I use them.
Also, many pharmacies have travel sizes of hand sanitizers that you can carry in your pocket if you need a quick sanitize when you need one.
I never open a public bathroom door after I use the bathroom. I use my shoulder if it is a push door, or I use a paper towel or toilet paper if it is a pull door.
I open my windows at home for like 5 minutes about every 3 days to let fresh air in (as instructed by my HIV doctor). They do not need to be wide open, a quarter to a half inch is all you need, just enough to let fresh air in. The reason my doctor says this is: Have you ever noticed anybody in the summer get sick, have the flu, or spread germs to the masses? The answer is a profound NO. Have you noticed in the winter it is just the opposite? The answer is a profound YES. What is the difference? Summertime we are outside and have windows open, wintertime we are inside windows shut tight. Being inside in winter with windows shut, your furnace recirculates the SAME AIR continuously. After a while, that stale air is not good for our bodies and makes us sick. When you get sick, the furnace recirculates all those sneezes and germs. Open the windows to get in the fresh air to recirculate!!!

posted February 1, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

Nurses advice. NEVER take antibiotics for a cold. M.D's give Antibiotics to a cold sufferer for a placebo. Colds are Rhinoviruses and taking an antibiotic does less than no good,and can do harm to your antiviral regimen. Just some friendly advice from someone who knows a lot about Illnesses of all sorts.

posted February 22, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

I keep disinfectant wipes on me all the time. I can understand someone needing to work,however, it's not their job to watch out for my health, it's mine. I avoid sick people and worse comes to worse, I will leave the area.

posted February 16, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

I have worked in hospitals the entirety of my life and never got anything worse than a cold. I have been transparent about my status to my co workers,especially if I hear them gossiping or even during reports disclosing a patient's HIV status. I used to inform them of my own facts of life,and to disclose someone's status is contrary to federal law and they could very well get fired and sued. That usually shut them up.

posted February 3, 2018
A myHIVteam Member

I completely agree that my healthcare and health status are my responsibility. However, it is not my sole responsibility. We live, work and interact within social circles, work communities, facilities, environments, etc. Therefore, it is absolutely the responsibility of those who are knowingly I'll to take all reasonable precautions to prevent spreading the illness or infection. There are many different types of immunocompromised populations. People are unnecessarily placed at risk when you choose to be irresponsible and not take precautions. If you are feeling miserable, why would you pass that on to someone else? It doesn't take much to be considerate of others. You just may help someone who is vulnerable avoid a lengthy illness. There is nothing wrong with avoiding contact in a work situation, especially when your illness is highly communicable. Think of others, many people live in areas where access to quality HIV treatment is not easy to access or there are few doctors to provide services. Maintaining healthy outcomes depends on how those around us react to caring for themselves. It is not solely our responsibility. Both parties can contribute to a good, healthy outlook if we watch out for one another, peace, love, support.

posted September 3, 2019

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