“In my twenties, I moved to New York from San Francisco: I had gotten entrance to an Executive Training program at a high-end department store. I was so excited to begin my career as a buyer in a major company. My excitement and anxiety about the city soon led me to a life of going to bars and clubs and having one night stands. It was on one of these occasions that I believe I contracted HIV. I found out I was positive in Dec 1999. In that moment, I thought my life was over.
I have been on different cocktails since 1999: first it was Sustiva, then Complera for many years, and most recently Odefsey. One pill a day.
During the past 18 years since I found out I was positive, I went down the trail of drugs and alcohol in a big way. It was a slow thing that I thought I was managing for a while until as with most, I wasn't. I eventually found recovery and a new perspective and for the past seven years: I have been able to accept myself for who I am, the good and the bad. HIV is just a small piece of me that I've learned to manage appropriately.
I am very happy that Truvada is now available. It's part of the cocktail I take every day. I believe in some small way it has lessened the stigma of being HIV+. If someone has HIV and is undetectable, you can't transmit the virus. I think this is the most important message that we need to get out there.”
Ed, 47, Undetectable. Chelsea, NY. Working in wholesale planning