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From: brianl@uunet.uu.net (Brian Larsen)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: Get tested
Message-ID: <28160@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 16 Oct 89 17:53:49 GMT
References: <27888@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> <27972@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> <28075@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> <28083@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
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In article <28083@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> skaron@eagle.wesleyan.edu writes:
>
>  There are many pros and cons to getting tested. Below are some reasons you
>may or may not want to get tested, the choice has to be an individual one
>depending on which reasons seem to describe you best.

See my comments to your "cons" to getting tested
to coin a phrase "they wouldn't hold much water"
AND could ruin lives!!!

>
>  Possible reasons for not getting tested.
>  1) You would not change your sexual behavior no matter the result of the
>     test.

This is absurd!!  So your saying, if you may be positive and are
really "attached"" to your unsafe sex practices, don't get tested.
I guess it would ruin the whole thing for you.  (what about your victim?,
lets hope they have sense enough to be safe!)

>
>  2) If it came out positive, you might get depressed enough that:
>      a) You would not be able to enjoy life as much as you want to

	  That's a given, initially.  And it's also a given from the
	  position of ignorance.  (kind of living the ole "what i don't
	  know can't hurt me")

>      b) You might attempt/commit suicide.
	  
	  You might think, you might.  But that's what counselors are
 	  for, that's what support groups are for, that's about being
	  being a responsible adult.

>
>  3) If your business,school found out about the test (including the idea of
>      simply taking it regardless of the result), there might be unwanted
>      tension and/or discrimination.

	  This is resolved by taking an anonymous test.  These service
	  centers have counseling and insist on using false names.  

I'm feeling, Steven, as though you are looking for reasons not to
be tested.  I understand fear.  I have experienced every facet now 
of this disease, except my own illness.  I mean to be 26yrs old and
and have friend who are HIV+, some sick, some dead and to hear people
such as yourself give more reasons to not get tested than to get tested
is frightening.  Clearly there needs to be more death before we wake up.
There are no reasons valid enough to *not* be tested.  AND a negative test 
today doesn't necessarily mean negative 2 years from now.  BE SAFE!!

>
>  4) You wouldn't be able to talk to anyone if it came out positive.

	  No, initially that may seem difficult.  However that is what
	  counselors and the like are there for.  And you would be amazed
	  at just how many people you do feel compelled to tell.

>
>  5) If it came out positive your family would not accept you.

	  This again is a position of fear.  Is it better to fall ill
	  and then tell your friends and fasmily that you have AIDS.
	  Or are you holding the option of dying completely without
	  giving your family a chance to show up in you life as a
	  support.  

>
>  Possible reasons for getting tested.
>  1) You want to know what's going on inside your body.

	Please, WANT to know, what's going on in your body.  Don't be 
        surprised by a pneumonia or cancer.  And don't "oops" pass this
        on to someone else simply because I didn't want to get tested.

>
>  2) If it comes out positive, you would want to be able to:
  
     Aa It has been proven that using AZT as an early intervention drug
        postpones the onset of ARC/AIDS ailments.  Thus letting one live
        a healthy/normal life with the optimism of being around when 
	better drugs come on the market.

>     a) possibly get on an experimental treatment program.
>     b) find out how to avoid getting opportunistic diseases.
>
>  3) A negative result would mean a new staring point of safer sex/needle use
>     activity.
GOD, SOMETIMES THESE COMMENTS REALLY PISS ME OFF!  Safer sex/needle use
should have begun already.  Even if you have been infected with the virus 
you can be re-infected with numerous different strains (the virus mutates)
Each infection takes new tolls on your immune system.  That is why, even if
two individuals get together and they are both HIV+ they still need to 
practice safe sex.  So the time to START SAFE SEX IS NOW!!

>  Of course there are other reasons, depending on how you view the HIV virus.

What is that supposed to mean. (Like if your considered in the "high"/gay
risk group??)

Steven, I hope to god you rethink your position.  It is very irresponsible.
We all have to look at AIDS and take responsibility for it.  That means
getting tested, sharing the info with past partners, using safe sex, not
sharing needles or cleaning with bleach if we do.  
In other words, this is a disease of our community and noone is exempt
from the stopping of it.  

Just some thoughts to create more thoughts.
Brian Larsen

>