Kengikat - I will always support individual's choice to take treatment or not.
As I have mentioned to Justin, I would NEVER trust anyone that you cannot meet personally & determine their credibility / bonafides. That includes me.
That having been said, I would recommend you find an HIV doc sooner rather than later. Outcomes are impacted by when you start treatment should you choose to.
The American Academy of HIV Medicine has a list of good docs.
I am not sure what your name is so I will not be abale to address you by it. So I will cut right to the chase.
Blacks are 13% of the population in this country but make up 49% of HIV and AIDS cases that are reported. It is the #1 killer of Blacks. Is it your position that Blacks dont seek out medical care? is it your position that I have not been very proactive in seeking out medical care.
The numbers prove that the medical care system is BROKEN and needs fixing NOW. Oh but you are a MD.
"dont seek out medical care?" - I don't know how to address that. I live in Atlanta (60% "black"). And I work in an ER. I would say that at least half my patients in a day are "black."
I would say that access to medical care today is more about $ and insurance than race/cultural background.
Of course I come from a weird family. I am 1/4 Creek Indian, and my Grandfather's philosophy was to keep the best of our Indian heritage & adopt the best of the emerging "American" culture.
"your position" - I don't know. Your comment in the video is you were (at that time) choosing to delay treatment. HIV treatments are improving by leaps and bounds yearly.
There is a legitimate concern that the side effects of some of the regimens can do more harm than good, so traditionally we (doctors) have waited to treat until a patient's health began to deteriorate.
These days, the philosophy is shifting to ASAP. You need to talk to an HIV specialist about that though.
"make up 49% of HIV and AIDS" And that is a very complicated, multifactorial issue. Part of it stems to poorer access to health care, and part from genetics.
I have a mutation of CCR5 (delta 32), a receptor that HIV uses to help enter cells which would make me very resistant to HIV if I were exposed. That genetic profile seems to be more common in Northern Europe.
Conversely many people of African origins have other mutations that make them LESS resistant to HIV.
So in populations with similar risk factors, "African" populations seem to be more vulnerable to HIV infection. I hope I am being clear, this is not a bigoted comment on my part, simple a statement of science as we know it.
I am more vulnerable to west nile & malaria thanks to my D32 than is the average "Black" person. And I can't grow a beard thanks to my Creek ancestry (ever seen an American Indian with a beard?).
"The numbers prove that the medical care system is BROKEN and needs fixing NOW. Oh but you are a MD." Oh trust me, I am well aware. We are well aware of the problems.
I have long pushed for a basic level of health care for ALL Americans. The political problem is that you cannot cover EVERY disease/injury. And in starting that discussion you WILL eventually have to address the topic: "How much is a life worth? What are we going to cover? What will we not cover?"
95% of what I see in the ER should never make it to the ER. It should be covered by a family doc. Cold, flu, sore arm, evere nausea for 3 days? Family doc. Severe diarrhea for last 8 hours? Get your butt to the ER.
Every American should be able to go to the doc for the basics. There has to be some kind of system in place to handle the hypochondriacs...
Not cover? Liver xplant for alcoholic for instance. Kidney xplant for non-complying diabetic. Severely non-compliant patients.
I am sorry if I gave the impression that I was judging you or whatever. I was sincerely wishing you well. I also wanted to give you a heads up warning you about the HIV denialists (as I am sure you have heard from some).
I can't understand what motivates them to mislead people about HIV (well maybe I can, but I hate to think that ill of anyone), but make sure your sources of information are GOOD, scientific sources.
Kengikat Man I love you You are so strong. I take my hat off to you. Man all I've been following you for a while and all the trials and tribulations that you go through and are going through tell me you, yourself are strong. You are another example of a what not only the Black LGBT community needs to see but the world in general Thank you for you kind words and prayers.
I love the both you, and think that you both are wonderful men who are inspiring lots of people and their lives will be touched by knowing you as mine has by just watching the work you do!
Kengikat - I will always support individual's choice to take treatment or not.
As I have mentioned to Justin, I would NEVER trust anyone that you cannot meet personally & determine their credibility / bonafides. That includes me.
That having been said, I would recommend you find an HIV doc sooner rather than later. Outcomes are impacted by when you start treatment should you choose to.
The American Academy of HIV Medicine has a list of good docs.
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
I am not sure what your name is so I will not be abale to address you by it. So I will cut right to the chase.
Blacks are 13% of the population in this country but make up 49% of HIV and AIDS cases that are reported. It is the #1 killer of Blacks. Is it your position that Blacks dont seek out medical care? is it your position that I have not been very proactive in seeking out medical care.
The numbers prove that the medical care system is BROKEN and needs fixing NOW. Oh but you are a MD.
Kengikat 3 years ago
"dont seek out medical care?" - I don't know how to address that. I live in Atlanta (60% "black"). And I work in an ER. I would say that at least half my patients in a day are "black."
I would say that access to medical care today is more about $ and insurance than race/cultural background.
Of course I come from a weird family. I am 1/4 Creek Indian, and my Grandfather's philosophy was to keep the best of our Indian heritage & adopt the best of the emerging "American" culture.
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
"your position" - I don't know. Your comment in the video is you were (at that time) choosing to delay treatment. HIV treatments are improving by leaps and bounds yearly.
There is a legitimate concern that the side effects of some of the regimens can do more harm than good, so traditionally we (doctors) have waited to treat until a patient's health began to deteriorate.
These days, the philosophy is shifting to ASAP. You need to talk to an HIV specialist about that though.
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
"make up 49% of HIV and AIDS" And that is a very complicated, multifactorial issue. Part of it stems to poorer access to health care, and part from genetics.
I have a mutation of CCR5 (delta 32), a receptor that HIV uses to help enter cells which would make me very resistant to HIV if I were exposed. That genetic profile seems to be more common in Northern Europe.
Conversely many people of African origins have other mutations that make them LESS resistant to HIV.
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
So in populations with similar risk factors, "African" populations seem to be more vulnerable to HIV infection. I hope I am being clear, this is not a bigoted comment on my part, simple a statement of science as we know it.
I am more vulnerable to west nile & malaria thanks to my D32 than is the average "Black" person. And I can't grow a beard thanks to my Creek ancestry (ever seen an American Indian with a beard?).
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
"The numbers prove that the medical care system is BROKEN and needs fixing NOW. Oh but you are a MD." Oh trust me, I am well aware. We are well aware of the problems.
I have long pushed for a basic level of health care for ALL Americans. The political problem is that you cannot cover EVERY disease/injury. And in starting that discussion you WILL eventually have to address the topic: "How much is a life worth? What are we going to cover? What will we not cover?"
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
95% of what I see in the ER should never make it to the ER. It should be covered by a family doc. Cold, flu, sore arm, evere nausea for 3 days? Family doc. Severe diarrhea for last 8 hours? Get your butt to the ER.
Every American should be able to go to the doc for the basics. There has to be some kind of system in place to handle the hypochondriacs...
Not cover? Liver xplant for alcoholic for instance. Kidney xplant for non-complying diabetic. Severely non-compliant patients.
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
I am sorry if I gave the impression that I was judging you or whatever. I was sincerely wishing you well. I also wanted to give you a heads up warning you about the HIV denialists (as I am sure you have heard from some).
I can't understand what motivates them to mislead people about HIV (well maybe I can, but I hate to think that ill of anyone), but make sure your sources of information are GOOD, scientific sources.
The Body is a good resource.
And I wish you luck!
ccr5cxcr4 3 years ago
I am very much aware of who they are and I know how to handle them. Thanks very much for your care and concern.
Kengikat 3 years ago
Kengikat Man I love you You are so strong. I take my hat off to you. Man all I've been following you for a while and all the trials and tribulations that you go through and are going through tell me you, yourself are strong. You are another example of a what not only the Black LGBT community needs to see but the world in general Thank you for you kind words and prayers.
Justin B Smith
Justin's HIV Journal
jsmithco98 3 years ago
I love the both you, and think that you both are wonderful men who are inspiring lots of people and their lives will be touched by knowing you as mine has by just watching the work you do!
blklacquer 3 years ago
Girl, what are you doing cheating on me? LOL
Thanks sweetie. Justin is just awesome and his vids have been so inspiring to me.
Kengikat 3 years ago
Woww eXcellent reply vid:) *HNY*
CoreyLove00 3 years ago
Thanks
Kengikat 3 years ago
Thanks Corey
Kengikat 3 years ago
stay strong keep fighting !!!!!
mrdj1560 3 years ago