AIDS a "manageable condition"?

[pgoings]

David,

I don’t have my textbooks at hand, but here are some examples I found on the web:

“This new dimension in radiation oncology makes it possible to think seriously about transforming cancer from a fatal disease into a manageable condition…”

www.varian.com/comp/2004/article02.html

“Hemophilia has become a manageable condition.”

www.hemophilia.on.ca/Support/Reports/postintmarathon.htm

And yes, dysentery is now curable; however it used to be fatal (and still is in many parts of the world). A better example would be malaria.

 

[Aquarius]

ByzCath:

Ok, then we must also let them know the high cost of the drug regimen as well as the many cases of drug resistant AIDS.

This will start to occur more and more as the HIV virus gains resistance.

And lets not forget the last bit. You get AIDS you die of AIDS.

Of course we should let them know both the cost and price.

I’m not sure how the drugs work, so I dont know if the virus can gain resistance. Anybody have some expertise?

We really don’t know if everyone who gets AIDs will die from it. We have seen many deaths, and there was a time when the diagnosis meant death would follow rather soon.

That’s not the case now, and the fates of people under the new drug regimens will tell us the answer. I think their fates will also be a function of when they contracted the disease, and what drugs were vailable at diagnosis time.

 

[Aquarius]

Anglican77:

Those drugs are not available to everyone. In fact, they are scarce in the countries that need them the most, such as Botswana, where the life expectancy has dropped to staggering 33 years!!! 33! Their death rate is higher than their birth rate, giving them a negative population growth.

Absolutely correct. I think we can confine the notion that AIDs is being managed to the developed world. While it can be managed in other places, that has not yet happened on a large scale.

 

[Aquarius]

Is it reasonable to ask if some resent the fact that medicine is making substantial progress in fighting AIDs? I hope it will soon develop an effective vaccine so nobody will be faced with AIDs in any country.

 

[Lazerlike42]

Aquarius:

Is it reasonable to ask if some resent the fact that medicine is making substantial progress in fighting AIDs? I hope it will soon develop an effective vaccine so nobody will be faced with AIDs in any country.

That would be fantastic. I certainly have no resentment of this fact. I only have a difficulty with calling the disease managable when I feel that it is highly inappropriate and dangerous, for reasons I have expressed below.

 

[Aquarius]

Lazerlike42:

That would be fantastic. I certainly have no resentment of this fact. I only have a difficulty with calling the disease managable when I feel that it is highly inappropriate and dangerous, for reasons I have expressed below.

There is a danger that some would lose their fear of AIDs and would refrain from safe sex practices. I think that behavior has been detected in some young gays who did not live through the initial epidemic.

However, we still owe people the truth about what medicine can do, even if we don’t like the choices that information may induce.

 

[Lazerlike42]

Aquarius:

There is a danger that some would lose their fear of AIDs and would refrain from safe sex practices. I think that behavior has been detected in some young gays who did not live through the initial epidemic.

However, we still owe people the truth about what medicine can do, even if we don’t like the choices that information may induce.

I agree, but I disagree with saying that managable is an appropriate term to identify what medicine is capable of doing. That is our disagreement.

 

[dragonfly]

is Aids Manageabel? Depends on how you are defining “Manage”

One, you can manage to NOT get aids; the first is being free of engaging in intercourse unless you are married!! Then, when you do get married, even if neither of you has had sex before, get an aids and syphalys and Hep tests done!! There ARE more than one ways to spread Aids: Sex, anything through the blood, if you used a friends razor and she nicked herself and you also did the same, thus transfering what blood cells were left on that razor! Using someone’s toothbrush and they had bleeding gums and you had an open sore in your mouth! Etc… So Manage Aids by not getting it and not spreading it!!

the Second part of managing Aids is thru western medicine. They have helped prolong the life of a person w/ Aids or Hiv! However the BIGGEST misconception is that you die from Aids! That is false!! Hiv attacts the “T” blood cells, thus turning into full blown Aids! The “T” cells are your “warrior” cells and help your white blood cell count when you get sick, this is the body’s natural defense system to fight off colds, flu, strep, etc… when the Aids in your body has overtaken these “t” cells, you then CAN NOT fight off ANY sicknesses! This is where the medication comes in, it helps rebuild those white cells and help you to feel better. But eventually, you will ALWAYS get sick from something that ends up killing you. The biggest thing people come down with and DIE FROM who has Aids is pneumonia!!

 

[dragonfly]

Aquarius:

Is it reasonable to ask if some resent the fact that medicine is making substantial progress in fighting AIDs? I hope it will soon develop an effective vaccine so nobody will be faced with AIDs in any country.

We can only pray that they will develop a cure and a vaccine for the Aids epidemic!! Yes, they are coming closer than ever, but do you know why they have actually NEVER been able to create or find a cure?? Is is because Aids is such an aggresive “Cell Advocate”, that it is constantly finding ways to SURVIVE. It is almost like this most horrible dissease is alive!! As they try to find new cures, it becomes immune AND grows stronger!! Yuk! It is a very nasty thing! I reccomend to all unmarried, FOLLOW THE LAW OF CHASTITY!!

 

[precious_roy]

Slightly off topic: anyone in here have an interest in nanomedicine? I think it is one of the more fascinating concepts that has come to be in the last 20 years.

 

[dragonfly]

Also, it IS our responsibility to give comfort to those who come to us w/ such a burden of having Aids!!

We are to educate them and give them all the information they need to know about western medicine, how it can help them, the cost, how to retain it, etc…

But more importantly, we are also to educate them on “spritual” medicne! While they may very well have this disease, they still have THE BEST physician that has ever looked at them; OUR HEAVENLY FATHER!! He is the best person to take care of them. This is also a great opportunity to discuss life and death and open a door to ask them if they know for sure where they are going when they die. God is Loving and Forgiving, it is not too late to come to him. And then show them Jesus’ faithfullness and love through yourself!! By also being faithful by praying and doing A LOT of “hail Marry’s” and “The Lords Prayer”!! Teach them how to pray if they don’t know, etc…

 

[dragonfly]

ByzCath:

Yes, but if you do not die from another cause you will lose your life way before you would have without AIDS.

I am not advocating that. I think it is irresponsible for the media to run around acting like AIDS is not a deadly disease.

Thought that was clear in my post. I want to remind those who participate in high risk behaviors. I seem to remember hearing stories of those groups increasing in these behaviors becuase you can “life with AIDS” now.

Seems you wish to apply some very bad motives those who disagree with you. I would ask, if you are unclear about something that you ask me rather than making such outrageous comments about my motives in the future.

Again with the attacks. Is this how you sway someone to your side? By attacking them and making them appear evil?

Not to charitable and I refuse to answer you on this as you are not looking for an answer. That is unless you apologize.

I believe that someone who comes to you who knows they have aids has already been instructed by their doctor of their treatment plans, the life expectancy, etc… They may simply be coming to you to vent, to cry, to ask your advice. So what do you tell them?? Simple really, you start with a question; Has your doctor already gave you your forcast of what you are looking at and what your options are to prolong your life?? They will answer, of course; you can then ask them; And how do you feel about this, have you decided what to do?? they may say, no, i really need your advice and support: The MOST IMPORTANT question you can ask them is this: Instead of basing your decision on "Man’s knowledge, Have you asked God what you should do?? Have you devoted this to prayer?? either yes or no, it doesn’t hurt to ask if you could pray together again!!

As for the children. They are innocent and their parents have been given all the information and has made all the decisions. But I can tell you, these kids do know that they are dying or will die soon. So, the best thing to do when you approach a child w/ aids in the hospital or home or wherever is first, pray w/ them, remind them of their innocense and let them know how much God Loves them. Sometimes they will ask you, “then why did he let this happen to me?” this is really more simple than you may think, you just tell them, "oh sweetie, you are so beautiful to him, but I am not qualified to answer that for you, I suggest you ask him when you see him! Say it smiling. This reminds them that they will see heaven soon and their suffering will soon end, it actually does give them hope!! Then, you do the best thing for them; play w/ them!! Make them feel like a kid again!!

hope this has helped to answer both ya’lls questions. what do you think??
Dragonfly

 

[Libero]

Just to butt in here,

There was a story in England in the summer, about a man who was cured from HIV.

He managed to shake it off, after getting HIV+ results, he exposed himself to the virus more, and some months later, his test results came back negative.

I think significant research should be done into this (as in vaccine) can we shake of AIDS in the form of HIV, after it has already infected?

He’s constantly in the hospital fighting this sickness or another as a complication to AIDS; emotional issues weigh down; and the cost is enormous.

Ah you want the ways of the NHS - I am slowly going to convince everyone on these forums that it is the only way

 

[dragonfly]

4

Libero:

Just to butt in here,

There was a story in England in the summer, about a man who was cured from HIV.

He managed to shake it off, after getting HIV+ results, he exposed himself to the virus more, and some months later, his test results came back negative.

I think significant research should be done into this (as in vaccine) can we shake of AIDS in the form of HIV, after it has already infected?

Ah you want the ways of the NHS - I am slowly going to convince everyone on these forums that it is the only way

That really is amazing isn’t it!! Just goes to show you that you can count on God to do modern day miracles. That was deffinately a Divine Healing rather than a medical or a mind of matter one.

 

[Aquarius]

Lazerlike42:

I agree, but I disagree with saying that managable is an appropriate term to identify what medicine is capable of doing. That is our disagreement.

OK.

 

[Aquarius]

Libero:

Just to butt in here,

There was a story in England in the summer, about a man who was cured from HIV.

He managed to shake it off, after getting HIV+ results, he exposed himself to the virus more, and some months later, his test results came back negative.

I think significant research should be done into this (as in vaccine) can we shake of AIDS in the form of HIV, after it has already infected?

Ah you want the ways of the NHS - I am slowly going to convince everyone on these forums that it is the only way

There was a woman in the US a few years ago with the same situation. If they can fiond what makes these folks different, they will be way ahead.

 

[Lazerlike42]

So this fellow got HIV, then went out and tried to “get it again,” more or less? Like once he had it for instance maybe he had sex with someone else who already had it or something like that?

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

dragonfly:

the Second part of managing Aids is thru western medicine. They have helped prolong the life of a person w/ Aids or Hiv! However the BIGGEST misconception is that you die from Aids! That is false!!

There is really no misconception here. Really its all semantics.

When I say a person dies of AIDS I mean that what causes their death is AIDS. That is the actual illness that causes them to die would not have caused their death if they had not had AIDS.

People with AIDS usually die of opportunistic infections that most people do not get and if they do get it they do not die from it.

Other than saying that, it really does not matter except to play a sort of semantics game as in the end if the person did not have AIDS they would not have died.

AIDS always leads to death, there is no cure. Cancer on the other hand is a very different disease, actually diseases. Many of which are curable. If something is curable then it is not “manageable”.

I would like to thank Lazerlike42 for seeing what I am trying to say. I agree with you 100% and think the diabetes example you give is right on.

 

[jman507]

ByzCath:

No, dysentery is not a manageable condition, it is a cureable condition.

No one who contracts dysentery needs to take drugs for the rest of their life.

I have worked in the healthcare field and have never heard of a “manageable condition” before. I have heard of chronic conditions though.

I have a question, when you saw that this was a “manageable condition” did you only see it in the headline, or did you see it in the text? (AIDS not dysenery.)

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

jman507:

I have a question, when you saw that this was a “manageable condition” did you only see it in the headline, or did you see it in the text? (AIDS not dysenery.)

The headline is “Now that AIDS has become a manageable condition, the Montrose Clinic takes on the area’s bigger health picture”.

The story is about how this clinic is changing its name and shifting focus from AIDS testing and treatment to become a full service clinic for the uninsured.

I think they could have gone about this story in a much better way than focusing on the idea that because AIDS is a “manageable condition” that it is time for this clinic to change its primary focus. I think the better think to look at in this change is the fact that there are so many uninsured in the community that the clinic wanted to change to reach out to this group.