Fighting AIDS by Bradford McIntyre

From the time I was told that I had “six months to live” by an AIDS specialist back in 1985, (infected in 1984) I learned from other people infected with HIV and included supplements and complementary therapies. These kept me healthy and were responsible for allowing me to address health issues, boost my immune system and avoid going on HIV/AIDS medications for over a dozen years.

It was not that I did not get sick or need medical attention throughout the years, because I certainly did. There were countless doctors' appointments, blood tests at the hospital to keep watch on how my body was reacting to having this virus and more times than I can count trying to fix whatever complications appeared. Throughout these years, large numbers of infected individuals went from a weakened immune system, to no immune system, to one sickness after another, after another. With the advent of newer and better HIV/AIDS medications and a much broader understanding of this illness, individuals have been able to bounce back and have wellness restored with the aid of combination therapies. Equally, throughout everything, sick or well, complementary therapies are a mainstay to address: diarrhea, nausea, neuropathy, irritated skin and rashes, wasting, fatigue, loss of appetite, immune suppression and more, when it comes to living with HIV. We have learned a much broader understanding of this illness!

After approximately 13 years since diagnosis of infection with HIV, I did become seriously ill. In July of 1998, I developed pneumocystis-carinii-pneumonia, known as PCP. I did not tolerate the medication given me to treat the PCP. My health deteriorated and it looked as though I might die. My only recourse was to try an HIV/AIDS drug combination to boost my compromised immune system enough to fight off the pneumonia. That is exactly what happened. On December 1st, World AIDS Day, 1998, I started my first ever HIV/AIDS drug combination treatment. After just four weeks on the medication, my cd4 count of 40 went up a couple of hundred points; eradicated the PCP and the viral load of several million viral particles went down to thousands. With a reduced viral load, I could once again absorb nutrients. I regained the weight I lost and started to strengthen my body through nutrition, exercise and complementary therapies.

People who knew me were very surprised that I started HIV/AIDS medications. They knew I was very involved in addressing HIV infection through alternative and complementary therapies. Although I was fortunate to have lived 13 years without highly active antiretroviral therapies (HARRT), I was not opposed to them. I was very successful addressing my health concerns without them, but I was aware of the benefits of pharmaceutical treatments and kept myself well informed. I knew there was a possibility of having to go on them one day. It was my hope that I could maintain good health without them, or by the time I needed them that they would be much improved from drugs used in earlier years. It worked out for me in the long run. Without the drug combination therapy, I would not have survived. They saved my life!

Without the availability of these drugs, there would be far more suffering and deaths. Some individuals do not tolerate these medications, as they can be toxic. This is true of the treatments for many people who live with cancer and other illness, but you do not see activists denouncing the use of these life saving drugs. Myself and countless others have gone on to enjoy life, aided by these medications and it is very important to recognize the enormous benefits provided! With any illness, not everyone benefits from the treatments available.

After two years, my HIV/AIDS drug combination began to fail. A genome test showed I was resistant to all the HIV/AIDS medications, even though my only drug usage consisted of AZT for 9 months (years earlier) and the current drug treatment. In 2000, with a resistance to all the existing HIV/AIDS medications, I enrolled in a drug study for a new protease inhibitor, Kaletra. Within the first four weeks on the drug, my cd4 count climbed to 340 and my viral load was undetectable (less than 50 viral particles). Obviously, we are moving forward in the development of more effective drug treatments.

After two years the drug combination was no longer able to continue to increase my CD4 count further and the HIV/AIDS drugs were unable to keep my viral load at undetectable. We must not; we cannot, discount the ability of individuals to have a positive impact and create wellness, using every available means they have to combat the HIV virus. These latter years, along with my HIV medications, I have strengthened my immune system (CD4 count) substantially and decreased the viral load to undetectable using regular vitamin C intravenous injections and other vitamins and minerals. With my involvement in the treatment of HIV/AIDS using vitamin C intravenous therapy, provided by my naturopathic physician, this allowed me to have my first opportunity in five years to go off all HIV/AIDS medications and enjoy a 2-month holiday (treatment interruption) off all drugs ( Summer of 2003).

A strong immune system can fight HIV and a higher cd4 count can often prevent or sustain viral replication. My vitamin C intravenous therapy costs less than $70.00. I have treatments twice a month at a cost of less than $150.00 a month. My CPP pension is $9,663.60 and out of that I paid $900.00, which covered my vitamin C therapy for a year. The research on intravenous Vitamin C and the benefits is overwhelming. However, this treatment is not covered by health care and I am not always able to afford the treatment. The HIV/AIDS combination cocktail I used cost over $5,000.00 a month and I was on a minimal drug regimen, of 3 different pills. Patients can be on handfuls of different pills a day, at exorbitant costs! Individuals fighting illness, often one after another, may be using many antibiotics, plus HIV/AIDS combination therapies. They may develop resistance to HIV/AIDS drugs and antibiotic resistance!

This is often a frustration of mine that people who are sick may not be able to afford vitamin supplements and complementary therapies, let alone more costly treatments that are available. Many suffer and even die because they cannot afford these treatments, which are not provided for by health care. Some people may have health care coverage or insurance but many do not. If you are wealthy and sick, you can afford to go to healing centers and have treatments, but what about the majority who cannot? I’ll never understand how we can continue to exclude complementary therapies from health care when they provide benefits, which may keep people out of hospitals and avoid the use of expensive pharmaceuticals, thereby providing relief to an already burdened health care system.

It really is important that people take the time and research the benefits of complementary and alternative therapies and the positive impacts on your immune system. We have all these resources and we should be combining them rather than saying the only way to treat HIV and AIDS is with pharmaceuticals.

We may have jumped the gun and put all our efforts into pharmaceuticals when it came to fighting AIDS.

Recognizing the ability of the body to heal has prompted many to choose to combat HIV in a non-medical direction. Often, people are effective in preventing illness for years before drug intervention is ever necessary or not necessary at all. Others have continued to live without any sign of HIV/AIDS related opportunistic infections or disease. Equally so, many people who are on drug treatments have learned to address the importance of diet, exercise, alternative therapies and supplements, mind, body and spirit. Let’s not close our minds to what is right in front of us showing endless opportunities. These are opportunities for us to learn, grow and have healthy bodies!

by Bradford McIntyre
Vancouver, Canada
wwwPositivelyPositive.ca

Disclosure
by Bradford McIntyre

The United Nations Population Fund has declared HIV/AIDS is a young people’s disease. Individuals between the ages of 15 and 24 are infected every 14 seconds. That means a total of 6,000 people a day are being infected with HIV. Disclosure is necessary if we are going to prevent the spread of AIDS. HIV prevention methods are not working. It is up to people who are infected to disclose the fact that they have been infected with HIV.

After living in fear and having moved so far away from family and friends so no one would see me get sick or die, an extraordinary woman came into my life. She told me “I had suffered long enough and hard enough and it was time to get on with my life”! Undoubtedly, I knew this was true! Is this not true for many of us? Have we not suffered enough?

I had been living in fear and alone for 4 years. Would I spend another four years or longer, alone and waiting to die? Right then I decided to turn my life around and that was the beginning for me, the beginning of showing up for life! Without fear!

Having disclosed you are infected with HIV eliminates the dis-ease associated with hiding the fact that you are HIV positive. That means; you can feel comfortable and confident and not have fear when you disclose to a sexual partner. So you’re not going to have added stress, worry and guilt. If you don’t disclose to a partner right away, when you do decide to tell them, they are going to ask why you didn’t tell them. This is when problems arise! There may be those who are afraid and withdraw, but there are people who are not afraid and who will be there to support you. How can anyone receive the help they need if their family and friends are not aware of what is going on in their life? Many who are living with HIV are afraid to disclose, but have never disclosed to anyone! They assume that everyone will pull away. You can tell people that your HIV+ and them not run away. There are many people living with HIV who have loving family and friends and who are in relationships, me included. My partner is not HIV+.

We have moved from a time when there was no understanding and no treatment available to where we now have a much broader understanding and treatment options. It is the people who are actually HIV+ who are not disclosing who are actually keeping the stigma alive and many are causing the spread of HIV!

People who are living with HIV are not asking to be different. But, the stigma of AIDS is still causing people to be afraid to disclose. I know that depending on where you live, it may be impossible for some people to disclose their HIV status. And I am concerned that the reason they do not disclose, is because they are afraid. This is due to the fact that they do not feel safe! Concerned with discrimination! Efforts to ensure safety must be a priority and efforts must be stepped up! Governments have a responsibility to educate the public and assure individuals that their rights will be protected and discrimination will not be tolerated. Making it clear to those who do discriminate; they will be dealt with and prosecuted if necessary.

We need everyone who is HIV positive to come out if we are to get rid of the stigma associated with HIV.

Also, so we can recognize that it is a fact; people who are infected with HIV are using supplements; vitamins, herbs, botanicals and tinctures in the treatment of HIV and AIDS. They are using alternative and complementary therapies that have been successful at eradicating the virus, bringing down the viral load. Many have been fortunate in bringing down the viral load to undetectable. They have been able to increase the efficacy of the HIV/AIDS medications. They have been able to improve and reduce the side effects of the drugs. They have been able to boost the immune system when the medications could not.

With or without HIV medications, there ARE millions of people around the world using nutrition and alternative and complementary therapies to combat HIV and AIDS. The supplements and alternative therapies are readily available but there is a monopoly that exists among the pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession so alternative therapies are not given there fair share of recognition in treating HIV and AIDS. In order for there to be this recognition we need the voices of individuals infected with HIV to stand and have their voices heard and counted. How long will people sit on the sidelines, letting others do all the work?

I often think about the countless people who in the beginning of this epidemic, worked tirelessly to break down the barriers of fear and discrimination in their own lives as well as for the sake of others. Who also worked successfully at preventing the spread of AIDS! Many died in the process! What would they think if they were to see that today people are still afraid to disclose HIV infection and that many continue to spread HIV?

We need to ensure that people infected with HIV are cared for. People need proper food, clean water, sanitation and every available means to combat HIV and AIDS. I too may not live to see a time when everyone who is HIV positive does not have to concern themselves with confidentiality but who can be free of fear and discrimination. For as long as I can, I will continue to work at breaking down the barriers of fear and discrimination, just like those who went before me! It was they who made it possible for me to be OUT ABOUT HIV!

Bradford McIntyre
Vancouver, Canada
www.PositivelyPositive.ca

OUT ABOUT HIV
by Bradford McIntyre

There is more power in people knowing I am HIV positive, than there ever was in the fear and hiding. The answers are in letting go of fear! Society has created a huge closet housing many shelves. Shelves for Gay, BI sexual, Lesbian and Tran gendered, but even more shelves housing drug abuse, alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, physical and mental abuse, bulimia, anorexia, cancer, AIDS, dis-ease and disease. It is time for us all to come out of the closet and tell people what is going on in our life. Then and only then can people know what is going on, support you, and if need be, offer help! We don’t have to go through life alone; there are people who will Show Up if we let them know who we are and what is going on in our life! Instead of deciding what others can handle or know, it is time to come out of the closet and truly reveal ourselves. Then and only then can we be our true selves!

So much fear has been created around HIV infection, and AIDS. The camouflage uniforms worn in the army disguise and hide, so not to draw attention, able to blend in. The fear associated with HIV and AIDS, has kept us in the dark! Many have feared loosing their family, friends, home and job, causing people to hide the fact they have been infected with HIV. So no one can see, hear, or know the truths of those living with HIV. Most often when individuals die from HIV related illness or AIDS, the funeral announcements rarely say AIDS was the cause, but use cancer, heart disease or any other camouflage. How can we tell the real number of HIV related deaths? How can the public know without the truth? We are in the dark because the whole picture is not being told! Individuals dealing with HIV and all those around them who are affected but not infected, they know these truths!

What we don't see are the great numbers of individuals infected living, living a happy and full life, whether it is with or without drug treatments! We don't see or hear about the countless individuals who have been infected, who are not using HIV drug intervention! We also miss seeing and hearing about individuals engaged in drug treatments, who go off their medications for months and even years!

We don’t see or hear about individuals infected with HIV, who have never had any immune suppression and have never had any HIV replicated in their bodies! We don’t see all the people who were in wheel chairs due to neuropathy, wasting or other complications, who recover and return to wellness! We don’t see or hear about HIV infected mothers, who gave birth, and now their children are grown and they are having children! And we don't see it because the fear has people afraid to talk about HIV and AIDS or disclose they have been infected. We don't have people coming forward to tell their side of HIV and AIDS. How are we going to get people to come forward when the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS has created so much fear?

People are hiding their HIV infection, yet it makes no sense to believe that everyone who is infected will get sick! This is likened to the early days of cancer, hiding the fact, only whispering the C word! Everyone who develops cancer does not die; it makes no sense to believe everyone who is infected with HIV will get sick or die, either! We don't see people who benefit from the drugs and have their health restored, many returning to the work force! We don't see or hear about individuals who test positive for HIV or have AIDS, in relationships, falling in love! We don't see the many relationships where one partner is infected and one is not, and the partner who is negative, is not infected!

Even though it has been well over 20 years since the emergence of the AIDS virus, there still exists today fear and discrimination for those infected. Even with the progress and success in treatments, and fewer deaths, people are still afraid to tell others that they have been infected! The fear and hiding continues because most people are not willing to come forward and have their voice heard. Fortunately there are people who are NOT afraid to talk about the fact they have been infected, who are working to create awareness and education in the many issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.

We didn’t understand the AIDS virus and panic occurred. But, we have moved from a place of confusion and little understanding, to a place where we now have a much broader understanding. Now, we can eliminate the fear and promote a new awareness, relying on education and a wide variety of treatment options. With choice there is Hope!

With proper awareness and education, we can go about living our lives responsibly, "showing up for life", without fear! Not afraid to tell people we are living with HIV and talking about HIV, or conversations about safe sex. Letting go of the fear, we can all talk to our family and friends, and co-workers we discuss our personal lives with. Our employer can know health related information. And, if need be, we can ask for help and receive help! We can also eliminate false perceptions and judgments that were created from not having the right information, and prevent the spread of AIDS.

These 20 years spent cohabiting with HIV have taught me a great deal! I learned about my spirit, my mind, and body. I searched for and learned about alternative and complimentary therapies and incorporated them into my life. I chose a healthy lifestyle, and worked at being responsible for how I think and feel, and what I put into my body. I exercised my mind and spirit, and my physical body. I learned the power of faith and prayer in healing, our own as well as the faith and prayers of those who care and Love us. I learned there is more power in people knowing the Truth, than there ever is in fear and hiding. I learned the abundance of life does not come from what one provides for oneself, but it is found in our connectedness. I would not be where I am today if it were not for all the support and Love from the many people in my life!

Bradford McIntyre
Vancouver, B.C.
www.PositivelyPositive.ca

When it comes to how we view HIV and AIDS, the most visible, is the fear, illness and death tolls. What we don't see are the great numbers of individuals infected with the HIV virus, who are LIVING! Just because an individual tests HIV positive, this does not automatically mean they will get sick and die. There ARE people who have been infected since the very beginning, who are NOT sick or on any HIV/AIDS medications and they are happy, healthy and alive. Equally so, people who are on medications, they too, have learned to address the importance of nutrition, exercise, vitamins, minerals, herbs and botanicals, complementary therapies, mind, body and spirit. They are living years, over 20 years for many, with more to come!

On November 28th 1985, I was told I had six months to live! After four years of living in fear, my life took a dramatic turn and I embarked on a journey away from fear! Healing does not necessarily mean cure of disease, but healing our mind and transforming our body to realize its full potential, joy and purpose. Learning about the influence that our thoughts have on our life and health!. Living today as healthy and as fully as you can, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually!

The Abundance of Life does not come from what one can provide for oneself, but it is provided in our connectedness. I would not be here today if were not for all the many people in my life. I Show UP For Life! Life's a celebration, you don't need and invitation to celebrate life!

We don't have to carry the fears that were created around HIV! Fear is like putting up a stop sign for living! There is more power in people knowing the Truth, than there ever will be in the fear and hiding. While dealing with HIV and AIDS, dedicated people have worked tirelessly, creating awareness in the many areas related to HIV and AIDS. Individuals spoke out, ignored the HIV stigma, and they broke down the barriers of fear and discrimination in their own lives, as well as for the sake of others.

Most of what caused the fear and stigma originally, does not exist today! We have treatment options and people are living long and productive lives. More and more people are out about HIV. In the earlier years I hid away and felt alone, but since going public and disclosing my status nearly ten years now, I have a freedom I did not have before! With this freedom I am committed to breaking down the barriers of fear and discrimination globally! We are ALL connected!

Whether you are affected by, or infected with HIV, we must cross those boundaries of Fear and Discrimination. To join Our Hearts and Our Hands, in the realization we are ALL here to Love one another.

I join with you that we create a shift in thinking around HIV/AIDS, and All disease! Love is the way!

I am Positively Positive

Bradford McIntyre
Vancouver, Canada
www.positivelypositive.ca

HIV and CAM (complementary therapies): by Bradford McIntyre

Initially, there were no drugs available to treat HIV/AIDS, but substantial numbers of infected individuals collaborated, shared experiences and found an alternative way. Without medications, people incorporated proper nutrition, exercise and complementary therapies into their lives. People have been successful at staying healthy and/or having wellness restored time after time using complementary therapies, with or without HIV/AIDS medications. We must acknowledge and give credibility to this reality! We must acknowledge all of the many contributions by people infected with HIV. They are the same people who raised funds and started AIDS organizations, thereby providing and developing treatment libraries, which contained files on all the alternative treatments used by people living with HIV/AIDS. When HIV/AIDS drugs did become available, HIV/AIDS research and drug treatment information was included in these libraries.

Researchers, pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession have learned valuable information from infected individuals. Those affected were responsible for instituting what is referred to as treatment holidays, or structured treatment interruptions. A daily regimen while confined to a lifestyle of taking medications and the fact that many were unable to handle the side effects of the HIV/AIDS medications, prompted individuals to stop taking their medications, for months or years. The knowledge gained from these people opened the eyes of researchers and the medical profession. This facilitated change and stopped the insanity of the HIV/AIDS treatment protocol referred to as ‘Hit them hard, hit them early’! It is because of the information gained from people living with HIV that we have moved on and recognition is now given to the importance of individualized treatments. People who have been infected have brought about the understanding of which drugs work and which do not. In this way, they have voiced the need for more effective and affordable drug treatments -- and more!

However, there is an abundance of information, which is not being provided by infected individuals and obviously; this can be attributed to the stigma attached to HIV. Because of the fear, there are people who are not reporting how they are managing their illness. Their status is not known, so they cannot be counted. The numbers of individuals who have chosen natural methods is substantial. Without all the voices of those people heard, this has allowed pharmaceutical companies and the medical profession to have a monopoly over the direction of treatment and treatment information. It is time for affected people to make a stand and have their voices heard! The use of HIV/AIDS medications is one direction of treatment and natural healing with the benefits of complementary therapies is another. Both must be recognized equally! Time, energy and money must be given to both if we are to save millions and millions of lives!

It is time for complementary therapies to be brought to the forefront and on an equal level with pharmaceuticals. We have to persuade everyone, pharmaceutical companies and their shareholders, government, the medical profession, media and the public to recognize the importance of using every available means when it comes to fighting HIV/AIDS and all disease!

While dealing with HIV or AIDS, dedicated people have worked tirelessly, creating awareness in the many areas related to HIV and AIDS. Individuals spoke out; ignored the HIV stigma and broke down the barriers of fear and discrimination in their own lives as well as for the sake of others. Among the varied issues, many pioneered the importance of complementary therapies and their uses in treating HIV/AIDS. For some, the benefits from their efforts were not always realized while they were alive. Where some left off striving, others are going onward. This challenging work will continue until science, the medical profession, pharmaceutical companies, governments and media combine all resources to promote the usage of complementary therapies as an integral part of the methods for treatment of illnesses.

by Bradford McIntyre
Vancouver,Canada
www.PositivelyPositive.ca