Raise Your Hand if You Take TRUVADA! BE PROUD!

[natina]

Syphilis Is Surging, and U.S. Public Health Officials Aren't Sure Why

It's hard to miss "SYPHILIS EXPLOSION" ads that prominently feature those capitalized words before a fiery red erupting volcano. They were plastered across BART stations in the Bay Area and billboards in Los Angeles late last year courtesy of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which says the campaign has already appeared in or is heading to Cleveland, Columbus, Baton Rouge, Brooklyn and other cities.

Syphilis, which can cause serious health problems if untreated, is on a troubling upswing across the United States. The rate of primary and secondary syphilis infections fell by nearly 90 percent between 1990 and 2000, but has increased most years since, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report analyzing public health data through 2013. This recent wave of syphilis is mostly a problem confronting gay men—or, to use the broader medical term, men who have sex with men. Between 2000 and 2004 alone, the CDC reports that the estimated proportion of primary and secondary syphilis infections attributable to men having sex with men rose dramatically, from 7 percent to 64 percent.

Nationwide, the CDC reports that primary and secondary syphilis rates increased by 10 percent between 2012 and 2013—an infection rate more than twice as high as figures from 2001. The Atlanta, Baltimore, Detroit, Los Angles, Miami, Orlando, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego and San Francisco metro areas have some of the highest syphilis rates, according to the CDC.
In the San Francisco Bay area, reported cases rose from 438 in 2009 to 814 in 2013. In Washington, D.C., Dr. Raymond C. Martins, senior director of clinical education at Whitman-Walker Health,says that the clinic saw a 32 percent increase in syphilis cases among patients between 2011 and 2014. And in recent months, at least 15 cases of ocular syphilis, a serious complication of the disease that can cause blindness, have been reported in California and Washington state, according to an alert released earlier this month by the CDC. Most of these infections have occurred among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/syp...why/ar-AAb3qBf

Sex Superbug Could Be 'Worse Than AIDS'

An antibiotic-resistant strain of gonorrhea—now considered a superbug—has some analysts saying that the bacteria's effects could match those of AIDS.


"This might be a lot worse than AIDS in the short run because the bacteria is more aggressive and will affect more people quickly," said Alan Christianson, a doctor of naturopathic medicine.


Even though nearly 30 million people have died from AIDS related causes worldwide, Christianson believes the effect of the gonorrhea bacteria is more direct.

"Getting gonorrhea from this strain might put someone into septic shock and death in a matter of days," Christianson said. "This is very dangerous."

"It's an emergency situation," said William Smith, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors. "As time moves on, it's getting more hazardous."




This gonorrhea strain, HO41, was discovered in Japan two years ago in a 31-year-old female sex worker who had been screened in 2009. The bacteria has since been found in Hawaii, California and Norway.

(Correction: The statement that H041 was found in places beyond Japan is incorrect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Gonorrhea strains resistant to a certain antibiotic not routinely recommended by CDC as a first-line treatment regimen for gonorrhea were detected in Hawaii, but other treatments ultimately cured those infections in follow-up. To date, there have been no treatment failures reported in the U.S.for gonorrhea treated with currently-recommended first-line regimens.)

Because it resists current antibiotic treatment, the strain has been placed in the superbug category with other resistant bacteria, such as MRSA and CRE. These superbugs kill about half the people they attack, and nearly one in 20 hospital patients become infected with one, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though no deaths from HO41 have been reported, efforts to combat it must continue, Smith said.


"We have to keep beating the drum on this," he said. "The potential for disaster is great."

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100685883

[Laphroaig]

****RAISES HAND****

I've been on Truvada for nearly five months now. No more anxiety about HIV and no side effects! Our ranks are growing, and several prominent people (including an SF County Supervisor) have come out of the Truvada Whore closet. I know of at least one VERY WELL KNOWN TS porn star who is on it. Will anyone else break the silence and raise their hand? This is the only way we can halt the spread of HIV. THE CLOSET KILLS!!!

Exactly how much is this "protection" costing you and if you're not paying, who is footing the bill just so that you can have your fun without condoms (which are cheap and more effective)?

[Tapatio]

Exactly how much is this "protection" costing you and if you're not paying, who is footing the bill just so that you can have your fun without condoms (which are cheap and more effective)?

I'm still convinced that he's getting a discount based on cheerleading social media posts.

If you read through the last Truvada thread he has...

On second thought, don't read through his last Truvada thread.

Or this one.

He has no interest in anything but advertising.

[fred41]

From what I remember, Wes was a test subject...he mentioned that numerous times...so unless it's over, I would assume that he's paying nothing. Also, I doubt Gilead is paying him to advertise since that company is not actively pushing it's HIV medication because there isn't enough profit in it (there was an article about it on an investment site if I remember correctly)...most of their money is made in the HEP C market.
...and as far as condoms are concerned, and we've been through this, yes they are cheaper, but this drug is excellent for folks who live with HIV poz partners and...
YES, folks who aren't always that careful and know it. All preaching aside , there are tons of folks, who because of a multitude of personal habits or weaknesses or whatever, are not going to always use condoms regardless of the Officer McGruff warnings. It's human nature. We're slaves to our desires. If folks like that can afford to take this drug...power to them. I myself may be on this if it's affordable to my insurance plan and I can get a prescription.

[fred41]

Oh, and if my insurance covers it and it's convenient to take, I don't care what it costs someone else...why?...because for years I'm helping to foot the bill for you cigarette smoking, fat eating, non-exercising, hypochondriac motherfuckers who have to see the doctor every fucking time they get the sniffles or a boo-boo and demand health care to cover it.
...hell, I may add a prescription of 100mg viagra to that also..lol

[lifeisfiction]

From all the studies I read they do blind testing where half the those receive Truvada and half of them receive a placebo. Only in the one test where they administered Truvada after the person had unprotected sex with a unknown partner they actually administered Truvada. I am curious if Gilead gets the other HIV drugged to be backed by the FDA for Prep use, since both are taken together with people who have HIV, will he go and take both? Still I am curious if the study he is participating in is a blind study or they are actually giving everyone Truvada?

I agree with Fred that people will act like saints, but because they do have unprotected sex in lapse of judgment or once in a blue moon, or play the numbers game it's no so bad. At least people who are taking it are trying to prevent something no matter the level of effectiveness and at least they acknowledge they need to have some sort of protection.

[fred41]

I don't have truvada but I might have a liver disease - found out yesterday

try not to worry til you know for sure (It's true advice, but impossible to follow...I'm sorry)...I got my fingers crossed for you Ashlyn.

[broncofan]

From all the studies I read they do blind testing where half the those receive Truvada and half of them receive a placebo.

I'd love to see the informed consent forms for those studies!

I agree with Fred about the Officer McGruff warnings as we're adults and can do what we want. But I think a lot of Wes' earlier posts sort of read like someone telling people they shouldn't worry about smoking because the link between smoking and lung cancer is tenuous. Then the person finds a different fix that avoids some of the earlier hazards and they pretend like they're Mr. Responsible and will not shut up about what they're doing.

If the newest discovery in HIV prevention were a fail-proof condom that limited sensation one millionth of a percent, Wes would instead be casting doubt on the wisdom of using it.

[MrBest]

From what I remember, Wes was a test subject...he mentioned that numerous times...so unless it's over, I would assume that he's paying nothing. Also, I doubt Gilead is paying him to advertise since that company is not actively pushing it's HIV medication because there isn't enough profit in it (there was an article about it on an investment site if I remember correctly)...most of their money is made in the HEP C market.
...and as far as condoms are concerned, and we've been through this, yes they are cheaper, but this drug is excellent for folks who live with HIV poz partners and...
YES, folks who aren't always that careful and know it. All preaching aside , there are tons of folks, who because of a multitude of personal habits or weaknesses or whatever, are not going to always use condoms regardless of the Officer McGruff warnings. It's human nature. We're slaves to our desires. If folks like that can afford to take this drug...power to them. I myself may be on this if it's affordable to my insurance plan and I can get a prescription.

what is personal responsibility?

[MrBest]

I'd love to see the informed consent forms for those studies!

I agree with Fred about the Officer McGruff warnings as we're adults and can do what we want. But I think a lot of Wes' earlier posts sort of read like someone telling people they shouldn't worry about smoking because the link between smoking and lung cancer is tenuous. Then the person finds a different fix that avoids some of the earlier hazards and they pretend like they're Mr. Responsible and will not shut up about what they're doing.

If the newest discovery in HIV prevention were a fail-proof condom that limited sensation one millionth of a percent, Wes would instead be casting doubt on the wisdom of using it.

wes l BB and bottoms, end of discussion