After the M&M simulation, I really got an idea what a person has to deal with the moment they get diagnosed with AIDS or are HIV positive. The simulation really proves how it isn't just "take your pills" and you'll be fine. I really don't think people see how difficult it is to have to take sixteen plus pills every day that make you feel sick at times and have to carefully planned out in accordance with whether they have to be taken with food or not.
The M&M simulation was also very real to me because I had gone to take my HIV test at the beginning of that same week. Taking that test was something that I will never forget. In a sense, I felt dirty going in there. Once the nurse kept asking me whether I had unprotected sex in the past year, I answered yes, and told her, "But, I am married." She replied with, "Married or not married, you could still get HIV." I told her that we had both waited until we were married to have sex, and she looked at me like she was in disbelief. I knew she didn't believe me because she asked if I wanted to be tested for chlamydia right after. I understand why they have to ask because I remember the woman from the Women's Panel that got HIV through her husband, but I just couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.
When I left that day, I remember thinking that this was one of the reasons why I had waited to have sex until I was married; I never wanted to have to go through this. I am not writing this to teach or to brag by any means at all. It was just ironic to me a little bit to have to go through it anyways due to this class!
Did You Know?
Symptoms of children with AIDS include lymph nodes (like the child in the picture) that remain enlarged for more than 3 months, lack of energy, weight loss, requent fevers and sweats, persistent and frequent oral/vaginal yest infections, skin rashes or flaky sins, pelvic inflammatory disease that does not respont to treatment, short-term memory loss.
Reference
Children's Hospital Boston. (2010). AIDS/HIV. Retrieved on November 10, 2010 from http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site550/mainpageS550P0.html
I got HIV tested the week we started the simulation too, only I went to the UCF Wellness Center. It wasn't as weird for me as you described, I did not feel judged when I answered yes to the same question; though I am not married.
ReplyDeleteThat poor child :( It's awful to see kids like this, and at that age their bodies are changing so quickly and they want to go out and play with friends but can't because they are too sick, or too tired. So sad!
I'm sure the healthcare worker at the office you went to has heard just about everything. You are a rare person who waits until they are married to have sex. That is what I am hoping my daughter does, but before she gets married I want both of them to have a panel of tests done so there are no surprises for either of them. Then after the marriage, it is down to trust.
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