Like many people, I know a LOT of HIV+ individuals, and for those of us who are familiar with HIV and its typical treatment, the loss of Mr. Friedman to AIDS-related causes was an extra level of shock. I know I wasn't the only one who wondered if he'd been in treatment for HIV or if he'd been undiagnosed...
... and therefore, for the story to go into depth, with on the record quotes from his family saying he'd only learned his HIV status in July, it clears up a lot of confusion for us. It seems that in short, Mr. Friedman's HIV wasn't treated until the disease had severely weakened his immune system.
For what it's worth, about 10% of HIV+ people can be classified as "rapid progressors," meaning that they develop AIDS within 2 or 3 years of infection. For just about everyone else, the virus needs five to ten years to deplete your CD4 count below 200, where we'd say that a patient has AIDS.
An important reminder to everyone within a high-risk group -- including all of us men who have sex with men -- to get tested every 6 months.
- GMB |
