"Living with HIV: Frequently asked questions"

Abstract

What was the first thing you did when you found out that you were HIV positive? I was in a combination of shock and denial. If it weren't for the mixed emotions, I would have probably cried. I believe that I did cry eventually. I had been sitting in this nurse's office waiting for a while, thinking that it shouldn't be taking this long. Then, I realized that I already knew that I was HIV positive. The nurse who took my blood two weeks before came into the small office, said hello without looking at me and sat at the desk. He put my file on the desk, sat in the swivel chair and turned to face me. He smiled; I smiled. I could tell from the way he was acting that he wasn't going to tell me anything that I didn't already know. Finally, after listening to his well-rehearsed lines about sex, safer sex, my limited treatment options (in November of 1990) and whether or not I had any questions, I was in a daze. So, the first thing I did when I found out that I was HIV positive was walk out of the walk-in clinic.