Charlie Sheen will announce he's HIV+ on Today Show with Lauer...

tomorrow morning. Got the info from a good L.A. friend late last night who said TMZ would announce it today. Here's the link:

http://www.tmz.com/2015/11/16/charlie-sheen-hiv-lawsuits-settlement/

Oh, how sad for him. I know all too well how mental illness and manic stages can lead to exactly this result...  I hope he stays well.

Sad?  not really.  being HIV positive isn't AIDs.  The HIV virus can be controlled with meds.  Those who are HIV+ and faithfully take their meds can reach 0 viral load.  There has never been a case of HIV transmission with a person who maintains a 0 (zero) viral load.

And for anyone who isn't in a monogamous relationship, there is PrREP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) a once a day pill that has been shown to 100% prevent HIV transmission in every clinical trial.  I so wish more parents knew about this - and would encourage the young people in their lives who are sexually active to consider this option.

A burden, yes.  Currently a stigma in our society, yes.  And a challenge that can be met.

said by someone who doesn't have to take dozens of medications each day that mess with your stomach. Said by someone who doesn't go to the doctor every few months for blood work. Said by someone who hadn't had to experience a change in effectiveness of the "cocktail" and having to start all over and hope the next batch will work. Said by someone who doesn't face discrimination (this very day) by medical and dental providers, potential love interests and broader society

So, yes, it's sad for him. (No one said he was going to die)

conandrob240 said:
said by someone who doesn't have to take dozens of medications each day that mess with your stomach.

FYI, most HIV "cocktails" come in a one-pill/once or twice a day form these days.  Likewise, most people tolerate them very well.  

It's definitely a burden to live with HIV, but I think Pete's post was meant to convey that it's entirely possible to lead a long, healthy life and to avoid infecting others.

mjh said:

conandrob240 said:
said by someone who doesn't have to take dozens of medications each day that mess with your stomach.

FYI, most HIV "cocktails" come in a one-pill/once or twice a day form these days.  Likewise, most people tolerate them very well.  
It's definitely a burden to live with HIV, but I think Pete's post was meant to convey that it's entirely possible to lead a long, healthy life and to avoid infecting others.

Apparently another way to avoid infecting others is to tell them you are HIV positive before any sexual activity.

mjh said:

conandrob240 said:
said by someone who doesn't have to take dozens of medications each day that mess with your stomach.

FYI, most HIV "cocktails" come in a one-pill/once or twice a day form these days.  Likewise, most people tolerate them very well.  
It's definitely a burden to live with HIV, but I think Pete's post was meant to convey that it's entirely possible to lead a long, healthy life and to avoid infecting others.

No one said it was. And I'll tell my loved one that her stomach issues or her multiple pills are a figment of her imagination LOL

All I said was that I was sad for Charlie sheen.

tjohn said:

mjh said:

conandrob240 said:
said by someone who doesn't have to take dozens of medications each day that mess with your stomach.

FYI, most HIV "cocktails" come in a one-pill/once or twice a day form these days.  Likewise, most people tolerate them very well.  
It's definitely a burden to live with HIV, but I think Pete's post was meant to convey that it's entirely possible to lead a long, healthy life and to avoid infecting others.

Apparently another way to avoid infecting others is to tell them you are HIV positive before any sexual activity.

That conversation goes really well, as you'd might expect. It pretty much eliminates any chance of a relationship with most people. I know in theory it doesn't but in reality, it really, really does.

My comment stands- I am sad for charlie sheen. It's a tough burden to live with for many, many reasons.

I have a friend, a gay man who happens to be involved in public health as a professional, who became HIV+ in 2009. He approached the diagnosis like it was an inevitability and moved on with his life - now with the daily administration of meds. I couldn't understand the nonchalance then and I don't understand it now. 

mjh said:

conandrob240 said:
said by someone who doesn't have to take dozens of medications each day that mess with your stomach.

FYI, most HIV "cocktails" come in a one-pill/once or twice a day form these days.  Likewise, most people tolerate them very well.  
It's definitely a burden to live with HIV, but I think Pete's post was meant to convey that it's entirely possible to lead a long, healthy life and to avoid infecting others.

Of course that is how you try to approach the day to day.  otherwise it'd eat you alive and you'd go insane.  But, even with the new drugs and the fact that it isn't a death sentence, the reality of living with it day to day is still pretty hard. To challenge my comment "I am sad for Charlie Sheen" was pretty ignorant.

conandrob240 said:
Of course that is how you try to approach the day to day.  otherwise it'd eat you alive and you'd go insane.  But, even with the new drugs and the fact that it isn't a death sentence, the reality of living with it day to day is still pretty hard. To challenge my comment "I am sad for Charlie Sheen" was pretty ignorant.

Nobody is challenging your comment.  But if he engaged in unprotected sex knowing that he was HIV positive...no justification. 

I too feel for him and thankfully this isn't the 80's and if he follows medical orders, he'll be fine. Look at Magic Johnson. BUT..he led an extremely high risk life: porn stars, hookers, trannies - and during it all, he picked up a wife or two along the way. He's a huge drug user and drinker and I do believe he has some sort of mental illness. 

When he was going off the rails spouting the joys of his life due to "tiger blood" my guess is he knew then and really flipped and didn't know how the hell to handle it. 

tjohn said:

conandrob240 said:
Of course that is how you try to approach the day to day.  otherwise it'd eat you alive and you'd go insane.  But, even with the new drugs and the fact that it isn't a death sentence, the reality of living with it day to day is still pretty hard. To challenge my comment "I am sad for Charlie Sheen" was pretty ignorant.

Nobody is challenging your comment.  But if he engaged in unprotected sex knowing that he was HIV positive...no justification. 

First of all, it was challenged- peteglider said "sad? Not really" dumb comment.

Second, I am perplexed by the accusation he engaged in unprotected sex and knowingly infected others. Is this part of the story? Admittedly, haven't read any more than the headline announcement. Edited: I see it now. What a mess. I feel for this man who was/is clearly having some sort of mental breakdown.

If you believe what's written about him in the media (and his outlandish statements), I'd think his announcement would be that he's dead, not infected.  The guy seems to have so many untreated problems; let's hope he gets help for this one.  Sad for those he's infected as well.  

Don't come to me seeking a rodent posterior.  

while it is true people with hiv can live 50 years or more after infection...some dont even when fully med compliant...sometimes the virus mutates also.....i wouldnt feel protected by any 'prep' pill..especially knowing medical studies have been falsified (ie autism vaccines)

the 50 year number is based on people diagnosed many years ago....people diagnosed in recent years would probably have a longer life span..30 years ago ...it was 10 years max....but there are people that have lived with HIV for 30 years (when they were told 10)...not long ago, it was a 30 year expectancy...

It is ignorant to say that following medical orders ensures a person will be fine...there is a very good chance they will be...but it is not a guarantee...and at least this guy SHOULD have the financial resources for the meds....poor people-even in the US...don't always have that.

jmitw said:
while it is true people with hiv can live 50 years or more after infection...some dont even when fully med compliant...sometimes the virus mutates also.....i wouldnt feel protected by any 'prep' pill..especially knowing medical studies have been falsified (ie autism vaccines)
the 50 year number is based on people diagnosed many years ago....people diagnosed in recent years would probably have a longer life span..30 years ago ...it was 10 years max....but there are people that have lived with HIV for 30 years (when they were told 10)...not long ago, it was a 30 year expectancy...

It is ignorant to say that following medical orders ensures a person will be fine...there is a very good chance they will be...but it is not a guarantee...and at least this guy SHOULD have the financial resources for the meds....poor people-even in the US...don't always have that.

True, but we can say that with ANY disease. I live with someone who takes 14+ meds 2x's a day. When you read the Rx labels, you have to wonder what will be the demise: the drug or the disease? 

I'm a glass half full girl and NEED to believe that if anyone follows the advice of a great medical team, and Charlie certainly can afford the best in this country and beyond, they will be fine. Thinking otherwise is counterintuitive to the patient and to the disease. The body's going to do what the body is going to do. Those meds that he will ingest will prolong his life beyond what the life expectancy used to be and he can look like a "healthy" person and not a zombie as so many did not so long ago (I have family members who died from HIV and AIDS so I know of what I speak - not saying that you don't - but if you've never been eye to eye with a loved one who used to look like a model and then whittled away to a shell of a person, complete with hollowed eyes and raspy voice, it's quite numbing).

What he CAN'T do is take his cocktail and continue to drink and drug. That will certainly be the death of him.

So, I've just tuned into the Today Show as the cut out to commercials w/ Matt and Charlie. What did I miss?

Hahaha said:
So, I've just tuned into the Today Show as the cut out to commercials w/ Matt and Charlie. What did I miss?

http://www.today.com/health/charlie-sheen-reveals-hes-hiv-positive-today-show-exclusive-t56391

Diagnosed four years ago! Was that around the "tiger blood" time? 

conandrob240 said:
First of all, it was challenged- peteglider said "sad? Not really" dumb comment.

Didn't look like a "challenge" to me. Looked like you said you were sad for him, and peteglider said he wasn't really sad for him. Pretty sure peteglider can't tell you what emotions you're feeling.

deborahg said:
Diagnosed four years ago! Was that around the "tiger blood" time? 

I am afraid to think how many women he may have infected during this time.

If peteglider said HE wasn't sad, fine. But the comment was "sad? Not really" as if it was silly to be sad about being HIV+

In any case, it's a tough road and it seems maybe Charlie is/was in denial. His diagnosis seems to coincide with his epic meltdown and mental break which makes the whole thing extra sad to me. The man was in personal crisis and was fired and ridiculed.( and yes I know he was an a%^ during this time but it makes a bit more sense now doesn't it?)

ridski said:

conandrob240 said:
First of all, it was challenged- peteglider said "sad? Not really" dumb comment.

Didn't look like a "challenge" to me. Looked like you said you were sad for him, and peteglider said he wasn't really sad for him. Pretty sure peteglider can't tell you what emotions you're feeling.

Looks like he knowingly exposed partners to the virus. Ex-girlfriend (and former "goddess") Bree Olsen has already Tweeted about getting an HIV test. 

Of course, what better way to experience the most stressful time of your life than to chronicle is on Twitter.

Bree Olsen was/is a porn star, no?  I would imagine regular HIV testing is a routine part of her life.

From watching the interview, it's clear the guy is still a mess.  Hopefully he gets his sh#t together.  If he had admitted he was HIV positive 4 years ago he wouldn't have had to pay "millions" of dollars to keep people quiet.  

it's amazing he's not already infected with a host of other diseases. Hepatitis? Herpes? Or dead already. The really sad thing is that he was probably spreading it to others because of his selfish and reckless behavior. I don't have a lot of sympathy for him.

conandrob240 said:
Bree Olsen was/is a porn star, no?  I would imagine regular HIV testing is a routine part of her life.

I read she was an "actress" but judging from the company Sheen keeps, she probably is a porn star. So, yes, HIV testing should be routine for her. 

I had just read an article that stated (with data) that being infected with Hepatitis C was worse than having HIV - based on recent advancements in medicines. 

Based on his former lifestyle, I can't think of one reason why I should care about this guy, and yes, after watching the interview,he is still a mess! Just Sayin'.