Did YOU know? – Why should YOU know? – Why should YOU share or care?

Why do we have a fear of discussing topics that should not be swept aside?

Is it because we are scared someone will think we have ‘that disease’?

Or….are we are not sufficiently informed, (not even a little bit) and don’t want to be perceived to be ignorant?

Whatever your reason, it is in your family, friends, associates and colleagues best interest to talk about these ‘unmentionable’ matters as it can enlighten and prevent incorrect information from being shared. Don’t go searching ‘Dr. Google’, rather ask someone in the know and then share the information garnered from them.

If you think talking about Cancer or the big ‘C’, as it was referred to in whispered tones way back when is a major no-no, try getting people to talk about HIV and AIDS!

Now that I have mentioned Cancer, can you imagine being diagnosed with HIV in 2004 and diagnosed with AIDS, four years later?

Between 2004 and 2008,  amid being diagnosed HIV positive, was also afflicted with pneumonia, shingles, (Four bouts in a year, extremely painful) two strokes in 2005 and 2006 respectively, which led to being in a coma for two weeks each time, TB Meningitis and Stage 3 Cancer, (Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy).

Shew, you say? Try hiding it that from friends and family out of fear of rejection and judgment, that’s a shew and a half! I did manage to do so for six years before deciding to go public with my status.

Had I known what I know now about the dis-ease and the support I received once I disclosed my status, would have made very different decisions much earlier in my diagnosis as it was quite a nightmare trying to carry the burden of knowing my status and keeping it hidden from everyone.

Each time World AIDS Day comes around I reflect on how complacent, that us, as South Africans have become.

Firstly, we do not recognise HIV & AIDS throughout the year but come 1st December everyone tries to jump on the bandwagon and shove it down everyone’s throat, which in turn makes them sigh and turn a blind eye. Not only that, but there is still so much ignorance and myths perpetrated with a dash of out-of-date medical staff, that we are lagging in support, information and awareness.

Rant over.

In some respects, we have come a long way. We manufacture our own ARV’s, offer PrEP to high-risk individuals (a preventative measure) and are rolling out ATM-like dispensers which have been started in the rural areas due to a shortage of accessible clinics for chronic medication users, which includes ARV dispensing.

Now to ‘dish the dirt’ on me.

I know it sounds blasé, but over time one learns to live with the virus as a ‘normal’ person. There is nothing that can change your status, but everything can be changed by an attitude adjustment. You manage your virus with medication and live a healthy productive life.

Being diagnosed HIV positive at the age of forty-six is not something you want to hear, not at any age in fact.

In 2004 my partner at the time knowingly infected me. I only found this out in 2012 after an interview with Carte Blanche, when a friend of a friend put me in touch with an ex-girlfriend of Wayne’s (I can use his name as it the matter got as far as the roll for High Court which allows public access).

Many people are unaware of the absolute basics of HIV, not only the uninfected but the infected HIV positive individual as well. Sadly until the uninfected become infected they choose to remain oblivious. Here are a few choice pieces of information which I hope provide some basic insight into your HIV head-space.

1.  If you feel you have possibly been exposed to HIV, you have a seventy-two hour period in which to get medical treatment and onto PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) which means taking antiretroviral medicines (ART) to potentially prevent becoming infected.

2.  CD4 count – The CD4 count is like a snapshot of how well your immune system is functioning. CD4 cells (also known as CD4+ T cells) are white blood cells that fight infection. The more you have the better. These are the cells that the HIV virus kills. As HIV infection progresses, the number of these cells declines.

3.  Viral Load – It measures the number of HIV virus particles in a millilitre of your blood. Those particles are also known as “copies.” A low viral load is a sign of the virus copying itself in low amounts in the body. According to AIDS.gov, HIV viral load is typically undetectable below levels of 40–75 copies/mL.

4.  Undetectable = Untransmittable HIV – There are still many people living with HIV that don’t know that if the virus is undetectable, then they cannot transmit the virus to their sexual partners. Undetectable HIV means that the viral load is suppressed and doesn’t show up on blood tests. Note: You are still HIV positive.

We still have a pandemic in South Africa and recent stats have indicated abnormal numbers of new infections:

 

280, 000 new infections every year.

140, 000 HIV related deaths every year.

Not only do we have these stats, we have the pregnancy figures in schools that are way over acceptable levels with children as young as nine and ten falling pregnant, which, if you think about it, open them up to STI’s as well as HIV.

I have since become a trainer, speaker, and counsellor on HIV and authored two books, titled The Deadly Seducer and Error, Terror & Triumph in order to share more of my HIV journey.

I am pleased to say that even after a massive heart attack in March 2018, resulting in a double bypass (unrelated to my HIV status) I am doing well and at the age of 60, still have much to do so onward and upward I go!

Get tested – Know your status.

#CindyHIV

Not only did my website go live on this day in 2011 but it also meant I publicly disclosed my HIV status for the first time.
 
So much has happened since then, good and bad but mostly fantastic!
 
Many thanks to everyone who stood by me during this ongoing process of living, it has been an interesting journey.
 
I have met, befriended and counselled many an HIV positive individual and some near misses (turned out negative)
 
Furthermore, I have had the opportunity to speak to many people on World AIDS Day, and have enjoyed hosting a number of training events to boot.
 
Long live the infected!
 
www.cindypivacic.co.za
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RX Radio interview with Qaqamba Aug 2017

On 29 August, 2017, in Media, Speaking Engagements, by Cindy Pivacic

What a fantastic initiative is this!

RX Radio is a radio station– run by and for children – at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.

The initiative aims to create a platform for communication between hospitalised children, their families, and the health services by providing patients with the skills and support to produce and broadcast radio programmes across the hospital.

In addition, they are a project initiated under the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital Facility Board.

https://soundcloud.com/cindy_pivacic/cindys-interveiw-on-qaqambas-inspiration-corner-12-august-2017

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Presenting at International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) Cape Town on the 9th Dec 2015 themed

IWPG Pic of Group

Speak to me if you would like to know how we can address topics around HIV & AIDS to your Staff, Scholars, Students, Medical Institutions and your Community.

Cindy’s Video BusCard

On 11 February, 2016, in Events, Health and Wellness, Speaking Engagements, Training, by Cindy Pivacic

Great to meet you!

Powder Power

Let’s set up a time to discuss ways to enlighten your staff and ensure their well-being and ultimately retain a smooth working environment.

Check out the video link below and feel free to: SHARE 🙂 

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c8

 

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It took me SIX years after diagnosis in 2004 to go public with my HIV status. It was not easy……

 

Today it is FIVE years since taking that plunge!

 

My thanks to ALL the people that supported this event and to those that have paved the way for me since, your presence has been unwavering.

 

Many Thanks to:

 

Charlotte Kemp and Shawn Fouche for sponsoring my website and ‘forcing’ me to:

 

SPEAK OUT

 

My Mother of course deserves more than anyone, my thanks, as she has been my, in her words, ‘biggest fan’ since going public.

 

I look forward to many healthy years and support going forward as I still have plenty to do!

 

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Viber Invite & Press Release

On 19 January, 2016, in Health and Wellness, Media, Resource, Training, by Cindy Pivacic

Game On!

My quote for Viber Press Release Today

“We’re in a new era of HIV care and prevention”, says Cindy Pivacic, HIV Speaker, Trainer and Activist. “Viber Public Chats represent an ideal platform for spreading messages and debating HIV issues.” Cindy’s decision to go public with her status was prompted by her own experience with the disease. After acquiring numerous illnesses associated with HIV and AIDS, Cindy realised that she would not cope without the help of others. “Through the use of Viber Public Chats, I hope to bring together a group of people who have experiences to share and discuss HIV knowledge, stigma and prevention and ultimately call on people to get tested.”

Join me on Viber, a free and amazing app for calls and messages!

 www.viber.com/dl

Logo Viber

       The link for the Public Chat I am hosting

 http://www.viber.com/beyondhiv

 

Why Viber?

Free calls, text and picture sharing with anyone, anywhere!

  • Free text, calling, photo messages and location-sharing with Viber users*
  • No registration, alias or invitations required
  • Instantly integrates with your own contact list
  • Best-quality mobile calls using 3G or Wi-Fi
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Changing the Status Quo with Skype

On 24 June, 2015, in Health and Wellness, Media, Press, by Cindy Pivacic

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Cindy Pivacic has made it her life’s mission to reverse the stigma around HIV & AIDS by using technology to counsel patients and educate healthcare workers.Cindy-Pivacic-eHealthNews-e1434703382807-470x250

Follow the link to see full article

Changing the Status Quo with Skype