My first reaction to the book made me feel rather depressed, as a doctor we are trained to cure aliments, and this book truly showed me that I will not always be able to cure everything. I really liked how this doctor decided to open up his life to the readers and tell us everything that he was going through, that isn't something that many people would willing expose. If your looking for a good read on the insight of a doctors quest to combat HIV, this is a great book to look into. Other than reading the book, two weeks ago I managed to get my HIV test which was rather revealing and a bit awkward, I get my results back on the 5th of October. I got my test done at the UCF health center, the people there were very nice and informative, hope to have the same people when I go back.
DID YOU KNOW...
Well now that we have talked about what HIV is, and how we can contract the disease, I think its time to talk about recognizing some of its symptoms. When the HIV infects the body, we can begin to see certain symptoms that my indicate that someone should go take an HIV test. Some of these symptoms include:
-rapid weight loss
-dry cough
-fever with night sweats
-extreme fatigue
-swollen lymph glands
-prolonged duration of diarrhea
-white spots or blemishes in the oral cavity
-pneumonia
-shades of red blotching under the skin
-memory loss or depression
(Palo)
Although someone may have some of these symptoms the only fail-proof way to know whether or not someone has HIV is be tested. Many times a subject with HIV does not have any symptoms caused by the virus for what could be years at a time. Knowing some of the signs of HIV may help you in its further prevention, however the only way to completely protect yourself from HIV is to entirely avoid any activity in which it may be spread. Until next week, keep your mind open, and body safe. (Palo)
Web: Palo Alto Medical Foundation. (2009) Retrieved September 30, 2009, from http://www.pamf.org/teen/sex/std/std/hivfacts.html
I'm right there with you in trying to find a balance between work, school and my internship. I need a vacation! Surviving the Fall sounds like a great book. I wish I could have read all the books on the list. That is not going to happen this semester, but maybe soon. I went to take my HIV test and I did feel awkward as well, but the people were very friendly. This course is truly a great experience and I will actually remember a lot of information. I like the fact that you emphasized the need to be tested regardless of any symptoms.
ReplyDeleteI also read Surviving the Fall, which I thought was a great book. I kept relating my own future life as a doctor to what Dr. Selwyn conveyed to his readers. The author did tell many of his personal details which I thought made him more "real." For example, he explained how one night him and his colleagues went out to a trance club, and liked the bass. I think this made him a more relateable character to me, anyway.
ReplyDeleteI hope you mean the wellness center, because the health center is a private site and not eligible for use. Tell you dad I concur with his "welcome to the real world" comment.
ReplyDeleteIf you are going to be a doctor, read The Least of These, which is on the list. It was also written by a doctor that works in an AIDS ward of a large hospital in New York. He will also give you a persepective on what it is like to be a doctor and treating patients with HIV.
Unfortunately I read a different book for our reading assignmnet but "Surviving the Fall" sounds like a good-read. The book I read was on a more personal level being narrated by the person who was infected. I think small novels and books like the ones suggested in our class are great avenues to spreading the world to everyday people who do not come into contact with the topic or disease very often. My older sister is in Med School now so I think I'll recommend that book to her too :)
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