It's my party - or, is it even possible to get HIV treatment in Uruguay?

It's My Party was on TV this evening. Despite the title, it's not an upbeat movie. The whole plot leads up to one thing and its quite sequel-proof.

It has moments where you laugh, you smile - but it's absolutely not a happy ending. I cried throughout the ending and for about ten minutes afterwards.

It reminded me of caring for someone who has HIV. Oh yes, the medication and the support is there. The blood tests are available.

Best advice I could give is this - if you're already part of a mutualista hopefully it's CASMU. Yeah, CASMU doesn't have a great repuatation... but in 2005 the word on the street was that Asociacion Espanola or Medicina Uruguaya would do everything they could to deny the coverage and the expensive drugs. Since CASMU is the Physicians' Union, its the best one to be part of.

If you're not part of a mutualista when you receive the news... make it happen somehow. Form a Unipersonal so that you can pay DISSE to BPS. Then enroll in CASMU. Get yourself an appointment in the "Medicina Preventativa" clinic. That's where the HIV specialists work. You may have a bit of a battle with the administration about a month after you get your first batch of whatever regimen of pills you're put on - because they may try to drop you. My now-ex told them, if you do this I will have the media here covering the issue. "No soy una marica de la calle." (I'm not a faggot from the streets, literally.)

It is possible to date and have a relationship with someone who is HIV positive without contracting the virus. I'm living proof. The relationship did not end due to his HIV status, life can throw other problems your way after THAT disaster.

I've decided that it's best I don't have contact with him anymore because I'm not sure he's continuing to take the medication. I prefer to remember him as he was in 2004, very much alive and healthy and thats the image I will always have.

Wow. I HAD to write this to recover some sense of normalcy after seeing that film. Thanks for reading.