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I woke up a little later than usual.  The alarm went off at 7 a.m. as usual. I must have turned it off and went back to sleep.  So, I roll out of bed around 7:30 and run to the shower. I'm feeling terribly nauseated. I try to brush my teeth in the shower and then it all just ripped. I start to vomit over and over. Mostly just dry heaving and spitting. It sometimes takes me a few hours after I wake up to "stabilize". I sit on my bed drinking an alka seltzer and then some iced tea.  I feel better and throw on my scrubs. Feed my cat, my 4 fish tanks, turn on the plant lights, and out the door. The humidity hits me like a wall when I walk outside and I start to profusely sweat. I sit in my truck waiting for the air to cool me off while wiping sweat off my face.
This has become almost a normal routine anymore. This is the effect of taking 3 toxic pills everyday and one anti-depressant.
I walk into work, check in at the nurse's station to let them know I am there, and then go sit in the break room to drink more iced tea. I am still "stabilizing".
 Oh, then the runs hit. I figure out the runs were a result of taking turmeric capsules, which I have since quit. But any greasy food can activate it too.
So, on top of trying to get working in a fast paced hospital unit. I am constantly going to the bathroom.
I leave the bathroom and as I walk out, I hear my supervisor behind me say "Damn you spend a lot of time in there".
But she cracks up laughing and says "I am just joking". But I know she is telling the truth. Regardless, I am embarrassed and horrified.  Someone is on to me.
That day at work I am in the elevator with a patient and 2 nurses.  One of the nurses is drinking a soda and the other asks for a drink. The first nurse says to the 2nd nurse "No, I have a cough and I don't want you to get my tuberculosis". The other nurse says "You are right, I don't want your HIV". Then they break down into laughter. I am absolutely disgusted they would joke about these things.
I am a 44 year old health tech in a hospital. I have been positive since I was 24 years old. So, I am now going on 20 years as a long term survivor. I started this blog to share my experience in those 20 years. Some sad, some funny. I hope you enjoy it.

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