The last five years or so, my average t-cell count has been around 600. In January, before the Covid-19 lockdown, my count was 635. I'm more than thrilled with that because, paired with my consistently undetectable viral load, it's a sign that my...
Shawn Decker
Anyone Else Missing More Doses of HIV Meds?
Since I started taking HIV medications in 1999, I've been very good at not missing any doses. Even during my extended period of week on/week off (2003-ish to 2013-ish), I was diligent about remembering which day was the start day for another week of pills....
I Have HIV. Video of My HIV Negative Partner Getting Tested for HIV #NHTD
My partner, Gwenn, and I have been together for two decades. During the entirety of our relationship I've been HIV positive, and she's been HIV negative. Last year for National HIV Testing Day, we thought it would be a good idea to show just how easy the...
On Starting My First One-A-Day HIV Regimen
Yesterday I started my first ever once-a-day HIV drug regimen in Biktarvy. This isn't an endorsement, nor are any of the treatment options I've chosen. I just really wanted to discuss this in the context of the long road it took me to get here.Being...
Why I’m Rocking My @theaidsmemorial Shirt At 80s Night
This weekend I'm going to be fronting an 80s coverband called Film On Girls for an 80s Prom Dance Party. It's a ton of fun getting together with some friends and performing songs like "Everything She Wants", "Safety Dance", "Into the Groove" and "Tainted...
World Hemophilia Day
Today is World Hemophilia Day. Being born with this rare bleeding disorder has certainly shaped who I am. I know people like to say their "illness" doesn't define them: I get it. I know where the sentiment comes from because I've shared that feeling as well. But I do...
#POZat25 How POZ Entered My Life At The Right Time
1996 was a pivotal year for me. At age 20, after being diagnosed with HIV for half of my life, I was finally ready to talk about the virus. What had been a difficult thing to think about and a subject I went out of my way to ignore was suddenly fair game. After a...
The #UEqualsU Issue of POZ
Kudos to POZ for shining a spotlight on #UEqualsU in the latest issue of the magazine. A lot of folks still need to learn what that means: that an undetectable viral load for someone who is HIV positive means that, while still living with the virus, they are unable to...
Back to School!
School is back in session, and sexual health should be included among the many things that teenagers and young adults are learning about. But unfortunately, it isn't a priority. The CDC recently reported an increase in Sexually Transmitted Infections, with half...
#DoingItMyWay Through the Ups and Downs
This Summer has been a doozy. I kicked things off in June with some mild depression. Apparently I have Seasonal Summer Depression- my love pointed this out a few years ago. I'm not sure why my spirit starts to sag as Summer kicks in, but it does. Thankfully, by...