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‘My womanising partner gave me AIDS’

July 30, 2006

For Sylvia, spending the last four years living with AIDS has been more than an uphill battle. She officially learned that she had contracted the disease in 2002, but had long been ignoring several clear indicators that she was infected.

Her common-law husband, she confided to the Sunday Observer, was a womaniser who spent many nights away from her and their three children. He gave her the disease.

“Him attitude and him reputation as a wildman did make me suspicious. And because of the type of work him do, fix appliances and so, him go all over the place. Him used to drink and smoke and so on and keep woman all ’bout,” she said.

With that in mind, she decided to get an HIV/AIDS test done early 2002. What month exactly, she can’t remember, as one of the disease’s more personal side effects, poor memory, begins to work on her.

Fearful that the results would confirm her suspicions, however, she decided not to return for the results.

Later that year, she received a letter from the Slipe Pen Medical Centre telling her that she needed to come in immediately to have a blood test done, a warning which she once again ignored.

The moment of truth came in May of 2003 when her man was admitted to the Kingston Public Hospital. His health had been rapidly deteriorating before then, but he had been blaming it on cancer.

“Him hair start to thin out, and his eyes and lips were red. Him skin did start to look pale and thin, and him start to go to the bathroom every minute,” she said.

Lying in the hospital bed looking as though one foot was already in the grave, her man broke down and confessed to Sylvia that he had contracted AIDS and that he was sure he had given it to her.

“Him tell me ‘Yes, me know me did have AIDS and the reason why me give you is because you are my baby mother and me want you fi dead with me’,” Sylvia told the Sunday Observer, the anger palpable in her voice.
“I take up a shoes to lick him in the face but one of the nurse come and hold me back.”

In a daze, Sylvia walked all the way to her Central Kingston home that evening, bursting into tears intermittently, and at times becoming overwhelmed by her situation.

For days afterwards, she was inconsolable as the gravity of her situation sank in. Also bearing in mind that she had three young children to take care of and no steady employment, the thought of living with AIDS opened the door to several bouts of depression.

Eventually, her common-law husband was discharged from the hospital and came back to the family home. Sylvia put him in a small room to the side of the house and continued to take care of him, despite the difficulty of it. She admitted, however, that she nagged and insulted him every day while doing it.

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“I’m not going to tell any lies, I nag him. I keep at it with him, look on him and say things like “Hey AIDS boy” and things like that. Him couldn’t take it but I nag him every day.”

When the nagging got to be too much, he picked himself up, grabbed his belongings and moved out. On his own, his condition worsening by the day, his health gave way and he died in October 2003.

His death forced another harsh change upon Sylvia and her family. She learned some time that year that he had substituted her name with that of his sister on the insurance policy he had taken out while working at a security company earlier in his life.

The money was intended for the three children, but since they were 6, 9 and 11 respectively, the distribution of the money would be handled by his sister.

This transfer sparked a continuing feud between herself and the sister-in-law, who Sylvia accused of “monopolising the money”. With that hurdle, the family has been struggling to make ends meet, even being evicted from their home.

On a happier note, however, she has found a new place to live with her three children, although the struggle continues.
Sylvia said that the family survived from day to day, mostly through the efforts of her 14-year-old daughter from a prior relationship.

“The 14-year-old is taking care of the other three, living a night life and hustling. I feel like I’m trafficking her, I feel guilty, but I’m not working and it’s hard. I can’t answer her when she asks me what we going to do if she don’t go out and hustle,” Sylvia says, a tear welling in her right eye.
“She cannot live like that for a 14-year-old. She should be in school. I need her to learn a skill, or soon she will catch HIV too,” Sylvia confided.

But the thing that depressed Sylvia most was her belief that her children contracted the disease from her…and that she cannot afford the cost of having them tested.

“I think they have it,” she said. “At night they’ are restless. My little girl have fine rashes all over her skin, and they scratch.”
She admitted that thoughts of deserting her family and dying in solitude have crossed her mind, but that she could never go through with it.

“Sometimes I don’t see the reason for living. It make me feel bad to know that I have children and cannot take care of them. I feel a guilt. I know that they might not listen to somebody like they would listen to me. But sometimes I feel like going away for two days and having the police or somebody pick them up, and take them somewhere,” she told the Sunday Observer.

“I wouldn’t mind if somebody was to adopt one of them, or take them in so I wouldn’t lose custody of them, but just to give them better than what I can give them now.”

Sylvia also hopes to see, in her lifetime, much more government legislation towards assisting persons living with AIDS in Jamaica. Specifically, she would like to see laws ensuring that whatever savings a person with AIDS gathered in life, be automatically made available to their children.

For now, however, she said she would settle for more information on the various AIDS support groups out there to assist her in taking care of herself and her family. She would also like to have assistance in getting the necessary medication for herself and her children.

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A Balancing Act: Hormones and the Skin

July 28, 2006

Newswise — Throughout her life, a woman may blame many things on her hormones: unpredictable emotions, weight gain and even changes in her skin, hair and nails. These changes occur as the levels of hormones in the body increase and decrease, or if any abnormalities in hormone levels occur. A dermatologist can provide treatment options which can address the changes that occur during a woman’s lifetime.

Speaking today at ACADEMY ’06, the American Academy of Dermatology’s summer scientific meeting, dermatologist Margaret E. Parsons, M.D., F.A.A.D., assistant clinical professor at the University of California at Davis in Sacramento, Calif.,discussed how the fluctuations in hormones can affect the skin, hair and nails.

Puberty and Hormones
Acne typically first appears during adolescence and can persist well into adulthood. The cause of acne is most often linked to androgens, which are the hormones that stimulate the sebaceous – or oil – glands in the skin. When the sebaceous glands are over-stimulated by androgens, acne flare-ups can occur.

For women affected by acne, especially those in the early-to-mid twenties and older, oral contraceptives (OCPs) can be an effective part of their acne treatment plan in conjunction with other therapies. Current oral contraceptives help decrease androgen levels, and therefore decrease acne.

In addition, a dermatologist may prescribe oral medications or topical creams, gels, or lotions with vitamin A derivatives, benzoyl peroxide, or antibiotics to help unblock the pores and reduce bacteria.

“Although new acne treatments are developed every day, a cure for acne has not yet been developed. As such, many patients choose to self-treat or experiment with unconventional treatments,� stated Dr. Parsons. “Yet many of these treatments are based on anecdotal observations and have not been rigorously tested by science. A visit to a dermatologist is the best way to determine why acne is appearing or flaring, and how hormones influence these break outs.

Mid-Life and Hormones
As a woman enters her child-bearing years, many hormonal changes can occur, especially during pregnancy. The estrogen-related change of pregnancy that is most noticeable is melasma, also known as the “mask of pregnancy.� This benign condition is attributed to an overproduction of melanin, a natural substance in the body that gives color to the hair, skin and eyes. Treatment options available from a dermatologist include topical prescriptions for hydroquinone, retinoids, azeleic acid or hydroxy-acids. A combination of these products may be used to enhance efficacy. No treatment of melasma is complete without the daily, year-round use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen – one that protects against both ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays – with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to prevent the further darkening of the skin, recommends Dr. Parsons.

While pregnant, most women experience a thickening of the hair, called telogen effluvium. Three months after delivery, some women will experience thinning of the hair, called telogen efflivium. Hair growth will subsequently return to its normal growth. Nails also are affected by the hormonal changes of pregnancy with most women experiencing increased nail growth, although some may notice a softening of the nails.

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During the child-bearing years, many women experience a pattern of acne on the lower face, especially along the chin. “Adult acne is believed to have a strong hormonal connection,� stated Dr. Parsons. “This pattern of acne responds well to oral contraceptive therapy in conjunction with other topical and oral treatments.� A medication that may be prescribed along with an oral contraceptive is spironolactone, an anti-androgen. Spironolactone prevents excessive oil production by blocking androgen receptors and decreasing androgen production in both the ovaries and adrenal glands. The result is fewer acne flares.

Menopause and Hormones
During menopausal years, several hormonal changes occur. The estrogen level in the body begins to lower and women will begin to notice a thinning of their skin and loss of elasticity. The skin also becomes drier during these years as the oil glands in the skin become less active. At this point in life, Dr. Parsons recommends that a skin care regimen include a prescription retinoid, either tretinoin or tazarotene, or an over-the-counter product such as retinol or alpha-hydroxy acids.

Women also may want to visit the dermatologist during this time, especially if they experience “hot flashes� which can flare rosacea. In addition, the stress of sleeplessness during this time can flare skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Hair and Hormones
As women age, hair also is affected by the changing levels of hormones. Some women may experience a pattern of hair loss known as androgenetic alopecia, in which hair thins on the vertex or top of their head and hair becomes finer in texture. Women retain their hairline better than men with this type of alopecia, which is primarily genetic. This type of female hair loss is primarily treated with topical minoxidil and other therapies including oral medications which can affect androgen levels, such as oral contraceptives and spironolactone.

Fluctuations in androgens also can cause hirsutism, a condition characterized by excessive growth of hair on the female face and body. Male-like patterns of hair may appear on the upper lip and chin, and more hair growth than usual may be seen on the arms and legs and even the chest and groin area. Hirsutism can be treated with topical treatments as well as many modes of hair removal including waxing, shaving and laser treatments.

If a woman has hirsutism, acne and irregular periods, polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition that is often considered. This condition can be treated initially with oral contraceptives, but also with other oral medications, such as spironolactone and other anti-androgen medications. A blood test at a physician’s office can determine the cause of these symptoms and the best treatment option.

“Changing levels of hormones can have an impact on the skin, hair and nails that can be physically and emotionally challenging,� commented Dr. Parsons. “That’s why it’s important to consult with a dermatologist who can identify problem areas and recommend treatments that will keep the skin, hair and nails healthy no matter what a woman’s stage of life.�

Headquartered in Schaumburg, Ill., the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), founded in 1938, is the largest, most influential, and most representative of all dermatologic associations. With a membership of more than 15,000 dermatologists worldwide, the Academy is committed to: advancing the diagnosis and medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment of the skin, hair and nails; advocating high standards in clinical practice, education, and research in dermatology; and supporting and enhancing patient care for a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails

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