The Asian surgeon with HIV seemed to have coped remarkably well, didn't he? If he was HIV positive in 1990, that means he must have had the illness for about two decades by the time the friends meet up again - and it's not only not developed into AIDS, but left him looking hale and hearty.
With the exception of Mark Fowler in "Eastenders", has anyone ever had HIV and lived such a long and otherwise healthy life?
www.jumpedtheshark.co.uk
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StillShy1971 wrote:
Since the very early 90's, the average lifespan for someone diagnosed with HIV was about 20 - 25 yrs..so yes, very possible and without being bed-ridden.
He wasn't just not "bed-ridden", he looked like a picure of health! If you didn't know what HIV was, and tuned into this episode, you could be forgiven for thinking it was the Elixir of Life.
www.jumpedtheshark.co.uk
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It also made him look remarkably young too, for someone well in to their 60's.
With the correct medical treatment (I think they're called anti-retro viral drugs) it's possible to live a virtually normal life. The former Britsh politician Chris Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Smith,_Baron_Smith_of_Finsbury) was diagnosed with HIV in the late 80s so must have been infected some time before.
Regards,
James
AZT was the first "super drug" used to treat HIV infection and it was introduced in 1985 or 86. By 1990 we understood the difference between having AIDS and being HIV positive. If Jay began taking anti virals as soon as he was diagnosed, his infection wouldn't have become AIDS and would look completely normal.
As a side note, while HIV infection is still very serious, people can and do live a normal lifespan and even die from conditions not associated with HIV infection at all (i.e. heart disease).