WOMEN WITH HIV TELL ALL TREATMENT INFO AND NUTRITION TIPS FOR HIV+ WOMEN 30 (CHEAP AND FUN!) WAYS TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF HOW TO FIND YOUR INNER GODDESS MAMA MIA! PREGNANCY AND PARENTING BEATING THE BLUES Knowledge comes in many shapes and sizes. There’s treatment knowledge — knowing the facts and keeping up to date on the latest research. And then there’s the deeper knowledge about living with HIV — the emotional, sharing, communal and inspirational stuff that lets you know you’re not alone as you The cover women strike a pose. face the challenges of life with HIV. This double issue is jam-packed with both kinds of knowledge — all the info a woman needs to reach her 49 potential in the health and happiness department — to help make it the Jocelyn Paul, useful reference guide we wanted to create for women, with women. Diagnosed with full-blown AIDS: 2000 (with 3 CD4 cells); CD4 TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF count: 117; Viral load: undetectable. Volunteer at AIDS New 04 30 nice things to do that cost (nearly) nothing hese words, from the loudmouthed matriarch of TV’s HIV infection rates are on the rise in women. Before Brunswick and Healing Our Nation. St. Mary’s First Nation, New Brunswick by Rebecca Denison premier dysfunctional sitcom family, struck a chord with 1995, women represented 8% of new HIV infections in me when I first read them years ago and were a refrain Canada. In 2001, the number rose to 25%. Globally, try to learn a lot about HIV and THE GODDESS FLESH CLUB T bring it back to my community. I in my mind during the production of this special women’s 50% of adult PHAs are now women. AIDS dispropor- I 06 How HIV improved my sex life and made me a goddess recently spoke to some Aboriginal by River Huston issue of The Positive Side. “Taking power” is easier said than tionately affects women and girls who are vulnerable high school students about HIV. Our done, as we all know. How to do this when the odds are and who shoulder the burden of caring for others. The IN • TE • GRATE community is not in the woods To make whole or complete by adding or bringing stacked against you…as a woman, person living with executive director of the United Nations Development somewhere, it’s right in the middle 11 together parts. To unify. HIV/AIDS, drug user, single mother, gay man or lesbian? Fund for Women (UNIFEM), Noeleen Heyzer, recently of the city, so youth can get a hold said: “We must do all we can to loosen and remove of drugs and alcohol quite easily. by Barb Findlay One of the oldest slogans of AIDS activism is “knowledge = the grip of this terrible disease. I believe that one of They should know that HIV can TRANSCENDING BARRIERS power.” That conviction is the driving force of the work we happen to anyone. I never thought it the most powerful HIV vaccines available today is Letting go of the things that hold us back do here at CATIE: disseminating cutting-edge treatment would happen to me and I’m having 14 women’s empowerment… Women’s empowerment is the by Kimberley Johnson information so people with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) have the a really hard time with it now. key to reversing the epidemic.” As you’ll see from knowledge they need to make informed decisions about Family and community support is very important. I get a lot of COMING TO TERMS WITH HIV reading this Positive Side, it doesn’t take the head of their health care and quality of life. Along with that support from my kids, grandchildren and community. I’m open 16 Basic tips on understanding medical terminology UNIFEM to know this. by Cathy Elliott Olufs knowledge often comes a sense of empowerment. As Jane about my status and haven’t faced any problems in my Strickland, who’s been living with HIV for 13 years, says in community yet, even though I know there are a lot of problems THE DIVINE SECRETS OF THE + SISTERHOOD Gracing the cover are women who live with HIV/AIDS and those who work out there. If my community hadn’t accepted me, I’d be dead by 17 Treatment information for women living with HIV/AIDS these pages, “The more you know, the more empowered you with HIV+ women (including Shamim ShambeMiradam, a CATIE staff member now. But they care; they ask me about the medications and by Lark Lands can become.” who’s been working with HIV+ women for the past decade). I want to thank whether they’re working for me. Community acceptance makes them all for taking time out from their busy lives to make this Positive Side such a big difference. LADY SINGS THE BLUES When you want to crawl under the covers for so vivacious. Their stories, experiences and feelings — and those of many When I was diagnosed, I couldn’t talk to anyone else, I had 28 good, it’s time to ask for help — and get diagnosed more HIV+ women (most of whom live too far to have made it to the photo nobody to call. I could feel my spirit dying. Then I went on a by David Coop shoot) — infuse this issue. We posed the following question to each woman women’s retreat, where I met other HIV+ women. I got a lot of we interviewed: “What subject is nearest and dearest to your heart as a support from other PHAs. They became my family. Now everybody WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, BABY woman living with HIV?” knows I have HIV. I’ve even asked AIDS New Brunswick to keep 33 More HIV+ women are becoming moms my name and number open to anyone who’d like to talk about by Stacie Stukin and Lark Lands Their responses are a revelation. Revel in them! They are sure to inspire. HIV. I’d like to reach the women who have HIV and no one nutrition tips by Diana Johansen Share the magazine with your HIV+ sisters…and brothers (there’s stuff for to talk to, who want to learn more. It’s true, there are a lot FROM DIAPERS TO DISCLOSURE you too!). Take it to your doctor, nurse or other health care provider, of differences between Aboriginal PHAs and other PHAs, but we all have one disease. - 36 Excerpts from the life of an HIV+ mother because they learn from you as well. Read it on the bus and let people by Shari Margolese glance over your shoulder and learn a thing or two about the fabulous, gutsy SEX, DRUGS & HIV Photographer Jake Peters sets up the cover shot women who live with HIV. Jane Strickland, 40+ 40 Harm reduction makes life easier for drug users at Loftus Lloyd Café. by Chantale Perron ROAR. Diagnosed with HIV: 1990; CD4 count: above 300; Viral load: undetectable. Professional PHA (board member, committee THE GOLDEN YEARS member and advocate at Voices of Positive Women, HIV/AIDS Q&A with Ana, an HIV+ 77-year-old grandmother Regional Services, Ontario AIDS Network, Canadian Treatment 43 by Tracy Barber Action Council). Gananouque, Ontario Canadian AIDS Treatment Editor-in-Chief Contributors ou don’t have to do this alone. Having a strong support DE-STRESS YOURSELF network helps you to live with the virus and break down the Taking time out for you is one of the best things to do Information Exchange (CATIE) RONNILYN PUSTIL WALTER ARMSTRONG, BEVERLY Y 44 isolation. Women tend to feel isolated for many reasons. by Rebekka Valian 555 Richmond Street West #505 Senior Editor DEUTSCH, DIANA JOHANSEN, Toronto, ON M5V 3B1 Canada SEAN HOSEIN ESTHER KAPLAN, LARK LANDS, Women also have to look after everybody else. A lot of women Photo: (cover) Jake Peters Jake (cover) Photo: THE LADIES ROOM 1.800.263.1638 www.catie.ca Editorial Assistant SUSAN MASSARELLA, KEVIN don’t have the resources that men do. With so many burdens Resources for HIV+ women, moms and moms-to-be ANNA ALEXANDROVA O’LEARY…AND ALL THE and obligations, it’s harder for us to ask for help. 47 WOMEN WHO PARTICIPATED IN © 2003, CATIE. All rights reserved. Publisher THIS ISSUE Support is very important for me and over the years I’ve POETRY ISSN: 1191-9809 Publications CATIE developed a strong support network. I have to express my high Agreement Number 1707361 Creative Direction & Design 48 “Beauty” by Betty Anderson regard for the gay community, as they had to fight the hardest, STUDIO BELLO! SUSAN HEDLEY LESIA OLEXANDRA and this is where 90% of my support comes from. Every time I find out that someone is newly diagnosed, I get them CATIE would like to thank the following people who took the time to review some of “Girls” just wanna have fun! connected. It’s vital to know that you don’t have to do it alone; the articles in this issue: PHIL BERGER, MD; BILL BRADLEY, MD; MARDGE COHEN, MD; there is support out there. There is somebody out there who JENNIFER HENDRICK; MONA LOUTFY, MD; DEBRA MONEY, MD; ANITA RACHLIS, MD; knows what you’re talking about. - CHERYL ROWE, MD; JOHANNE SAMSON Cry when you need to. Let it out. Think of 11 it as allowing negative emotions to flow out of you 21 Eat safely. Avoid raw or undercooked to make room for positive feelings to come in. Let meats/fish/eggs. Don’t leave food out that should be someone hug you as you cry; they can’t get HIV refrigerated.