I was in the San Francisco area in the 70's before we knew about HIV or safer sex and was exposed by unprotected sex. In 1979, I got sicker than I'd ever been in my life and after this super-intense "flu", my lymph nodes stayed swollen for 5 months ---- the give-away in hindsight that I'd been exposed.

I'd been studying holistic healing and nutrition for many years at the point I finally got tested ---1988 ---- and resolved from the start to engage in self-healing. It's been quite a journey. My partner of 16 years died of AIDS --- or more likely fear combined with the AIDS drugs --- in 1993, and I soon developed AIDS myself with a systemic candadiasis condition. It was a very sad and scary time for me --- and lonely -- and having 20 or so intensely painful canker sores in my mouth constantly was trying. I went to an AIDS doc since my natural therapies weren't clearing up the problem, just to see if they had any solutions for me. This guy was so totally lame about the big picture of health and healing that it just confirmed to me that I was on the right track.

I now am with a new partner, and we have 6 years together. He's HIV- and not afraid that I'm going to infect him or die on him anytime soon. It's wonderful. HIV has definitely been a huge motivator and teacher for me. I have created a really good life and am in better health than most folks I know who are 50. I teach a class called "A Holistic Approach to Immune Health" at several schools of natural healing, and always get a great response.

I consider myself an expert on immune health, since I've been studying and practicing what I know as if my life depends on it! I was licensed for many years as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, so besides my personal experience and research, I have professional training.

Dennis L.

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