I have had HIV for 10 years. I've had peripheral neuropathy for eight years. The only thing I could use for my PN was lidocaine jelly. My feet would get real hot and start burning real bad. My calves would have muscle spasms and cramping. My prison doctor took a chance and let me order something from a pharmacy at home, Maximum Strength Hawaiian Tropic Cool Aloe I.C.E. Burn Relief Gel with lidocaine. It has an instant cooling effect (I.C.E.) which is wonderful. Plus the lidocaine for pain and vitamins A and E, plumeria, mango, guava, papaya, aloe, passion fruit, taro and kukui nut. I don't know what the other extracts do, but the "cool aloe I.C.E." is perfect for relieving my PN. I hope you mention this to your readers.

Name withheld by request, Alto, GA

I think Mr. Jones touched upon something when he wrote, "I know several sero-discordant couples in their thirties and forties between whom no transmission has occurred, and some of the couples have been together for over 10, 15, or 20 years. Sero-discordant couples are almost unheard of in the under-30 crowd."

I'm at that weird stage where I hang out with people in their 20s, 30s, 40s and older and I don't know if it's age as much as ignorance in all generations. People have forgotten the facts and rely on the worst-case scenarios like we can't share drinking glasses."

This first-person article touched me as a straight woman in her early 30s. I was involved with a man who was HIV-positive this year and have had people tell me I'm also positive. It's not that they assume I'm positive, too. They tell me I'm positive. One man was in his 40s, another was a woman in her 30s.

I wasn't hurt because I've seen ignorance in many forms in my time on this planet but it does scare me that people can be so ignorant.

There seems to be a public awareness "kick" again and I hope it dispels some ignorance. Alas, I'm not hopeful.

Stephanie Flemin, Toronto, Ontario

The world is full of cruel people and some of them are not even aware of the pain they instill in others. Imagine one of those people who wrote about people being diseased and unclean - what if tomorrow that same person learns that he is HIV positive - he will be looking at the very same people he

called diseased for support and help through the suffering he will find himself in. What a wonderful thing it would be if all people would be considerate and careful when they open their mouths or their thoughts to the world and be able to put themselves in the shoes of those who are suffering and in need of help/support in any way possible. People who are suffering in any way need the healthy and the beautiful looking into their lives to "normalize" their existence, because today, when you are living with HIV/AIDS, people look at you as if you are abnormal, thus I use the word "normalize."

One important aspect in the lives of the positives is family. Not just any family but one that is supportive, open-minded, loving and understanding. People who have such a supportive base tend to live longer than those who do not have it. Now imagine yourself with a family that rejected you because of your HIV-positive status and all of your friends ignoring you also for the same reasons. No wonder people die so fast from this disease. The irony of it all is that the stress of worrying about such selfish people who cannot bring others into their lives is the reason most people die - not forgetting the loneliness brought by shame that is made visible by those who make you feel inadequate and less human just because you are HIV-positive--not sick, not realizing that you did them a favor by disclosing your status to them, that alone is love at its best-otherwise you would have infected them all by being silent and taking out your frustrations on them, but yet you did the opposite. All you need is love, not judgment. Keep on being strong and don't lose the faith, Justin. May the good Lord help you find the right man for you, dear. That's what all of us are looking for-the right person who can love us unconditionally.

Name withheld, via the Internet

I wrote a poem recently, shortly after testing positive. I have been struggling with the old "death sentence" mentality and have been trying to adjust to this new reality. I have been having the same feelings as Justin shared in his article. I really enjoyed it. I hope you will forward my poem on to him.

R.J. Sloan, New York

Jeff, Enid, and the crew

I have to say that the July/August issue is your best yet. One compelling and informative article after another. Keith's interview with Tim'm west, Jeff's article about the CRA van, Eddie Young's Crystal Meth story, and Derek's about the needle exchange program were highlights, but it was all worthwhile reading.

Keep up the good work. Thank you.