The condom thread on here made me think of Magic. What is the deal with magic? He was diagnosed with HIV back in what, 1990? All of a sudden, you never hear the words Magic and HIV/AIDS in the same sentence.

I know he has unlimited resources for the best and most experimental treatments because of his wealth. I heard from a co-worker that he supposedly no longer tests positive anymore? Is this True?

AIDs/HIV is a serious issue and I'm not making light of it. I was wondering what is the latest on Magic Johnson.
[Edited 3/10/08 13:26pm]

jaimestarr79 said:

I think it is a lie just so he can go into retirement and make people aware of the disease!! I never believed he had it!!

No other theories? I doubt anybody who make up a story like that just to draw a wareness about the disease. That is hell of a stigma to carry with you. You know how America turns on people and kicks them when they are down. People with the disease are always dicriminated against.

Most people with HIV loose weight. He has tripled in size since his playing days.

I haven't heard anything about his health deteriorating at all in recent years. But he's got assloads of cash & the best meds anyone can get, but I assume he still has to take a lot of shit to stay healthy

Living w/HIV seems much more common nowadays, and obviously he was getting the best.

I know people who have been diagnosed for years and have had very few problems (at least not serious enough for me to have been made aware of them) along the way... It's not uncommon now.

I question whether or not he has the disease...

He's the only man ever to get fat having the HIV.

Revolution said:

You're fortunate to not know of that many infected people.

If anything, it's great to hear how well Magic's health has maintained. It's been a good 15 years since he was diagnosed, eh?

correct me if I'm wrong but in most cases the triple-coctail that you get to supress the virus is very affected in the vast majority of patients right? that's not to say it doesn't have unpleasent side affects or doesn't come with major lifestyle adjustments. BUt that its not unforseeable that these folks will live out the remainder of their natural lifespans?



God , why can't we just find a cure for this thing? It's a fucking virus!




[Edited 3/10/08 14:43pm]

Imago said:

Like a friend of mine said, it's hard to find a cure for something that's man-made.

i have a friend who was diagnosed at age 23 in 1991. he didn't get sick until like 2002, lost a lot of weight (went down to 140 lbs from like 180 in 4 months). last year he got put the same regimen that magic johnson is on (kaletra, viread and reyataz)...now he weighs about 225 lbs. with HMO, he gets his prescriptions for $100 per month (they cost $1700 per month)...so to answer your question...you don't have to be super-rich to get the same treatment, but you do have to have health insurance..which sadly everybody does not have.. back in the day HIV was a death sentence, now it's more of a chronic disease--treatable and manageable(but not cutrable)

cheeseburger said:

I wondered that for years. Living out here in L.A. basically all of my life, I remember when the story first broke. I know it was world wide news, but it was crazy out here in L.A.. U know, because he lived out here and being a Laker. At first, it was reported that he had full blown AIDS. Then it was scaled down. But Magic hasn't "looked" sick for years. I've seen him a few times in person and besides being a little over weight, he looks good. I don't think he made up anything to just retire though. But because of the money and the fame that he had/has, I think he was given some options that wasn't available to others.

Magic Johnson is still HIV positive.

Viral load tests are conducted to measure how much of the virus is in a persons system. Magic probably has had some undetectable viral load counts but he's still positive.

uPtoWnNY said:

If the man can make the virus.....the man can make the cure!

KidaDynamite said:

Agreed.

KidaDynamite said:

But the cure isn't as profitable as a life time of medication, now is it?

blackguitaristz said:

the meds cause one to become over weight or redistribution of fat.
its called lipodystrophy
among many other things like Neuropathy (nerve damage), liver and kidney damage.

Because of his financial situation he likly has better access to nutrition and supplements and other alternative methods that traditional hiv treatment wont cover.
[Edited 3/10/08 18:35pm]

blackguitaristz said:

Revolution said:

Robin Crosby from the band Ratt got really fat in his final days battling the disease. Of course, he was a heroin addict and actually died of an overdose but it's still possible to have HIV/AIDS and gain weight.

It's my understanding that some people are more susceptible to illnesses that come along with HIV while others are just able to fight off those illnesses better. Magic was a healthy person before the disease which probably makes a difference too. Not only that, but he had the love and support of his friends, family and fans, which I'm sure eased some of the stresses that a lot of people face during their diagnosing.

Imago said:

It's pretty difficult to cure viruses, they're semiliving things. One of the reasons why there's no cure for the common cold is because it's a virus (rhinovirus).

The treatment for most viruses is symptomatic and supportive therapy.

Now if HIV was a bacteria, then it would probably be easier to find a "cure" for it.

Now if they could create an effective vaccine, like they can for other viruses, then that would be great. It actually would be beyond great.

lazycrockett said:

Please believe, I know this. Honestly I think they have the cure already.

I'm pissed off at Magic Johnson. He recommended Isiah Thomas to the Knicks. Great job, Magic.

KidaDynamite said:

horatio said:

yep, yep.....

it just isn't newsworthy any more unless he actually died, sadly people doing well doesn't make the news.

cheeseburger said:

Why go into retirement at the pinnacle of your career just for disease awareness? He tried to comeback and play as well so I ain't buyin' that one....

uPtoWnNY said:

Took the words RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH!!

DexMSR said:

Valid point. Many forgot this fact.

KidaDynamite said:

Who's "they"?...

He's still positive. In fact, I saw a bus shelter ad recently with Magic on it promoting HIV/AIDS testing for Blacks and Latinos here in NYC.