Ellen

Hello, my name is Ellen

I was born in 1960, am widowed and single, have two grown-up sons.

I have been living with HIV since (1995 and) 2002 and have been on medication since 2012.

I received my diagnosis right at the beginning of the infection and have not had any health problems due to the HIV infection.

I identify as female and am sexually attracted to men.

I have been taking medication against the HI virus for over 10 years now. I feel well - mentally and physically. I don't notice any side effects from medication.

HIV came into my life when my husband tested positive in 1995. That was a big shock for us. Our first child was just a few months old. Fortunately, I tested negative. In the beginning, every little malaise made us fear that he would now develop AIDS. We first had to learn that normal infections didn't mean that he now had AIDS. Unfortunately, my husband then refused to take medication. I didn't become infected myself until 2002. Today I know that I wouldn't have been infected if he had taken medication. At that time, this was not yet known.

My diagnosis was an additional shock for me, although I knew about the risk and went to the health department every six months for testing. My husband eventually developped AIDS and died in 2008, which was very hard. Fortunately, our two sons are HIV negative.

From 1995 onwards, I went to AIDS Hilfe for counselling and took part in self-help groups. There were also training courses for us living with this virus. I was living in Stuttgart at the time. In particular in the beginning, what helped me the most was to see how many people had been living with the virus for a long time (!) and were doing well (!) - living normally and pursuing their profession! 

I lived in Berlin from 2013 to 2024, and since then I have been be more systematically connected with other people living with HIV through the Berliner AIDS Hilfe, I regularly attending meetings, events and also DAH seminars throughout Germany. That strengthened me further.

Now I am ready to support people who have been newly diagnosed, and have questions and concerns about their HIV infection.

I can listen to you: What questions, feelings and thoughts do you have?

How are you feeling? What do you want to share? What worries you? What can give you hope?

If you want, I can share my experience.

And where you need specialists, I can give you tips on who you can turn to.

As I have experienced it, I can tell you: contact with others gives you courage and strengthens you!

You are not alone. You still have a lot of good life ahead of you!

I would be delighted if you would contact me.

I am living in Landau/ Palatinate since mid-November 2024.

PS I speak English and French and have experience with people from various countries and cultural backgrounds.