Content Overview 
- Summary
- Be a person living with HIV - not one dying of it.
- Commit yourself to doing everything you can to keep the virus in check.
- Look for a doctor who is a specialist with a large HIV practice who is connected with a quality hospital. Learn how to maximize your time with doctors.
- HIV. Basics
- If lab or other tests are unexpectedly bad or good, ask for them to be done again - preferably by a different lab.
- Decide whether to start treatment. If so, choose a treatment that fits your life.
- Once you choose a treatment, follow the prescribed regimen. Learn to be wise about purchasing, living with, storing and disposing of drugs. Free drugs may be available.
- Non-Western treatments should be complementary, not instead of Western treatments. If needed, cutting edge treatments are available through clinical trials.
- Decide who to tell about your HIV status, and when.
- Tell every doctor and other medical professional about your HIV status and drugs.
- Think of family and friends as part of your health care team. Ask for help when you need it. Family roles may change as your needs change.
- Share your emotions. Seek someone who is going through the same thing you are. Consider joining a support group.
- Examine your insurance and financial situation to determine how to pay for medical care and drugs or access them for free if you don't have the resources. If you don't have health insurance, do what you can to get it. You still can.
- Pay attention to your financial basics. Start improving your financial resources. Do what you can to get rid of or minimize existing debt. Refine your investment strategy. Keep track of medical expenses.
- When debt is under control, start working on your goals.
- If you work: Learn how to navigate the potential mine field.
- If you are not able to work, learn the best way to apply for disability income benefits. If you receive a disability benefit, learn how to keep it.
- If you are returning to work or changing jobs, a new employer cannot ask about your health condition.
- Self employed and business owners
- Be sure your legal affairs are in order, including Advance Care Directives. HIV only makes this need more urgent. It will help you feel in control.
- Learn about the HIV resources in your community.
- Drugs do not work in a vacuum. Live a healthy lifestyle. It helps make drugs and other treatments most effective.
- If you have a pet, learn how to live with it safely. If you don't have a pet, consider getting one. A pet is good for your health.
- Although a major source of transmission of HIV is through bodily contact, you can still be physically intimate with people. Learn how to avoid transmitting HIV to other people.
- Watch for depression. Depression, and all other side effects, can be treated.
- Learn About Other Diseases That Can Show Up When Living With HIV, How To Help Prevent Them And Symptoms To Watch For.
Living With HIV
Share your emotions. Seek someone who is going through the same thing you are. Consider joining a support group.
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Let the people closest to you know when you are experiencing stress and fear. Talking helps. Your emotions may be all over the place due to the stress of dealing with the issues at hand as well as the unknown.
Do what you can to relieve the stress. For example:
- Define your fears. If you define your fears specifically, you can come up with solutions to each of them. You won't feel so powerless and overwhelmed by them.
- When in a period of high stress, it is okay to eat foods that you consider to be comfort food, even if they are not the healthiest.
- Start doing things to make you feel in control or that help you feel centered. For instance, think of a small project you can start and finish quickly.
Waiting for test results can be agonizing. There are time tested ideas that can help you get through this period. For instance:
- Keep busy.
- Take advantage of your support systems.
- If you need help sleeping, get it.
- Use relaxation techniques.
- Exercise.
Seek out someone who is going through the same thing you are. No one understands what you are going through as much as a person in a similar situation. If you don’t know anyone, you may find a connection through your HIV specialist, friends, a local AIDS Service Organization, or the internet.
Consider joining a support group for the practical information as well as support.
For information, see:
- Emotions And What To Do About Them
- Stress - and how to cope with it
- How To Cope With Waiting For An Appiontment Or Test Results
- Coping in general
- Mental Health Professionals (Types of, Choosing)
Please share how this information is useful to you.
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