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
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.
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Everyone should have a Will. Yes – everyone with or without HIV. Wills are not expensive. You can even write one yourself.
Everyone should consider executing documents known as Advance Care Directives (or Advance Directives). These documents describe what medical treatments you do or do not want if you become unable to speak for yourself. The two most important documents to consider are:
- A Living Will which states what you do or do not want in a general manner.
- A Health Care Power Of Attorney which appoints someone to make decisions for you in the gray areas not covered under a Living Will. It also gives that person power to enforce your health care wishes.
Ask other family members about their wishes. You’ll learn what they desire for themselves. Talking about this subject as a family also makes the discussion about proper planning instead of about HIV.
Once everyone states their view, make sure that people execute the appropriate documents. Follow the requirements of state law when writing and executing such documents.
While you are thinking about this subject, consider:
- Writing an Ethical Will which passes on what you learned during your lifetime to the next generation.
- Pre-planning your funeral arrangements. We are not suggesting that you pre-pay. Pre-planning can save a great deal of money and unnecessary stress at a very stressful time.
For information, see: