| Living with HIV* |
| Written by Kimberly Dayton | |
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Living with HIV is complicated. Taking anti-retrovirals is not enough to stay healthy, because medication does not cure the disease; it only slows its progression. Although most recent data indicate that the state-of-the-art treatment, Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Treatment or HAART, can lengthen the lifespan of HIV-infected people by anywhere between 4 and 12 years, and reduce the death rate by 80%, the side effects of HAART are considerable, and up to half of HIV-infected people who begin HAART do not benefit from it because they don't take their medications as instructed, or they quit at the wrong times.
That said, HIV-positive people have many strategies at their disposal to stay in control of their condition and to have productive relationships with their doctors. For patients willing to take charge of their own health, a good rapport with a knowledgeable personal physician is probably the most important step to take in the lifelong battle with HIV. Patients should be sure their doctors know how HIV works, what side effects it usually has, and what can be done to keep the virus from spreading. They should look for a caregiver who will treat them with respect, and not make them feel ashamed of their condition. It goes without saying that appointments must be kept and medications taken. Once upon a time, a regime of anti-retrovirals was complicated to maintain. Today, it is possible to take a "cocktail" with one single pill a day. However, just because it 's easier doesn't mean it's any less important. As soon as a patient stops taking the anti-retrovirals, HIV can begin spreading again, and the virus has a truly terrifying capacity to evolve drug resistance. The command bears repeating -- don't EVER stop taking your medication without doctor's approval. The danger for patients with HIV is the spread of opportunistic infections -- diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off more easily because they have more T-cells. Hence, it’s doubly important for people with HIV to protect themselves against infection by foreign substances. Immunize, immunize, immunize -- against pneumonia, against tetanus, even against seemingly innocuous diseases such as the flu. Tobacco, alcohol and other recreational drugs are to be avoided at all costs, since they can, like germs, wreak more damage on a body with a weak immune system than a body in otherwise good health. A healthy diet, with plenty of lean protein, whole grains, vegetables and fruit, is particularly important for HIV-positive people. Healthy food is a source of plentiful energy; it also helps maintain strength and replenish the immune system with the proper nutrients. Unfortunately, HIV is hard on the digestive system, and can often kill one's appetite. Diarrhea is common among the HIV-positive population, as are gastro-intestinal troubles and weight loss. Because of these difficulties, it can be very helpful to work with a diet specialist. Supplements of minerals and vitamins can also help people with HIV to stay healthy. While some foods are good to eat, others can be poison for people with HIV. Beware of raw seafood (sushi and oysters, for example), unpasteurized milk or cheese, raw eggs or undercooked meat. All of these foods harbor bacteria and other microorganisms that can cause severe infections. The spicy delight that causes an HIV negative person an hour of mild heartburn might make some one with HIV vomit for days. Regular tap water is fine for people with strong immune systems, but the substances it contains can hurt bloodstreams with low T cell count. Scientists at the Center for Disease Control believe that HIV-infected people should boil their drinking water, or buy water that's been bottled or filtered. Other important self-care measures include:
Clinics are not the only resource. For the more independently minded, there is the option to educate oneself about the disease. Many, many scientists and doctors are working to develop treatments for HIV, for example, and there may be opportunities to participate in clinical trials. A modicum of research on the Internet will reveal the vast store of knowledge we already have of HIV infection; how it progresses through the body, what the side effects are, what progress has been made towards effective treatment. The HIV-positive person who stays in touch with loved ones, and pursues healthy relationships with friends, lovers or fellow patients, is likely to stay healthy for a longer time and to have a more satisfying life. Being infected does not mean that sex life has to stop; it just means that the sex should be safe. HIV is actually not particularly contagious; it travels only through bodily fluids like blood, saliva or semen. Hugs and massages are not infectious, for example, nor is sex with an intact condom. Sometimes family members and old friends may be frightened or repulsed by the disease, and want to keep their distance. That is undoubtedly a heavy burden to bear. In these difficult cases, people with HIV can turn to their counselors, to other HIV-positive people, and even to those who are not infected but who understand the disease well enough to have lost their fear of it. The important thing is to find support wherever it's available. No one should suffer through HIV infection alone. So, once the HIV positive person has obtained good medical treatment, developed a healthy lifestyle, educated himself (or herself) about the disease, and reached out to friends and loved ones, is the voyage through life completely smooth sailing? Not necessarily. One problem that never goes away is the question of how much to reveal. Some people absolutely must know. It is against the law to keep the information from current and previous sexual partners, because people who've had sex with HIV-infected partners have an extremely high risk of HIV infection. It's also the patient's legal obligation to inform health care providers of his or her illness. No one else needs to know. Right-to-privacy laws state explicitly that HIV-positive employees do not need to share information about their infection with their employers. However, there are also benefits to revealing one's HIV status, because many, many people are available to provide help and support to HIV-infected people, and the disease is also recognized as a disability that, under some circumstances, entitles victims to certain government benefits. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers who are HIV positive also run the risk of transmitting the disease to their babies while they are giving birth or nursing. However, ZDV, a medication developed in 1994, reduces this risk substantially. So does good prenatal care. By 2009, only about 150 infants born in the US became infected with HIV from their mothers. *This article is based on the information at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/, http://www.hivla.org/factsheets/index.html, http://www.webmd.com/hiv-aids/default.htm, http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS/, http://www.avert.org/aids.htm, http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hiv-aids/ds00005 |
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