HIV Positive: Now What?

You had unprotected sex with someone you hardly knew. You touched someone’s blood and now it is a possibility that you may have contracted a disease. You shot heroin into your arms and used someone else’s needle, only one time. Many people face these truths everyday. They have to deal with the fact they had a one-night stand because they got caught up in the heat of the moment; or they accidentally touched someone else’s blood; or they’re a drug user who wasn’t too careful when it came time for a fix.

It is sad to say but people encounter these problems very frequently. For some the immediate response may be to go and get tested for HIV/AIDS, however, others deny that anything could be wrong with them and hold off the test until it is virtually too late. When people hold off on getting tested for HIV the worse case scenarios can happen, for example, a person who holds out on taking the test can run the risk of infecting another person, or if they do carry the disease and they haven’t received treatment, they can cut their life down to only a few short years.

We all saw what happened to Easy E, the famous rapper who passed away from AIDS in the early ninety’s. We also see what is going on in America as well as Africa with the AIDS pandemic. However, if you are or were brave enough to take the step to find out if you have HIV/AIDS then you have taken the first initiative to saving a life or preserving your own.

Getting tested can be an overwhelming and scary experience. The tested person may feel insecure and begin to pray that the test comes back negative. The person may also start to plan out their life or death if they have contracted the disease. If your test comes back negative you have a God given second chance, however, if the test comes back positive, you may feel that you have just ruined your life or maybe not.

Know the disease. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. A virus is an organism that must live inside of another cell in order to multiply. The HIV virus attacks white blood cells in the immune system, specifically your CD4 t-cell. The CD4 t-cell is a very important cell in the body. This cell fights off viruses, however, when it comes to HIV, the cells try hard to fight off the disease by multiplying themselves. This battle between the cells and the virus can go on for several years, however, the virus eventually overwhelms the immune system and the body loses the ability to fight off the virus any longer.

Not everyone’s body is the same, and different people’s bodies respond in different ways.
So the gradual destruction of the immune system can happen at different rates in different people. A very small percentage of people with the virus will have a rapid destruction, however, the average patient will go 7-10 years before they experience any serious symptoms of the virus.

Finding out that you are HIV positive can be the most traumatic and life-changing experience a person can have. The very thought of having a disease without a cure can cause some people to lose hope, become depressed, and think about committing suicide. However, finding out that you have HIV does not have to be the end of the line for you. You do not have to lock yourself away in your house out of fear of infecting another person. You don’t have to start planning your funeral or writing your last will and testament. There are numerous amounts of people living with HIV/AIDS and they have decided to take charge of their life by not giving up.

The best thing that you can do is become informed about the disease and start focusing on the preservation of your health. You have to remember, that regardless of what has happened to you there are several people in the HIV/AIDS community who are willing to help you through your life struggle. Not only do you have support within the community you have people who are willing to help you outside of the community also.

You have just received a positive HIV test and now what do you do? The first thing you need to do is to find a doctor who specializes in HIV. It has been proven that your chance of survival is much better if you have a doctor who knows how to treat the disease specifically. You may love your primary care physician, however, with all of the advancements in technology, your primary care physician may just not be up to date on new and improved medicines and or information. A specialist will be able to provide you with the best care possible and also keep you informed on medical services that will fit your needs. If you are unsure of how to find a specialist, there are resources available. You can also ask your primary care physician to refer you to a good specialist.

The next step you can take is getting your health in gear. You should begin to think about getting healthy as well as taking on the physical and mental action that will help you reach your goals. If you are a smoker, alcohol drinker, or recreational drug user, you have to slow down or completely stop these actions if you want to stay healthy longer. You should begin to plan out a more healthy diet, by eating nutritional meals as well as getting a nourishing dose of vitamins daily. You shouldn’t dwell on the fact that you are HIV positive; you should not feel crutched or unwilling to participate in your normal activities. If you do begin to feel depressed or suicidal there are support groups available in your community. You can seek out counseling support groups and or assistance from related lists.

It is not a bad idea to be close to the ones who love you the most. When an HIV+ person shares the news with friends or family members, they may get rejected or disowned by those closest to them. However, this is not always the case. You may be surprised at how accepting or supportive the ones closest to you truly are. Seeking out a hug or a shoulder to lean on can help ease some of the pain and tension of knowing that you have HIV.

You should always be careful whom you share you status with. Many people may judge you just because you are HIV+ and they may neglect you of opportunities. So the best advice is to be careful who you let into your business. Know that discrimination against a person with HIV/AIDS is forbidden and outlawed by the Americans Disabilities Act.

You should never put yourself or others at risk. Even if you are HIV+, having intercourse or sharing needles with someone who is HIV+, you will only cause yourself to become re-infected time and time again. This can make your treatment more difficult and decrease your chances of survival. You also do not want to spread HIV to someone who is not infected. This would be ethically immoral and flat out wrong. You should always use protected sex, no matter the status of your partner. You should also inform the person you are dating or planning on having intercourse with that you are HIV+. Deceiving your partner is one of the worse things that you could do. If you are a mother with HIV, you should not breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding an infant can cause the baby to contract the disease.

Don’t let money worry you. Drug treatment cost and doctor’s appointments can be expensive, however, many states will help you with getting the quality care you will need. For instance, the State of Colorado helps HIV patients with housing, food and other necessities. A case management agency in your area should be able to assist you with the help that you may need.

The best ways to fight HIV/AIDS is to have a positive attitude and knowledge. You should not believe anyone who says that there is a cure for HIV. Don’t believe anyone who says that the readings on the HIV test were false and that you don’t have anything to worry about. Don’t be ignorant about the disease. Gain knowledge by accessing the most recent information on the disease at your own pace. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn more.

Now it is time to monitor your health. There are two types of tests that can measure the degree to which your HIV is progressing. The first test is a t-cell count or CD4+ count. This test allows you the ability to know how many t-cells you have. A normal count of t-cells for a person without the disease would be 800-1200. A person whose HIV has progressed into AIDS will have a t-cell count below 200. If your count is below 200 you should have your doctor to recommend that you take prophylactic drugs to keep you from getting some of the more serious illnesses and infections that you may become at risk for.

The second type of test is called a viral load test. This test shows how much virus is present in your blood. The results can vary from undetectable on up to a count of millions. The less the result the better you are. It is recommended that you get both of these tests every three months.

The sooner you are able to know if you have HIV or not, the better. If you find out soon after you have become infected, you should immediately get treatment. Treatment soon after can reduce the chances of the HIV causing severe destruction to your immune system. If you have had the virus for a long time, you should consult your doctor on the right medicines for the stage you are at.

Know that you can be strong and that there is hope. We are now living in the future and the ability to find a cure is not impossible. Have faith and enjoy your life. Don’t give up because the world hasn’t given up on finding the cure. I hope that God willing this will be of some assistance to you.

Reference:

• ACE Colorado HIV/AIDS