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I
think I may have HIV, but I haven’t been
tested.
I
recently found out
Men
who have sex with men (MSM) and HIV
HIV/AIDS
treatment and medications
Talking
about HIV
Support
Speak
Out and Take Action
I
recently found out that I have HIV. What should
I do?
There’s
no "right" thing to do when you find
out. Everyone reacts differently, and everyone
has different needs.
Try
not to panic. You are not alone. Millions of people
have been in your shoes, and some of them have
formed groups offering support
to help people like yourself. Of course, this
is not to say that finding out that you have HIV
is easy. People who’ve been through it say
they felt angry, shocked, betrayed, and devastated-
some had suicidal thoughts. With time, dealing
with your diagnosis will get easier, but some
of these feelings might never go away completely.
Below are links to a couple great websites that can
help you get through this period:
Recent
Diagnosis and Sexuality
Some
people react to their diagnosis by "shutting
down" sexually- they find it impossible
to be intimate with anyone for a period of time.
For most people, this period does not last forever.
Other
people have the opposite reaction, and they seek
sexual intimacy with as many partners as they
can find. Often this kind of reaction goes along
with heavy drug and/or alcohol use. For people
who react in this way, this period can be quite
destructive to them personally, and dangerous
from a health perspective, especially if safer
sex is not practiced. To learn more about safer
sex and how condoms can keep you healthier, see
all about condoms.
To find out about getting help for drug/alcohol
abuse, click here.
If you want to talk to others who are in your
shoes, or who’ve been in your shoes, go
to our support page.
HIV/AIDS treatment and medications
The world of HIV/AIDS medications (“AIDS
meds” for short) is vast and can be very
confusing to those of us who are not medical professionals.
There are a number of different drugs that can
greatly extend and improve the lives of people
living with HIV/AIDS. New drugs are coming out
periodically, so having a doctor who stays up-to-date
on treatment options is highly recommended. Some
people choose not to take AIDS meds, for a number
of reasons. The choice is up to you - but whatever
you choose, make sure that you’ve explored
all of your options with your doctor. If you begin
a treatment regimen with the advice of your doctor,
it is very important that you stick to it, even
though it might be difficult. The side effects
of the meds can be very bad, and the number of
pills that many people have to take daily can
by overwhelming; nevertheless, if you miss doses,
the meds will be far less effective. Some people
who are taking AIDS meds recommend developing
a routine to make it easier to remember to take
your meds. Sticking to your regimen is called
"adherence", and it is extremely important.
Listen to your doctor when he or she stresses
this point.
For other treatment-related information:
Support
For many people, their families and friends are
their major sources of support. Some people aren’t
so fortunate. Even if you have supportive people
close to you, you may want to contact your local
AIDS service organization to find out about support
groups near you.
If you aren’t comfortable
in groups, or can’t find one near you, here
is a good place to start a search for web based communities that can offer support:
Speak
Out and Take Action
There are many ways to get involved with the fight
against AIDS. Below are some links to national
action groups. HIP/AZ does not endorse the views
of the listed sites- they are there for your information.
You can also get involved by volunteering at
an AIDS service organization or participating
in events like AIDS Walk in Tucson or Phoenix.
Some other ways to get involved::
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