Once
Someone Discovers They Are Infected
The most common feeling is uncertainty. Individuals feel
that they are starting on a journey without knowing where
they are going. There are many reactions to finding out
you or a friend may be HIV+.
These are some of the most common stages:
Response To the Diagnosis of HIV
Social stigma
Disclosure of HIV status
Anxiety and depression
Anger and denial
Loneliness
Changes in intimacy and sexual functionality
Initiating a treatment regime
Reasoned versus ritual compliance
<
Check out the book "AIDS: The Facts" by John Langone to
learn more about these stages.
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Various Treatments Available
Treatments could include:
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
Nucleoside/Nucleotied Reverse Transcriptase
Inhibitors (NRTIs)
Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
(NNRTIs)
Entry Inhibitors
When establishing a regime, one should consider:
Food restrictions
How many pill per day
Any special handling
Possible side effects
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| The
Side Effects Experienced |
| Depending on the type
of medication, side effects could include: |
• lipoatrophy (loss
of fat)
|
• muscle
weakness |
• lipodeposition (deposition of
fat)
|
• some neuropathy |
| • anemia |
• some pancreatitis
|
Other side effects include fatigue,
diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. |
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Other Daily Challenges Involved
Medication Resistance
If individuals continuously miss doses of medication, their
viral load can form a resistance to the medication. Sometimes
people either have so many pills in one day to take or so
many different combinations of medications it is important
to develop a method for keeping track (such as pillboxes
or charts).
Medication Regimes
Most regimes require many pills or injections throughout
the day. Two sample regimes are listed below.
- Patient A Morning: One
Fuzeon injection Evening: One Sustiva and one Fuzeon
injection
- Patient B Morinng: One
Combivir, one Ziagen, and three Kaletra with breakfast
Evening: One Combivir, one Ziagen, and three Kaletra
with supper (only the Kaletra is taken with food).
Some individuals may also need to take either Dapsome or
Septa to protect themselves from pneumonia.
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How AIDS Can Affect One's Overall
Wellness
Depression is prevalent among those infected
Family and other loved ones may shun an infected
individual
Involved family and friends who let an HIV+
person know they still care can help the person keep a positive
attitude
Other support is needed to better cope with
and deal with this lifelong infection
– A
doctor who understands HIV and keeps up-to-date on HIV treatment
options
– Good
Therapist
– Strong
social support system
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