How might it affect them? Health ·
The first question that might have popped into your head when you found out was ‘Are they going to die?’.
The answer is that it’s hardly any more likely than for anyone else. Once upon a time AIDS was very much seen as a death sentence. Now, although there is still no cure for HIV infection, there are treatments which have much improved the health and quality of life of people who are living with HIV. Many can now live a full lifespan.
You can have HIV and feel completely well. The effect HIV and an HIV diagnosis will have on someone will vary from person to person but the following are some of the ways HIV may impact on a person’s life:
Regular checkups
Someone who has HIV will have to go for regular checkups to the hospital or their doctor. Generally, they may have to go every three months to have a range of tests done to monitor the impact HIV is having on their body.
Physical health
Someone living with HIV may not show any outward signs of illness. However, because HIV affects the body’s immune system, someone who has HIV may, depending on the state of their immune system, be at times be more prone to developing certain infections and may experience periods of being unwell. That doesn’t mean that if they catch a cold, they’ve got AIDS!
If someone is getting ill (or in danger of it) because HIV has damaged their immune system, this is when they would be recommended to start treatment with the drugs known as antiretrovirals.
Medication and side effects
The drug regimes have improved, and while someone on HIV medication was previously required to take many different pills, they may now only have to take two pills a day. However, they are not always the easiest of things to take and this can impact on a person living with HIV. The therapy is not a cure, but is a lifelong treatment, and it’s important that it’s taken regularly as prescribed.
Missing doses can have negative effects on a person’s health. While you can offer help, try not to nag them about whether or not they have taken their medication.
The drugs can cause side effects such as nausea, weight loss, diarrhoea and fatigue, but these often disappear once the person gets used to the drugs. However, there are a number of different combinations of drugs, and if your friend or relative isn’t getting on well with one, their doctor may be able to find a combination that suits them better.
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