How will it affect him? Health ·
The effect an HIV diagnosis will have on someone will vary from person to person. He could experience a range of feelings including periods of depression, anxiety or unreality.
Physically he’s likely to be well and remain so, unless the reason he had a test was because he or his doctor suspected he had an AIDS-related illness. He is likely to continue to live perfectly healthily for a long time to come, as there are treatments available which have improved the outcomes for people living with HIV enormously. It is now thought that many people with HIV could live a full lifespan.
In terms of how HIV may affect your partner, here are some ways it may impact on his life:
Checkups
Someone who has HIV will have to go for regular checkups, usually every three months, to have a range of tests done that will monitor the impact HIV is having on their body. You could offer to go along to support them. They may want to go alone, but they might welcome the company.
Treatments
Although there are now medications which can keep HIV in check, they are not always the easiest of things to take. The medication is not a cure but is a lifelong treatment and it is important that it is taken regularly as prescribed. Your partner may initially experience drug side effects such as nausea, fatigue or diarrhoea but often these disappear once the body adjusts to the drugs. It may take a while to find the best combination of drugs for him. Try to be supportive and make allowances in your plans if your partner is feeling off-colour.
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