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Experiences of health care :
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Getting health and social care
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Dealing with your thoughts
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Disclosure, discrimination and other challenges :
Secrecy and telling people
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Dealing with difficulties, finances and benefits
Work and routine
Prejudice, stigma and discrimination
Telling children and parents
Negotiating Sex :
How people became infected
Casual sexual encounters
Sex in relationships
Telling sexual partners
Looking ahead :
Living now & in the future
Illness and death
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HIV
Subject index
Clip
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
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Aged 46-55
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Interview 38
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Describes how difficult experiences may be buried in the mind and how talking helps.
Although he has developed a lot of resistance to anti-HIV drugs, he is currently doing well on T20, TMC114 (as part of a trial), FTC, tenofovir and abacavir, and has an undetectable viral load.
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 41-45
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Interview 08
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Prayer can be like talking to somebody about your problems. (Read by an actor.)
Now on anti-retroviral treatment (3TC, lopinavir, ddI), she is feeling much better and has returned to work. Her current CD4 cells are 400. Religion is important to her positive attitude. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 36-40
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Interview 17
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Talking freely in counselling can lead to changes, such as taking control of decisions.
He took time to work out who to disclose to and to make treatment decisions (he currently takes Combivir and efavirenz). He initially suffered mental health side-effects (e.g. trouble sleeping, irratibility) but now has few problems with medication.
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 18
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A midwife and counsellor helped her when she got her HIV results. (Read by an actor.)
Her current combination of abacavir, AZT and 3TC has few side-effects. She feels much better having started exercising and improving her diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 20-30
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Interview 27
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Talks about how counselling allowed him to sort out feelings he previously avoided. (Read by an actor.)
He currently has a viral load of about 160,000 and 360 CD cells, and has not yet begun anti-HIV medication. His diagnosis has been a catalyst in facing up to many issues in his life. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 36-40
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Interview 12
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Compares an encounter about treatment with a HIV consultant and a counsellor.
He suffered from severe diarrhoea and peripheral neuropathy while taking an earlier combination of anti-HIV drugs, but he currently takes nelfinavir, 3TC and abacavir with few side effects. He has had to cope with HIV-related illness, depression and mania at various times in his life.
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 18
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A midwife and counsellor helped her when she got her HIV results. (Read by an actor.)
Her current combination of abacavir, AZT and 3TC has few side-effects. She feels much better having started exercising and improving her diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 41-45
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Interview 22
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Talks about how she draws strength from her HIV clinic.
Her anti-HIV drugs (Kaletra and Combivir) brought her viral load down to undetectable at the time of interview. She has strong faith that Jesus has healed her in combination with her medical care.
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 20-30
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Interview 47
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She visits a number of HIV support groups and this helps her to get training, keep informed and feel supported even when she is down. (Read by an acto
H47 is currently on nevirapine and Combivir with few side-effects. Attending a number of support groups is a good way for her to gain information, network and get training. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 14
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Talks about the range of things that his local HIV charity does to help people.
He believes dealing with multiple difficulties in his life like HIV has made him stronger. He takes Fosamprenavir, Ritonavir, Tenofovir and Emtricitabine (6 tablets once in the evening) with few side effects.
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
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Aged 36-40
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Interview 03
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Describes how he reacted to - and tried to deal with - the sudden prospect that he might die.
Has slowly built up his strength since his illness, becoming highly expert in HIV. He did extensive self-development work on himself. He has 870 CD4 cells and currently takes nevirapine, abacavir, and lamivudine with minimal side effects.
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