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Experiences of health care :
Getting a diagnosis
Getting health and social care
Making decisions about treatment
Taking anti-HIV drugs
Challenges of anti-HIV drugs
Looking after yourself :
Coping with mental health problems
Dealing with your thoughts
Talking about it
Becoming informed
Gaining power and strength
Spirituality and religion
Holistic health
Disclosure, discrimination and other challenges :
Secrecy and telling people
Support groups
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
Finally, what people with HIV want you to know
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HIV
Subject index
Clip
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 36-40
>>
Interview 17
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He is grateful his doctor allowed him the time to find out for himself - and decide about - his antiviral treatments.
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
>>
HIV
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Aged 41-45
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Interview 02
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Explains why he has decided to stick to his current combination of HIV medication.
Now on efavirenz and Combivir, his viral load is undetectable. He has suffered few side-effects. He had counseling to help him cope, and looks forward to getting back to work.
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 41-45
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Interview 30
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After attending an HIV conference he negotiated with his doctor to change his medication. (Read by an actor.)
He was admitted to hospital with a high temperature and headaches where he was diagnosed with HIV. He negotiated his current treatment regime with his doctor (Kaletra and efavirenz), (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 41-45
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Interview 08
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Her doctors were good at communicating with her so she was happy to go along with their decision about starting HIV medication. (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
>>
HIV
>>
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
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 36-40
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Interview 17
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Explains that you can take responsibility for treatment decisions using the advice of trusted health professionals to understand complex issues.
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
>>
HIV
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Aged 56-65
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Interview 29
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Talks about how he discovered that the new treatments work.
He currently takes Kaletra, tenofovir, 3TC and has an undetectable viral load. He has suffered from painful peripheral neuropathy and uses visualisation and meditation to control the pain.
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 36-40
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Interview 03
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Compares negotiating with doctors in the earlier days of HIV to what it is like for him now.
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.
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 36-40
>>
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.
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