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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Secrecy and telling people >> Secrecy and telling people

Secrecy and telling people

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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 17 >> Delaying telling people about your HIV diagnosis has benefits.

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 20-30 >> Interview 27 >> Felt that a friendship that suffered because of his HIV was trouble anyway. (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 >> HIV >> Aged 41-45 >> Interview 22 >> She is very open about her HIV status.

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 >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 19 >> Proved to himself that HIV discrimination can still exist in the gay community.

Although medically retired, he is very active and works voluntarily. He is currently on lopinavir, 3TC, abacavir, ddI and tenofovir, with 1700 viral copies. Side-effects have included lipodystrophy.

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 51 >> He does not pose a risk to people in everyday life and he does not feel he should tell everyone about his HIV. (Read by an actor.)

His immigration status was uncertain at the time of the interview. His approach to HIV includes exercise, good food and support groups. He tells his sexual partners about his HIV and he is also very careful to have safe sex. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 50 >> He was struggling with keeping HIV secret and how to tell his child that the whole family is HIV positive, including the child. (Read by an actor.)

His new born child was diagnosed with HIV, and he and his wife were both subsequently diagnosed with HIV too. His family is in good health and his child is prospering with support from the NHS. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 56-65 >> Interview 25 >> His thoughts on disclosure of HIV status in casual sex are shifting.

He currently takes didanosine, ritonavir, lamivudine and saquinavir for HIV. He has suffered from non-painful peripheral neuropathy and some lipodystrophy. With treatment, he now looks forward to a long retirement.