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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Support groups >> Support groups

Support groups 

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• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 42 >> Prayer and support groups helped her to move on from her sense of betrayal and anger that her husband had infected her with HIV. (Read by an actor.)

She became sick in the UK while visiting some of her children who live here, and she feels she is now 'stuck here.' The uncertainty over her immigration status is very stressful and does get her down. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 41-45 >> Interview 30 >> Explains how African men's support groups can play a 'magical' role in building men's confidence and strength. (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 36-40 >> Interview 36 >> Talks about how he encouraged another African man to attend an African support group. (Read by an actor.)

He accesses African support groups, and this helps to relieve the boredom and stress of being 'stuck' while his immigration status is sorted out. He is currently taking efavirenz and Combivir, and has a low viral load. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 46-55 >> Interview 42 >> After an advocate visited her in hospital and helped her join a support group, she was motivated to get better. (Read by an actor.)

She became sick in the UK while visiting some of her children who live here, and she feels she is now 'stuck here.' The uncertainty over her immigration status is very stressful and does get her down. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 36-40 >> Interview 03 >> Believes that getting support from other people with HIV is the best way to help yourself.

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 46-55 >> Interview 43 >> Was delighted to find that other women with HIV she met in a support group were healthy and not dying. (Read by an actor.)

She has teenage children, and although she found it difficult to tell them about her HIV, they were very supportive. She believes that for women it is vital to seek out others with HIV to share their experiences of HIV. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 56-65 >> Interview 34 >> Support groups can help with the free discussion of difficult topics and expression of feelings. (Read by an actor.)

His wife took the news about his HIV very badly and their relationship broke up. He felt depressed and had suicidal thoughts. The care of HIV clinic staff and support groups were very important to his survival. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 31-35 >> Interview 18 >> Attending a support group helped her to see that a painful condition was actually a relatively rare medication side effect. (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 >> HIV >> Aged 20-30 >> Interview 27 >> Support groups are not for everyone all the time. (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 36-40 >> Interview 21 >> There were divisions in his support group as a result of 'victim' mentality. (Read by an actor.)

Although he was very ill with HIV, he was determined not to become a victim and 'end up on the scrap heap.' He lives a healthy and physically active life on combination therapies (nevirapine and Combivir). (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)

• Chronic health issues >> HIV >> Aged 20-30 >> Interview 47 >> She is busy going to college, support groups and volunteering to help her friend. (Read by an actor.)

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.)