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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 31-35
>>
Interview 18
>>
She was distressed about the side effects of her medication, but the doctor focused on the improvements in her immune system. (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 36-40
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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
>>
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 56-65
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Interview 25
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Explains why he will put up with side effects and stick with his current medication.
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.
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 36-40
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Interview 28
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Explains some potential problems with HIV treatments that make it well worth HIV negative people avoiding infection with HIV.
He currently has an undetectable viral load and about 900 CD4 cells. He did not respond well to earlier regimes, but is now doing well on 'salvage therapy,' although his medication has numerous side-effects.
Chronic health issues
>>
HIV
>>
Aged 41-45
>>
Interview 08
>>
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.)
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