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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
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Aged 46-55
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Interview 24
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Found it easy to introduce condoms into his sex life with his wife.
At one stage, he was very unwell and his CD4 cells were as low as 200. Since drug rehabilitation in the Russian Exodus Christian charity, he has been able to get his life back on track and his CD4 cells are now 900.
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 46-55
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Interview 07
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Some religious organisations are helpful to HIV positive people while others are not, but people can get comfort from their religion regardless. (Read
He was admitted to hospital with PCP (Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia) and was diagnosed with HIV in 2000. He is involved in helping black African men. (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 37
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Talks about the answer he came up with when he prayed to God to explain why he had got HIV. (Read by an actor.)
He feels that he is a stronger person because of his experience with HIV. He is not currently on medication and had 680 CD4 cells. He now takes care of himself through exercise and diet. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
Chronic health issues
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HIV
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Aged 46-55
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Interview 05
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One of his partners did not want to use condoms for anal sex because he thought he either already had HIV or would get HIV. (Read by an actor.)
His current T cells are 600 and he is not on anti-HIV medication. He is happy to be alive now, does voluntary work (non-HIV) and training courses. (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 28
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Believes that anal sex without condoms between HIV positive men can have serious health consequences.
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
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HIV
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Aged 36-40
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Interview 40
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A partner removed a condom during sex and she believes it is difficult for women to insist on condoms because of possible violence.
She kept her HIV status secret for many years as she believed this was necessary for her survival. Currently in the UK, she is on a new anti-viral combination and the virus is now undetectable in her blood.
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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Says that sex between people is complex and it can be difficult to get men to use condoms. (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 36-40
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Interview 12
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While they always had safe sex, using condoms felt like missing out on a reward.
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 51
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He feels his partner is worried about becoming infected with HIV and he finds it hard to enjoy sex. (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
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HIV
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 14
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It was difficult to convince his HIV negative partner that he should use condoms for anal sex.
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
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HIV
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Aged 31-35
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Interview 51
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He told his partner about his HIV and he uses three condoms to be extra safe*. (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
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HIV
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Aged 41-45
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Interview 30
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Sometimes people provide excuses to use condoms in relationships rather than disclose their HIV status. (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 45
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She told her partner they must use condoms because she had TB. (Read by an actor.)
She was staying with her sister when she was diagnosed. Her sister mistreated her because of her HIV. Social groups, courses and Christianity have contributed to her wellbeing and empowerment. (Video and audio clips read by an actor.)
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