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Toggle Navigation
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 * COVID-19
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Donate to PLNSW
Become a Member
Events Calendar
Menu
 * Home
 * COVID-19
   * COVID-19 vaccine FAQs
   * Book your COVID-19 vaccine
   * HIV & the COVID-19 vaccine video
 * HIV Info
   * HIV 101
   * Just Diagnosed
   * HIV Statistics
   * Managing HIV
   * HIV Medications
   * HIV & Telehealth
   * STIs
   * Safer sex
 * Get Support
   * Peer Support
   * Just Diagnosed
   * Find a doctor
   * Find a Pharmacy
   * Find a Dental Service
   * Social Support Groups
     * [+Connect]
     * Peers Connect Online!
     * The Social Club
     * Peer 2 Peer
     * a[STARTx] workshop
     * Community Support Groups
   * Emergency Support
 * Services
   * Peer Support
   * Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program
   * Ageing Support
   * Digital Mentors
   * Employment & Vocational Support
   * Housing Support
   * Partner Notification
   * Regional and Rural NSW
   * Treatments Support
   * Women and HIV
 * Blog+ … the latest blog posts from Positive Life staff and members
 * Get Involved
   * Donate to Positive Life
   * Subscribe to Positive Life
   * Leave a Bequest
 * About Us
   * Contact Us
   * Our Team
   * Our Board
   * COVID-19 ToolKit
   * Media
 * Publications
   * Life.mail eBulletin
   * Booklets and Resources
   * COVID-19 ToolKit Newsletter
   * Factsheets & Magazines
   * Submissions & Reports
   * Talkabout Magazine
 * Policy & Research
   * Current Research
   * HIV & Access to Healthcare
   * HIV & Ageing
   * HIV & Employment
   * HIV & End of Life Planning
   * HIV & Insurance
   * HIV Stigma & Discrimination
   * HIV & Travel
   * Submissions & Reports
 * Positive Speakers Bureau



HIV Info
 * HIV Info
 * HIV 101
   * PEP and PrEP
   * Treatment as Prevention (TasP)
 * Just Diagnosed
 * HIV Statistics
 * Managing HIV
 * HIV Medications
 * HIV & Telehealth
 * STIs
 * Safer sex


MANAGING HIV

Home/HIV Info/Managing HIV

As a person living with HIV, the best thing you can do is to manage HIV and take
control of your health. You can do this in five ways:

 1. Treat early
 2. Take your medication
 3. Know your viral load
 4. Ask more questions
 5. Get more answers

Since the late 90’s, after combination HIV antiretroviral (ART) medication
become available, HIV medication has become more efficient, more tolerable and
even simplified with new combinations of drugs with just one single pill a day.


1. TREAT EARLY

Evidence shows that the sooner you start treatment to control your HIV, the
better it will be for your long term health outcomes. Treatment helps to improve
your mental health and quality of life, and also reduces your risk of passing
HIV onto your partners.

Today the lifespan for a person living with HIV, who starts treatment early, is
the same as a person who does not have HIV.  People who are on HIV medication
report feeling healthier, their viral load (amount of virus in their body)
usually stays low and CD4 cell counts stay up.

Studies show that people who start treatment soon after their HIV diagnosis have
better health outcomes. Today, you can begin treatment as soon as you receive a
diagnosis of HIV.  It is recommended that people who are diagnosed with HIV,
start treatment as soon as is practical and when you feel comfortable.

Start a conversation with your doctor to determine when you are ready to start
medication that fits in with your lifestyle. There is no need to wait to start
HIV treatment.

Evidence Brief: Models for the Immediate Uptake of HIV Treatment – position
paper making the case for immediate treatment uptake


2. TAKE YOUR MEDICATION

Remember to take your medication every day!

If you forget to take your medication, missing doses can give the virus an
opportunity to replicate and it can allow HIV to develop resistance to your
current treatments. As a result the medication cannot work effectively to
control HIV in your blood, brain and other organs of your body.

This may lead to a significant fall in your CD4 count – the good cells that help
keeping your immune system strong.

If the number of CD4 cells gets very low, it increases the risk of a damaged
immune system and can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) unless
you start treatment immediately or as soon as possible after HIV diagnosis.


3. KNOW YOUR VIRAL LOAD

Your ‘viral load’ (VL) is the measure of HIV virus present in your bloodstream.
Knowing your VL in your blood is an important indicator of how much the
treatments are suppressing HIV, how well your HIV medications are working, or
whether you should consider starting or changing treatments in consultation with
your doctor.

If you take your HIV medication regularly it can suppress the HIV in your blood
to an undetectable viral load (UVL). People with an UVL cannot pass on HIV to
their sexual partners.

An ‘undetectable’ viral load (UVL) means there are less than 200 copies/ml of
HIV in your blood.

You have an UVL when:

 * your viral load is undetectable (less than 200 copies/ml of HIV in your
   blood)
 *  for at least six months or more, and
 * you take your HIV medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Being undetectable does not mean your HIV is cured.  It means, when you have an
UVL, you have no risk of passing on HIV to your sexual partners. While less than
5% of people living with HIV cannot achieve an ‘undetectable’ viral load, even
people in this situation will have a very low risk of passing on HIV.


When HIV is not treated with medication, the virus will replicate uninhibited in
your bloodstream, where it will start to weaken your immune system. Over time,
opportunistic infections will increase like thrush, tuberculosis, pneumonia and
even some cancers.

Factsheet: HIV & Treatment as Prevention (TasP) – also known as U=U


4. ASK MORE QUESTIONS

Take control of your medication and health by asking more questions of your
doctor about your HIV and about any side effects of your HIV medication.

While many people do not experience side effects – some people can. These early
side effects are usually just at the beginning of treatment. Always discuss your
concerns with your doctor. Treatment related side effects can usually be well
managed. It is best if you and your doctor work together as a team to reach the
best outcomes for you.

Talk with your doctor about your health, your experiences with HIV, and how you
are feeling generally keeps you in control of your HIV and your health. Remember
to tell your doctor about any other medications that you are taking.

If you have more treatment related questions you can also call the Positive Life
Treatments Officer (02) 9206 2177 to ask questions you feel unsure about.


5. GET MORE ANSWERS

Being proactive about your health puts you in control of your HIV. Your CD4
count and viral load will provide clinical markers to guide you and your doctor.
If you’re unhappy with advice you receive, you can always seek a second opinion.

For more answers you can speak to your doctor, contact your local Sexual Health
Clinic or call our Treatments Officer (02) 9206 2177 or 1800 245 677 (freecall) 
to get answers when you feel unsure.

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POSITIVE LIFE NSW LOCATION:

Suite 4.01, Level 4, 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
Postal: PO Box 831, Darlinghurst NSW 1300

Telephone: 02 9206 2177 or 1800 245 677 (freecall)
TTY: 131 450  |  Fax: 02 9211 5672





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