Hi Doctor Young, I need to know how long an hiv+ person can live? I mean HEALTHY!! I see people that look healthy and they are HIV + for over 20 years but I am so scare that I make it that long and looking sick !!! Please help me. Also how long can I stay on the same regimen ?

Hello and thanks for posting.

While there's understandable concern (and some degree of uncertainty) about long-term survival for positives, I continue to tell my new (and old) patients to expect to live a very long and healthy life. I do have many patients who have survived more than 20 years, many of whom are doing so without AIDS complications; many who have been on continuous therapy for more than 10 years. eThis isn't a guarantee, medical managment requires attention, follow up and occasionally modification of treatments; some people do have side effects of medications that are best dealt with by treatment changes; in other circumstances newer medications become available to minimize side effects or simplify medication taking.

Please try to dialog with others who are long-term survivors- perhaps on TheBody's forums, or in local support groups.

Be well, BY