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Please Note: Due to volume considerations, not all questions can be answered. Questions most likely to be answered will be those of general interest to a broad group of visitors to this forum. Questions pertaining to a specific case; requests for diagnosis, medical advice, or second opinion; or requests for opinions about untested alternative therapies will generally not be answered.

The participation of Dr. Ewald Horwath in this Forum is made possible by Boehringer Ingelheim.

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AIDS and dating
Aug 21, 2007

I am a 44 year old gay male. I was diagnosed with AIDS on October 2006 after I was hospitalized with PCP. I am now on Atripla and numbers are getting better month by month. My major concern is dating again or should I even make the effort. Since I have AIDS, I have no idea how long I will live nor do I want to make anyone a "widower". I am very torn by this.

Response from Dr. Horwath

You are responding well to your treatment, so you have every reason to believe that you will continue to improve. We do not have a way to predict your life expectancy any more than we can for a person who does not have AIDS. Many people live for years with HIV. I have personally treated many patients who have lived with HIV for as long as 15 to 20 years. You should lead your life.



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