Now That You've Started Treatment

Table of Contents

• Using This Booklet
• Section One: What Everyone Should Know
  • Be Flexible With Your Decisions
  • Make the Most of Your Pills and Blood Work
  • Keep Up With Your Health Care
  • When to Switch HIV Meds
  • Taking a Break From Your HIV Meds
  • Changes in Body Shape
  • Herbs, Prescriptions and HIV Meds
  • When Will You See a Cure for HIV?
• Section Two: Special Situations
  • If Your Sex Partner(s) Is HIV-Negative
  • If You Are Under 25
  • If You Are Over 50
  • If You Want to Have a Family
  • If You Are an HIV-Positive Woman
  • If You Drink Alcohol Regularly or Use Recreational Drugs
  • If You Smoke Tobacco
  • If You Have Other Conditions

Using This Booklet

Some time ago you found out you have HIV. You went to a doctor's office and got blood work done. Then you started meds. You've been taking them as directed ever since.

So now what?

Well, simply put, your life matters. You may think that HIV is not the most important or urgent thing in your life. Many people do. But to live well with HIV you'll need to find a balance between taking care of your own health and taking care of the other things and people in your life.

Caring for HIV means more than just taking pills, although that's a big chunk of it. It's about eating well throughout your life, dealing with stress, staying involved with friends and family, exercising, getting sound sleep, and keeping your eye on changes in your health.

Don't think you'll encounter everything in this booklet. We simply want you to be aware that these things are possible -- but not necessarily probable -- for you.

The first section contains information on things that everyone should know. The second describes areas of HIV that may or may not apply to you, such as family planning.

In a lot ways, this booklet is about prevention. By knowing ahead of time what things could happen, you have some control over how your health develops over the next decades of your life.