Choosing & Working With HIV/AIDS Specialists: Viewpoints and Personal Accounts

See also: Choosing & Working With HIV/AIDS Specialists

My Lizzy, Me and HIV: A Blog Entry by Rev. Andrena Ingram (January 23, 2012)
"When I was thinking about moving here about 10 years ago, to attend seminary, my first concern was: where am I going to receive medical care. I reached out to someone here, who referred me to Philadelphia Fight ... and I met Lizzy, and we have hung tough for almost 9 years!"
From The Body
When Our Lab Results Are Not Normal: A Video Blog Entry by Maria T. Mejia (October 13, 2011)
"When I received the news and read my lab work and saw that my enzymes were up, I freaked out! ... We, as HIV positive people, always have to go through this every time we get our blood work done! I have been through this for 20 years and as the years pass and more of the meds are in our system, actually it is a scarier feeling for me!"
From The Well Project
New Regimen of Meds, and My Comments on My Speech on the Doctor/Patient Relationship: A Video Blog Entry by Maria T. Mejia (May 27, 2011)
"I had one doctor that didn't want to listen to me ... maybe because he is scared for me? ... it's not just about being undetectable and my T-cell count! I want to live a long life!! And be on medication that is less toxic! It's my right!"
From The Well Project
God ... Get Outta Here! How I Met My HIV Doctor: A Blog Entry by Ibrahim (April 18, 2011)
"HIV doctors cannot help their patients without developing a strong bond with them -- sharing their life. If you have a problem sharing your life with your doctor then maybe it's time for you to go online for a 'Doctor Hunt' ... and be ready to write in your 'into' field: LTR."
From The Body
Two Plus Two Equals Seven, Doesn't It? A Blog Entry by Ed Perlmutter (October 26, 2010)
"I did not ask for an HIV test because I had never asked for an HIV test ... And somewhere between here and there (1999? 2002? 2004? who knows the year, really?), HIV lost much of its high-profile status both in my consciousness and in the media."
From The Body
A Fascinoma but No Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia: A Blog Entry by Bob Frascino, M.D. (May 26, 2010)
"Here I am once again heading for the MRI scanner. ... Here at 'St. Elsewhere's' Diagnostic Imaging Center no one knows I'm Dr. Bob or Dr. Frascino or Dr. Anybody. I'm just Patient #76896328963127."
From The Body
Six Tips for Choosing Your HIV Doctor: A Video Blog Entry by Mark S. King (May 18, 2010)
From The Body
You're Fired! Changing Your Doctor (July/August 2007)
In Positively Aware, from Test Positive Aware Network
Lessons I Learned From Dr. Cruise Control (Fall 2006)
To read PDF, click here.
In Positively Aware, from Test Positive Aware Network
The Wholistic Picture: Response Ability (July/August 2006)
Sue Saltmarsh urges people with HIV never to simply accept it when they're wronged, whether it's by their politicians, their doctors or the prejudices of society.
To read PDF, click here.
In Positively Aware, from Test Positive Aware Network
Navigating an HMO: How I Became My Doctor's Free Continuing Medical Education Provider (September/October 2005)
HIVer Carlos A. Perez experiences an HMO nightmare: ignorant doctors, bigotry and endless red tape.
To read PDF, click here.
In Positively Aware, from Test Positive Aware Network
The Road to Empowerment (Winter 2004/2005)
Taking charge of your HIV care is extremely important, because there's plenty your doctor might not know, writes treatment educator Kath Webster.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Do As You're Told? (Winter 2004/2005)
When Patricia Storey was diagnosed with HIV, her relationship with her doctor suddenly became much more important.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Person First, Patient Second (Winter 2004/2005)
People with HIV shouldn't settle for being just another "number," writes physician assistant Paul Stabile.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Positively Isolated (Winter 2004/2005)
A gay, HIV-positive baby boomer feels he gets better care in rural Michigan than he would in many cities.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Walking Away (Winter 2004/2005)
Carlos H. Arboleda now has the best doctor on earth -- but it wasn't always that way.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Partnership in Care (Winter 2004/2005)
Just starting with a new HIV doc? Give it time, Dr. L. Jeannine Bookhardt-Murray says -- you won't necessarily know right away if he or she is "the one".
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Learning to Trust (Winter 2004/2005)
It took a while for Penni Cleverley to realize that the biggest obstacle to her care wasn't her doctor -- it was her.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Avoiding the Power Struggle (Winter 2004/2005)
David Elfstrom provides some tips on how to keep your next doctor's appointment from turning into a battle.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
Both Sides of the Pill Bottle (Winter 2004/2005)
HIV-positive nurse Richard S. Ferri says it's easy for healthcare workers to get too caught up in lab numbers, and forget about the impact symptoms can have on HIVers' lives.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
What if God Was One of Us? (Winter 2004/2005)
Doctors aren't gods, says long-term HIV survivor Mark Milano; that's why choosing the right one for you is so important.
To read PDF, click here.
In ACRIA Update, from AIDS Community Research Initiative of America
What My Doctor Didn't Know and Didn't Ask (September/October 2004)
Ever have an HIV doctor who barely acknowledges your existence? You're not alone: Steven James knows first-hand just how bad some HIV docs can be.
In GMHC Treatment Issues, from Gay Men's Health Crisis
Awareness, Information, Decisions, Solutions (Spring 2003)
[Archived Article]
Why effective communication with your healthcare provider is important.
To read PDF, click here.
In Women Alive Newsletter, from Women Alive
The Significance of Patient Participation (August 1999)
[Archived Article]
A doctor explains the advantages of being an informed patient.
In Survival News, from AIDS Survival Project
Partnership Is His Prescription (June 1999)
[Archived Article]
Being frank with care-providers can build resilience.
In Positive Living, from AIDS Project Los Angeles
The Other End of the Stethoscope: An Interview With Mark Katz, M.D. (June 1999)
[Archived Article]
In Positive Living, from AIDS Project Los Angeles
Against the Odds: One Man's Battle Against HIV, Depression, & OI's (Summer 1999)
[Archived Article]
In STEP Perspective, from Seattle Treatment Education Project