HIV: Managing setbacks

if you have HIV, it can be difficult to figure out how to navigate through a period of time where setbacks make your condition more difficult to manage. Comply with your treatment, navigate relationsand maintaining your general health during those periods can be overwhelming.

But there are ways to get through those tough times.

One of the largest parts of cash HIV treatment is sticking to your medicine regime. If you take your medication every day and follow your doctor’s instructions, you will help your immune system stay strong so you are better equipped to fight infection.

If you’re having trouble starting or sticking with a medication, it’s important to talk to your doctor about it.

“Establish a relationship with a medical provider if you haven’t already established one. Ultimately, that will control the appearance of your treatment,” says Brandon Kennedy, a board-certified physician. mental health therapist.

Kennedy became interested in volunteering with local HIV/AIDS organizations in March 2010. In June of that year, he discovered he was HIV-positive. In early 2011, he was already doing advocacy work.

But he did not stop there.

“I got to the point where I no longer wanted to be the person delivering clients to a licensed mental health counselor,” he says. “I wanted to be the person who greets customers.”

Now, she focuses on helping people overcome setbacks that come from all aspects of their lives.

Kennedy says that staying in close contact with your doctor can help you:

• Stay on top of routine tests to make sure your treatment is working as well as possible.
• Reduce your chances of drug resistance. That’s when the HIV virus mutates and your meds stop working too.
• You are less likely to pass HIV on to anyone you have sex with because you are more likely to stick with your treatment plan.

To help make your treatments an easy part of your daily routine, you can:

• Use a daily pill box to organize your medications.
• Take your medicine at the same time every day.
• Ask a loved one to remind you, set alarms on your phone, or take notes.
• Plan ahead to get more medications if you are traveling or will not be able to refill a prescription.
• Keep track of your doctor’s appointments and be sure to schedule them routinely.

Monthly injections are also available instead of pills.

Mental and physical care is crucial to maintaining a good treatment regimen. The best way to avoid setbacks, Kennedy says, is to look at your self-care as a whole and figure out what’s helpful and what’s not.

And then take action.

“If you find you can’t figure it out, get help,” he says. “There are professionals who can help you process, navigate, and figure out what works and what doesn’t, and how to come up with different interventions that are personalized for you.”

Maggie White, NP, an infectious disease specialist in Houston, says there are many reasons people may not take their medications consistently, including:

• unwanted side effects
• mere forgetfulness
• fear of judgment

“Sometimes people don’t take their medications because there’s a stigma attached to them,” says White.

If you missed a dose due to a simple slip, White says it won’t mess up your entire schedule.

“If you miss a dose, it’s not the end of the world. … It’s when people skip doses all the time,” she says. When you constantly start or stop medication, the HIV virus can worsen over time and develop resistance to the drugs. But today it is much more difficult to become resistant to HIV drugs, compared to older drugs.

But if your viral load is detectable, it’s important to discuss medication with your doctor. They will help you determine a better treatment program. This could include adjusting your medication to make it easier to manage.

Throughout your HIV journey, you may not be sure how to navigate your next steps. When that happens, take a breath and find your support system.

“There is an ebb and flow in life,” says Kalee Garland, an activist and HIV patient. “We can be our own worst enemies. It is important to have strong mental healthbe open to adviceand have good friends that you can trust.”

Garland, 34, was born with HIV and has overcome changes throughout her HIV journey. She says that the best way to deal with setbacks is through social understanding.

“HIV is an acronym, and the first word is human. … What if it affects your best friend? What if it affects someone you love?”

A difficult part of HIV setbacks is disclosing information to other people, especially your partner or those with whom you may have a sexual relationship.

Garland encourages herself and others to feel empowered by having these discussions.

“You never know what you are going to find. It’s the most vulnerable,” says Garland. “Just try to breathe through. You’re being emotionally open and honest with them, which is the most incredible way to treat a human being.”

While you may get occasional ignorant responses, he says, it’s important not to isolate yourself from deeper relationships. Garland emphasizes that there are many “emotionally intelligent” people who will accept and support you.

If your viral load is no longer undetectable and you are in a relationship with someone who is HIV negative, it can be difficult to deal with. But there are many solutions to help you and your partner feel in control.

As a therapist, Kennedy talks to many couples about preventative care they can use if one of their viral loads increases.

“Can we talk about condoms,” he says. “But we can also talk about different creams that are approved. We can talk about Homework.”

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a medication that people without the virus can take to prevent getting HIV. Talk to your medical team about it.

Regardless of the situation, Kennedy believes that acceptance is the best way to overcome setbacks.

“Let me accept the fact that this particular thing is happening,” he says. “Only then can I go back and assess. What are the next steps I need to take to keep moving forward?”