Are you HIV Positive?

What is HIV and how did I get it?

What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

I just tested positive for HIV, now what?

Where can I find help in fighting HIV?

How can I stay healthy longer?

What can I expect when I go to the doctor?

What is the treatment for HIV or AIDS?

What are some of the other diseases I could get?

How do I protect other people from my HIV?

Ask a Licensed Social Worker a Question

(Haga sus preguntas a una Trabajadora Social Titulada)

Q: What is HIV and how did I get it?

A: HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV is sometimes called “the AIDS virus”. In 1984, HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS. It is possible you may have caught HIV by having unprotected sex - sex without a condom with someone who has HIV. If you shoot or inject drugs, you might have shared a needle or shared “works” with someone who has HIV. Babies born to women with HIV also can become infected. Although in the past you could get HIV from a blood transfusion, today it is unlikely you got infected that way, because all blood in the United States has been tested for HIV since 1985. You could not have gotten HIV just from working with or being around someone who has HIV - and no one can get it from you that way. HIV also is not spread by insect bites or stings, on toilet seats, or through everyday things like sharing a meal.

Q: What is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

A: There’s a big difference. The general public thinks that anyone who is infected with HIV “has AIDS”. That is not correct. You can still be infected with HIV and be perfectly healthy. HIV is a virus. The letters stand for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. When HIV enters your body, it infects your "CD4 cells" and kills them. CD4 cells (sometimes called T-helper cells) help your body fight off infection and disease. Usually, CD4 cell counts in someone with a healthy immune system range from 500 to 1800. When you lose CD4 cells, your immune system breaks down and you can't fight infections and diseases as well. So what is AIDS? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. When your CD4 cell count goes under 200, doctors say you have AIDS. Doctors also say you have AIDS if you have HIV and certain diseases, such as tuberculosis or Pneumocystis carinii [NEW-mo-SIS-tis CA-RIN-nee-eye] pneumonia (PCP), even if your CD4 cell count is over 200. AIDS can only be diagnosed by a physician.

Q: I just tested positive for HIV, now what?

1. Take a deep breath - Learning that you’re HIV-positive is a shock, but it is not as bad as you think. With the medicines that have been developed to suppress the virus, it may be possible to live without experiencing the symptoms of AIDS. So, don’t panic, don’t go crazy. Give yourself a little time to get used to the idea that you have HIV. And Then…

2. Find a doctor who is experienced in dealing with HIV and AIDS - This is not a time to rely on your family doctor. HIV treatment is very complex and it changes all of the time. Make sure your doctor is an HIV specialist. If you're newly infected, you may not need to take medications for years. However, you need to see a doctor right now to monitor your viral load and T-cell count. Even though you might be feeling fine, you should have your viral load tested every 3-4 months, and your T-cell count measured every 3-6 months. The Care page of this website has a listing of doctors in Oklahoma that specialize in HIV treatment. Also, to understand viral load and CD4 counts, see the frequently asked questions page of this website.

3. Contact your local ASO - Call your local AIDS service organization (ASO) to find out about services and treatment options available in your community. An ASO can help you in dozens of different ways. Depending on where you live, you may find that they can help you with primary health care, medications, housing, alcohol and drug treatment, transportation, food and counseling. In Oklahoma there are two AIDS service agencies that provide information and resources about how to deal with HIV. They can also connect you to doctors that specialize in treating HIV:

CarePoint, Consortium of AIDS Resources & Education - CarePoint is located in Oklahoma City and Lawton and provides services to Oklahoman’s living in the 405 and 580 area codes.

Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. - provides services to Oklahoman’s living in the 918 area code.

4. Develop a strategy for adapting to your new situation - Talk to your doctor, counselor or case manager about ways that you can cope with HIV.

5. Learn more about HIV and how it can affect you - You’re going to be dealing with HIV the rest of your life, so it only makes sense to learn as much as you can. Read up. Do the research. Become an expert. Two websites in particular provide basic information about HIV in plain English as well as the latest information about HIV/AIDS from around the world. They are AIDSMEDS.com (www.AIDSMEDS.com) and The Body (www.thebody.org). Both are excellent, comprehensive sites.

6. Take care of yourself - When your immune system is challenged, you need to take better care of yourself. If you are abusing drugs or alcohol, now is the time to stop. If you smoke, it’s essential that you quit. All the things that cigarettes do to healthy people, they do to people living with HIV faster.

7. Practice safe sex - For anyone with HIV, using condoms is a must. Learn how HIV is transmitted, and how to prevent it. Practice safe sex not only to protect your partners, but to protect yourself. Yes, you are already HIV positive, but there are all kinds of strains and mutations of HIV. Some of the strains are resistant to multiple HIV drugs-and you don’t want anything you don’t already have. If you would like more information about safe sex, how HIV is and is not transmitted, send an e-mail.

Q: Where can I find help in fighting HIV?

A: If you are living with HIV or AIDS, you need many kinds of support -- medical, emotional, psychological, and, yes, financial. Your local AIDS service organization (ASO) can help you with:

	answers to your questions about HIV and AIDS
	where to find doctors that treat HIV
	food, housing, and transportation
	planning to meet financial and daily needs
	support groups for you and your loved ones
	home nursing care
	prevention services, services that help you understand HIV and the disease process, safe sex, and medication adherence
	confidential help in applying for Social Security disability benefits

In Oklahoma there are two AIDS Service Organizations (ASO) that can help you find the resources to fight HIV. Tulsa C.A.R.E.S. is an ASO that provides services to people living with HIV in the 918 area code. CarePoint is an ASO located in Oklahoma City and Lawton, Oklahoma. They provide services to people living with HIV in the 405 and 508 area codes.

Q: How can I stay healthy longer?

A: There are many things you can do for yourself to stay healthy:

	make sure you have a doctor who knows how to treat HIV
	follow your doctor's instructions. Keep your appointments. Your doctor may prescribe medicine for you. Take the medicine just the way he or she tells you to, because taking only some of your medicine gives your HIV infection more chance to fight back. If you get sick from your medicine, call your doctor for advice -- don't change how you take your medicine on your own or because of advice from friends.
	get immunizations (shots) to prevent infections such as pneumonia and flu. Your doctor will tell you when to get these shots
	if you smoke or if you use drugs not prescribed by your doctor - quit
	eat healthy foods. This will help keep you strong, keep your energy and weight up, and help your body protect itself
	exercise regularly to stay strong and fit
	get enough sleep and rest
	take time to relax. Many people find prayer or meditation, along with exercise and rest, helps them cope with the stress of having HIV infection or AIDS

There also are many things you can do to protect your health when you prepare food or eat, when you travel, and when you're around pets and other animals. You can read more about these things in the brochures in the CDC Opportunistic Infections Series. You can get these brochures and other information on HIV from the CDC National AIDS Hotline at (800) 342-2437 or at the CDC Internet address.

Q: What can I expect when I go to the doctor?

A: At your first appointment your doctor will ask you questions, do a checkup, draw blood, and do a tuberculosis skin test and other tests. Your doctor also may give you some immunizations (shots). Tell your doctor about any health problems you are having so that you can get treatment. You also should ask your doctor any questions you have about HIV or AIDS, such as what to do if your medicine makes you sick, where to get help in quitting smoking or drug use, or how to eat healthy. When your doctor draws blood, it is used for many tests, including the CD4 cell count and "viral load testing." Viral load testing measures the amount of HIV in your blood. Viral load tests help predict what will happen next with your HIV infection if you don't get treatment. They are used with CD4 cell counts to decide when to start and when to change your drug therapies. Keep your follow-up appointments with your doctor. At follow-up appointments you and your doctor will talk about your test results, and he or she may prescribe medicine for you.

Q: What is the treatment for HIV or AIDS?

A: HIV and HIV-related illnesses vary from person to person. People can live with HIV for many years. Your doctor will design a medical care plan for you and tell you about the risks and benefits of the drugs for HIV and when you need to start taking them. Many drugs are used together to treat HIV. These drugs often include "antiretroviral" medicines. These medicines are powerful drugs, but they are not cures for HIV. If your doctor prescribes any of these drugs for you, take them exactly as prescribed. If your HIV infection gets worse and your CD4 cell count falls below 200, you are more likely to get other infections. Your doctor will prescribe TMP-SMX (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole [try-METH-o-prim-sul-fa-meth-OX-uh-zole]) - also known as Bactrim®, Septra®, or Cotrim®* - or other drugs, to prevent PCP. Your doctor also may prescribe other drugs for you, depending on your CD4 count. Most people have no problem with these medicines. But if you get a rash or have other problems, call your doctor right away to discuss other treatments. Don't change the way you are taking any of your medicines without first talking with your doctor. If you don't take your medicines the right way, you might give your HIV infection a better chance to fight back.

Q : What are some of the other diseases I could get?

A: In addition to PCP, you also have a higher chance of getting other diseases, depending on your CD4 count. These are called "opportunistic infections" because a person with HIV can get the infection if his or her weakened immune system gives it the opportunity to develop. More than 100 germs can cause opportunistic infections. Some of these infections include:

MAC (mycobacterium avium [my-ko-bak-TEER-i-um a-VEE-i-um] complex)

CMV (cytomegalovirus [si-to-MEG-eh-lo-vi-res])

TB (tuberculosis [too-burr-qu-LO-sis])

toxo (toxoplasmosis [tok-so-plaz-MO-sis])

crypto (cryptosporidiosis [krip-to-spo-rid-e-O-sis])

You can learn more about how to prevent the most serious opportunistic infections from the brochures in the CDC Opportunistic Infections Series, which you can get by calling the CDC National AIDS Hotline at (800) 342-2437. Watch out for certain symptoms:

	breathing problems
	mouth problems, such as thrush (white spots), sores, change in taste, dryness, trouble swallowing, or loose teeth
	fever for more than two days
	weight loss
	poor vision or "floaters" (moving lines or spots in your vision)
	diarrhea
	skin rashes or itching

Tell your doctor right away if you have any of these problems. Your doctor can treat most of your HIV-related problems, but sometimes he or she may need to send you to a specialist. Visit a dentist at least twice a year, or more often if you have mouth problems.

Q: How do I protect other people from my HIV?

	Don't have unprotected sex - sex without a condom. Abstinence - not having sex - is the best way to protect other people. If you have sex, use a new latex condom (rubber) each and every time.
	If you use a lubricant, use a water-based lubricant. You should not use petroleum-based jelly, cold cream, baby oil, or other oils because they can weaken a condom and it may break.
	If you are allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane (a type of plastic) condoms.
	If male condoms are not available, use female condoms.
	Do not use condoms with a spermicide or nonoxyl 9. This has been found to increase the chance of transmission.
	For oral sex, use protection such as a condom, dental dam (a square piece of latex used by dentists), or plastic food wrap. Do not reuse these items.
	Keep sex toys for your own use only and don't use someone else's sex toys.
	Don't share drug needles or drug works. In many places there are needle exchange programs. Use them. Better yet, seek help if you inject drugs. You can fight HIV much better if you don't have a drug habit.
	Tell people you've had sex with, that you have HIV. This will not be easy, but it will help them get the help they need. Your local public health department may help you find these people and tell them they have been exposed to HIV. If they have HIV, this may help them get care and avoid spreading HIV to others.
	If a woman you had sex with is pregnant, even if you are not the father, it is very important that you tell her you have HIV. If she has HIV, she needs to get early medical care for her own health and to protect her baby.
	Don't donate blood, plasma, or organs.
	Keep razors or toothbrushes for your own use only and don't use someone else's razor or toothbrush. HIV can be spread through fresh blood on such items.

I you would like more information about safe sex and HIV - Ask a Licensed Social Worker a Question.

This information was taken from Center for Disease Control, Project Inform, and HIV Positive.