Dear all

[mediapool]

I am very recently HIV positive and after worrying for 4 weeks I got the results. Strangely enough I was anticipating them (three weeks of fever + sore throat) so when they came I almost was relieved that finally there is a certainty that I  will die younger. I am 30, male. Results confirmed by ELISA (two times) and Western blot. 100% certain.

I have some questions and I will very much appreciate your honest, candid answer on all of them. To name a few:
1) Should I start HIV medications early? I dont know my viral load yet. I am feeling OK after the initial HIV infection.
2) Can I continue to work while taking these medications? I am an accountant.
3) Can you, please, tell me what is the life expectancy from HIV disease if I adhere to medications?
4) How can I hide side effects from medicine from my colleagues? Give me some practical answers please.
5) Can I have children without infecting my partner?
6) Should I tell someone? I believe my mother will die from the news. Also I live in Bulgaria and there is a very very bad feeeling towards HIV infected.

I will very very much appreciate your candid answers indeed. They will help me a lot.
Kind regards,

Your friend in destiny

[mapiana323]

hello there,and welcomee aboard.yes!!!!!it's normal to feel worried after being diagnosed.it all depends on ur viral load and cd4 for you to start meds.remember,you need to be dedicated to the medication,so if you're not psychologically ready,do not start yet.inanycase,talk to your infectious dx doctor if u have one.

i think it's better to take this one day at a time.when i got diagnosed 4yrs back,i was in denial stage for about 3months,then,reality kicked in.i did alot of research about the dx and realised that it can be managed like any other chronic dx if you're ready to fight.i told myself, "i might as well die rich" so i continued with my normal school and career dream.just take it one day at a time,and i think u'll be okay.try to look for resourses around u that can be of help

about telling ur mother,i don't think she'll hate u for that.if u think she's not going to take it easy,look for somebody in the family u really trust and confide in him.i'm also 30yrs old.  still haven't gotten the courage to discuss my situation with my family,but my husband.try to open up to your partner and look for better ways to be safe.my hubbie is not infected and we've been married for 5yrs now.we try to live a normal life.

you can still have kids if you want to.i think read something about sperm washing and all that.i'm trying to get pregnant through insemination,my obgn dr and id dr say it's okay for me to have kids.

try and get your levels and then go from there

good luck

[scared352]

was your fever high and soar thoat harsh or were the symptoms mild. I have been sick for weeks just trying to compare symptoms. Your mother will love you no matter what happens, Mothers have a way of making you feel better just be careful you amy want a councelor to help. I hope the best for you. not an expert just a coment.

[mediapool]

Dear Teak thanks for the answers, just some additional info on the questions:
1) How many years after infection did you start medications?
2) With what viral load and CD4 count do normally medications should start?
3) You are a veteran fighting this disease - did you have side effects from your medications - you probably changed them?
4) Is there any correlation between mild symptomatic disease vs strong one or none in terms of how fast the disease progresses?
5) In the first years after you learned did you tell your friends? Bulgaria now in terms of perceptions and beliefs is somewhere the US was probably 10-20 years earlier.


Very much count on your answers.  

[Teak]

1. You need to get your CD4, %, VL tests done first.
2. It depends on your CD4, %, and viral load
3. Normal life span
4. You can't if you have side effects. (I didn't have any side effects on Atripla)
5. You'll need to discuss that later with your ID doctor
6. Only if you want to.