Network Connect Interactive Brochure

No. Your partner will still need to be tested to see if they are HIV positive or negative. If they are negative[6] , that doesn’t have to be the end of your relationship; reducing your viral load to undetectable and/or using condoms will protect your HIV negative partner.

Usually, as soon as possible. Your counselor will work with you to get you the earliest appointment available for your initial labs to confirm your positive HIV test, and check your viral load, CD4 count (a measure of how strong your immune system is), and recommend the best treatment regimen for you.

It is best to inform everyone you have had sexual contact with since the last time you were tested. If you have never been tested it is best to provide the information for as many people that you have had sex with that you can, so they can get tested as well. Notifying previous sexual partners can be done by you, your counselor , or by the department of health. If your ccounselor ounsellor or the health department does this, they just advise the person they might have been exposed and recommend they get tested, they do not disclose your name.

If you are not insured, nearly every state has a program to pay for medications and lab work, depending on your income. If you don’t have enough insurance, other programs you may qualify for will help ensure you have enough coverage. Your counselor will help link you to care.

People with HIV can continue to have full, satisfying , and even amazing sex lives. But it is safest if you you stop having sex until it is confirmed that you have reached an undetectable status. If you do have sex before you reach undetectable status, using a condom will protect your partner.

The spread of HIV from one person to another is called HIV transmission. HIV is transmitted only by certain body fluids from a person who has untreated HIV. These body fluids include:

• Blood
• Semen
• Pre-seminal fluid
• Vaginal fluid
• Rectal fluid
• Breast milk

There is not yet a cure for HIV, but most people diagnosed today who are treated effectively will live as long as someone who does not have HIV.

Antiretroviral Therapy, called ART, is recommended for everyone who has HIV. ART prevents HIV from multiplying, which reduces the amount of HIV in your body (called the viral load). The less HIV in your body, the less damage to your immune system, and the less likely you will transmit HIV to your sex partners.

The goal of ART is to reduce the amount of virus in your body to a level where it cannot be detected in your blood, which is called being “undetectable.”

An undetectable viral load means that the level of HIV in the blood is too low to be detected by a laboratory. People with HIV who maintain an undetectable viral load do not transmit HIV to their sex partners.

Advancements over the last 40 years have made HIV not only something you can live with, but also thrive with. Due to advancements in science HIV can now be treated with a one pill a day regimen. The pill suppresses the reproduction of HIV in the body in effort to get you to an undetectable.

There are 40 different medications available giving doctors many options on choosing the best that will work with your diet as well as any other medications you may be on that could have an adverse effect with some of the medications. Some of these treatments require food when you take them so it is important that you are honest with your doctor about your daily habits, other medications or any barriers you may have accessing what you need to take your treatment regularly. 

Your ongoing care will be quarterly (every 3 months). You will see your doctor and get your labs done to verify that you are remaining at an undetectable status. Your prescription is usually refilled every 25-27 days to ensure you don’t run out of your 30 day supply. Even if you are not feeling ill, you will need to take your treatment. This is the optimum way to ensure you can reach and remain at an undetectable HIV status. It is during this time you will want to assess if you are comfortable with your care facility by identifying if you feel the staff is culturally competent to address your needs. This starts with a few observations:

• Does the staff look like me?
• Do the materials look representative of my community?
• Does my doctor understand, acknowledge, and respect my sexual orientation and gender expression/identity?

It is important that your care is best suited for your individual needs which may require you to find services at another facility if they are not being adequately met.

Unfortunately, not all healthcare systems are equal. Services for HIV can vary from state to state drastically. We know that services in the North don’t mirror that of the Southof South where it can be hard to find treatment facilities and navigate an HIV healthcare system that in some areas may be non-existent. This information is not to scare, but make you AWARE. Many have moved to different states because of better healthcare systems available for their HIV treatment. Although this option is hard, there are resources and options available. Speak with your counselor about where services are located. Although services may not be “near”, there are many systems in place to help assist with that. Voucher programs for travel to and from appointments. Delivery of medication in the mail or even some appointments being scheduled through telehealth platforms. Local non-profits are an excellent start for help when resources may be scarce.

When first diagnosed the one common overwhelming fear is others finding out and your requirement to tell future sexual partners. Disclosure is a personal thing. It is not a requirement to have to tell your friends and family immediately. Take your time and be comfortable with living. It is all about building self-efficacy to the point of realizing that HIV doesn’t change who you are. The more comfortable you are with being able to inform those you disclose to, the more at ease they can be in becoming a support to you. One must remember that disclosure is still a necessary part of living with HIV because many states have laws criminalizing the
“risk” of exposing others to HIV. So it is important to disclose when sexually active or sharing needles (if dealing with drug use) even when undetectable to protect yourself and others.

When you are ready, one of the best ways to help yourself is to connect with other People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Support from your family and friends is important, but there’s a unique value in talking to other people who share the experience of living with HIV. This brochure is designed to help you find other PLHIV. We’re here — and we’re ready to talk to you

1.  Telling the people closest to you about your HIV status may be very hard. Talking to someone who has been through that experience already can help you figure out how best to break the news and how to handle their questions and reactions.
2. Most of us living with HIV have faced the fear of rejection, discrimination and shaming at some point. Because we have been there, we can help you get through this. Hearing about how we handled these feelings may help you think about how you could cope with the way you feel.
3. The fact that we’re here is proof that life goes on. Sure, you know in your head that PLHIV often live a normal lifespan if they get the care and medications they need. But, in your heart, you may still feel like your life is already over. Just hanging out with PLHIV who are living normal lives may help you develop a realistic view of your own future.
4. Local PLHIV can give you practical tips on where to get good medical care in your area, what support services are available, and other useful hints for dealing with your HIV.