Newly Diagnosed with HIV? Read This.

Newly diagnosed with HIV? Finding out your positive status can be difficult but you are not alone. Once diagnosed, starting a new regimen of HIV meds is just another challenge. The following is a list of expected and common questions that come to mind prior to beginning treatment. Often one is attempting to make this decision while processing a new HIV diagnosis, compounding the difficulty of the decisions one is forced to make in order to survive with HIV.

The mental challenge of starting a new regimen of HIV meds:

• Are you hesitant to start treatment?
• What if it is the wrong medicine for me?
• Have you heard horror stories from friends or loved ones on HIV meds?
• What should you expect?

Challenges of Side Effects:

• What side effects should I look for from my meds?
• Will my HIV meds interact with other medication I am currently taking?
• How long will the side effects last?

Challenges of Cost and Access to Meds

• Will insurance pay for HIV meds?
• If I can’t afford my HIV meds, where can I find help with paying for my meds?
• Do pharmaceutical companies help pay for meds if I can’t pay for them?

For answers to these questions and a myriad of other questions, please refer to The Body’s web page, Resource Center on Starting HIV Treatment.

Bryan C. Heitz 

Risk Reduction Specialist, CCCofSN