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Stay on track

Staying healthy is important for all people. But a weakened immune system due to HIV infection makes monitoring one's health even more important for a person with HIV. While HIV infection can be controlled through the use of medication and watching one's health, it still remains a very serious condition with potentially serious consequences. At the heart of treatment success is the healthcare provider/patient relationship. There are a number of things that people with HIV can do to improve the quality of their relationship with their healthcare provider, including:

  • Find an HIV-experienced healthcare provider
  • Choose a relationship style that works—it is important to choose a way to relate to your healthcare provider that makes you feel comfortable. Some people prefer a more "traditional" relationship–the doctor leads and the patient follows. Other people prefer to view their relationship with their healthcare provider as a partnership, with both healthcare provider and patient making decisions together. There is no right or wrong way to do this, but it is important that you are comfortable with whatever decisions are made
  • Be prepared for office visits—to get the most out of a visit to a healthcare provider, come prepared. A great way to stay prepared at all times is to keep a medical journal to record questions, symptoms, side effects, medication changes, and missed doses. You can bring this journal to your regular healthcare provider visit and share your information
  • Stay informed—the more people with HIV know about HIV infection and treatment, the more they can get out of each visit with their healthcare provider. Education empowers you and gives you the tools you need to ask important questions. The remainder of this section is designed to serve as a valuable resource for additional information about HIV treatment. The topics covered include:

For more detailed information about HIV treatment strategies, be sure to visit APositiveLife.com.