Did You Just Test HIV Positive?
YOU'RE NOT ALONE.
We don't want to make light of what you're going through. Getting an HIV diagnosis may feel like the worst thing that has ever happened to you.
But pay attention to this: There is life after testing positive. One million Americans are now living with HIV, and one out of every two people newly diagnosed with HIV is African American.
So, take a deep breath. No matter how alone and depressed you may feel right now, know that there is a big community of HIV-positive folks out there ready to provide information, support, advice and many other resources.
First, let's get something straight: There's a whole lot of fear, ignorance and prejudice in the world about HIV and HIV-positive people. This may cause you to feel guilty, depressed or angry in ways that can be hazardous to your health. That's why it's vital to know the facts. Read on to learn more about HIV -- and to discover some helpful steps you can take to live fully with HIV.
STEP 1: Getting Smart About HIV
Once you find out that you are HIV positive, one of the most important things you can do is get informed.
THE FACTS ABOUT HIV: There are hundreds of different kinds of viruses in the world. Some are just annoying, like the viruses that cause colds. Others, like HIV or the hepatitis C virus, can cause serious, even life-threatening, illnesses. By taking care of your body -- which includes taking HIV medications that can control HIV -- you can prevent many HIV-related illnesses.
WHAT HIV DOES TO YOUR BODY: HIV invades your body because it needs a living organism to reproduce. The reason HIV is dangerous is that it sets up shop in your immune system, your body's natural defense against disease. It especially targets your "CD4 cells," also called "T cells." HIV takes command of these cells -- like a pirate taking over a ship -- and uses them to reproduce itself, creating millions of new viruses every day.
Unfortunately, these CD4 cells are the very cells that your body uses to fight infections, so when HIV takes them over, it weakens your immune system.
The stronger your immune system, the longer it can keep up the fight against HIV. If you treat your immune system well -- especially by reducing stress, avoiding alcohol and not smoking cigarettes or using recreational drugs -- your immune system may be able to keep HIV in check for years.
But even if you treat your body well, HIV can still eventually get the upper hand. Then it's time to call in the big guns: HIV medications.
We'll talk more about CD4 counts and HIV medications later. First let's dispel some myths about HIV.
Myth Versus Reality
Even though the facts about HIV are well known and agreed upon by every HIV specialist and every single HIV/AIDS organization in the United States, there remains a lot of misinformation about HIV.
MYTH: HIV CAN BE TRANSMITTED CASUALLY.
REALITY: There are no documented cases of HIV being transmitted casually through handshakes, hugging, sharing cups, dinner plates or using the same bathrooms.
MYTH: HIV DOESN'T CAUSE AIDS.
REALITY: After 25 years, there is a mountain of proof that HIV causes AIDS. Everyone who ever got sick or died from AIDS had one thing in common: They had HIV.
MYTH: HIV-POSITIVE WOMEN SHOULD NOT GET PREGNANT.
REALITY: More and more women with HIV are giving birth to HIV-negative babies. By taking the right HIV drugs while pregnant -- especially during childbirth -- an HIV-positive woman can reduce the risk of passing the virus to her baby to 1 or 2 percent. HIV treatment can help an HIV-positive mother and her child live long, healthy lives together.
MYTH: THERE'S A CURE FOR HIV, BUT ONLY THE RICH HAVE IT.
REALITY: If rich people had a cure for HIV or AIDS, Magic Johnson, who is a multimillionaire, would be cured. Yes, Magic looks fantastic and -- even with HIV -- is healthier than many HIV-negative Americans. But that's because he takes care of himself and is on HIV treatment -- the exact same treatment available to everyone with HIV in the United States. Magic's wife, Cookie, has admitted that she was wrong to say that he was "cured." She meant that the medications he was taking had gotten rid of almost all the virus in his body, but he still remains HIV positive.
MYTH: TAKING HIV MEDICATIONS MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRACTICE SAFER SEX.
REALITY: The drugs can get rid of nearly all the virus in your blood. Although this will decrease the risk of infection to your sex partners, your blood, semen or vaginal fluids still contain HIV. This means that protected sex is the rule to keep your partner safe. Plus, you can get in legal trouble if you don't tell your partner about your HIV.
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