Living with HIV/AIDS

In the 1980s, when I was first diagnosed with HIV there were no known long term effective treatments and prognosis was poor. After going through diagnosis-related depression for a period of time, I noticed I wasn’t following the same pattern as those I knew who had died already.

I remained able to stay off medications until 1994. At that time, I began medical treatment to suppress my viral load - and probably to help me overcome some insecurities that arose as a result of having to have my spleen removed.

I have never had to stop working full time due to HIV and I am now 20 plus years post diagnosis. I have gone through a number of different medicines with changes occurring once the medicines started to become less effective.

Currently I am on no medications. Last year I began to develop some allergies. We are watching my numbers very carefully, which have remained good. I have confidence moving into the future which is based on the successes of the past and, now approaching a time when I am moving closer to the age of retirement, expect to reach that age and then some. My life is full, albeit with a smattering of HIV related issues that come and go.

I feel extremely fortunate, meditate believe in the power of positive thought and try to do what is in my best interest in respect to my health. I realize that it is not only the responsibility of my care team to help me stay well, but I have an equal - perhaps greater responsibility to do so. I feel that illness often begins in the mind. As we learn more about how thoughts affect our lives, it is important to keep our thoughts as positive as possible and move through each day being grateful for it.