As someone living with HIV, cancer, and TB, and having had a heart attack, I discovered numerous benefits from leading a sober lifestyle. Some of these benefits include:
- Improved health: By avoiding alcohol and other harmful substances, my body was able to better fight off infections and recover from my illnesses. My overall health has dramatically improved since I became sober.
- Better relationships: My relationships with family and friends have improved since I chose a sober lifestyle. I can have clearer and more meaningful conversations with those closest to me.
- Increased energy and focus: Abstinence has given me more energy and focus. I can work harder, be more productive, and make the most of each day.
- Increased self-esteem: My self-esteem has improved as I have become more confident in my ability to make positive changes in my life. I can cope with stress and have found healthy and fulfilling ways to manage my emotions.
- Better sleep: My sleep has improved since I decided on abstinence. I can fall asleep more easily, sleep more deeply, and wake up feeling refreshed and energized.
- Financial stability: Living a substance-free life has allowed me to save money that I previously spent on these unhealthy habits. This extra money can be used to pay for medical expenses or be put towards other important life goals.
- Increased longevity: My new and upgraded lifestyle has also improved my chances of living a longer, healthier life. By avoiding harmful substances, I have reduced my risk of developing additional illnesses and complications.
PS: Either a Pro or Con, you decide. I am ALWAYS voted as the designated driver! ?
Initially, I stopped smoking years before any of my chronic challenges. I am in my twenty-first year of abstinence. I stopped consuming alcohol prior to my cancer diagnosis, mainly because the alcohol burnt my tongue, and once my chemotherapy ended, I never resumed the habit.
Keep in mind that certain pleasures in moderation are okay. I choose not to partake and would suggest that anyone who is a prolific substance user and wants to change to a life of abstinence talk to their health worker, who can assist in a programme to ‘wean’ you off detrimental substances.
In conclusion, my sober lifestyle has brought me many benefits, including improved health, better relationships, increased energy and focus, elevated self-esteem, better sleep, financial benefits and increased longevity. So, as to the question, “Is a sober life possible” the answer is a resounding YES!
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get cover of up to 3 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure, and is not a substitute for professional consultation with a health professional.
The definition of fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. Sometimes people experience fear or lack courage because they are tired, and the idea of doing anything more feels all-consuming.
Fear is a trait that has allowed us as humans to survive predators and natural disasters. We are born with only two characteristic fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. The purpose of fear is to promote survival. Throughout human evolution, people who feared the right things lived to pass on their genes. Fear need not be a bad thing!
I have felt fear more times than I like to remember and have practised a mindful and affirmative mindset to work past these fears.
One of my fears was that on hearing of my HIV diagnosis, I would not be around to witness either my son or daughter developing sustainable careers and marriages or be around to see any grandchildren. In the early days of HIV understanding, my life expectancy was a maximum of ten years.
I worked around these fears by telling myself constantly that I had strong, intelligent, hardworking children and that they would be successful in all ways.
Well, I was right. With the new HIV medication and treatments, I was fortunate to see all of this materialise. The great thing, in hindsight, is that my fears were unfounded as they both have admirable careers, are married, and made me a proud grandmother.
- Identify your fear
Do not sweep your fear under the carpet. You will give it more power.
- Challenge your fear
Challenging your fear will help you understand the fundamental reasons why you are fearful.
- Practice affirmative awareness
Listen to your inner voice that discloses your beliefs and thoughts. You may have created negative self-talk.
Negative thoughts disrupt your development. Replace them with positive affirmations.
- Create brave habits
Once you conquer your fear for the first time, don’t stop there. Make a list of things that you would do if you were not fearful. Once the list is made, work your way up from the easiest one.
- Practice mindfulness
When you exercise mindfulness, you learn to observe your thoughts and learn not to let them take over your life.
- Find a mentor
Find a mentor and build a relationship with them. Their courage and confidence can add value that will teach you how to be fearless and brave.
- Embrace failure
We often fear trying something new as we are afraid of failure. As soon as we fail, we give up. Do not fear failure, turn it into a learning opportunity. Begin by building your resilience.
Resilient people are not too hard on themselves when they are unsuccessful and apply a growth mindset. By practising a growth mindset, you accept that you can learn through your failures, so try again.
- Don’t aim for perfection
To overcome fear, try to approach anything you do with an open mind. Do not burden yourself with high expectations. Aim to develop yourself with little or no pressure.
Learn how to be courageous and encourage others
In the pursuit of courage, it does not mean never being afraid. It is a way of taking action regardless of feeling afraid.
Whatever your fear, there are a few ways to help you manage your day-to-day anxieties.
One of them is to breathe through the panic. Try this breathing technique for stress: https://youtu.be/tEmt1Znux58
Reward yourself! By doing this your brain stimulates positive emotions, leading to the self-recognition that your efforts result in a positive reward. With regularity, your brain will start to associate gratitude to completing the assignment and move towards it going forward.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get coverage of up to 1 million rands for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure, and is not a substitute for professional consultation with a health professional.
The definition of fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm. Sometimes people experience fear or lack courage because they are tired, and the idea of doing anything more feels all-consuming.
Fear is a trait that has allowed us as humans to survive predators and natural disasters. We are born with only two characteristic fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. The purpose of fear is to promote survival. Throughout human evolution, people who feared the right things lived to pass on their genes. Fear need not be a bad thing!
I have felt fear more times than I like to remember and have practised a mindful and affirmative mindset to work past these fears.
One of my fears was that on hearing of my HIV diagnosis, I would not be around to witness either my son or daughter developing sustainable careers and marriages or around seeing any grandchildren. In the early days of HIV understanding, my life expectancy was a maximum of ten years.
I worked around these fears by telling myself constantly that I had strong, intelligent, hardworking children and that they would be successful in all ways.
Well, I was right. With the new HIV medication and treatments, I was fortunate to see all of this materialise. The great thing, in hindsight, is that my fears were unfounded as they both have admirable careers, are married, and made me a proud grandmother.
- Identify your fear
Do not sweep your fear under the carpet. You will give it more power.
- Challenge your fear
Challenging your fear will help you understand the basic reasons why you are fearful.
- Practice affirmative awareness
Listen to your inner voice that discloses your beliefs and thoughts. You may have created negative self-talk.
Negative thoughts disrupt your development. Replace them with positive affirmations.
- Create brave habits
Once you conquer your fear for the first time, don’t stop there. Make a list of things that you would do if you were not fearful. Once the list is made, work your way up from the easiest one.
- Practice mindfulness
When you exercise mindfulness, you learn to observe your thoughts and learn not to let them take over your life.
- Find a mentor
Find a mentor and build a relationship with them. Their courage and confidence can add value that will teach you how to be fearless and brave.
- Embrace failure
We often fear trying something new as we are afraid of failure. As soon as we fail, we give up. Do not fear failure, turn it into a learning opportunity. Begin by building your resilience.
Resilient people are not too hard on themselves when they are unsuccessful and apply a growth mindset. By practising a growth mindset, you accept that you can learn through your failures, so try again.
- Don’t aim for perfection
To overcome fear, try to approach anything you do with an open mind. Do not burden yourself with high expectations. Aim to develop yourself with little or no pressure.
Learn how to be courageous and encourage others
In the pursuit of courage, it does not mean to never be afraid. It is a way of taking action regardless of feeling afraid.
Whatever your fear, there are a few ways to help you manage your day-to-day anxieties.
Relaxation Technique
One of them is to breathe through the panic. Try this breathing technique for stress: https://youtu.be/tEmt1Znux58
Reward yourself! By doing this your brain stimulates positive emotions, leading to the self-recognition that your efforts result in a positive reward. With regularity, your brain will start to associate gratitude to completing the assignment and move towards it going forward.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure, and is not a substitute for professional consultation with a health professional.
We have all heard the cliché ‘You are what you eat.’ The belief behind the saying is that what you eat directly relates to your body’s health.
In this day and age of convenience foods and microwave meals, authentic nutritious food is becoming less conventional. The many additives in convenience food can cause illness.
The five prime chronic diseases, namely, Diabetes, Cancer, Hypertension, High Cholesterol, and Heart diseases, are linked to infection and defective immune systems. In many instances, additives are excessive in sodium, hydrogenated oil and refined sugars. Many cooking oils cause inflammatory reactions in the body due to additives, preservatives, and pesticides.
Many convenience foods are high in calories and insubstantial in nutritional value, and our health will consequently become vulnerable to diseases.
Healthy eating should start from a young age as genes often play a role in high blood pressure, heart disease, and other related conditions. It is also possible that people with a family history of high blood pressure share communal environments and other potential elements that increase their risk.
Eating healthy is not about dieting and losing weight, it’s about feeling healthier both physically and mentally.
The benefits of healthy eating…
- May help you live longer.
- Keep skin, teeth, and eyes healthy.
- Support muscles.
- Boost immunity.
- Fortify bones.
- Lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
- Will boost your immune system.
- Will enhance your mood and energy levels.
After my first chronic diagnosis, of HIV and AIDS, I adapted rather than completely changed my eating habits (diet) as I was already practising a healthy regimen.
Following my diagnosis of TB meningitis, two strokes and Cancer, I again adapted my eating habits, cutting out and adding healthier options. Once again, after my heart attack resulting in a double bypass, I tweaked my diet to fit in with my health situation and active lifestyle. One of the changes I made was to lose some weight, which I duly did. With the right mindset and eating strategy, I lost 20 kilograms! This loss has increased my mobility and, by so doing, enhanced my life.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you live with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure, and is not a substitute for professional consultation with a health professional.
Chronic illness can cause trauma in adults!
Trauma and stress have been linked to a variety of chronic disorders, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, lupus, chronic pain, and digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia.
When the body undergoes stress for a prolonged period, neurochemicals and hormones linked with stress are discharged in unusually large amounts. Although these chemicals follow naturally and are a significant process of normal functioning, their extended discharge can be toxic to the brain and body.
When I was first diagnosed with HIV I decided not to disclose my status. I was concerned about the fallout and rejection my disclosure would release and was unwilling to allow myself to be vulnerable. Had I known then what I know now, I would have done things differently.
My health rapidly deteriorated and as I had no physical, emotional or mental support (all of my own doing) I landed in the hospital and doctor’s room on many occasions. Dragging myself to get help without support from family and friends was exhausting and made me even more ill. Trauma and stress to my body became overwhelming. I ended up with TB Meningitis, Cancer, Strokes and more.
There are ways to deal with the trauma of a chronic diagnosis and treatment for this should not be neglected.
Keep in mind that your body is not the enemy. The sooner you accept that, the faster your mental and physical trauma can be alleviated.
- Remember, it is not your fault that you have health issues.
- Do not destroy yourself by adding self-blame to your list of challenges.
- Make peace with this addition to your life.
- Do not drain yourself of energy agonising about how others interpret your medical condition.
- Keep positive people who support you, around.
- You will be let down by friends and family on occasion, accept that this will happen.
- Be brave enough to ask for help.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did!
Disclaimer: The information in this article is intended for educational purposes only.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure, and is not a substitute for professional consultation with a health professional.
In the early days, South Africa started the free rollout of ARV treatment in April 2004. In my case, diagnosed in 2004, ARV’s were only administered to me in 2008 and not provided ARV treatment until our CD4 was below 200. Years later, ARV’s were recommended at 350 and, still later, at 500 CD4 counts. Normal levels of a CD4 cell count indicate the health of your immune system. The levels of a person who does not have HIV can be anything between 500 and 1500.
Currently, South Africa has implemented guidelines that provide insight into how and when treatment gets supplied, declaring: Who is eligible? ‘All people, regardless of age, CD4 cell count and clinical stage. ART should be initiated within seven days unless there is a reason to defer. Same-day initiation is encouraged if the client is clinically well and motivated.’
- ARV – Antiretroviral – usually refers to the medication
- ART – Antiretroviral Therapy/Treatment
According to the Western Cape Department of Health (DoH), you should start taking HIV treatment immediately on diagnosis, and at the very least, within seven days, circumstances permitting. Advantages of HIV treatment: Once your viral load is undetectable, you cannot pass on HIV to partners. (It might take up to six months on treatment to become undetectable.) U=U means Undetectable = Untransmittable. hiv_guidelines_16012020.pdf (westerncape.gov.za)
Antiretroviral therapy keeps HIV from making copies of itself. On first starting ARVs for your antiretroviral treatment, your HIV levels should drop significantly. Here is when viral load testing comes in. During the first two months of therapy, an HIV-positive person’s viral load should drop to a minimum of 90 per cent.
Benefits of starting immediately:
- An extended life.
- Reaching a higher CD4 count and keeping it high.
- Blocking additional damage to the immune system.
- Lessening the risk for HIV-related and non-HIV-related health complications.
- Reducing your risk of transmitting HIV to others.
Risks of delayed treatment:
- A shorter life
- An extremely weakened immune system. This can lead to it taking longer to repair your immune system later, and your condition can potentially develop into AIDS and other serious illnesses.
- An accelerated chance of your failing health advancing some infections when you begin taking HIV drugs later, and have limited CD4 cells.
- Transmitting HIV to others, inclusive of sexual partners and babies, if you become pregnant.
Blood Tests:
You will have baseline blood tests done prior to starting HIV treatment. Your healthcare worker will take blood for various tests. These are your original, or baseline, tests and subsequent test results will be compared to these original test results to check how your treatment is working.
- CD4 cell (T-cell) count: The CD4 count checks the strength of your immune system. After you start HIV treatment, if your CD4 count is low, you should see it go up. Initially, your CD4 count should be checked every three to four months. When this count becomes stable, it should be checked every six months to one year.
- Viral load test: The viral load (VL) test measures the amount of HIV in your blood. After you start HIV treatment, you should see your viral load go down. Your viral load should be checked around a month after starting or changing HIV medication. Your VL should be tested every three to four months until it becomes undetectable in your bloodstream. Your VL should be checked every six months once stable.
- Resistance test: The resistance test helps regulate which drugs are likely to work against the strain of HIV that you have. Experts recommend that everyone get a resistance test before starting or changing HIV treatment. (HIV-1 has nine named strains: A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, and K. Some of these have sub-strains).
- Other tests to check your overall health: These include complete blood count (CBC), chemistry screen, lipid profile (cholesterol and fat), liver tests, and glucose(blood sugar). Your healthcare provider should inform you how often you will require these tests.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get coverage of up to 1 million rands for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did!
Chronic illness can cause trauma in adults!
Trauma and stress have been linked to various chronic disorders, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, lupus, chronic pain, and digestive conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia.
When the body undergoes stress for a prolonged period, neurochemicals and hormones linked with stress are discharged in substantial amounts. Although these chemicals follow naturally and are a significant normal functioning process, their extended discharge can be toxic to the brain and body.
MY EXPERIENCE
When I was first diagnosed with HIV I decided not to disclose my status. I was concerned about the fallout and rejection my disclosure would release and was unwilling to allow myself to be vulnerable. Had I known then what I know now, I would have done things differently.
My health rapidly deteriorated and as I had no physical, emotional or mental support (all of my own doing) I landed in the hospital and doctor’s room on many occasions. Dragging myself to get help without support from family and friends was exhausting and made me even more ill. Trauma and stress to my body became overwhelming. I ended up with TB Meningitis, Cancer, Strokes and more.
Keep in mind that your body is not the enemy. The sooner you accept that the faster your mental and physical trauma can be alleviated.
REMIND YOURSELF
- Remember, it is not your fault that you have health issues.
- Do not destroy yourself by adding self-blame to your list of challenges.
- Make peace with this addition to your life.
- Do not drain yourself of energy agonising about how others interpret your medical condition.
- Keep positive people who support you, around.
- You will be let down by friends and family on occasion, accept that this will happen.
- Be brave enough to ask for help.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference. |
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV. |
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more.
I did! |
One of the first comments from newly diagnosed young women I hear is, ‘I will never be able to have children’. Years ago this was a concern as medical data and medication were limited. I was older when diagnosed and had already had the joy of having my children, which put me in a position to understand when someone voiced these concerns as to just how much they thought this was an impossible dream.
An HIV-positive person could potentially transfer HIV to their baby throughout pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding. Being HIV positive does not mean that you cannot have children. Treatment with a combination of HIV medicines called antiretroviral therapy or ART can prevent transference of HIV to your baby and safeguard your health.
During pregnancy, HIV can pass through the placenta and infect the foetus. During childbirth, the baby may be exposed to the virus from blood and other fluids. When a woman goes into labour, the amniotic sac breaks (when her water breaks) and therefore, the risk of transmitting HIV to the baby rises.
The good news is that there are many ways to lower the risk of passing HIV to your unborn baby to almost zero.
You, the woman in the relationship, may not be the one that is HIV positive and wondering how to conceive if your partner is the one living with HIV. There is a variety of ways to achieve your purpose.
UNDETECTABLE VL
When a person living with HIV has an undetectable viral load, there is no risk of HIV transmitting HIV during sex. Provided your HIV partner has an undetectable viral load (for at least six months after the first ‘durably undetectable’ test.) and neither of you has any sexually transmitted infection/disease (STI/STD), sex without a condom is acceptable.
If you or your partner have a detectable viral load it is essential to discuss conception options that reduce or remove the risk of transference during intercourse to you or your partner and baby. Before deciding not to use condoms, get advice from your HIV healthcare providers so that they can establish what would work best for you. One of the options may be to join up with your HIV-negative partner taking PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis). PrEP decreases HIV transmission and is safe to take during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
BOTH HIV POSITIVE
If both partners are HIV positive, both must have an undetectable viral load to prevent reinfection. Reinfection can lead to transmitted resistance whereby a drug-resistant variant can transfer to a partner. Should this happen, some HIV drugs may not work.
Currently, the drugs of choice for HIV in pregnancy are the antiretroviral drugs dolutegravir, and emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate, (DTG+FTC/TAF). These may compromise the safest and most effective HIV treatment regimen, which is currently available during pregnancy.
MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION
Overall, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is 40% in the absence of any intervention. The timing of such transmission is as follows: in utero: 5%; during delivery: 15–20%; up to 24 months of breastfeeding: 20%. https://sahivsoc.org/Guidelines/Module19
In 21 countries in sub-Saharan Africa surveyed in 2019, the transmission rate varied between 2 and 25%. The countries with the best figures were Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa and Namibia (all below 5%).
If you, your partner or both are HIV positive, ask your medical service provider for guidance on the most suitable procedure that will suit you and your partner’s situation.
The next blog will provide information on breastfeeding vs formula feeding – you decide.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference.
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV.
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more,
I did!
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Chronic illness is a disease or condition that typically lasts for three (3) months or longer and may worsen over time. Chronic diseases generally happen in older adults and can usually be managed but not cured. The most common chronic ailments are cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis.
Chronic diseases, by definition, cannot be cured—even with significant lifestyle changes, medication, and other treatments. However, chronic illnesses can be effectively managed symptoms can be reduced through holistic management.
Occasionally we are given an incorrect diagnosis or are misdiagnosed as chronic illnesses can be misunderstood by the medical community. We may not have a name for what is happening to our bodies. It is, however, a genuine predicament that needs managing. Correct diagnosis of a chronic condition can potentially take a lifetime to identify. Hang in there even if you feel unable to ‘get it together.’
Generally, there is no easy cure for a chronic condition, so please do not head out on your own and try things that you think will work. Keep in mind others will bombard you with well-meaning suggestions to ‘try this’ for your condition and advise that you can cure yourself with yoga or the latest diet. These interferences can be upsetting and come from an uninformed place, laying the blame for your agony squarely on your shoulders as if you have not already done everything in your control to improve your health.
Having been diagnosed with numerous chronic illnesses such as cancer, strokes, TB meningitis, heart failure, and more health challenges has led to me enduring many medical interactions. Communications have been traumatic and led to lengthy procedures due to incorrect diagnosis and late detection. However, on the confirmation, the correct treatment and subsequent medication were dispensed, putting me in a position to live a meaningful and productive life.
Nobody is invincible. It can be frustrating to hear comments such as ‘just get up and get dressed’ or ‘you are too young to be sick’. Sometimes a chronically ill person is grateful to make it out of bed daily. Remember, you feel that pain; ignore the platitudes.
Not everyone will take your chronic condition seriously as it may not be visible. People may assume you are following a fad diet or feigning an intolerance to certain foods if you decline certain foods due to your autoimmune condition that can be managed but may still be considered chronic. Remember that any health condition lasting three months or longer will be regarded as a chronic disorder, even though your symptoms, referred to as a ‘flare-up’ may come and go.
Encourage people to ask you about your condition. It enlightens them and also helps you come to terms and normalise it in your head. Sometimes we need someone to listen.
There may be days when you can barely make it out of bed or experience immense pain. Attempt to smile through the pain and tell yourself you will be okay.
Medications you take may make you feel worse than the actual illness itself. The side effects may include nausea, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, and possibly most awful, irritability and mood swings.
Should your physician recommend surgery, understand that it is not a miracle cure and will not automatically be the final solution as they will not always work for you, or they do, but you may still have pain.
Ultimately, what works for one may not work for another. Follow your doctor’s advice and stick to your medication.
Keeping your spirits up by allowing people to be supportive can add to your overall well-being and a positive mindset.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage it is what makes the difference. |
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million if you are living with HIV. |
SMS CHRONIC to 33857 to find out more. I did! |
Sponsored Post
Being diagnosed with HIV in 2004 was a nightmare as there was so much ignorance and misinformation surrounding the HIV virus by both the medical and public organisations.
I was never offered pre or post counselling for my condition. Once diagnosed, I realised what a predicament others less fortunate to access online information and counselling services must be experiencing. Sadly, as no pre, or post counselling was on offer, it left me to gather information and find ways of dealing with my diagnosis myself. I put the lack of a counselling offer, unacceptable, I might add, down to the year 2004, when diagnosed, to ignorance and uncertainty by many medical professionals, on how to proceed during this early HIV period.
I signed up to a do a Lay Counsellor and Victim Empowerment course, educating myself in the process and collecting information and skills to support others in the same predicament.
Before testing for HIV it is essential to get pre-counselling and be well-informed of the reality and practicality of what a positive outcome holds. Post-counselling is equally important as it informs you on what other resources are available and introduces ways of making lifestyle behavioural changes.
Once you are diagnosed HIV positive and have received post counselling which includes a review of your health and medical history, a physical exam, and several lab tests, you will be another step closer to facing the World.
Furthermore, your healthcare provider will explain the benefits of HIV treatment and discuss ways to reduce the risk of passing HIV to others.
The next step will be to have your blood counts done so that your healthcare provider can help you start the medication to treat your HIV (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) as soon as possible. Treatment with HIV medication is recommended for all people with HIV, regardless of how long they have had HIV.
Your blood count will be done next and include some of the following:
Viral Load
A Viral load test measures the amount of HIV in the genetic material in a blood sample and indicates how much of the HIV virus is in your body. The test measures the number of HIV copies in a millilitre.
CD4 Count
The CD4 count is a test that measures how many CD4 cells you have in your blood. These are a type of white blood cell called T cells.
Creatinine
Untreated HIV infection can lead to loss of lean body mass and result in reduced serum creatinine pool and the serum creatinine level, affecting your kidneys.
See https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/other-blood-tests for other blood test information.
If your HIV is left untreated, it can cause substantial weight loss, often accompanied by diarrhoea, prolonged weakness and fever. HIV can also cause neurological complications with symptoms such as confusion, forgetfulness, depression, anxiety and difficulty walking. I know this as I, due to lack of medical advice on starting my medication, experienced blackouts, hallucinations, and loss of memory, amongst other acquired health challenges (I was unable to recall my four-digit pin, Doctor’s name, cell no. and more).
When coming to terms with your HIV positive status, you may find yourself shifting from your ‘normal’ mindset to cope and implement new strategies to take control. Know that there are actions you can implement to cope with your diagnosis.
- Talk to a counsellor or trusted friend and try to have open, honest conversations about HIV, feelings and goals.
- Educate yourself as much as you can with up-to-date information about the dis-ease.
- Being diagnosed with HIV is life-changing news. Listen and learn from people that are living openly with their HIV status.
- Get moving and exercise for an hour at least 3 to 4 times a week, even if it is just walking!
- Review your eating/diet habits and adjust accordingly. There is little or no need to change if you currently practise a healthy eating lifestyle.
- Get enough sleep.
- Adhere strictly to your medical treatment.
A chronic condition can affect anyone. How you manage your health makes the difference.
You can get cover of up to 1 million rand for your chronic health condition and up to 10 million cover for your HIV status, SMS LIVING to 33857 to find out more, I did!