If you are HIV positive, are there things you can do to help yourself?

It is important that you see your doctor regularly, and that you follow his or her recommendations. You can help by making some lifestyle adjustments. It is important to maintain good nutrition and to get enough rest. If you smoke, try to stop. It is helpful to stop or reduce alcohol use. It is very important to develop social contacts and to enlist the support and help of friends and family. If you feel that you are alone, it is important to recognize that help and companionship are available. A local community group or hotline that specializes in helping those with HIV disease and AIDS can be a good place to start.

What sort of reaction should I expect from family and friends when I tell them I'm HIV positive?

Your family and friends will be affected by the consequences of your HIV infection, too. They may also experience feelings of denial, anger, fear, and grief. Some, unfortunately, will suffer from the same misunderstandings and prejudices that exist in society at large concerning people with HIV disease. They may also have questions about how they can prevent the spread of the infection, as well as questions about what is to be expected as the consequence of infections. Discussion with your physician can be helpful. It is important to remember that counseling including couples and family counseling is available and can be useful. There are also support groups for spouses, partners, and close friends of those with HIV disease.

Safer sex guidelines:

No Risk: Massage, Solo masturbation

Low risk: Mutual masturbation, Dry kissing, Body rubbing

Moderate risk: Wet (French) kissing, Fellatio without climax, Cunnilingus, Anilingus ("rimming"), Anal or vaginal intercourse with condom, Urination ("water sports") external only

High risk: Anal or vaginal intercourse without condom, Fisting (insertion of hand or fist into rectum), Sharing sex toys and needles, Any sex act that draws blood

(Adapted from: Miller D. ABC of AIDS: Counseling. Brit Med J 1987;294:1671-4.)

For comprehensive information on AIDS and HIV and other sex related issues, visit the HealthyPlace.com Sex Community.

Additional Resources

• Telephone HotlinesPublic Health Service AIDS Hotline
  800-342-AIDS/800-342-2437
• National Institute on Drug Abuse Hotline
  800-662-HELP
• National Sexually Transmitted Diseases HotlineAmerican Social Health Association
  800-227-8922
• National Gay and Lesbian Task Force AIDS Information Hotline
  (212) 807-6016 ( NY State) 800-221-7044
• Pediatric AIDS Hotline Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  (212) 430-3333
• American Association of Physicians for Human Rights
  P.O. Box 14366, San Francisco, CA 94114
  (415) 558-9353
• AIDS Action Council
  1875 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C.20009
  (202) 986-1300
• Gay Men's Health Crisis
  P.O. Box 274, 132 West 24th St., New York, NY 10011
  (212) 807-6655
• Hispanic AIDS Forum, c/o APRED
  853 Broadway, Suite 2007, New York, NY 10003
  (212) 870-1902 or (212) 870-1864

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