This document provides information to help someone who has recently tested positive for HIV. It outlines a 9 step process for taking care of oneself after an HIV diagnosis. The first step is to learn the facts about HIV, such as how it works by invading immune cells and reproducing. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and immune system can help keep HIV in check for years without medication. The document emphasizes that there is life after an HIV diagnosis and support is available.

2. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Did You Just Test HIV Positive? ......................................................3
STEP 1: Getting Smart About HIV ........................................................4
STEP 2: Getting Connected to Support................................................8
STEP 3: Finding Quality Health Care ....................................................10
DID YOU JUST TEST HIV POSITIVE
YOU’RE NOT ALONE.
?
HIV-positive folks out there ready
We don’t want to make light of to provide information, support,
STEP 4: Learning About HIV Treatment ................................................14 what you’re going through. advice and many other resources.
STEP 5: Preparing to Start HIV Treatment ............................................18 Getting an HIV diagnosis may
First, let’s get something straight:
STEP 6: Choosing the Right HIV Treatment..........................................22 feel like the worst thing that
There’s a whole lot of fear,
STEP 7: Dealing With HIV Treatment ....................................................24 has ever happened to you.
ignorance and prejudice in the
STEP 8: Gathering Strength From Others ............................................26 world about HIV and HIV-positive
But pay attention to this: There is
STEP 9: Putting It All Together ..............................................................28 life after testing positive. One people. This may cause you to
million Americans are now living feel guilty, depressed or angry in
with HIV, and one out of every ways that can be hazardous to
Consult your doctor! The only purpose discuss your options with a health two people newly diagnosed your health. That’s why it’s vital to
of this booklet is to educate and to care provider who specializes in with HIV is African American. know the facts. Read on to learn
inform. It is no substitute for treating HIV.
more about HIV—and to discover
professional care by a doctor or other
We would like to thank Bethsheba So, take a deep breath. No
medical professionals. Body Health some helpful steps you can take
Resources Foundation neither Johnson, MSN, CNS, GNP-BC, for matter how alone and depressed
generously providing a medical review to live fully with HIV.
endorses nor opposes any particular
of this booklet. Thanks also to Keith you may feel right now, know
treatment option mentioned in this
booklet. Instead, we encourage you to Green for his thorough read. that there is a big community of
“Hold on! Don’t give up! You
Funding for this booklet comes in part from educational grants provided by
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and GlaxoSmithKline.
can still live a good life!
Having HIV is not the end—
having no hope is.”
Copyright © 2006 Body Health Resources Foundation. All rights reserved. Joyce McDonald, age 55, diagnosed in 1995

3. “I try to let people know
STEP 1 that HIV is a process—
GETTING SMART ABOUT HIV
a growing process.”
Once you find out that you are HIV positive, one of the The stronger your immune system,
most important things you can do is get informed. the longer it can keep up the fight
against HIV. If you treat your
T H E FA C T S A B O U T H I V: There are hundreds of different kinds of
immune system well—especially
viruses in the world. Some are just annoying, like the viruses that cause
by reducing stress, avoiding
“I wasn’t always
colds. Others, like HIV or the hepatitis C virus, can cause serious, even
alcohol and not smoking cigarettes
life-threatening, illnesses. By taking care of your body—which includes
this strong. I
or using recreational drugs—your
taking HIV medications that can control HIV—you can prevent many
wasn’t always this
immune system may be able to
HIV-related illnesses.
vocal about who
keep HIV in check for years.
W H AT H I V D O E S T O YO U R B O DY: HIV invades your body because it
and what I am.
But even if you treat your body
needs a living organism to reproduce. The reason HIV is dangerous is
There was a point
well, HIV can still eventually get
that it sets up shop in your immune system, your body’s natural
where I sat in my
the upper hand. Then it’s time to
defense against disease. It especially targets your “CD4 cells,” also
call in the big guns: HIV
room and I cried
called “T cells.” HIV takes command of these cells—like a pirate taking
medications.
all day... Only you
over a ship—and uses them to reproduce itself, creating millions of new
can determine how
viruses every day. We’ll talk more about CD4 counts
and HIV medications later in the
fast or how slow
Unfortunately, these CD4 cells are the very cells that your body uses to
booklet. First let’s dispel some
you go.”
fight infections, so when HIV takes them over, it weakens your immune
myths about HIV.
— Shelton Jackson, age 28,
system.
diagnosed in 1998
4 5

4. Even though the facts about HIV are well known and Johnson, who is a multimillionaire, would be cured. Yes, Magic looks
agreed upon by every HIV specialist and every single fantastic and—even with HIV—is healthier than many HIV-negative
MYTH | REALITY
HIV/AIDS organization in the United States, there remains Americans. But that’s because he takes care of himself and is on HIV
a lot of misinformation about HIV. treatment—the exact same treatment available to everyone with HIV in
the United States. Magic’s wife, Cookie, has admitted that she was
MYTH: H I V C A N B E T R A N S M I T T E D C A S UA L LY.
wrong to say that he was “cured.” She meant that the medications he
REALITY: There are no documented cases of HIV
was taking had gotten rid of almost all the virus in his body, but he still
being transmitted casually through handshakes, hugging,
remains HIV positive.
sharing cups, dinner plates or using the
same bathrooms. M Y T H : TA K I N G H I V M E D I C AT I O N S M E A N S YO U D O N ’ T H AV E T O
PRACTICE SAFER SEX.
MYTH: H I V D O E S N ’ T C AU S E A I D S.
R E A L I T Y: The drugs can get rid of nearly all the virus in your blood.
REALITY: After 25 years, there is a mountain of proof that Although this will
HIV causes AIDS. Everyone who ever got sick decrease the risk
or died from AIDS had one thing in common: They “A lot of people spend way of infection to
had HIV. too much energy trying to your sex partners,
MYTH: H I V - P O S I T I V E W O M E N S H O U L D N O T G E T figure out where this virus your blood,
P R E G N A N T. came from. I always go semen or vaginal
back to the analogy: If you fluids still contain
REALITY: More and more women with HIV are giving birth
own a house, and the house is on fire,
HIV. This means
to HIV-negative babies. By taking the right HIV drugs
you’re not going to worry at that
that protected
while pregnant—especially during childbirth—an HIV-
moment about how the fire started.
sex is the rule
positive woman can reduce the risk of passing the virus
You’ll think about how you’re going to
to keep your
to her baby to 1 or 2 percent. HIV treatment can help an
get the heck out of there! I'll tell you
partner safe.
HIV-positive mother and her child live long, healthy
Plus, you can
lives together. right now, when I wasn't taking
get in legal
medications, or when the medications
MYTH: T H E R E ’ S A C U R E F O R H I V, B U T O N LY T H E trouble if you
weren't working, I got sick.... Now I'm
R I C H H AV E I T. don’t tell your
undetectable because of taking partner about
medication.”
REALITY: If rich people had a cure for HIV or AIDS, Magic
your HIV.
Greg Braxton, age 50, diagnosed in 1994
6 7

5. “Being diagnosed HIV
STEP 2 positive is not the end of the
GETTING CONNECTED TO SUPPORT world. It ’s the beginning of
a brand-new world.”
No matter how strong you might be, an HIV diagnosis is • HIV support groups
something that nobody should face alone. Make sure you • Mental health and substance
connect with the community of HIV-positive people. It’s one abuse counseling
of the best steps you can take to begin to solve both the
• Case managers who can connect
“There ’ll be good
emotional and practical problems of living with HIV. you to government aid you may
days and bad. But
need, such as Medicaid, disability
Chicago native Greg Braxton is the perfect example of someone who
insurance, medication assistance
it ’s nothing you can’t
successfully reached out and got the services he needed. An alcoholic
• Expert information on HIV and
handle, because if
and a crack cocaine addict for 27 years, when he left drug treatment
nutrition, fitness and other issues
for the last time five years ago, he knew he needed to stay away from
his old neighborhood. He found a place that offered day programs for • HIV treatment information and you ’ve gotten
people with HIV and he applied for supportive housing. He said it was a
adherence workshops to help through your life so
far, you ’ve had those
with taking HIV medications
critical stepping-stone. “I doubt if I would have made it, if I had gone
bad days already. All
straight to independent living, because I wouldn’t have any support or • HIV prevention counseling, safe
you have to do is dig
sex workshops and free condoms
any restraints. And I probably would have relapsed.”
back there, find the
Most big cities have several
S TA RT B Y C O N TA C T I N G YO U R L O C A L H I V / A I D S O R G A N I Z AT I O N.
strength to meet the
HIV/AIDS organizations geared to
Knowing when you need help is vital. An HIV/AIDS organization can be
bad days and
meet the needs of different
a lifeline. Many organizations have case managers who can help you
populations. For help in finding a
celebrate the good
move forward on many of your health care issues. You’ll find most or
local organization, go online to
days.”
all of the following at HIV/AIDS organizations:
www.thebody.com/hotlines.html
or call the National HIV/AIDS — Marcya Owens, age 36,
Hotline at 1-800-232-4636. diagnosed in 1994
8 9

6. STEP 3
FINDING QUALITY HEALTH CARE
Even if you don’t need treatment yet, you’ll still need to find Every person living with HIV
a medical professional experienced in treating people with deserves the best care possible,
HIV. Regular checkups with an HIV health care provider are regardless of ability to pay. The
extremely important, even when you don’t feel sick. good news is, not only do you
deserve the best care, you can
You’ll need to find a health care provider (this could be a physician,
nurse practitioner or physician assistant) with special training in HIV
get it. “The more
who has treated 20 or more people with HIV in the past two years. There’s a nationwide network of knowledge HIV-
You’ll want someone who stays on top of the newest information services, programs and resources positive people have,
about HIV medications, tests and other issues. to help people with HIV remain the better they are
able to consider the
healthy—even people who have
However, it’s just as important to choose someone you like, someone
pros and cons of
no insurance or low incomes.
you feel you can trust and be open with. This means you’ll need to find
each decision. I
someone you can be honest with about sensitive issues—everything
Many big cities have state-of-the-
encourage questions
from sex, drugs and alcohol use to missing doses of HIV meds.
art HIV clinics for people who
Your health care provider is your partner in fighting the virus. She or have no insurance. When you from my patients
because I feel it is
he will be your ally for a long time, helping you deal with the ups and enroll in these clinics, you get
important to their
downs of HIV disease, the drugs that control the virus, the side effects medical care from a top team of
care.”
that may come with the drugs, and many other health issues. You need HIV health care providers as well
— Bethsheba Johnson,
to be completely open with your health care provider in order for him or as counseling and support for
her to do their job—which is to help you stay healthy. mental health, substance abuse
Nurse Practitioner at the Luck
Care Center in Chicago
10 11

7. P R O G R A M S T O H E L P YO U PAY F O R D O C T O R V I S I T S, L A B T E S T S,
PROGRAMS TO HELP
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AND OTHER MEDICAL CARE:
and other issues. You may be assigned to a
case manager, who will become the person you • P r i v a t e H e a l t h I n s u r a n c e. If you have private health
can turn to first for whatever help you need— coverage through your workplace, learn all you can about your plan’s
such as figuring out which government coverage, especially its participating health care providers (doctors,
programs can pay for your HIV medications hospitals and healthcare facilities). If your coverage is through an
and HIV care. HMO (health maintenance organization), check out the list of in-plan
doctors who specialize in HIV. To find a good local HIV specialist, call
Live in a rural area? Getting the best HIV care your local HIV/AIDS organization and ask if they have a list of
possible may mean traveling to the nearest city recommended local HIV doctors. Be sure also to get referrals from
several times a year—an extra effort, but one any HIV-positive people you know.
that will repay you with better health.
• Medicaid. If you don’t have private health insurance, you may be
For a list of HIV clinics near you, call the eligible for Medicaid—government health insurance for people with
National HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-232-4636.
limited income or resources. Many HIV specialists accept Medicaid,
An HIV clinic will give you better care than other
so don’t hesitate to ask before making an appointment.
types of health clinics or hospital emergency
rooms, since it is staffed by HIV specialists and
• M e d i c a r e. If you’re retired and over age 65, you’re eligible for this
is equipped specifically to help people with HIV.
government health insurance program. Some people with HIV who
are under 65 may also qualify. Many HIV specialists accept Medicare.
“What makes the doctor is • A D A P ( A I D S D r u g A s s i s t a n c e P r o g r a m s ) . This
not their color, but the federally funded program is available in every U.S. state and provides
choices they’re making free HIV medications to low-income people who don’t have health
and how committed they insurance. To find out if you qualify for ADAP and to learn how to
are to the patient.” enroll, call the National HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1- 800-232-4636.
— Marcya Owens, age 36,
diagnosed in 1994
12 13

8. “We know that some black
STEP 4 people bring mistrust of the
LEARNING ABOUT HIV TREATMENT medical system into their
clinic visits…”
Now that you have figured out where you can get good HIV medications before your CD4
care, one of the first questions you’re likely to have is: count hits 200.
WHEN IS IT TIME TO START TAKING HIV MEDICATIONS? T H E V I R A L L O A D T E S T. Viral load
tests provide an estimate of how
Your HIV-positive test result won’t tell you the answer. All it tells you is
much HIV is circulating in your
that you’ve been infected with HIV. Some people can live many years
blood. Generally speaking, your “It’s my job, as a
provider, to give
with HIV before they need to take medications to control it.
viral load is not considered as
However, every person who tests HIV positive should immediately critical as your CD4 count in people information
have two additional tests: a CD4 count and a viral load test. These determining the health of your and to earn their
trust, but it really
tests are the critical measuring tools you and your doctor will use to immune system. However, once
helps people when
see what the virus is doing in (and to) your body. you begin HIV treatment, it is a
they enhance their
good measure of how well your
T H E C D 4 C O U N T T E S T. This test, also known as a “T-cell count,”
HIV medications are working.
own learning and
gives an indication of the number of CD4 cells in your bloodstream.
bring that into the
The more CD4 cells you have, the stronger your immune system is. A viral load test measures the
clinic visits too.”
After living with HIV for a while (if you don't take medications), the amount of HIV in a small amount
— Dr. Adaora Adimora,
number of CD4 cells you have will usually fall. This is a sign that your (milliliter or mL) of your blood.
immune system is being weakened. A normal CD4 count for someone Current viral load tests can detect
physician at University of
without HIV is usually between 500 and 1,600. Experts generally agree as few as 50 copies of HIV per North Carolina-Chapel Hill
that when your CD4 count goes below 200, you’re at a high risk for milliliter of blood. When your viral
developing potentially dangerous illnesses, so you should begin taking load test indicates that you have
14 15

9. fewer than 50 copies/mL of HIV, your health care provider will tell you If you are seeing other health care providers, besides your HIV
that your viral load is "below the limit of detection," or "undetectable." specialist, be sure that they are all in contact.
This does not mean that you no longer have HIV in your body. Even
someone who has an "undetectable" viral load can transmit HIV to
someone else. However, an “undetectable” viral load means that your
medications are doing an excellent job of keeping HIV in check. Current Guidelines Recommend:
D O H I V M E D S W O R K D I F F E R E N T LY I N A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N S ? If your CD4 count is 350 or above, there’s usually
Generally, whether a person is black or white, HIV meds appear to work no need to start medications unless your viral
the same way. The real problem, experts say, may be that African load is 100,000 or higher or you have serious
Americans are already at a higher risk for some health problems that symptoms.
HIV meds can cause or worsen. • If your CD4 count is between 200 and 349, you
should seriously consider starting HIV
T H E S E H E A LT H P R O B L E M S I N C L U D E :
treatment.
High blood pressure (also called hypertension) • If your CD4 count is below 200, it’s critical to
High cholesterol begin HIV treatment immediately in order to
avoid serious illnesses.
Anemia (a low blood count, which can make you feel tired)
Diabetes Generally, every three to six months you should
visit your health care provider for a checkup and a
Hepatitis C (which, over time, can cause liver damage)
new round of CD4 count and viral load tests.
Kidney disease
Based on your test results, you and your provider
DEALING WITH HIV AND OTHER ILLNESSES? will have a clear picture of how HIV is progressing
Be sure to stay on top of HIV as well as any other infections or in your body, as well as when you should start or
illnesses. If you are infected, for example, with HIV and hepatitis change HIV medications.
B or C, your physician may refer you to a liver specialist who also
specializes in HIV.
16 17

10. “When I was first diagnosed,
STEP 5 I thought I needed to live
as if I were about to die.”
PREPARING TO START HIV TREATMENT
Once your health care provider recommends that you begin This may cause your first
treatment, it’s important to consider how treatment will combination of medications to
change your life. Are you ready mentally, as well as physically, fail. If this happens, it can get
to take medications every day? Remember: Most HIV harder and harder to keep HIV
specialists say that you have to take your medications as under control with each new drug
“I dropped out of
prescribed, at least 95 percent of the time, to keep HIV under combination.
school, focused
control and prevent it from becoming “resistant.” HIV that is
So it's crucial to identify a
resistant can make your medications less effective.
combination you can stick to, more on working
This means you have to be certain that taking your medications will before you start treatment. Here full-time and
become a central part of your daily life. Be honest with your HIV are some things to consider: partying. I was just
specialist about anything that may make it more difficult for you to kind of existing.
And then I got to
take all of your medications on time. If you have a case manager or YO U R M E D I C AT I O N S C H E D U L E
a point where I
a counselor, talk with them about this important issue as well. SHOULDN’T BE TOO COMPLEX.
realized there were
One thing is certain: Taking
Without a doubt, the commitment to taking HIV medications will be
medications daily will change
challenging. However, you have a good chance of keeping HIV under
your life. Suddenly, you'll have medications
control with the very first combination of medications that works for you.
new responsibilities. You'll always available that
could help me live
If this combination successfully controls your HIV, and if you take each
have to be aware of the time,
longer, and I just
and every pill prescribed, you may not have to change medications for
your schedule and changes in
started to change
a long time.
your routine. In some cases, you
my whole outlook.”
What if you aren’t always able to take all your medications on time? may have to schedule taking your
— Keith Green, age 30,
18 19
diagnosed in 1994

11. .
HIV medicine around meals or take it with or without certain foods. You’ll BLACK VERSUS WHITE:
have to remember to take your pills with you when you go on vacation, ARE HIV MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS DIFFERENT?
go away for the weekend or go out at night. Even if you are depressed Researchers are still hard at work learning how the side effects
or busy, you will still have to take your medications as prescribed every of HIV medications can differ in African Americans. Here’s what
single day. So, before you begin HIV treatment, you must ask yourself: they have found out so far:
"Am I really ready?"
African Americans seem to be a bit more likely than other
P L A N H O W YO U W I L L D E A L W I T H S I D E E F F E C T S I F T H E Y O C C U R . people to experience side effects from the HIV medication
All medications can have potential side effects—even aspirin. Not Sustiva, which can cause sleeping problems and wild
everyone experiences side effects from HIV medications, which can dreams. However, “studies suggest that this is so in only
range from mild to severe. Because you really want to give this first 20 percent of black people,” says Dr. Pablo Tebas, an
combination your best shot, talk to your doctor and read about the HIV researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
possible side effects of the medications you are thinking of taking.
This can help you not only plan how to manage side effects if they arise, Sometimes, being African American can offer protection
but to choose medications whose possible side effects you can manage. from some of the side effects HIV meds are known to
cause. One study found that African Americans on HIV
YO U R S U R R O U N D I N G S A N D YO U R M E N TA L H E A LT H A R E C R I T I C A L .
treatment were less likely to develop high cholesterol
If you are feeling depressed, using recreational drugs or living on a
and high triglycerides (potential heart disease risks) than
friend's couch, it may be unrealistic to assume you'll be able to take all
HIV-positive people of other races.
your medications all the time. It's also a good idea to get some support.
This way it will be easier for you to follow a strict treatment plan. It helps
In addition, when African Americans take a medication
a lot to have friends, family, a support group or a therapist you can rely
called Ziagen, because of something in their genes, they
on while you are on a treatment regimen—especially at the beginning
seem less likely to experience an allergic reaction.
when you are still adjusting.
(Ziagen is also found in two other HIV medications:
Epzicom and Trizivir.)
20 21

12. “I needed a good three
STEP 6 years to actively process
CHOOSING THE RIGHT HIV TREATMENT the diagnosis.”
Doctors have not yet discovered a single combination of HIV medications:
HIV medications that’s best for everyone. Each combination NRTIs (nucleoside reverse
has its advantages and disadvantages. The U.S. transcriptase inhibitors)
government issues regularly updated HIV treatment
NNRTIs (non-nucleoside
guidelines for health care professionals. As of October reverse transcriptase inhibitors)
2006, the guidelines made the following HIV treatment “Actively processing a
diagnosis means
PIs (protease inhibitors)
recommendations for people who are starting on their
finding a good
first HIV treatment combination: Fusion inhibitors
You and your provider will consider
therapist, joining a
Sustiva plus either Combivir or Truvada
support group, or
many issues before deciding on a
talking with family
Atripla (this is a combination pill of Sustiva plus Truvada) treatment combination, including:
and friends. People
Reyataz and Norvir plus either Combivir or Truvada • Your lifestyle • Which treatment
should do whatever is
regimen preserves your future
Twice-daily Kaletra plus either Combivir or Truvada
treatment options • How powerful
Twice-daily Lexiva and Norvir plus either Combivir or Truvada
a combination it is • What side comfortable for them,
Each of these treatment combinations include at least one drug from effects it can cause • Other but not talking about
it is not an option! If
two different types, or “classes” of HIV medications. Each class of illnesses you may have (such as
you don’t talk to
medication stops HIV from making copies of itself at a different hepatitis C), as this can affect which
HIV medications are best for you.
anyone about it, you’ll
moment in its reproductive cycle. The following are the four classes of
suffer for it.”
— David Lee, age 44, diagnosed
in 1995, case manager
22 23

13. STEP 7
DEALING WITH HIV TREATMENT
You’ve made the commitment to begin treatment and settled He got better, but the meds left
on your first HIV medication regimen. To ensure that your him feeling drained and exhausted,
meds keep working, you’ll need to take your doses on time, so he stopped taking them—
every time. But there may be challenges waiting to trip you without telling his doctor.
up, including:
“I believed that somehow God
would spare me,” Keith says, “My life right now
Side effects Pregnancy
“until I got sick. Then I started to is very good, and
I’m not sure I
Depression, drug addiction or other personal problems
realize that this was serious and I
would be able to
Forgetting to refill your prescription had to do something or I was
say that had HIV
going to die.” He talked to his
Illnesses or injuries Family emergencies or travel
doctor, who suggested a new
Getting tired of taking meds every day
treatment regimen with fewer not entered into it,
Whatever the reason, and however hard it may be to talk about it, it’s side effects. because it really
extremely important to bring up the problem with your HIV specialist or
Keith has been on HIV treatment
made me explore
case manager before the problem interferes with your med schedule.
ever since; his CD4 count is now who I am, why I’m
Take side effects, for instance. Keith Green’s story is a perfect example of a very healthy 646, and at the age here, and find
what not to do when side effects strike. Keith started HIV treatment at the of 30, he’s back in college getting purpose.”
— Keith Green, age 30,
age of 18, when his CD4 count was only 30. a degree in social work.
diagnosed in 1994
24 25

14. “HIV changed me.
STEP 8 It taught me to genuinely
GATHERING STRENGTH FROM OTHERS care for other people.”
People say that HIV is color blind—and they’re right. But “The best
let’s not kid ourselves: HIV may be the same virus even if response when
you’re African American, but having it doesn’t always mean I told someone
the same thing. Read how HIV has transformed the lives of I was HIV
these brave people: positive was
from my
“For some people I’ve talked “HIV has changed my life totally.
daughter, who looked up at me “Once I became
comfortable being
to, HIV changes their lifestyle— “Keep your head up! HIV is not
with those little brown eyes she
HIV positive I was
now they feel a punishment....Don’t let it
has and said, ‘Well Daddy, no
healthier and monopolize your life! It’s very
comfortable with
matter what happens to you, I will
are not abusing important that
myself, period. I
always love you.’ After that, it’s
themselves you learn to love
like, you know, who cares?
anymore. That’s yourself.”
Everybody else can take a number, found myself making
more friends, talking
what happened to me.” —Regina Brandon, 42,
diagnosed in 1990 because I’m all right now.”
to more people. I
—Precious Jackson, 33,
diagnosed in 1998 —David Garner, 45, diagnosed in 1993
“All the friends
really began to
“HIV gave me “HIV makes me that I told, they have a social life.
Through HIV, I
lemons, so I make every all got emotional
day count.”
found socialization,
made lemonade. and started
—Bishop Kwabena
crying. But all of
something that I
And it's damn Rainey Cheeks,
54, diagnosed in
good lemonade!” 1984 them, they said, ‘No matter what,
—Michelle Lopez, 38, Raven, we will still love you and always lacked.”
— D’Jaun Black, age 22,
diagnosed in 1991
you will always be our friend.’”
—Raven Lopez, 16, diagnosed 1991 diagnosed in 2004
26 27

15. STEP 9
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
In this booklet, we’ve talked about some of the most HIV medications on time every
critical steps to take if you’ve been recently diagnosed with day if that’s what you need to do.
HIV: educate yourself about HIV, find HIV support Talk to your HIV specialist,
services and an HIV specialist, and prepare for and start a counselor or a support group
HIV treatment if necessary. But perhaps the most important about these issues, and ask
“When my parents
step you can take is the one that makes all the other steps yourself what you can do to
learned about my
possible: accepting your diagnosis and planning your future improve the situation. Never
as a person living with HIV. underestimate the impact that
emotional health can have on diagnosis, they
did not say, 'I don't
Regardless of the reason you were infected, something as life-changing
your physical health.
know you.' They
as an HIV diagnosis usually gives people an unexpected chance to
said, 'What do you
re-examine their lives. Many people with HIV say that their diagnosis
As we’ve explained in this
turned out to be an opportunity to better their lives. That may sound
want us to do,
booklet, there’s little physical
crazy to you right now, but having to face a serious health problem
besides keep loving
difference between being an
can motivate you to dig deep and make changes in your life that you
HIV-positive African American
may have been putting off, or that you never even realized you
and being an HIV-positive person you?' ”
— Robert Mintz,
needed to make.
of another ethnicity. But there
Some of these changes, of course, may be staring you in the face. may be an emotional difference. age 59, diagnosed in 1983
If you drink too much or don’t exercise, it’s time to change. Anything
that adds stress, frustration or conflict—be it a bad relationship, a Fifteen years after Magic
soul-crushing job or trouble paying the bills—can be a drag on your Johnson made his famous
immune system, or can make it harder for you to commit to taking your announcement that he was HIV
28 29

16. “The best thing since positive, stigma and denial are still strong. HIV stigma is as much your
testing HIV positive is that enemy as HIV is. Like HIV, it can get under your skin and start to
I’ve grown a lot through produce fear, shame and self-hatred.
this challenge. My
parents could probably
You may have to do a lot of work and seek out emotional and maybe
testify to that. … It’s not
spiritual support, before you can educate friends and family about the
an easy thing. It’s not
realities of HIV, and help them separate the facts from the myths.
an easy road. When you But know that isolation and silence are hazardous to your health. If
have to disclose, it makes it even harder. So I you don’t feel comfortable going to an HIV/AIDS organization for
just thank God every day that I have a second support, the Internet may be a lifesaver. There are an assortment of
chance to go out there and speak and share.” Web sites where you can learn more about HIV and its treatment, stay
—Teniecka Hannah, age 26, diagnosed in 2001 on top of the latest HIV news and even meet people. But it’s up to you
to get out there. Once you connect with others, you’ll be surprised at
how invaluable you’ll find the emotional support.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
There are one million HIV-positive people in the United States—many
• H I V I S N O T A D E AT H S E N T E N C E .
in the same position as you. Reach out for that support; it will
A positive test result—even if your CD4 count is low—gives you the warning you
strengthen you and challenge you to keep going, keep growing and
need to take control of your health and stop the disease from getting worse. The
majority of people who take HIV medications can plan on long and healthy lives. keep living life to the fullest.
• HIV IS NOT A PUNISHMENT FOR SIN
O R I M M O R A L I T Y.
HIV is a virus that causes a disease. It does not discriminate. Anyone can get it.
• H I V I S N O T A R E A S O N T O B E AT
Y O U R S E L F U P.
Taking responsibility for your health is important. But focus on the present, not the
past. Learn new ways to heal yourself, not blame yourself.
30 31

17. “You’re not alone! There are
more people than you think
out there with HIV!”
Thais Sherell J
Joyce McDonald, age 55, diagnosed in 1995
“HIV made me question life. It made me take
on a whole new outlook. My life right now is
very good, and I'm not sure I would be able to
say that had HIV not entered into it, because
it really made me explore who I am, why I'm
here, and find purpose.”
Keith Green, age 30, diagnosed in 1994
YO U ' R E A N A F R I C A N A M E R I C A N. YO U ' V E J U S T B E E N D I A G N O S E D
W I T H H I V. W H AT D O YO U D O N E X T ?
• Begin with your health care professional.
• Use this booklet.
• Then visit TheBody.com/Foundation for more information.
Body Health Resources Foundation was formed to improve the quality of life
of people affected or infected by HIV. The Foundation’s mission is to provide
education for people at risk for HIV, those living with HIV, and those who
provide health care to people with HIV.
The Foundation was established by TheBody.com, the Internet’s most complete
HIV/AIDS resource, serving more than one million visitors per month.