100 Questions & Answers about HIV and AIDS

Foreword xi Acknowledgments xiii Introduction xv Part 1 Now That You Know 1 Questions 1-6 provide information for people who've just been diagnosed with HIV infection, including: What's my prognosis? Can I live a normal life? What about sex and relationships? Who should I tell? Should I keep working? Part 2 The Basics 11 Questions 7-14 tell you what you need to know about HIV, your immune system, and the disease in order to understand your condition, your health care provider, your treatment options, and how to live with HIV infection. Questions include: How does HIV cause illness? What's the difference between HIV and AIDS? How is HIV spread? Why isn't there a cure? Part 3 Diagnosis of HIV Infection 23 Questions 15-17 are written for people who haven't been diagnosed. Questions include: How is HIV diagnosed? How do I know if I've been recently infected? What if all of my tests are negative but I'm sure I'm infected? Part 4 Medical Care 29 Questions 18-21 provide information on finding and paying for medical care, including: How do I find the right medical care? How do I deal with my health care provider? How will I pay for treatment? Part 5 Getting Started 37 Questions 22-26 discuss the laboratory tests and vaccinations you need, including: What does my CD4 count mean? What's a viral load? What is a resistance test, and when should I get one? Do I need vaccinations? Part 6 Starting Treatment 45 Questions 27-34 discuss things you need to know before starting treatment, such as: How does antiretroviral therapy work? Do I need treatment now? How do my provider and I choose my first regimen? What if I have side effects? Part 7 Staying on Therapy 61 Question 35-42 discuss issues important to people who are on therapy. Questions include: How long will therapy last? Can therapy ever be stopped? What if my virus becomes resistant to the medications? What if I decide not to take medications? What is immune-based therapy? Part 8 Side Effects and Toxicity 71 Questions 43-52 discuss side effects and toxicities of antiretroviral drugs, including: What are the side effects of protease inhibitors? What can I do about changes in my body shape? How can I protect my liver? What are the risks for my brain and nerves? Part 9 Opportunistic Infections and Other Complications 87 Questions 53-62 provide information on the complications of HIV infection, including: What are opportunistic infections? When should I use medications to prevent infections? Can HIV cause cancer? Part 10 Symptoms 103 Questions 63-72 discuss common symptoms caused by HIV and its treatment and how to deal with them. Questions include: What can I do about nausea and diarrhea? What if I get a cold or the flu? Why am I so tired? Can HIV affect my skin? Part 11 Women's Issues, Pregnancy, and Children 117 Questions 73-77 discuss HIV infection in women and children and HIV treatment in pregnant women, including: How is HIV infection different for women? What if I want to get pregnant? What if my child is infected? Part 12 Coinfection 127 Questions 78-80 discuss other infections that often accompany HIV infection, such as: What if I also have hepatitis C? How do I prevent cervical and anal cancer? Part 13 Mental Health and Substance Abuse 133 Questions 81-83 discuss depression, substance abuse, and other mental health problems, including: How do I know if I'm depressed? What are the risks of drug use if I'm positive? Part 14 Relationships, Sexuality, and Prevention 139 Questions 84-88 discuss relationships, safer sex, and sexually transmitted diseases, including: How and when do I disclose my status to partners? What if both my partner and I are positive? What should I know about sexually transmitted diseases? Part 15 Living with HIV Infection 147 Questions 89-96 discuss important lifestyle considerations for HIV-positive people, including: What should I eat or avoid eating? Can I still drink alcohol? Can I keep my pets? Part 16 Questions For Those Who Still Have Questions 159 Questions 97-100 discuss some of the controversial questions that still come up with respect to HIV infection, including: What about the theory that HIV doesn't cause AIDS? How do we know that HIV wasn't created in a lab? What's the state of the global epidemic? Appendix: Additional Resources 165 Glossary 169 Index 197