Content Overview 
- Overview
- Take time to breathe. You are a person living with HIV - not a person dying of it. Whatever happened, happened. There is no use dwelling on it.
- HIV Basics
- Commit yourself to doing everything you can to keep the virus in check. Don't make any major decisions that you don't have to make right now.
- Look for a doctor with a large HIV practice who is connected with a quality hospital, in a different locale if necessary. Learn how to maximize your time with doctors.
- Decide whether to start treatment. If so, choose a treatment that fits your life. If you have any question about which treatment to take, get a second opinion.
- Learn to be wise about purchasing, living with, storing and disposing of drugs. Free drugs may be available.
- Non-Western treatments should be complementary, not instead of Western treatments. Cutting edge treatments are available if needed through clinical trials.
- Decide who to tell about your HIV status, and when. Your answers may be different for family and friends, children and work. If not before, tell your children about your diagnosis if you have symptoms.
- Think of family and friends as part of your health care team. Ask for help when you need it.
- Share your emotions. Seek someone to talk with who is going through the same thing you are. Consider joining a support group.
- Start examining your insurance and financial situation to determine how to pay for medical care and drugs or access them for free if you don't have the resources. If you don't have health coverage, get it. You still can.
- Pay attention to your financial basics such as paying your rent on mortgage on time. Keep track of medical expenses. They may be deductible.
- Don't go on a spending spree.
- If you work, learn about your legal rights and benefits, consider who to tell or not, negotiate an accommodation if you need one. Look for an advisor. If you are unable to work, learn how to apply for SSDI/SSI.
- Start getting your legal affairs in order - not because you're going to die from HIV but because the diagnosis can be a trigger to action. It will help you feel in control and help keep you busy.
- Learn about the HIV resources in your community.
- Drugs do not work in a vacuum. Start to think of the food you eat, the exercise you get, rest/sleep and even proper care of your mouth as steps you can take to make drugs and treatments most effective.
- Although a major source of transmission of HIV is through bodily contact, you can still be physically intimate with people. Learn how to avoid transmitting HIV to other people.
- If you have a pet, learn what you need to know to keep both of you healthy.
- Watch for mental conditions that affect your life. Depression, anxiety and other emotional side effects, can be treated.
Newly Diagnosed With HIV
Decide whether to start treatment. If so, choose a treatment that fits your life. If you have any question about which treatment to take, get a second opinion.
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The decision whether to start treatment
Just because you are HIV positive, does not automatically mean you should start treatment. Discuss whether to start treatment with your HIV specialist.
The Department of Health and Human Services recommends treatment (antiretroviral therapy) should be started for the following patients:
- Treatment (antiretroviral therapy) should be started for patients with a history of an AIDS-defining illness or who have a count of less than 350 CD4 T cells. (There are circumstances where it recommends treatment for people with more than 350 CD4 T cells).
- Pregnant women
- People with HIV-associated nephropathy
- Patients co-infected with HBV when treatment is indicated.
To learn more about the DHHS recommendations, see: http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/contentfiles/AdultandAdolescentGL.pdf 
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What treatment to take
Treatment for HIV disease is by means of a variety of drugs.
These days, there is generally more than one drug that can fit a particular situation. Look for a drug that not only works on the HIV, but also fits your lifestyle. For instance, the number of times the drug has to be taken, and in what circumstances.
To help decide which is the best drug for you and your lifestyle, Survivorship A to Z has a tool which helps compare treatments according to your personal preferences. See: Choosing A Treatment.
Think about so called "alternative" therapies such as massage and aromatherapy as complementary to Western style medicine instead of "either/or."
NOTE: Be sure to tell your doctor about every other prescription and over-the-counter drugs you take. Some may have a negative interaction with certain HIV drugs. To help keep track of your drugs, we provide a List Of Medications.
Second Opinions
It never hurts to get a second opinion, particularly if you have a rare condition or an unusual situation. Treatment is not generally one size fits all. Second opinions have become so standard that doctors are not offended when patients ask for second opinions. (If a doctor objects to your getting a second opinion, it is a valid reason to change doctors).
Insurance companies generally pay for second and even third opinions. Check with your insurer before getting the opinion so you will know how much the opinion will cost. If you have to pay, you can negotiate the fee and a payment schedule.)
Ideally the second opinion will come from a doctor experienced with your condition who is not in any way related to the doctor who gave you the first opinion.
If you have difficulty getting the appointment with another doctor, ask your doctor's office to help.
If the two opinions differ, don't accept the second opinion just because it is the last one you received. Perhaps the two doctors can come up with a joint recommendation if they talk. Otherwise, continue to get opinions and do research until you are comfortable making a decision.
Don't let a search for certainty provide a reason for stalling making a decision.
For more information, see:
- Second Opinions 101 (including how to find a specialist for a second opinion)
- Drugs 101- Everything You Need To Know
- List of Medications
- Treatments 101
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