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Read our articles below on living with HIV.
As a new year looms, my thoughts got around to our ever-changing world, and it reminded me of the first time I became aware of the new ONE tablet, Atripla, in 2011, replacing my two-tablet combination.
People with HIV should focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources.
There is a distinction between the terms “stigma” and “discrimination,” although they are related concepts.
Once I publicly revealed my status in early 2011, I realised how uninformed people were, and sadly, still are, about using appropriate language when speaking about HIV.
A friend and I were chatting recently, and he jokingly said, after hearing about my bursitis in one hip and sciatica in the other, that I was busy using up my nine lives.
A friend and I were chatting recently, and he jokingly said, after hearing about my bursitis in one hip and sciatica in the other, that I was busy using up my nine lives.
Being diagnosed as HIV positive does not need to be an entirely negative experience
Family members are still unable to accept and feel comfortable with an HIV-positive person disclosing their status to them.
FEAR can unfold in many ways, such as through past experiences, learned behaviours, genetics, or environmental factors.
If you are living with HIV, regular blood tests are crucial to monitor your health and ensure that your medications are working effectively.
A diagnosis of HIV can be a life-changing event that can impact a person’s self-image, relationships, and overall well-being. It’s is important not to allow the virus to define a person’s identity.
Ageing with HIV presents unique challenges, but with proper preparation and care, people living with HIV can lead long healthy lives.
It is your decision whether to disclose your HIV status. It is a personal matter and can have positive and negative consequences.
Chronic conditions such as HIV, diabetes, and heart disease can have negative impacts on a person’s oral health.
Many of us celebrate World AIDS Day on the 1st of December. But who celebrates their day of diagnosis? I do – Cindy Pivacic.
Are there positives to being HIV-positive? Cindy Pivacic shares her story.
My introduction to ARV treatment started four years after my initial diagnosis with HIV in 2004. Soon after, I was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. My CD4 count dropped to 203 cells/mm3 in approximately four years. This was the then-recommended level to start treatment
You are HIV-positive! This statement is not one that anyone wants to hear. These were the unfortunate words communicated to me on the 11th of November 2004.
The festive season is a time when many people relax. People also usually consume more than their usual intake of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol affects your ability to exercise competent judgement. These poor decisions often lead to a loss of inhibitions. This can, in turn, then lead to unprotected intercourse.
Navigating your way through living with HIV is a journey. Cindy Pivacic shares her tips on how to live with courage when living with HIV.
HIV facts and statistics are important to know. Educating yourself around HIV can further support your journey of living with HIV. HIV facts and statistics keep us informed about what is happening in the world around us.
Anti-retroviral treatment (ARV treatment) is freely available across South Africa, and provided to all people living with HIV, through both the public healthcare sector and private healthcare sector. Cindy Pivacic shares her story of living with HIV and Anti-retroviral treatment.
Living with HIV and substance abuse have been very closely linked. In this article, AllLife outlines the dangers associated with substance abuse and living with HIV. Cindy Pivacic shares more about the link between substance abuse and HIV.
Living with HIV is a journey. Living with HIV will affect your lifestyle, as you pursue good health while HIV-positive. In this article, Cindy Pivacic outlines how living with HIV affects your lifestyle.
When you are living with HIV, healthy eating plays a big role in helping you to maintain good health. Your nutrition plays a vital role in helping your body mitigate the effects of living with HIV. Cindy Pivacic shares her insights into her journey of healthy eating when living with HIV.
When you are living with HIV, you will learn coping strategies for living with HIV. At AllLife, we provide support and life cover for people living with HIV. Our support, however, does not end at life cover. Our HIV support services help you as you navigate your journey of living with HIV. Cindy Pivacic shares more about her coping strategies for living with HIV.
When you are living with HIV, it is important to ensure ARV adherence. ARV adherence is ensuring that you stick to your ARV treatment programme and take your medication at the exact time you are instructed to by your health care worker. Cindy Pivacic shares more ARV adherence tips in this article.
The light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel is starting to shine. Ever since HIV/AIDS was discovered, the virus, and those living with it, have been met with much stigma.
If you’ve just been diagnosed with HIV, you’re probably wondering: What Now? AllLife provides this insider’s perspective on living with HIV.
When you’re living with HIV, it’s important to know your HIV viral load. HIV viral load is the amount of HI-virus contained in your blood.
Living with HIV will require you to think carefully about your reproductive health. AllLife outlines important things to consider when you are HIV-positive.
AllLife outlines an important choice for HIV-positive parents: breastfeeding or formula – you decide. HIV-positive mothers are often faced with the difficult decision of choosing between breastfeeding or formula feeding their babies.
Being part of someone’s life, whether as a colleague, friend or a romantic partner means that their HIV-positive status is also a part of your reality. Depending on when the person’s status was shared with you, you might still be feeling overwhelmed. If you’ve known for two months now then it should be settling in and starting to feel like something you can support him/her through.
When to start Antiretrovirals and the reasons behind why you should not delay treatment.
Preventing the spread of HIV is up to each and every one of us. Learn how to take the relevant precautions and prevent transmission of the HIV virus.
What is the role and importance exercise plays when HIV positive? Control some of the long-term side effects of HIV treatment.
Dating and HIV. Both sides of the story. Learn about the associated risks of dating an HIV negative person when you are HIV+ and how you can take safety precautions.
Learn about the side effects of HIV treatment (ARVs) and find out how to deal with them.
Find out everything there is to know about palliative and hospice care.
Know what to eat for good nutrition. We share some tips of healthy eating to boost your immune system when you are living with HIV.
Treatment adherence and healthy eating go hand in hand. What we eat and drink contains ingredients and additives which cause a variety of chemical reactions inside us. Your ARVs are digested along with your food.
Before this landmark development, it was impossible for people living with HIV to cover all of their needs through a single pill.
Coping with HIV is challenging enough, without having to worry about other medical conditions. The risk of acquiring Diabetes must, however, be acknowledged.
A treatment plan is vital but a few lifestyle changes can intensify positive outcomes.
The search for an HIV cure continues.
The dangers and risks associated with substance abuse and their link to HIV.
HIV is not just a medical problem, it’s also a social one. What are the consequences of the HIV stigma and how bad is it in South Africa?
The treatment of HIV infection as a chronic manageable disease, instead of a fatal one, has become a reality thanks to ART treatment.
The risk of passing HIV to your unborn child has been greatly reduced, thanks to PMTCT programmes.
Living with HIV: Your Diet