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.
Living with HIV
Live a healthy life with AllLife.
Read our articles below on living with HIV.
HIV Positive: Focus on Healthy Foods
People with HIV should focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein sources.
Stigma – The Dark History
There is a distinction between the terms “stigma” and “discrimination,” although they are related concepts.
Respectful HIV Language to use
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.
HIV & AIDS Education: Parents You have a Role to Play
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.
HIV: 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.
An HIV diagnosis need not mean a negative life
Being diagnosed as HIV positive does not need to be an entirely negative experience
How does my HIV affect Family & Friends?
Family members are still unable to accept and feel comfortable with an HIV-positive person disclosing their status to them.
Is FEAR Compromising YOUR Health?
FEAR can unfold in many ways, such as through past experiences, learned behaviours, genetics, or environmental factors.
HIV: Blood Tests form part of HIV Maintenance
If you are living with HIV, regular blood tests are crucial to monitor your health and ensure that your medications are working effectively.
HIV should NOT define YOU!
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.
HIV AND AGEING: Everyone Needs to Be Prepared!
Ageing with HIV presents unique challenges, but with proper preparation and care, people living with HIV can lead long healthy lives.
Are there Personal Benefits of Disclosing Your HIV Status?
It is your decision whether to disclose your HIV status. It is a personal matter and can have positive and negative consequences.
How does Oral Hygiene affect Chronic Health?
Chronic conditions such as HIV, diabetes, and heart disease can have negative impacts on a person’s oral health.
HIV Diagnosis: What’s to Celebrate?
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?
Are there positives to being HIV-positive? Cindy Pivacic shares her story.
TREATMENT FAILURE – WHAT NOW?
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
HIV to AIDS – A Walk in my Footsteps
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.
HIV: Making it through the Festive Season
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.
How to Live with Courage when Living with HIV
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
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.
When Should You Start ARV Treatment?
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: Substance Abuse
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: How Living with HIV Affects your Lifestyle
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.
Living With HIV: Healthy Eating
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.
Living with HIV: Coping Strategies for 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.
Living with HIV: ARV Adherence Tips
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.
Navigating ARV Adherence during the COVID-19 Pandemic: My Story
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.
Just Diagnosed with HIV: What Now?
If you’ve just been diagnosed with HIV, you’re probably wondering: What Now? AllLife provides this insider’s perspective on living with HIV.
Living with HIV: Your HIV Viral Load
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: Your Reproductive Health
Living with HIV will require you to think carefully about your reproductive health. AllLife outlines important things to consider when you are HIV-positive.
Breastfeeding or Formula Feeding when HIV-Positive: You Decide.
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.
Two months into supporting someone who lives with HIV.
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.
Managing your ARVs: Your HIV treatment programme
When to start Antiretrovirals and the reasons behind why you should not delay treatment.
How can the spread of HIV be prevented?
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.
The benefits of exercise for people living with HIV
What is the role and importance exercise plays when HIV positive? Control some of the long-term side effects of HIV treatment.
Should HIV change the way you behave in relationships?
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.
Manage the side effects of HIV treatment.
Learn about the side effects of HIV treatment (ARVs) and find out how to deal with them.
Finding the right care close to you
Find out everything there is to know about palliative and hospice care.
What a good nutritional plan looks like, when living with HIV
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.
Your eating while on ARV treatment
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.
First two-drug combination pill for HIV treatment
Before this landmark development, it was impossible for people living with HIV to cover all of their needs through a single pill.
How to manage the risk of Diabetes when you are HIV-positive
Coping with HIV is challenging enough, without having to worry about other medical conditions. The risk of acquiring Diabetes must, however, be acknowledged.
Ten ways to stay healthy as an HIV-positive person
A treatment plan is vital but a few lifestyle changes can intensify positive outcomes.
Can HIV be cured?
The search for an HIV cure continues.
Substance abuse and HIV: A risky business
The dangers and risks associated with substance abuse and their link to HIV.
What rights do HIV-positive people have when facing stigma?
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?
Living with HIV: Your Diet
Living with HIV: Your Diet
How ARVs save lives
The treatment of HIV infection as a chronic manageable disease, instead of a fatal one, has become a reality thanks to ART treatment.
HIV and pregnancy
The risk of passing HIV to your unborn child has been greatly reduced, thanks to PMTCT programmes.