Keeping A Positive Outlook
For AIDS Patients
If you are dealing with HIV or AIDS and important part of your treatment is your mental state. It is
devastating to learn you have a life-threatening illness for which there is no cure. How can you deal with
this knowledge?
How can you cope with the prospect of lengthy treatments and an
uncertain future? There are several ways that can help you cope with the ongoing process of AIDS
treatment.
Stay as healthy as you can. Maintain a healthy diet avoiding foods that can infect you with parasites or
make you sick. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meat, and plenty of whole grains. Getting plenty
of rest, exercising regularly, and taking part in activities that will relax and refresh you.
After receiving news you have a life-threatening illness you may feel devastated. You will think about the
financial, social, and emotional effects. You may feel overwhelmed with treatment decisions and worry how
your illness will affect those closest to you. Where can you go for help? What can you do to help you
cope?
There are a wide variety of services and programs to help you deal with your illness. There are HIV and
AIDS clinics that have people on staff to help you with your emotions and feelings. Counselors and nurses who
have experience with the disease can help you directly or put you in touch with people or organizations that can
help you. They also may be able to arrange for transport to and from doctor appointments, help you with legal
issues, and aid in case of any financial difficulties.
Did You Know?
|
The signs of symptoms of AIDS or HIV are different depending on what stage the
infection is in. When a person is first infected they may have flu-like symptoms and swollen lymph
nodes but recover quickly.
This flu-like sickness may occur two to six weeks after being infected and is not always associated
with the possibility of HIV infection. Even if you do not have any of these symptoms until years
later, you can still infect other people with the virus.
Once your body is invaded with the HIV or AIDS virus, your immune system is under attack. Even
though you may not be having any symptoms, you can still pass the disease on to another person.
Meanwhile, even if you are symptom free, your cells that coordinate your immune system are slowly
being destroyed.
You can remain this way for as many as ten years but during that time you will begin it experience
more frequent infections as your immune cells are destroyed.
You may experience chronic symptoms such as diarrhea, weight loss, shortness of breath, cough,
fever, and unexplained weight loss.
|
Educate yourself about your disease. Find out what stages the disease takes and your treatment
choices. You should know about the drugs involved and what possible side effects they can cause. The
more education you have about your disease, the more active of a role you can play in your treatment.
Treatment for HIV has its own problems, and you will want to know what will be happening to your body so you can
help deal with the complications your treatment may cause.
Be proactive and positive. Don’t let others make decisions that only you should make. Your doctor and
your family may think they know what is best, but the only one who does is you. You may feel too tired or
depressed and discouraged but it is important for you to remain active in all decisions about your treatment and
health.
|
AIDS Facts
Patients using homeopathic medicine will normally develop a fever after taking the
medication. Homeopaths agree the fever is a helpful part of the response to the medicine and should
not be suppressed.
Fever is a response to infection and using homeopathic treatment and medicines
encourage this body response.
|
Coping with the HIV virus or AIDS is a difficult job on your own. It’s important to maintain
a strong support system. If you find your family and friends are having a difficult time dealing with your
diagnosis, you may choose to look for a formal support group or a counselor experienced in dealing with AIDS
patients. Your family and close friends are an important part of your support system, but they may not be
objective when it comes to someone they love. A formal support group who has already dealt with some of the
issues you are going through may carry you through this important part of your life.
| 