Relationship Advice If You Have the HIV Infection
If diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and in a relationship, the important thing to remember is that your relationship is built on a lot more than the HIV.
Foundations of good relationships include trust, honesty, love, kindness, respect, and mutual sharing.
You’re fighting for something bigger than an illness
Remember?
Whether you have HIV or not, if these foundations flounder, the relationship may not last.
Strengthening your relationship values enhances the quality of your togetherness during good and hard times.
About HIV
HIV is a retrovirus infection that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).
Some people are carriers of the infection. Others have latent HIV and have not developed AIDS because the infection’s viral DNA is dormant.
The condition may progress to AIDS which is an increasing failure of the body’s immune system. The body’s vital cells become infected, preventing healthy recovery from infections and diseases.
During pre-AIDS HIV infection, the body’s immune system still functions. However when AIDS is diagnosed, damage to the immune system is fatal and life-threatening diseases, including cancers, set in.
The origin of virus is thought to be transmission from primates to humans. It was further spread through unprotected sexual intercourse (not using a condom) and sharing of infected drug needles.
There is no known cure however, symptoms may be treated.
Symptoms may include aching muscles and joints, sore throat and fever, and swollen glands.
Thrush (candidiasis), nail fungi, rashes, diarrhoea, weight loss and fatigue, may be experienced. Other illnesses may cause additional symptoms.
Antiretroviral medication taken daily, slows down the impact on the immune system. Other medications and supplements may interact with this medication so medical advice should be sought in this regard.
People infected need to consume a healthy diet, do regular exercise, not smoke and life healthy lifestyles.
Flu vaccines and 5-yearly Pneumococcal vaccines help to reduce risk of contraction.
How HIV impacts Relationships
Famed NBA player, Magic Johnson and wife, Cookie
Managing HIV successfully, after 19 years – that’s living!
Living with HIV and managing the symptoms is a way of life.
Relationships may be affected in psychological, emotional, mental, health, physical, sexual ways, economic and financial ways.
A person with the viral infection who falls pregnant, is highly likely to transmit the infection to the unborn baby.
Persons with HIV, experience life limitations that may be frustrating or impact self-confidence:
- Not able to donate blood or organs
- May need to declare their infected status to employers
- Not able to join the armed forces
- Need to disclose HIV status in mortgage and insurance applications
Managing HIV positively in relationships includes:
- Being supportive in the living of a healthier lifestyle
- Sharing empathy and caring feelings
- Making home adjustments as needed
- Recognising health needs and addressing these needs
- Positively encouraging healthy living and medication use
- Attending medical reviews
- Practising safe-sex to prevent transmission of HIV
- Realising that life may be short and enjoying each moment together
- Joining a HIV-Relationship support group if it will help
Over To You
Now that we’ve reached the bottom, here’s what you can do next:
- Could your relationship survive, knowing one of you had this infection?
- What do you think would be the biggest challenge in a HIV relationship?
- What’s one thing this post informed you on that you didn’t know previously?
- Click one of the Share buttons – your friends can then read this article too.
And thanks for reading too – I’ll see you in the comments.
About the Author:
Richy is a writer for health sites that help people with HIV treatment.
RichardK – who has written 1 posts on GeekandJock.
Long Distance Relationships: Having a Successful One! 
Balance Buzz – Self Empowering Affirmations 
Relationship Success – 3 Mistakes in Your Love Life You’ll Be Making 
Janis Binder
Well, this topic hits close to home. I had a young cousin who lived in secret with HIV and believe his mom help conceal this or at lease she thought. What a shame b/c he left home and did not return until he was nearly on his death bed.
My second contact was working at a shelter in DC. One of my clients had HIV and it took a while to talk her into going to a support group. She may have went a few times but walked out the last one and never return. In fact she almost pretend she was okay and pursued a relationship without informing her partner. During that time we had our hands behind our back and was limited on what we could do. She refuse to tell him. She embrace the relationship and said she was very happy.She stop using drugs and alcohol but refuse to have him use a condom or to inform him. Well, yes he got HIV and put her out. The young lady’s revenge was to spread it with everyone she came in contact with and finally she died. I had left the shelter when I found out the latter information. i was truly sadden by the news. She left a beautiful little girl behind. My point in all this is I realize we can’t rewrite our future but please at lease the people you are close to share this information with them. and of course now you may have to reveal information. You don’t have to carry this burden alone. Real friends are unconditional. We don’t walk this earth alone b/c we all are connected. As in my cousin, his brothers had issues with him even being Gay. Too bad he did not trust some of us who really loved him. Please as with anything that is heavy on your heart and cause you pain or despair you be surprise that there are people who will see you through the storm. Trust me in life i have weathered many storms but not without the help of God and supporters some of whom the least I would suspect for a short time who were the ones gave the most support.
Emilia
Oh my, this is a tough one but I don’t look at it as a hindrance to sustaining a loving and nurturing relationship. This is an obstacle that someone afflicted with HIV must surpass but with the guidance and support of others nothing is impossible! Thanks for the insightful read :)
Richard
Hey Emilia. Thanks for your input. You’re undoubtedly right. It’s vital to have that support and advice to get through what is a tough situation.
Kristine
Being stricken with this disease does not necessarily mean that life is over. It may be more challenging for most but the ability to nurture relationships remain. Thanks for this interesting share.
Richard
Thank you Joy and Jan for your comments and I hope you both found the post educational. I sincerely hope it will prove useful to people affected by these issues and educate others further.
Martin
Twitter: GeekandJock
Thanks so much for sharing the article with us, Richard.
I can tell you it does really highlight the fact there are people in the world with far more relationship issues to face than the average man or woman in the street.
And co-incidentally, I watched a segment on TV the same day as your post was published on Magic Johnson which further drove the challenges that HIV affected people have.
Great post, mate.
Martin recently posted..Arguments – Have You Ever Been A Cat In A Box?
Richard
Thank you very much. I am glad to see it has struck a chord with so many people. I often find that we don’t appreciate how good things are, when we are in good health, until something untoward happens to us – sad but true.
Joy
Thank you for this truly enlightening share, I’m glad that although more and more people are afflicted with HIV everyday, they can still live their lives to the fullest by sustaining the relationships they have and by taking good care of themselves.
Jan Stevens
This is a real interesting post. The first one I’ve seen that tackles this topic, for sure. I agree with you in saying that relationships where one of the couple is infected with HIV do not necessarily differ with that where HIV is not involved. Although there are extra considerations that need to be taken, the foundations of every relationship will still be the same, HIV or no HIV.
I really appreciate you tackling this topic because there aren’t a lot of people who do, and I think that this would be really helpful to plenty of people. Thanks!
Jan Stevens recently posted..Men, Intimacy and Feeling Normal