Question
Doubts when I'm told that my life expectancy is good…
21 January 2010. Related: All topics.
Hi, i have been HIV-positive for 3 years now
I’m male, 43 years old, i started treatment fairly quick (after nine months) but I’m doing fine.
Viral load is undetectable, CD4 about 700 and CD4% is 37% – and I’ve never had any health issues.
My question is, how long can i really expect to live? I know thats not an easy question to answer, but every so often I start to doubt what i have been told.
Answer
This is a frequent issue of concern and the answers to the linked questions below should also help.
Because no-one can predict how long any other person will live, it is always a good idea to make the most of your life everyday. Make sure you try to do everything in life that you would have wanted to do before your HIV diagnosis.
Your current results are good though. If you are worrying excessively, then ask to speak to a health advisor or a counsellor at your clinic, in case you need help to overcome a particularly difficult time.
One caveat to these optimistic results, is that HIV-positive people are probably as a slightly higher risk of age-related complications than HIV-negative people, which can be interpreted to mean that it is even more important for HIV-positive people to make healthy long-term lifestyle choices. This includes good diet, exercise, not smoking and alcohol in moderation.
See also these Q&As:
How long will I live if treatment is working?
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