Question

432 comments

1. Lisa Thorley • 23 February 2017

   Hi Joe,

   Thanks for the positive feedback, it really is appreciated.

   If you want to change from taking your meds in the morning to the evening you can. A change in time will not cause resistance. What I would advice is that you take them as normal, say this morning then wait until tomorrow night to take them again. Once you change to 9-10pm, then just make sure that you adhere to this time.

2. Joe • 23 February 2017

   Hello,

   Allow me to start my message by thanking you all for the great effort you put into this helpful website.

   I am positive and I take Eviplera/ same as complera once a day, I take it between 9 and 10 AM. I want to take it at 9 and 10 PM instead, but I don’t know how to manage and how can I secure not developing a resistance? Please help me.

   Thank you.

3. Lisa Thorley • 13 February 2017

   Hi Caleb,

   Thanks for sharing your experience with us. You’ve asked a lot of things, so I’m going to try and answer them one-by-one.

   Yes you can still study whilst taking ARVs. And 10pm is fine. The mild side effects should go within a few weeks. Its just your body getting used to them.

   No you won’t look, ‘sick’. ARVs are very effective, and in most instances gone are the days when people with HIV looked sick.

   If you want to give someone oral sex that’s fine. As too is having sex with a condom. Once your viral load is undetectable the risk of transmission will be close to zero. Please see the results of the PARTNER study for more info:

   http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/

   Now, because your CD4 is 101 its important that you are also taking co-trixmoxazole. This will help prevent other infections. If you haven’t been given this, please talk to your doctor. There’s more here about CD4s of less than 200 and also our, ‘Introduction to ART’ guide:

   http://i-base.info/qa/3560

   http://i-base.info/guides/starting

   What’s important for you to know is that the ARVs will have started working straight away. Therefore, your HIV will start to become under control. This means that you’ll be OK.

   Not wanting to tell your mother is understandable. However, it may help to talk to someone. Have you thought about peer support?

4. Caleb • 13 February 2017

   Hi

   I am a university student and I am HIV positive. I am gay, the first time I suspected that I might be positive was after having sex with two guys in two weeks. In July 2016 I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend hand in October 2016 I felf very sick, I wanted to test for HIV on campus but they could not test me since it was exam times, I got better after two weeks and I thought it was flu. But I lived with the fear that I was HIV positive, I accepted that I was positive even though I was not yet diagnosed. In December when I was at home I decided to go and do an HIV test, the lady who tested me started explaining how ARVs works before telling and showing me my results, I knew from that moment that I was HIV positive. When she finally told me I was not scared since I lived knowing that I might be HIV positive, but I got scared that I was aware that my life was not long anymore. They took my blood to check my CD4 count. I remember I had to take my siblings with me for a week holiday. On the 27 of December they told me to come for Mr results, I didn’t get them since they were delayed by the holidays, I got my results this January 2017, my CD4 count was 101, I knew that I was on stage 3 and that I am an AIDS patient. It was difficult for me since I’m going through this alone, I don’t want my parents to know, my mom is 9 months pregnant so I did not want to cause her any complications. I am always reading online advises which helped me to know better about HIV. I am now happy since I just started Odimune this week and I am not having complicated sides effects. As I’m writing this post its my 4th day taking the medication and now able to walk outside without being too much dizzy, I even managed to attend my lectures.

   I want to know if I can take my medication and still study or should I just go to sleep? I take Odimune at 10 pm since I usually sleep late.

   I was not shown my viral load I just knew that my CD4 was very low, I don’t look sick and I have not lost too much weight, is it possible that I will look sick since I’m now on medication?

   I have not had sex since last year, I’m scared of reeffection. I know its safe to use a condom but I’m still scared I can get reeffection.

   As a gay guy, can I get oral sex? I can’t give oral sex just to protect the next person. But will I get reeffection if I get oral sex?

   I know a lot now about HIV , and I just wanna keep myself safe.

5. Lisa Thorley • 13 January 2017

   Hi Judith,

   I’m pleased to hear that you’ve found the info helpful.

6. Judith • 13 January 2017

   Have been helped much by this website. I wanted to change the time I take the ARV meds. From one of the question from the web, the answer you gave has solved my problem.

7. Lisa Thorley • 4 January 2017

   Hi Win,

   Yes you can.

8. win • 4 January 2017

   I forgot to ask that if I change the time of taking meds for now, can I then change again?

9. win • 4 January 2017

   Is it OK to drink and smoke if taking ARVs?

10. Lisa Thorley • 2 January 2017

    Hi Win,

    Yes you can go to the gym. Exercise is good for all of us.

    The following link discusses ARVs and viagra:

    http://i-base.info/qa/8461