Question
I am HIV positive – can I drink alcohol or eat pork?
7 January 2017. Related: All topics, CD4 and viral load, Starting treatment, Supplements and herbs.
Hello,
I’m 29 years old and have been HIV positive for almost one year. I have known about my status since December last year. I’m currently living in Germany due to studies and I would like return to my country (Mexico) at the end of this year. My questions are:
1) I have attached the results from the last analysis that have been done and I would like to hear your overall opinion on these and if I should focus in some particular issue.
2) I’m aware that between the last two analyses I went to a party and I drank too much alcohol (about 1.5liters) and I regret it. When you are not on therapy is the alcohol more likely to affect me than when I am on therapy? I mean does it decrease my CD4 and increase my viral load? I don’t want to drink alcohol anymore but it would be nice to know.
3) The Dr. suggested I should not eat pork. I am making big changes in my lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc) and I would like to know if it is possible to estimate when I should start the therapy? I’m worried since I don’t know if I’m going to stay in Germany or move back to Mexico. I’ll be able to know by the end of this year but not before.
My Dr. provided me with this website and I find it amazing with all the information that it’s available for us to learn about the subject.
I really want to thank you all for the great work you do!
Answer
Thank you for your question, and for the feedback – and for your doctor :)
I will try and answer your questions according to the numbers you have given above.
1) Firstly, we are not doctors but HIV treatment advocates.
Monitoring your blood tests you should focus mainly on your CD4 count, your CD4% and your viral load. If you have changes in your liver enzymes, cholesterol or kidney function tests then you would need to monitor those as well.
2) Drinking alcohol will not affect your viral load or CD4 count. T
Moderate alcohol use should not be a problem. It is your decision if you don’t want to drink anymore but it should be because it is what you want to do rather than because you are HIV positive.
The reason you may have been to told to avoid excessive alcohol is that excessive alcohol use can damage the liver. The liver is the organ that filters drugs from the blood so if the liver is damaged then the body has trouble with the HIV treatments.
However, an interesting study showed that HIV positive people not on treatment, might have higher levels of alcohol, (than on ART).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22495786
Also excessive alcohol use can mean that people on medication may forget to take their treatment. This can lead to resistance which means the medication will no longer work.
3. Being HIV positive doesn’t mean you need to change your diet – other than to a more healthy one. A more healthy lifestyle is good for lots of reasons but can still eat the foods your want, including pork. Perhaps ask your doctor the reason they said this.
4. Since 2105, HIV treatment (ART) in generally recommended for everyone, even at high CD4 counts. This means it is good for everyone to think about HIV treatment.
If there are practical issue that mean you cant get treatment for a short time, then if your CD4 count is very high (over 500), this is usually also okay.
Once on treatment your viral load should become undetectable within the first three months.
This Introduction to ART has lots more information.
This answer was updated in January 2017 from a Q&A first posted in May 2010.
I am not drinking and I smoke. My problem is I lost weight and I take treatment evryday. My fiance is also positive and we want a baby. Please advise us and help us to live a healthy life. What is the food we need to eat? Thanks
Hi Sarah,
The START study showed that starting HIV medication at any CD4 count can reduce the risk of serious illness. It benefitted everybody, including young or old, and people living in low-income or high-income countries.
You can find out more about starting HIV treatment (ART) at higher CD4 counts in this previous question:
http://i-base.info/qa/11772
I tested positive in 2014 but until now my CD4 counts are higher and my doctor told me that they have a new guide line even your CD4 count is higher you can start medication. My question is, is it good for me to start medication now, or it is going to effect my health? I am too scared of starting ARVs.
Hi Palo. thanks – it takes a while to come to terms with HIV, so you probably are still in shock. The good news is that being on treatment is very good for both you and your baby. The Bactrim is not forever – just until your CD4 count gets to a higher level. HIV treatment is best to continue taking of life though – or until a cure is found. This link might make it easier for your fiancé t ee the risk on treatment is very low – an might even be zero – see:
http://i-base.info/qa-on-the-partner-study/
HIV treatment (RT) is very good nd can last for decades. This means that life expectancy is very good. You can like to see your baby grow up – and can live to be a grandmother with grandchildren
hi i am a 25yr old pregnant lady and have been diagnosed with the virus a month ago. i am still under shock as my gynae only decided to take my bloods at 6 months of pregnancy so i am scared that the baby might be infected as well. I have started my treatment however. first question would be with the bacterium – will i then be drinking it for life? and how i will be with the ARVs? Secondly, i dont know whether i am still in denial but i find myself thinking of my life span and how soon i might die as i feel that now i have a limited life span due to the virus my other issue is that im scared of disclosing to my fiance and family on who i got the virus from because iv never been a child that would just chop n change boyfriends. My other worry is that my fiance is negative and is not confortable with using condoms as he feels he wont contract the virus since we have been active with out it and that freaks me out coz i dont want him to get sick too.Honestly my biggest worry is will i ever live to see my son grow and still live to see my fiance in his grey hair with the virus and how can i just get over these thoughts of death and negativity especially when i look at my neighbour who is suffering from AIDS ,how do i then reassure my family that i will live long life with them regardlessly?
Hi Sam, the best information is that you need to see a doctor about this. i-Base are not doctors and we can only give information related to HIV. What does your doctor say about this?- they must have seen it if has been going on for a long time/
I,ve been on arv for the last five years now iv got are non healing wound on the lower part of the left leg what should i do to ease the situation?
Hi Jackson, I am sorry for missing you comment earlier. How are you doing now? Finding out you are positive cna be difficutl but it does get easier. Do you have your CD4 count test results yet? This is th first test and is linked to starting treatment – and treamtne tis very good. A healthy diet is good for everyone, as it looking after yourself in general. HIV meds will make sure the HIV is treated though.
This link for a guide to HIV treatment:
http://i-base.info/guides/starting
This is a link about diet:
http://i-base.info/guides/side/diet-a-balanced-diet-and-your-health
This link talks about just being diagnosed:
http://i-base.info/just-found-out
I tested HIV positive on 17 of June this year 2016 please send me advise or tips like how to live with HIV what kind of food I must eat
It sounds like your treatment is working well. A CD4 count of 762 is strong.
There could be many reasons why you’re feeling weak. But it’s important to talk to the doctor and discuss if this could be due to a side effect of your meds.