Question
How do I restart my treatment?
1 March 2023. Related: Access to treatment, Adherence, All topics.
Hello, I tested positive in 2017 and started taking medication, then I stopped taking medication along the way in 2020 because of how I was treated at the clinic. I now want to take medication again but not at the same clinic, can you advise how can I do this or can I still visit the doctor to get prescription for the medication?
Answer
Hi, how are you doing?
I am sorry to hear you have previously had a bad experience with this clinic. Do you have another one in your area that you could use?
Restarting after a few years is fine. Have you had a recent viral load and CD4 test? and what treatment were you taking?
As it has been a few years it would be advised to have a viral load test before treatment and a few weeks after. This will let you know that the treatment is working again.
If you attend a different clinic do you have access to your medical notes/history? if you do this will help show your doctor how you have been treated in the past and how best to manage treatment now.
Do you know how your old clinic still runs? If there is a change of staff or policy it is possible that it may be a completely different experience of accessing your treatment. Being active about your treatment is very important and no clinic should be making this a bad experience for you.
Josh.
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