Question

What is my life expectancy?

16 January 2024. Related: All topics, Life expectancy, Living with HIV long-term, Newly diagnosed, Travel.

My question is about HIV treatment, psychology and moving to EU countries for job.
After my HIV+ diagnosis I realized that I don’t have too much time.

Please don’t write that “Many people living with HIV can expect to live as long as their peers who do not have HIV.”.

I don’t believe in this, because the drugs which I take everyday will interact my liver and my kidneys.

When I take pills everyday, I hate myself. I only have 25 years old, I’m already have NASH (enlarged liver and fatty liver grade b). That’s why I think I don’t have enough time to live. I think it’s too young age for these deaseas.

I’m hiding my HIV status from my mum, I can’t tell her that I’m HIV+.

For me and my family there is no any difference between telling my mum “I’m hiv + and I’m already dead”.

I can’t tell her, I can’t push knife to her heart.

So I want to die far far away from my family. I would like to know, if I will find a job from EU countries, will they give my medicine every month free of charge?

I can get TLD from my country free of charge.

Any advices will be appreciated.

Answer

Answer: Josh Peasegood

Hi, how are you doing?

Have you spoken to any doctors/health professionals about life expectancy? and what is it about being on treatment that makes you not believe that you will have a similar life expectancy to HIV negative peers?

What treatment are you on yourself?

The reason this statement, ‘Many people living with HIV can expect to live as long as their peers who do not have HIV’ is true largely owes itself to people who are HIV positive being more involved in their healthcare.

More health appointments are attended, changes in lifestyle are made and health behaviour can all change. Even if you are to experience long term side effects from treatment, which is rare and very person specific, having regular interactions with your doctor can help to manage side effects earlier.

NASH isn’t an uncommon and the lifestyle changes that can be implemented along with HIV treatment e.g., improved diet and exercise can help prevent NASH having a significant impact on your health.

How long have you been on your treatment? and what is it you take?

Before you started did you have any baseline tests e.g., kidney function and cholesterol levels?

Being on treatment and having your viral load suppressed can mean that it is impossible to pass on HIV (this is called U=U: https://i-base.info/u-equals-u/) and apart from taking a pill each day, your health will largely be unaffected.

Is there a reason you do not want to tell you mum? Is there anyone you have told or considered counselling or a peer support group (you can access these via your doctor).

There are countries that are welcoming e.g., in the UK treatment is free of charge regardless of residency status and it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of HIV status.

This link lets you search through countries and their regulations/access:
https://www.hivtravel.org/Default.aspx?pageId=142