Question
How long can I live if I’m taking HIV treatment (ART)?
15 January 2018. Related: All topics, Life expectancy, Living with HIV long-term.
Can HIV kill when you have an undetectable viral load? I’m doing well on medication and how long can i live to the cure? Lastly, why cant I stop thinking about my HIV status – first thing in the morning and also just before I fall asleep?
Polio have been eradicated but why cant scientists do the same for HIV?
Answer
The quick answer is that with modern HIV drugs (called ART) your life expectancy is likely to be similar to if you were HIV negative. The earlier someone is diagnosed and start ART, the quicker any damage from HIV can be reversed.
For most people, HIV is easy to treat and easy to manage. ART can give you a normal life expectancy and an excellent quality of life.
Hw long anyone will live depends on things you can change (smoking, exercise, medication) and thing you can’t (genetics and luck). A study in Denmark (2005) estimated that the survival is more than 35 years for a young person diagnosed with HIV infection and another study in Canada (2003) report that in the US, life expectancy at age 20 years was an additional 58.3 years.
As long as your CD4 count stays above 200 cells/mm3, the risk of most HIV complications is pretty low. At higher CD4 levels – above 350, or 500, or 700 – the risk becomes lower still. Although some health problems are slightly higher in HIV positive people compared to HIV negative people, these risks are also often reduced by ART.
If you continue to take your medication as prescribed and do not miss or taking doses late, then the risk of HIV health problems in the future s very low. However, just as HIV negative people become ill, lifestyle changes to reduce these risks are important if you are HIV positive. For example, keeping mentally and physically active, eating a balanced diet, resting well, not smoking etc).
Having HIV might not always be easy though. The shock of being diagnosed sometimes takes a long time to come to terms with and at the moment you are still working on this. Already, I am sure you feel better than when you were first diagnosed and this will continue to become easier every year.
Most people worry about the impact of HIV on their life. This could bewhy you think about your HIV status on a daily basis. If this continues to be difficult perhaps get in touch with a local support group or ask about counselling. Talking about your HIV status can help you to deal with it and also through group support you can share experiences and also learn from one another. You do not have to deal with it in isolation.
Finally, you asked about research into a cure. HIV is very complex in a way that is different to polio. Although currently there is no vaccine or cure, there is a lot of ongoing research.
HIV treatment is one of the successes of modern medicine. The breadth and expertise in scientific advances has not only developed 30 medications in five drug classes but this research has contributed to many other areas of medicine.
Even though curing HIV is difficult, there are lots of reasons to be optimistic.
This question was updated in January 2018 from an original answer posted in November 2011. (See: Question 10 at this link for more information).
Hi Gloria,
Please see Q 6 here: http://i-base.info/qa/what-are-the-most-asked-questions and the following guide:
http://i-base.info/guides/pregnancy
Is it possible to think of having a HIV negative child? When I Hiv positive and not yet pregnant and my husband is positive?
Hi Llad,
If you’ve just been diagnosed this can be a difficult time. But, Hey, slow down. Take time. It is going to be okay.
Even if you feel worried, frightened, upset or angry now, it will get easier. You will still be able do all the things you wanted to do before you learned that you were HIV positive.
You can read more about just finding out you’re HIV positive at this link.
It’s really great that you feel good and active. There’s more info to read – when you’re ready – in this Introduction to HIV Treatment (ART).
Hey guys I got tested last night and the results came out HIV + and I was so nervous can’t even say anything to my friends and Family. Should i be worried about having it my whole life or I should hey better as long I take a medicine religiously?I’m really nervous because there is no symptoms at all and I feel good and active still the found out I’m one of getting it…Any suggestion what should I do since I’m gonna be positive my whole life?
Hi Ike.
Its not a given that you’ll get side effects, and if you do they should go in a few weeks. Therefore there’s no reason why your family and friends would know, this is unless you choose to tell them.
Is it possible to hide this lifelong illness a secret from family and friend forever knowing there are side effects from the ART?
Hi Ike,
Its common to feel like this when you’ve just been diagnosed, following the advice here may help. http://i-base.info/just-found-out/
Its important to remember that HIV is no longer the illness it used to be. With treatment you’ll be just fine.
I was told am HIV+ yesterday thus 16th August, 2018. I had the courage to tell my girlfriend who has been supportive so far. I can’t tell you the feeling of discovery you have a lifelong illness and you are going to be on medication for the rest of your life. My girlfriend advice I should go for retest. How do I go through the trauma again? Only two pple know and my fear of living with this illness is killing me inside. I can’t stop crying n thinking.
Hi Reuven,
Thanks for sharing your story with us. It sounds like you’re now doing really well. And yes its very likely that your viral load will be undetectable next time you go to clinic.
I’m sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with your GP, unfortunately this does happen. If you aren’t seen as being ‘at risk’ then being positive can very easily get missed. But you’re right, life can be great, amazing actually.
Keep it up!
I have been on ART now for 2 months, initial viral load of 780,000 and have been given Triumeq. After 1 month the viral load was down to 112, CD4 was extremely low at just 27 on diagnosis and was also given co-trimoxazole to fend off opportunistic infection, another month to go for my next blood tests and I am hoping to be undetectable (fingers crossed) and praying for a big jump in CD4. I have gained half a stone and feel a lot better. I was detected late, I have probably had the virus for 8 years, kept goi going to the doctors with the same symptoms for around 6 years and they completely missed it, they only picked up on it after I kept returning weekly, 2 days before diagnosis my GP said my sore tongue was nothing to worry about and was just geographic tongue LOL – GPs are bling to this virus unless you are gay ! There are a lot of positives with the treatment, when your body gets use’d to the meds life gets a whole lot better, so for anyone out there stay positive, eat well, drink lots of water and keep smiling