How to Care for Yourself When You Have HIV

Taking good care of yourself is very important when you are living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). There are many things that you can do to stay as healthy as possible and prevent HIV from progressing to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines, herbs, and supplements

• Make sure you understand your medicine plan.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. Take your medicines the right way, every day, regardless of how long you have had the virus.
• Do not take any medicines, herbal remedies, or dietary supplements without your health care provider’s knowledge and approval.

Diet and exercise

• Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• If you lose weight without trying, ask your health care provider whether you should take a protein or calorie supplement daily.
• Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
• Take steps to lower your risk of getting an illness that spreads through germs in food (foodborne illness):
  • Do not eat or drink unpasteurized dairy products.
  • Do not drink fruit juices.
  • Do not eat raw seafood.
  • Always cook eggs thoroughly.
  • Make sure your meat is cooked until you cannot see any pink.
  • Do not drink water that may contain human or animal waste, such as from a lake or river. Do not swallow water while swimming.
• Follow your health care provider’s recommendations for participating in healthy exercise.

Sexual activity

• Avoid risky sexual behaviors and limit the number of sexual partners you have.
• Use condoms correctly every time you engage in sexual activity that may expose you or your partner to bodily fluids.
• Talk to your health care provider about other ways to protect your sexual partners.

Health care visits

• Get all recommended lab tests.
• Keep your vaccinations up to date. Get the flu vaccine every year.
• If you wish to become pregnant, talk with your health care provider.
• Ask to be checked for STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

General instructions

• Understand what germs you may be exposed to at work, at home, and in the community. Try to limit your exposure to these germs.
• If you have a pet, such as a cat or bird, ask a friend or family member to change your cat’s litter box or clean your birdcage. Waste from certain pets may be potentially harmful to you.
• Try to avoid contact with people who may have an illness that spreads easily from person to person (is contagious).
• Do not share drug injection equipment.
• Consider joining a support group for people living with HIV.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You develop a cough.
• You are short of breath.
• You have a fever.
• You have diarrhea.
• You have nausea or vomiting.
• You are bruising or bleeding easily.
• You have a new skin growth or an existing mole that changes in size, color, or shape.
• You find out that you are pregnant.
• You have a headache that does not get better with medicine.
• You are losing weight without trying.
• You feel weak.
• You have flu-like symptoms, such as:
  • Achiness.
  • Weakness.
  • Increased tiredness (fatigue).

Get help right away if:

• There is blood in your stool or vomit.
• You cough up blood.
• You have chest pain.
• You have abdominal pain.
• You have shaking chills.
• You have a severe headache.
• You have trouble thinking clearly or you feel confused.
• You have jerking movements or stiffening of your arms and legs that you cannot control (seizure).
• You pass out.

Summary

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider. Take your medicines the right way, every day, regardless of how long you have had the virus.
• Visit your health care provider regularly.
• It is important to make choices that keep you healthy and protect others.