On this year’s celebration of World AIDS Day, I am in the process of a transition in my medical practice. The past 22 months have been wonderful because I have had the joy of watching my son grow. But at the same time, it has been unbelievably exhausting because of my busy professional schedule.
After months of trying to figure out what I can do to make things a bit more manageable, I finally decided that I simply needed to cut back on my professional responsibilities, and part of that included ending the outpatient (clinic) aspect of my practice.
The patients who have depended on me the most in my clinic, are those living with HIV. It has been very difficult for me to inform them that I will no longer be their doctor. But I don’t think I realized how hard it would have been for the patients themselves.
Well, maybe I knew, based on past experiences bidding farewell to my patients at the end of my Infectious Diseases fellowship in New Jersey, and then when I left Antigua/Barbuda to come to Mississippi. But I guess I forgot, or probably just blocked it out because it was so difficult. They are disappointed because they now have to get used to, and develop trust for a new doctor.
As my patients transition to new doctors, I am comforted by the fact that their futures remain bright. HIV infection is so easy to treat these days, that most persons living with HIV will never experience life threatening complications directly related to virus, such as severe pneumonia, and brain infections.
The main treatment required, is a simple regimen that often involves taking just 1-2 pills once per day, and at least twice yearly blood testing.
Actually, what is more pressing for HIV infected persons now, is lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension. It is complications related to these disease which are causing the most problems for our patients these days.
Even though the outlook for persons living with HIV is excellent, we sadly still see persons coming into hospital sick, essentially with AIDS, and some even die. This is partly related to the fact that there is still a great stigma attached to HIV, especially in smaller communities such as where I am now in the Southern US, and in the small islands of the Caribbean, for example. This stigma prevents people from getting tested and seeking care, even when they know that they are at increased risk for HIV infection.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Know Your Status.” Knowledge of one’s HIV status is the first step to ensuring a healthy, long life. Once a diagnosis of HIV is made, the next step it to get started on medication to ensure suppression of the virus, so that complications related to AIDS never arise.
Another huge advantage of HIV treatment is that it almost eliminates the chance of spreading the virus, infecting other persons. Imagine if all HIV infected persons were on medication which caused the virus to be undetectable in their bodies. That means there would be no more transmission of the virus, and therefore no new infections! Can you imagine that?
We would then be able to eradicate HIV from the planet in 1-2 generations. Certainly a massive challenge, but not impossible!
On this the 30th anniversary of the celebration of World AIDS Day, I send love out to all persons living with HIV, especially those who I have had the honor of caring for.
I encourage everyone to remember that those infected with HIV are people just like all of us, trying to take care of their families, pursue their dreams, and make a positive difference in this world.
For those persons who have not had an HIV test, do yourself a favor, and “know your status” before it is too late.
Sharon Goodwin Johnson says
December 1, 2018 at 9:58 pmThank you for the update!The future does look much brighter for the patient living with HIV today. Its the stigma that continues to limit their social circle and support , when they do find someone that does not judge or see them as the out cast they blossom. I advocate on their behalf daily in my practice . To the three i know personally living with HIV. I am always in Awe of your courage and strength.
infectiousmd says
December 1, 2018 at 10:35 pmHi Sharon, thank you for your comment. I think part (but of course not all) of the stigma is related to many people not knowing someone living with HIV. They see them as “other.” When you personally know someone with HIV, you realize that they are perfectly normal people, the very, very same as you. Thank you for advocating on their behalf:-)
Pragya Dhaubhadel says
December 1, 2018 at 10:50 pmWonderfully expressed and written. “Know your Status” Message so beautifully relayed. Yes, Please go out and get tested for HIV. this year in my annual check up, I got tested for HIV. I am so glad my Primary care physician offerred testing & I accepted. Lets spread this message across the globe.
Thank you Amina for this message.
infectiousmd says
December 2, 2018 at 1:45 amAwwww…thank you very much Pragya! I have had many HIV tests over the years, starting in my internship when I got stuck with a needle I used to draw blood on a very sick patient with end stage AIDS. It took several tests over a year or so before I was confident that I did not get the virus from that patient. Back then, the treatment outlook was not as good as it is now, and the stigma was much greater (I was living in Jamaica). Even though HIV is very treatable, it is not curable and I do not want to have to deal with any medical conditions if I can help it. Prevention is better than cure, but treatment is certainly better than no treatment. And you certainly cannot access treatment unless you know your status!