Once your HIV+ is it the end of life?

I have just found out that I am HIV+ and don't wish to live life like this anymore. I don't see the point in pursuing life goals because I read that your life span is going to be about 10 years. I am not scared and afraid and i have not told my family or friends. I am scared for my life. Is life now over for me?

How's it going peaceful guy? Mind if I call you peace? Just a couple things--You've already heard from outlaw w/interesting info on her sisters incredible story. Plus, livingtype.rm w/5+ yrs HIV+ w/a negitive family, I guess what I'm trying to say is things are looking up already. Just one more thing--I have been positive for 25 yrs ( one year past the publics introduction to this disease ) & my immune system is as strong as anyone that has responded to your question. Yahoo answers is a good site to get to know people that can help you--just reach out and email someone. Your not alone dude. If you have any ?'s, let me know.

Yes... Get Help

no people live along time with hiv and maybe they will find a acure any day dont give up

everybody is different, you'll have to talk to your doctor.

Nope, ppl can live mad long with HIV, when you get AIDS your gonna die.

i don't really know...but...
awww i'm sorry.
: ( : ( : (

First of all, I'm sorry for your situation. But honestly...there are many, MANY people who have been HIV positive for 20 years or so...and lead perfectly normal lives. Talk to your doctor or a counselor...there are so many new treatments now. It's no longer considered a death sentence...it's a manageable disease.

enjoy what life you have left, and find someone who you can talk to about it like a support group or something. perhaps a professional also.

First of all, you can live more than 10 years...Magic Johnson has had it for what...15 years so far? And second, think of it this way. There are people out there who will not live even 10 years. A piano could fall on their heads tomorrow. EVERYONE is going to die eventually. I actually think you are lucky, if you really know you are going to die in 10 years, you can live life like you are dying and do all the things you want to do during that time...many people live for 100 years without really living, and when they die they regret not doing anything. Chin up, hon. Just because your life is shorter doesn't mean it's not a worthy life.

Think about it.
Ten years is a long time.
You have all that time to go do anything.
Travel, fall in love, have fun.
Spend time with your family and don't let any of the small things bother you.
Many people with HIV get treated and can prevent getting AIDS.
You get AIDS a little while after being infected with HIV.
AIDS is when you are going to die eventually.
But getting treated can make the time before you get AIDS last a long time.

10 years is a long time to feel sorry for yourself. With medications, many people live long lives with HIV. There are many that are already 20 years out from their diagnosis and still healthy. It is all up to you. Get yourself set up with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV patients, begin eating a more healthy diet, exercise and start living. It is a choice and it could be a long, sad 10, 20 or 30 years for you depending on how you decide to live your life.

no medicin is improving and there is already ways to slow the affects of HIV. you should life your life to the fullest. tell your friends only if you want to. but definitly tell your family. they will comfort you. dont judge life in length, judge it in how you live it.

Depends on when you got it. However, I personally know a guy who has had HIV for 17 yrs. Think of it this way, if you make it 17 yrs, they will likely have a much better treatment for it. Plus there are many things you can do right now. Despite what you may have been told, there are people who have been diagnosed with HIV who now have no detectable virus.

First of all, don't tell anybody.

Get retested in six months to see if it was a false test.

Meanwhile, read up all you can on the disease.

Your life is over, as you knew it. But, many people have lived long and healthy for decades. Look at Magic Johnson. He is fat and happy.

no sir life is name of survive.u take more care about health.Do not act like silly be brave

Ever heard of Magic Johnson? He was diagnosed with HIV years and years ago and he's still going strong. Just because you have HIV doesn't mean you should give up on life. I'm sorry to hear about your situation and I hope that you educate yourself to know that you can still have a life even with HIV. I wish you all the best. Don't let this get you down. Live and love your life.

Well my friend it sounds like uv got ten years to do every thing uv ever wanted to do leagal or not, what r they gonna do lock u up?

No these idiots that are saying that it is and that if you get aids that you are going to die. They are wrong my sister had hiv for 25 years and then devoleped aids and she is still living today and that was ten years ago so thirty five years with hiv/aids and life is worth living just take your meds and keep healthy and you will live a good life.

thanks if you have any questions or anything please e-mail me at "saxaphone189@aim.com"

Being HIV+ is different from having aids. You need to get into a drug treatment program and into counseling.

Many people have lived being HIV+ for 15+ years and havent developed AIDS yet. They are coming out with new meds all the time.

I am sorry for your diagnosis, but dont let something you cant change stand in your way of living life to the fullest.

Sorry about this diagnosis. Fortunately the treatment of HIV has changed drastically in recent years and there is plenty of research being conducted. You need to see an HIV specialist who can prescribe the proper combination of antiretroviral medications for you. Many people live relatively normal lives and have the virus under control with proper medication and medical care.
It is normal to feel depressed and even suicidal after receiving a diagnosis like this. It is important to speak to someone and know that there are many other people in similar situations and that you can survive and continue to live and pursue your dreams. Please see a doctor and get proper information and also ask if they can refer you to a support group or a mental health professional who understands this area and can help you.

Best of luck and hang in there...

You're reading some bad information. 10 years?, that sounds like something from the '80's. And some of the people on here sound like they're stuck in the past too.

Make sure you're seeing a doctor that specializes in HIV/AIDS. That is a MUST. I don't know where you live, but if you're in a rural area you'll probable need to travel a little bit.

Educate yourself. Learn everything you can about this disease so that you can take control.

HIV is considered a manageable disease today. IT IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE. There are medications available that can get your CD-4 count up and your viral load down - even to undetectable levels I don't know where you are in this disease, but if you take care of yourself and take your meds you may never develop AIDS.

I know people who have had a CD-4 below 10 who got on meds and are now living a normal life. Hon, things have changed, and are still changing.

PLEASE get some counseling so that you understand what's going on. Your Health Department can help you there and there are many AIDS organizations around that can give you undated information. Take advantage of it. You should have gotten counseling when you got your test results which makes me wonder if you're seeing a family doctor as opposed to a specialist.

Surround yourself with people that will support you.

No, life is not over, the best thing you can do is continue with your life as if you were HIV-, you will not die if you dont take the medication, in fact you WILL die if you do take it. Think about what I said now go and google "HIV lie". Research this until you know what I know, and you will see that you are going to live a healthy life just like everybody else. If you decide not to listen to me, YOU WILL DIE, I am being serious. I am not kidding, and I am not misinformed.

No, please don't listen to people saying that you have 10 years left - people with HIV are living 20+ years and longer!

I am also HIV+ and have been for nearly 5 years now. I have a husband and I also have a daughter who is negative. Please, send me an email...

You life is just beginning. It will now be totally different, there is no doubt about that fact, but you have a chronic MANAGEABLE illness. 15 years ago it would have been a death sentence, it no longer is. What it is will be a life style change. Find the best HIV clinic around your area, work closely with your doctor- and please be sure s/he is a HIV specialist. Not everyone goes on medication when they test positive now days, discuss that with you doctor. What I can tell you , eat a proper diet, take your meds when you are put on them, get plenty of rest, exercise. If you did drugs or drank a lot of alcohol that has to stop.

At some point you may want to tell some people, remember when you tell someone you can't take it back. So I suggest test the waters first. You will want to have some one close to you know, you will down the road need a health care proxy- someone who knows your medical wishes, if something happened that you could not make medical decissions for yourself.

When you have sex and you will need to use condoms.

I have been with someone who is HIV+ for over ten years, the quality of my life has never been better. I was told about 3 weeks into our relationship. It seemed it was going somewhere and my partner wanted me to know so I could leave if I couldn't handle it. I can tell you now I would not change a thing.

We had a medical issue 4 years ago where he could not make medical decissions so I had to, I worked with the doctors, I knew what he wanted and I am glad to say all is OK now. Just so you know he has been HIV+ for 24 years.

So life is not over, it's a new start, a new journey and you can be fine as long as you look for all the good that you have in you and the good you an do.

Good Luck!

yOU CAN STILL LIVE REGULARLY... DONT GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS.... YOU CAN STILL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT AS FAR AS ASPIRATIONS... JUST MAKE SURE YOU SEE YOUR PHYSICIAN REGULARLY AND TAKE MEDICINE THATS GIVEN TO YOU....MY COUSIN HAD AIDS UNFORTUNATLY HIS NOT LIVING ANYMORE BECAUSE HE WANT TO KEEP HIS STATUS FROM US (FAMILY) AND HE WANTED TO NOT TAKE THE MEDICINE GIVEN BECAUSE HE WAS IN DENIAL... DONT GO THAT ROUTE... YOU SEEM LIKE YOURE DOING THE RIGHT THING AND HAVE A GOOD HEAD ON YOUR SHOULDERS... YOULL BE ALRIGHT