Routine check ups at your HIV clinic will help you decide if and when you need to start treatment, either for "opportunistic infections" or with specific anti - HIV therapies. Your doctor should explain to you what the tests and procedures are before they are carried out.

Even though you might feel extremely well at the moment, clinical tests that give an idea of the state of your immune system will allow you to make treatment and other choices for the future.  Bear in mind that test results will go up and down, so don't get caught on a downward roller coaster or bad blood scores. Work out how you feel in yourself - that's one of the most important things.

Don't forget that you have a fair idea of how you feel in yourself, tell your doctor, particularly if there is anything that is worrying you. Don't expect the doctor to know things you don't tell him/her. You might want to make notes of things to mention before hand in case you forget something when you are at the hospital.

First clinic visit

Your first visit to a clinic after your HIV diagnosis should involve a thorough check over and discussion of your medical history.  If you took your HIV test at a different clinic, the doctor may want to do another one to confirm what you are telling them.  The doctor should perform a number of tests to look for infections that all of us carry around with us, but that can be more dangerous to people with HIV.

How often should you have a check up?

Your doctor will advise how frequently you should attend for check ups depending on how your "disease progression" is assessed. If you are well and have a relatively high CD4 count and your viral load is not excessive, there is no reason to go for check ups more than 2 or 3 times a year. As the disease progresses, or if you are on treatment, visits might become more frequent.

Physical Examination

Your doctor should give you a fairly good physical examination, take your blood pressure, listen to your chest, look at your eyes, etc.

Find out more

Your doctor can explain these tests in greater detail, if you want to learn more, click here to be taken to the website of National AIDS Manual and the British HIV Association.