What is HIV like?

Answer 1

When a person gets test for the HIV virus, they do not look for the actual HIV virus itself. Whoever is conducting the tests will send them off to a lab where they will then search for the anti-body of the HIV virus. The anti-body is what your body naturally creates once anytime of virus enters the bloodstream to try to kill it off. This has become quite confrontational because a lot of scientists say that the body only creates the anti-body as a sign that the body is now Immune to that virus. It's a naturally way our body tells itself that it has had that virus before. Hence is why you've heard the phrase "You can't get the same cold twice". Because your body creates an anti-body after it has got rid of the virus telling your body that that specific strain of a virus can no survive in your bloodstream. When a person gets test for the HIV virus, they do not look for the actual HIV virus itself. Whoever is conducting the tests will send them off to a lab where they will then search for the anti-body of the HIV virus. The anti-body is what your body naturally creates once anytime of virus enters the bloodstream to try to kill it off. This has become quite confrontational because a lot of scientists say that the body only creates the anti-body as a sign that the body is now Immune to that virus. It's a naturally way our body tells itself that it has had that virus before. Hence is why you've heard the phrase "You can't get the same cold twice". Because your body creates an anti-body after it has got rid of the virus telling your body that that specific strain of a virus can no survive in your bloodstream.

Answer 2

It's like having to do all the things you should already be doing. Eating healthy, living healthy, being educated on the topic, practicing safe sex and listening to your doctor.

It is very frightening at first, having to tell people, not knowing anything about it, I myself knew nothing about the virus when I contracted it and succumbed to anxiety and sever depression at first. The on set of the symptoms can include severe fatigue and infection, this usually resolves its self as the body starts to produce antibodies. Constant monitoring of CD-4 (white cells) and viral load is needed, which means a whole lot of doctor visits and needles.

It still holds a lot of social stigma so even though the life span of an infected person has pretty much become indefinite with proper treatment people can still be very sympathetic and offer words of support where none are really needed, kind of like I'm a dead man walking. People can also still be very afraid and inconsiderate and oust you from social circles or spread rumors. Forming long-term relationships has also proven to be a bit of a challenge. Also telling people is still very frustrating because you never know how they will react.. A lot of people do not share their status and knowingly and willingly spread the virus which creates additional social tensions. Oh, and there are always tons of questions to answer.

There are frequent doctors visits every 1 to 3 months, blood tests and all the rest. The medications have come a long way and some can get by on as little as one pill a day, I myself take 3 pills a day. Although much better than the past some of the drugs can have nasty side effects and others have none. The hardest part is insurance. The medications can cost upwards of 1,500$ a month. So finding a plan that accepts pre existing conditions with a reasonable deductible is very important. Thankfully there are also grants available to help cover some of the cost.

Having to remember to take the medication every day at the same time and lugging it around can be rather cumbersome, failing to do so could lead to drug resistance. I always remind myself that there are worse fates and lots of other people with lots of other conditions are also tied to medications that they can't do with out.

It's different for everyone some unfortunately do not take care of them selfs, some live long healthy lives, some can become infected and never find out until its to late for treatment.

Answer 3

ITS a swelled up pudgy,hairy and itchy dasease.

Answer 4

It is not a thing that we can see it.

It is a virus

Human Immuno-deficiency Virus.