In South Dakota, we are known for being nice. We take pride in watching out for each other. We enjoy recognizing friends in the grocery line and we wave at neighbors we pass on gravel country roads. We like the familiar. Unfortunately, sometimes our love of the familiar contributes to our fear of the unknown. At times, that fear may cause us to treat members of our community as if they are different from or valued less than others. Our unfamiliarity with and misinformation about HIV have contributed to negative stigma toward those who are living with the virus. As medical advances have changed HIV from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease, people stopped talking about it. Other viruses took over the mainstream media: H1N1, Ebola, and Zika to name a few. And what happens when we don’t know much about something or we aren’t reminded of it often? We either forget about it or we become afraid of it. Hopefully, by increasing awareness about HIV, we will be able to not only improve the lives of those living with HIV, but also decrease the number of new infections.
People living with HIV inspire me daily. They are some of the most genuine and perseverant souls I have ever met. A few years back, my nurses and I had the opportunity to attend a public health conference where we met a gentleman who is living with AIDS. He shared the difficulties of disclosing his HIV status to friends and family along with his journey to find a medical provider who genuinely cared for him. I remember thinking of how disheartened he must have felt, losing relationships over a chronic disease. Can you imagine if you started losing friends and couldn’t find a medical provider to care for you simply because you had a thyroid problem? Neither can I. And it shouldn’t have to be any different for those living with HIV. It’s important to remember that HIV is a medical diagnosis, not a character flaw.
When our team was asked to provide medical care to those living with HIV, our answer was an obvious “yes.” Our goal is to open hearts and minds to meet those living with HIV where they are. So how do we change the conversation? How do we become “South Dakota Nice” to everyone in our community, including those living with HIV? It starts with two simple things: knowledge and kindness.
Let’s start with some simple knowledge first…
What is HIV?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. Once you have HIV, you have it for life. Unlike some other viruses, your body cannot clear HIV on its own like it can with some other viruses like influenza. Fortunately, there are medications that can help control HIV in those who are already infected and prevent others at high risk from getting the infection in the first place.
HIV weakens a person’s immune system by attacking the cells the body uses to fight off infections, specifically CD4 cells (T cells). As the amount of virus a person has in their body increases, the number of CD4 cells typically decreases. When left untreated, HIV can destroy so many immune cells that a person can no longer fight of certain infections, diseases, and cancers. When this happens and a person is diagnosed with certain conditions, or their CD4 drops very low, they are considered to have AIDS.
How Do You get HIV?
First, let’s talk about how you don’t get HIV. HIV is not spread through casual contact like hugging, shaking hands, or sitting next to someone. It cannot be transmitted through sharing utensils or glasses. It’s not spread by sharing a toilet seat, saliva, sweat, tears, air or water.
HIV is spread through sexual contact, sharing needles to inject drugs, and from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding.
Symptoms of HIV
HIV can have many symptoms, depending on if it is a new (acute) or long term (chronic) infection. Early symptoms include: fever, rash, fatigue, sore throat, muscle aches/joint pains, swollen lymph glands, headaches, and other problems. Later symptoms may include weight loss, oral yeast infections, fatigue, fevers, shingles, diarrhea, rashes, and multiple other symptoms. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to ask your doctor or health care provider for an HIV test.
How Do I Know If I Have HIV?
Knowing your HIV status is important. There are many tests that can be done to test for HIV infection, which typically involve testing blood or saliva for antibodies against the virus. The tests are available at most medical clinics, urgent cares, and hospitals.
HIV is Manageable
The class of medications used to control HIV infection is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). Luckily, when a person living with HIV takes their medications regularly, the amount of virus in their body can get to “zero”. This means they are unable to transmit HIV to another person and their immune system is much stronger than it would be without the medication. In the 1980s, before we had the medications we do now, many patients living with HIV would progress to AIDS in just a few years. Now people living with HIV can live long, healthy lives. In fact, if managed appropriately, people living with HIV have life expectancies similar to those of people who do not have HIV.
HIV is Preventable
HIV is totally preventable. There are many ways a person can prevent contracting HIV. This includes using condoms the right way every time you have anal or vaginal sex. Do not inject drugs. If you do inject drugs, do not share syringes, needles, and other equipment. Individuals at high risk of contracting the infection may take PrEP. PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) refers to a class of medications that people can take to prevent HIV from infecting their body if they are exposed to the virus. PrEP is relatively simple to take and requires a visit to a health care provider every 3 months.
Where Do We Go from Here?
We all have room to learn and grow. As time goes on, we will be posting more specific information related to HIV, coping with the chronic condition, decreasing the stigma, and much more.
I would encourage you to start with one simple action: BE KIND. While an HIV diagnosis can be intimidating, the people living with HIV are not scary. They are human beings just like the rest of us. They deserve compassion, understanding, and access to regular medical care. If you meet someone who has HIV and you have questions, ask them. You might be surprised by all you learn.
Take Care of Each Other,
-Jenn
Jennifer A. Sobolik, CNP is a Family Nurse Practitioner at The Community Health Center of the Black Hills in Rapid City, SD. She delivers primary medical care to patients living with HIV and serves as the medical provider for the Family Planning Program.
References:
Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/hiv
Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hiv-aids
