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| This is the essay series by women living with HIV. The authors in Japan,
Cambodia, Portugal and the Philippines, write about episodes and the
feelings of their daily lives. |
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 Today, it’s possible to slow the progress of HIV infection, or suppress its symptoms with antiretrovirals (ARVs).
As HIV positives, we’re extremely grateful for this, but taking the ARVs can be quite trying because they must be taken at given times and under certain conditions every single day. This is a fundamental rule, but even though it seems a simple task, in reality you need determination to stick with it.
I have been taking medication for eight years now, but I’ve been troubled by side effects for over half that time.
The numbers from the periodic blood tests I undergo show that the treatment is working, and I feel that for a while at least there won’t be any big problems.
But when the problems and changes which I experience from day to day continue on for a long time, I sometimes feel like not taking the medicine anymore.
When I first began taking ARVs I had no appetite because of the terrible side effects. Even if my favorite food was put in front of me, it didn’t look or taste good to me. I just went through the motions, putting the food in my mouth and chewing. I was depressed because I thought I’d never again be able to enjoy a delicious meal.
It’s not easy living with disease, but being ill makes you all the more thankful for health, and I think that’s very important. |
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