Beyond the Numbers
We offer many support groups at AIDS Action Committee. From the members of these groups we have gathered that their health concerns are moving beyond those of just T cell counts and viral loads. This is not to say that HIV is not foremost in my mind when I am speaking with a client. This disease is still killing people every day and it will continue to do so until we stop this epidemic
However, many of our clients have been successfully managing their HIV and are now incurring other medical issues. Unfortunately it seems that HIV docs are not responding in an appropriate manner. Many clients at AIDS Action have expressed frustration. Many feel like numbers rather than patients. I realize how difficult it was for docs in the first 15 years of this epidemic. However with increasingly safer, efficacious drugs now available it is time for doctors to stop treating HIV solely and to start treating patients as human beings again. I think it is time for HIV docs to be HIV docs and let Primary Care docs take care of the rest.
I owe my life to HIV docs. Throughout the years, through their dedication I have survived. Now I am living and aging. I am no longer consumed with HIV and all its baggage. Until this is over my primary purpose will always be to end this epidemic. For now I want to live as normal as possible. Routinely I will see my HIV doc four times a year. The rest of the time I will live.
