Checklist of important points to help people living with HIV and those who care for them so that they can engage in informed dialogue and take best decision about their treatment
- How HIV affects your body
- Discuss about all your symptoms like: fever, weight loss, loose motions, skin rashes, cough, loss of appetite, nausea, any swelling or node, weakness, giddiness, sweating, bleeding etc.
- Do you have diabetes, hypertension , heart disease, kidney or liver disease
- Whether you have Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B or C or any other infection
- If you have anxiety, fear, sleeping disorder, headache etc, inform your doctor
- If you are taking any other medicine for some other diseases please do mention it
- What is your CD4 count and Viral load and what is its significance.
- How HIV treatment works and will improve your health?
- Discuss about HIV drugs and drug combination and their possible side effects.
- Discuss about your daily routine and then see what medicine suits you.
- Long term issues while living with HIV
- Impact of HIV and HIV medications on ageing process.
- If you had taken any treatment in past for HIV please do tell your doctor about it
- Discuss cost of treatment
- Do you consume alcohol or smoke
- Issues related to diet and exercise
- How you can maintain confidentiality of your disease
- For women patients discuss about contraception
- Talk about pregnancy either now or in future
- Partner prevention (if other partner is not infected)
- Discuss appointment and visits schedule
- Record keeping of patients
- Must have a phone number of your doctor in case of emergency