What Specialists Treat AIDS

Living with HIV/AIDS requires regular doctor visits and routine checkups. So it is best to make sure that you keep up with the many appointments that come up. These can be with dentists, nurses, case managers, counselors, psychiatrists, and other medical needs. It is best to check with your health insurance to make sure that you get the proper care. Here we will take a look at some of the regular doctor visits that anyone should take. These appointments are especially important for people with HIV/AIDS.

There are no specific guidelines about when treatment for HIV should start. But studies have shown that it would be very beneficial if it is started as soon as possible post diagnosis. HIV treatment is a commitment with a long term view. It is very important to be regular with taking your medicines because the possibility of the virus becoming resistant is very high. One must take the medication and keep doctor’s appointment at the correct times. The patient will be prescribed lots of pills and keeping to their medication schedule may constrict their lifestyle, but they will need to make this a habit. It is your post-diagnosis behavior that will influence your health and your quality of life. 

Provider/Clinic Visits

Visits and appointments are usual for just anyone. They have become a daily part of our life in America. So it is best to see your primary healthcare provider and get routine checkups and make sure that everything is working correctly. Also, check with the nurse to make sure that you get the proper lab work done. Some tips to bring to these types of visits are:

• Bring the right materials every time there is a visit. The doctor might ask you about a lab slip, recent x-rays, and medications.
• Always be on time. Even though this sounds like an obvious choice many people do it and take it for granted.
• Ask questions if something comes to your mind and write them down. It is best to use a notebook to make sure that you don’t forget your questions.
• Make sure that your future and past appointments are up to date and all payment for past appointments are OK.

It is also best to make sure that your doctor answers the questions about side effects and lab reports on your routine visits. Ask if the medication is OK based on your medical history. They can also answer questions about billing, clinical trials, the meaning of test results, and surgical procedures. They can also help you if you have medical or mental health issues and help with any symptoms you have.

Other Regular Visits

Believe it or not, dental visits are extremely important for any person and especially for people with HIV or AIDS. The HIV virus can begin in the mouth and throat so seeing a dentist is crucial. when you see the dentist ask the experience of the dentist with HIV or Aids care. Also don’t let things get out of hand. If you notice something is not right, have it checked out immediately. So always keep good record of dental visits and other regular visits. Bring your test results and lab reports to the dentist to make sure the dentist can properly evaluate you.

Side Effects

All drugs can result in side effects. They may be classified into different kinds such as:  

• Reactions to allergens and side effects in the short time.
• Concurrent side effects.
• Side effects in the long term that may take a few years to develop.

Not all patients suffer side effects and not many suffer the same side effects from the medication. Research has not been able to pinpoint the exact numbers and come up with different figures for different patients. Many of the HIV medicines can result in digestive distress, headaches, and diarrhea, but the effects lessen over time. If your treatment regimen is started when you already have a high viral load, the side effects could possibly be a major problem and you may have to manage the situation more effectively.

All drugs that clearly show substantial bad reactions or side effects will clearly display a warning. You will necessarily be advised about it and also how to manage if any kind of rash occurs. Some drugs will express clear signs or side effects which could range from severe such as in the impairment of kidney function, to mild such as in intermittent headaches or diarrhea. Some other effects might manifest themselves over time including numbness in the extremities, abnormal liver functioning, or even repositioning of fat in the body. However, now that newer medication is being used the patient will need to worry less about such side effects.

Allergic Reactions

A drug can have very unpredictable side effects but only a few and not all patients will suffer them. These side effects take place if the patient’s immune system reacts unfavorably to a medication. The common symptoms are a fever and/or a rash but usually the side effects disappear on their own. On the off chance the patient does show a reaction when starting a new medication, they must visit the doctor as soon as possible. The reaction could easily be treated by gradually increasing the dosage of the drug or by taking anti-allergic medicines.

The Bottom Line

When looking for a doctor, make sure the doctor has good experience with treating people with AIDS or HIV. All doctors should generally be good at assisting patients so make sure that your doctor has experience with helping out in HIV or AIDS medicine. AIDS is a hard thing to grasp. There are a lot of procedures and a lot of medication needed to make sure the patient has proper health. So make sure that your healthcare provider provides you with a good doctor. AIDS and AIDS related illnesses can cause a lot of complications but with the right care and proper treatment it is possible to live and maintain a healthy life with AIDS or HIV.