Steps You Should Take if You Think You May be HIV Positive

Mainly, a person contracts HIV when having sexual relations with someone already infected with HIV, it cannot be contracted via casual conflict (like a handshake or a hug). Receiving a transfusion of tainted blood, sharing used needles, or open wounds that make contact with HIV-infected fluids are other ways that HIV can be contracted.

If you think that you have contracted HIV, the first step is not to panic. Panicking can lead to stress which will make you feel worse. Also, don’t visit too many online sources that describe symptoms of HIV – it might overwhelm you. Also, sometimes, what you think is HIV might only be a simple cold or flu.

Next, it is important to contact your primary care physician and make an appointment to get an HIV test done as soon as possible. You can also get an HIV test at any local clinic (they are either free or are very inexpensive). Results from an HIV test are available 30 minutes after the initial test is taken. If negative for HIV, your doctor or the clinic might request that you come back in six months and take the test again, due to the fact that some infections do not show themselves for a little while, especially if the contact was recent. If the HIV test comes out positive, the next step is to have a full blood test done to verify the results. If HIV positive, you can begin treatment immediately to help you live with it.

You can always buy an HIV Tester online and administer the easy-to-use test at home—privacy is guaranteed this way.

You will be asked to quit smoking, drinking, or taking recreational drugs because they can weaken your immune system and allow HIV to progress faster throughout your body.

Remember, HIV is not a death sentence and you can live a normal life!