18-year survivor discusses HIV battle fatigue
18-year survivor discusses HIV battle fatigue
HIV-infected man takes 200 pills a week
David Morris, 47, is the picture of successful HIV antiretroviral therapy. He was diagnosed with HIV on Dec. 31, 1983, first began to take AZT in 1985, and now is on an antiretroviral regimen that has kept his viral load to undetectable levels. Moreover, Morris has thus far avoided some of the more serious side effects associated with treatment, including lipodystrophy, bone problems, and increased lipid levels.
However, Morris, who is an administrator of the wellness program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, sometimes feels as though he is suffering from battle fatigue. "You wake up every morning and have to take your medications, and that’s a slap in the face because you know that every day you’re going to have to take the drugs," Morris says. "It’s a hard thing to live with."
In addition to taking 14 HIV antiretrovirals a day, including 3TC, 4dT, and Sustiva, Morris takes hormone replacement in a gel form each morning, ingests a special prescription of herbal supplements devised by a Chinese physician, and has acupuncture once a week to help him with the drug side effects. Morris also exercises regularly, keeps his attitude positive, and helps other people who are HIV-positive. "I try to tell people right away about my HIV status, so they can see that you can survive with AIDS," Morris says.
Morris says he avoids thinking about the long-term aspect of taking HIV medications by staying very busy in his personal and professional life. "I’ve become very involved in education and I’m on the board of directors of two AIDS service organizations," Morris says. "I socialize with people who have AIDS and HIV because comradeship is a great way to get out some frustrations."
Over the years, Morris has also benefited from therapy, support groups, and antidepressant therapy. His main strategy for staying on his medication regimen is to use a pill box to help him count out his daily dosage and to carry his daily supply with him to work or to social events when necessary. "It’s a war that you fight on a daily basis, and it wears at you," Morris says.
Still, he intends to prevent the virus from mutating and increasing for as long as he is able to do so, and this requires daily and continual discipline. "I think every day brings hope that the next day will be a better day, or that there will be a breakthrough, and why would I want to miss that?" Morris says. "I wouldn’t want to give up, especially when I see the seasons change, like today, and you have a beautiful day and want to take a walk on the beach."
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