If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

Get emergency care if you or a loved one has serious thoughts of suicide or harming others.

Finding out that you are infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) can be frightening. One way to fight your fear is to learn as much as you can about the disease. Remember that HIV is manageable. It can be treated with medicines. Knowing about HIV and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) will also help you take the best care of yourself.

You can fight your worry about HIV infection with reliable information. Your friends and family may give you advice. The best information comes from your healthcare provider or your counselor, or from the national, provincial or local community AIDS resources.

Path to improved health

The good news about HIV is that early treatment is helping many people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. It’s normal to feel sadness, anxiety and fear when you first learn that you have tested positive for HIV. However, if you have trouble sleeping, eating or concentrating, or if you have thoughts of suicide, contact your healthcare provider.

If you’ve been told you have HIV, give yourself permission to be afraid. But don’t let this fear keep you from doing all you can to help yourself. Here are some things you can do:

• Ask your healthcare provider how often you should have a check-up. Always keep your appointments.
• Always use a latex condom during sex.
• Help your body fight infection by not abusing alcohol and by quitting smoking.
• Eat a balanced diet. Get regular exercise. Get enough sleep.
• Find out what causes stress in your home life and your work life. Do whatever you can to reduce this stress.
• Don’t share needles for drugs, steroids, piercing or tattooing.
• Get regular dental check-ups–bleeding gums can increase your risk of infecting someone else.
• Volunteer to work for an AIDS organization. Facing your fears directly can be a good way to cope with them.

Things to consider

If you have tested positive for HIV, you must tell your past and present sexual partners. They should get tested too. You must also tell any future sexual partners that you have tested positive for HIV. If you are now in a relationship, you may wish to ask your healthcare provider about how to explain your positive test results to your partner.

Let your healthcare provider and dentist know that you have HIV. This will help them give you the care you need. Your privacy will be respected, and your healthcare provider and dentist can’t refuse to treat you just because you have HIV.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Public Health Agency of Canada

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/hiv-aids.html