A new HIV diagnosis can be very traumatic

• Make sure all your health maintenance screenings are up to date, including:
  • TB screening (PPD)
  • PAP Smear and mammogram for women
  • colonoscopy
  • prostate exam for men

  Ask your doctor about screening for other sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.

• Check to see if you have been vaccinated against:
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis A
  • Pneumococcus Pneumonia (Pneumovax)
  • Flu (if it is the flu season)Tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis (tdap)

• Smoking cigarettes, drinking too much alcohol, abusing prescription pain killers, or using illegal drugs complicates HIV treatment. If you have a problem with substance abuse, there are programs available that can help you reduce or stop.

• Remember to use condoms to protect yourself from other infections.

• Existing mental health conditions, such as depression, can worsen. Make sure to share your history with your doctor; those with depressed feelings may be less likely to stick to their medication or engage in repeated care.

A new HIV diagnosis can be very traumatic. For a while, it will be the last thing you think about before going to sleep and the first thing you think about when you wake up. But with the right frame of mind and by taking the right steps after diagnosis, you can learn to live with HIV. You can learn to live a full and healthy life.