Getting the right treatment looks different for everybody.

If you find out you’re HIV-positive, make an appointment with your doctor or visit a clinic to talk about your options. They’ll probably ask you about your medical history, give you a physical, and do some tests to check in with your body’s response to the virus so far. This information helps them to give you the best treatment, so tell them everything you think they need to know.

It’s possible you find it hard talking to your doctor, and throughout this process you may have to learn to speak up for yourself. Research has shown that people with HIV have better health outcomes when they get their medical care from places that serve a larger number of people with HIV. These clinics are likely to know more about how to support people with HIV and may have specialists to support people with different aspects of care. The reality of this can be complicated in Nova Scotia where access to doctors is quite limited. You can ask your healthcare provider to connect you with the Halifax HIV Clinic. The HIV Clinic at the QEII is Nova Scotia’s main HIV treatment center. You can read this pamphlet to learn more about what to expect as a patient at this HIV clinic.

Sometimes access to HIV treatments is as easy as going to the doctor, getting a prescription, and going to the pharmacy. For others, cost, insurance coverage, stigma, or added health problems can make it a more complicated. Navigating treatment, especially when life is already complex, can take time, and the decisions about your treatment and care are ultimately up to you. Taking charge of your life and health can be challenging, but it’s well worth the effort. Whoever you are, your approach to managing your health will be unique. CATIE has written a very thorough guide that includes advice for accessing treatment while living with HIV.

If you don’t have a private insurance plan to help pay for HIV medication, you still have plenty of options. In Nova Scotia the province offers coverage if you have no insurance.

Everyone’s situation is unique, and these programs can be tough to understand. If you’re having a hard time with getting access to your meds, contact us at the HEAL NS. They can help you sort through your options. CATIE has a guide about the different programs that could help.

This section was adapted, with permission, from The Sex You Want Website.
You can learn more about where we got this information from at: NS Health, CATIE, NovaScotia.ca
*disclaimer: we do not necessarily endorse all of the information, content, or language used in these references