May 16, 2022 BY imani leave a comment
It’s a sticky word, loaded with stigma by society but the truth is that relapsing doesn’t have to come with the shame attached to it.
What does it even mean?
Relapse is the return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a patient has been free of those signs and symptoms. The truth is that a relapse does not mean you have to give up or that you are losing it all. Make sure to speak with your healthcare professional to plan the next steps to make sure you are in your best health condition.
Tell your health care provider right away if you’re having trouble sticking to your plan. Together you can identify the reasons you’re skipping medications and make a plan to address those reasons. HIV medicine can make the viral load very low (called viral suppression). If you skip your medications, even now and then, you are giving HIV the chance to multiply rapidly. This could weaken your immune system, and you could become sick.
Getting and keeping an undetectable viral load (or staying virally suppressed) is the best way to stay healthy and protect others. Dealing with relapse can be emotionally tiring, ask your healthcare provider, social worker, or case manager about local support groups.