Living with HIV: A Patient's Guide »

Mark Cichocki is a HIV/AIDS registered nurse in Walled Lake, Michigan.

This helpful guide offers a wealth of information for individuals that have been diagnosed with HIV and for people caring for HIV positive friends and loved ones. It covers the entire HIV lifespan, from prevention to diagnosis and beyond. Valuable tips help the reader make the best decision when choosing a doctor, finding and adhering to the right medication regimen, and, if necessary, making end-life plans. All aspects of HIV/AIDS are discussed, including opportunistic and associated infections, dental care, exercise and nutrition, substance use and abuse, and emotional treatment.

Library Journal

Cichocki, an HIV/AIDS registered nurse, uses his training and experience caring for patients to provide a resource for HIV-infected patients and their family members, friends, and caregivers. Cichocki provides a succinct basic overview of the history of HIV/AIDS and of the HIV life cycle. The content is easy to understand, and complicated medical concepts and jargon are explained. Cichocki also provides an overview of treatment options, explanations of the various opportunistic infections, and information on treating the "whole person" and living with HIV. VERDICT Newly diagnosed patients will find this an excellent book for learning more about HIV, and others will find it a great reference work. A resource list of HIV hotlines, support groups, and organizations would have added more value to the book, but overall it is a valuable guide for HIV/AIDS patients. Highly recommended.—Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs. & Health Syst., Richmond

Introduction - Why Is This Book Needed? 1

1 The History of HIV and AIDS 5

2 HIV Prevention and Testing 19

3 HIV 101 ... The Basics 34

4 The Test Is Positive ... Now What? 43

5 Your First Visit to the Doctor 58

6 Monitoring Your Health 65

7 Know Your HIV Medications 79

8 Opportunistic Infections 102

9 Associated Conditions 119

10 Treating the Whole Person 141

11 Substance Use and Abuse 159

12 Dental Care 179

13 Exercise and Nutrition 193

14 Living with HIV 213

Bibliography 239

Index 245